11.   The longstanding position had been vacant in recent years for reasons that remain murky.

12.   There is no need to buy them off by burying longstanding Democratic positions on gun control or abortion rights.

13.   Drug company executives point out the patent was never overridden, and reiterate their longstanding position that patent protection is crucial for further research and development.

14.   In the talks Monday both sides reiterated longstanding positions.

15.   Restating a longstanding U.S. position, State Department spokesman Mike McCurry asked that Libya turn over two suspects for trial in either Scotland or the United States.

16.   That has been a longstanding Arab position.

17.   The Clinton administration refused to make that promise, but repeated the longstanding U.S. position that it recognizes only one China and considers Taiwan part of China.

18.   This merely reiterates longstanding NATO positions, and is not legally binding.

19.   U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard told CNN that the annex contains longstanding Iraqi positions, not conditions.

20.   Without providing any details, Zhu Bangzao, the Chinese Foreign Minister spokesman, said Gore and Jiang had not changed their longstanding positions on these subjects.