21.   The decision is politically sensitive because of longstanding ties ADM and its chairman, Dwayne Andreas, have to officeholders in both parties.

22.   The decision was politically sensitive because of longstanding ties ADM and its chairman, Dwayne Andreas, have to officeholders in both parties, including Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman.

23.   The Lippo Group is controlled by the Riadys, a prominent Indonesian family with longstanding ties to President Clinton.

24.   The Pentagon once had longstanding ties with the Indonesian military, dating back to the early days of the Cold War.

25.   All three nations have longstanding economic ties with Mexico.

26.   Athens attributed its stance to longstanding ties of friendship and a common Christian Orthodox faith shared between the Greek and Serbian people.

27.   Both Greece and Serbia are predominantly Orthodox Christian countries and the two nations have longstanding ties.

28.   In Israel, the shock of the assassination has shattered, at least temporarily, a longstanding tie between government supporters and opponents.

29.   Nevertheless, South Africa retained its longstanding ties with Taiwan until last year, when it established them with Beijing.