51.   It is also used by China, Vietnam, India, former Soviet satellites such as Bulgaria, and some African countries.

52.   It would be the first former Soviet satellite to do so.

53.   Like many former Soviet satellites, the Czech Republic is seeking closer economic ties with affluent countries.

54.   Like other former Soviet satellites, Czechs are seeking admission to NATO for fear of being caught in a security vacuum after the collapse of communism.

55.   Like other former Soviet satellites, the Czech Republic is seeking closer economic ties with affluent countries.

56.   Mongolia, which had been a close Soviet satellite, is now focusing on joint projects with nearby Siberia.

57.   Moscow has no prospects of joining the European Union and last week was slighted when NATO moved closer to offering membership to former Soviet satellites.

58.   Mongolians have long been known for their pride and gritty self-determination, even though their country was dominated by China for two centuries, then became a Soviet satellite.

59.   Moscow has already said it opposes the admission of former Soviet satellite countries into NATO because that could mean the military isolation of Russia.

60.   Moscow was slighted last week when NATO moved closer to offering membership to former Soviet satellites.