51.   The Defense Ministry reiterated its pledge not to develop chemical weapons Wednesday but said it would not open its arsenal for U.N. inspection.

52.   The pledge was reiterated during the meeting of the Gore-Chernoyrdin commission in Moscow in late June.

53.   The U.S. dollar rose against the yen in mid-afternoon trading Wednesday after Brazil reiterated its pledge to cover the remainder of its Eurobond debt.

54.   U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich met Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui on Wednesday and reiterated his pledge that the United States would defend the island from Chinese attack.

55.   In an interview with WAM, British minister of state for foreign affairs Jeremy Hanley reiterated a pledge to defend the UAE against aggression.

56.   In his speech Monday, Berlusconi also reiterated a pledge to make job-creation his top economic goal.

57.   As the lawmakers voted, Clinton reiterated his pledge to veto the bill, which would be the first veto in his administration.

58.   At a joint press conference Wednesday, Arafat reiterated his pledge concerning the PLO covenant but offered no specific timetable for action.

59.   Clinton meanwhile reiterated his pledge to catch and punish the perpetrators of the attack.

60.   Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto said Tuesday Japan would never yield to terrorism, while reiterating a pledge to help end the protracted hostage standoff in Peru peacefully.