31.   Alcatel, which bid alone for Thomson SA, has strengthened its position by linking with Dassualt and Aerospatiale.

32.   But at the meeting on Saturday, Ms. Evers-Williams is expected to strengthen her position by placing loyalists in charge of major committees.

33.   But he said the United Nations might be able to strengthen its position by redeploying some of its forces.

34.   But the Internet can also strengthen the position of some dealers.

35.   By gaining influence, political analysts say, the group can also strengthen its position during peace negotiations between rebels and the government.

36.   By developing applications that added value to UNIX platforms, they could strengthen their position in a way that Microsoft would never match.

37.   By keeping him away, Arab commentators noted, the Israelis are only strengthening his position.

38.   By not reforming the Serbian economy, Milosevic has strengthened his position.

39.   By publicly supporting the campaign against conflict diamonds, for instance, De Beers strengthened its position in the far more valuable market for clean diamonds.

40.   Certainly he would think of that as something that might strengthen his position in the talks with Frasure.