41.   Their visit marks the first such tour by a Council of Europe delegation.

42.   The visit marks the first in five years of a Chinese foreign minister to the Horn of Africa nation.

43.   The visit marked a new stage in the new links being built up with France since the end of its nuclear tests in the Pacific.

44.   The visit would mark the first official and publicised talks between the two factions since the Taliban sprang up from the Koranic schools of Pakistan two years ago.

45.   The visits by Chaowalit mark his first official trip to the two countries since he became prime minister in November last year.

46.   The impending visit marks a new round of diplomatic arm-twisting by Taipei and Beijing.