11.   Despite the risk of a short-term slowdown, European Union finance ministers expressed confidence Monday their economies will ride out the emerging market turmoil which battered Brazil last week.

12.   EU farm ministers express concern over meat accord with the U.S.

13.   European Union ministers expressed greater optimism than some of their Asian counterparts.

14.   European and Arab ministers expressed support Wednesday for the Middle East peace proposals put forward by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah.

15.   He said the Iraqi ministers expressed concern at some aspects of a report he submitted to the U.N. Security Council this month.

16.   He said the newly elected minister expressed his full support to help the industry, as exports were very crucial.

17.   Lee and Mahathir hold authoritarian views of leadership, though both countries have democratic systems, and the Singaporean senior minister expressed sympathy for Mahathir.

18.   Meanwhile, at a meeting of the Israeli Cabinet, ministers expressed dismay over an outbreak of street clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli troops in the West Bank.

19.   Miyazawa said a couple Asian ministers expressed interest in the idea, but others reacted skeptically.

20.   Several EU environment ministers expressed worries about the public health and environmental consequences of the gene-modified corn during their regular monthly meeting Monday.