31.   Slovakia was always the poorer, less developed third of the old federation with the more prosperous Czech Republic.

32.   Slovakia is the poorer, eastern third of the old Czechoslovak federation.

33.   Slovakia, the poorer, eastern third of the old Czechoslovak federation, is a border land between eastern and western Christians.

34.   That was on the eve of the wars that tore apart the old Yugoslav federation.

35.   The conflict started when Croatia declared independence from the old Yugoslav federation and its Serb minority rebelled.

36.   The Czech Republic, the larger of two independent countries created when the old Czechoslovak federation split, has privatized rapidly.

37.   The dividing line between what was Czech and what was Slovak in the old federation became the temporary border.

38.   The leading candidates are Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic, which is part of the old Czechoslovak federation.

39.   The move means the two states left in Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro, accepted Macedonia, the only republic that seceded peacefully from the old Yugoslav federation.

40.   The move angered Slovenia so much that it announced its independence from the old federation.