41.   US President Bill Clinton Monday warned that no country would be allowed to veto expansion of the NATO western military alliance, despite Russian objections.

42.   NATO defense ministers reaffirmed Wednesday their intention to move ahead with expansion of the alliance despite vociferous Russian objections, a US official said.

43.   Other European leaders often highlighted the role the United States is expected to play in bringing in new NATO members from eastern Europe while breaking down lingering Russian objections.

44.   Russia has also voiced opposition to the mandate renewal, but diplomats said the Russian objections were likely to be overcome, and that China remained the main problem.

45.   Republican presidential hopeful Bob Dole launched a drive Monday to spur rapid NATO expansion despite Russian objections, drawing immediate fire from the White House.

46.   The last OSCE summit in Budapest two years ago collapsed after delegates failed to agree on a resolution on Bosnia-Hercegovina, in particular because of Russian objections.