31.   It said Prime Minister Shimon Peres was sending his minister for the peace process, Yossi Beilin, to Washington late Tuesday to study the proposals.

32.   Japan, which normally sends three ministers, would instead be represented by its former ambassador to the United States, Nobuo Matsunaga, the spokesman said.

33.   Kiev later also sent its ministers of light industry, and culture as well as the first vice economics minister to Taiwan.

34.   Last month, Tokyo dropped plans to send trade minister Ryutaro Hashimoto to a meeting in Thailand of ministers from potential EAEC members due to pressure from Washington.

35.   Oman sent its minister of state for foreign affairs to other members in an attempt to win their support for the meeting.

36.   Qatar is sending its minister of information and culture, Hamad Abded Aziz Kawari, and Oman its minister of state for foreign affairs Yussef ibn Alawi Abdullah.

37.   Thai Deputy Prime Minister Banyat Bantadtan said it was likely the former interior minister would be sent to Phnom Penh as this was the normal course of events.