21.   Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev said Thursday he was putting off signing a partnership accord between Russia and NATO.

22.   The Commission decision halted implementation of trade and economic aspects of an EU-Russia partnership accord agreed last year.

23.   The EU official said negotiations could begin in February on a formal partnership accord between Brussels and Algiers.

24.   The EU said it had made progress in talks with Isreal on a new cooperation accord, and welcomed the partnership accords under discussion with Morocco and Tunisia.

25.   The EU wants to upgrade its ties with Lebanon and other Mediterranean countries from one of providing assistance to a long term goal of signing a partnership accord.

26.   The partnership accord to be drawn up between the alliance and Switzerland will centre on rescue and health work, humanitarian operations, logistics and peacekeeping measures.