41.   The ministry of transport declined to comment on this report.

42.   The ministry on Wednesday declined to comment on the price issue.

43.   The report was denied by the BOJ, while the finance ministry declined to comment.

44.   The Russian foreign ministry declined Thursday to confirm the Madrid meeting.

45.   The Russian foreign ministry declined to confirm the report.

46.   The presidential officials were unavailable for comment on the TVBS report, and the defense ministry declined to comment.

47.   The Russian foreign ministry declined to comment the Interfax report.

48.   The Russian foreign ministry declined to comment.

49.   The Swedish foreign ministry declined to comment on the case and would not say whether one of its diplomats in Moscow had been expelled.

50.   The trade ministry here declined to comment on the report.