21.   NATO countries will meet early next year to decide how to expand the alliance.

22.   NATO foreign ministers approved an American proposal today to study expanding the alliance to include central and east European countries.

23.   On Thursday, the allies decided to push ahead and ordered a blueprint of terms, costs and conditions for expanding the alliance.

24.   Russia and NATO have wrangled over plans to expand the alliance to include former Soviet block countries, among them Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

25.   Russia, in turn, has said that attempts to expand the alliance into the former Soviet Union would be unacceptable.

26.   The Clinton administration urged Russia on Wednesday to link up with NATO but said the alliance would be expanded eastward whatever Russia decided to do.

27.   The Clinton administration urged Russia on Wednesday to link up with NATO but said the alliance will be expanded eastward whatever Russia decides to do.

28.   The NATO assembly involves legislators from NATO countries and associate members debating issues such as expanding the alliance.

29.   The partnership, a possible precursor to full NATO membership, is seen by NATO as the mechanism for expanding the alliance eastward.

30.   They also approved a proposal to study how to expand the alliance to include former Warsaw Pact foes.