31.   Thomas Dawson, director of external relations at the IMF, said Thursday that Turkey was on track to get the new funds by early February at the latest.

32.   Hans Van den Broek, the EU external relations commissioner held talks here with Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and Foreign Minister Mate Granic.

33.   A retired colonel, Bencherchali was director of external relations at the defence ministry.

34.   And on external relations, he said that the EU should work to accept membership from countries in eastern Europe.

35.   But European Commission external relations spokesman Gunnar Wiegand refused to speculate Friday on what measures might be taken.

36.   But European Commission external relations spokesman Gunnar Wiegand refused to speculate at this stage on what measures might be taken.

37.   Bulgaria will make its application to join the European Union next year, Prime Minister Jean Videnov said in a meeting Thursday with the EU external relations commissioner.

38.   Earlier, EU external relations commissioner Van den Broek arrived in Sarajevo to discuss funding aid projects with the former belligerents.

39.   European Union commissioner in charge of external relations Chris Patten has also returned from a recent trip to the region, and was here to brief ministers.

40.   Earlier this week commission sources said Santer favoured giving eastern Europe to Van den Broek, who is currently responsible for external political relations.