51.   Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz, however, said Friday that his government would not sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty until the sanctions have been lifted.

52.   Gerou said the government would sign the Hellenikon contracts by August.

53.   Gulf governments have signed defense pacts with key members of the U.S.-led coalition that drove the Iraqis from Kuwait.

54.   He promised that the test will be the last and that his government will sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty next year.

55.   He then told them the government had never signed any formal commitment to privatize.

56.   He said the government recently signed the Trade Related Intellectual Property Agreement, the treaty administered by the World Trade Organization which governs international patent rights.

57.   In a related development, Hourani said the government has signed an agreement with a Russian firm to explore oil and natural gas in various areas of the country.

58.   In a related development, Hourani said the government has signed an agreement with a Russian firm to explore for oil and natural gas inside Jordan.

59.   In other developments, the two governments signed an agreement to create a joint fund for cultural, educational and environmental programs.

60.   In September, the Tajik government signed a cease-fire with Tajik rebels backed by Islamic mujahedeen in Afghanistan.