101.   Bulgaria said Monday it would apply for membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, ending its status as the only former Soviet satellite not seeking admission.

102.   But Clinton made clear Washington was not prepared to let Russia dictate the behaviour of its former satellites regarding NATO membership.

103.   But Moscow is opposed to the inclusion of members of its former Warsaw Pact satellites in NATO and wants cast-iron guarantees from the alliance over its intentions.

104.   Clinton went to Mongolia, a remote and sparsely populated former Soviet satellite wedged between Russia and China, after attending the UN conference on women in Beijing.

105.   Czech Foreign Minsiter Josef Zieleniec meanwhile strongly reacted to Russian threats of sanctions if the former Soviet satellite state joined NATO.

106.   During a press conference with former Polish president Lech Walesa, Dole said the North Atlantic Treaty Organization should be rapidly expanded to the former Soviet satellite nations.

107.   European Union foreign ministers on Monday backed plans to increase integration of former Soviet satellite countries into the Union ahead of any eventual formal admission by such states.

108.   This has caused resistance from Russia, which fears losing influence in its former satellite states.

109.   This was a reference to fears in eastern European capitals that Moscow was trying to regain influence over the affairs of its former satellites.

110.   Until now Bulgaria was the only former Soviet satellite that had not announced it would seek to join NATO.