51.   Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on Thursday nominated a top aide to coordinate the Balkan stability pact adopted this month to strengthen democracy and boost the economies of the region.

52.   Chirac and European Commission President Jacques Santer this week said they hoped for the stability pact to be signed at Amsterdam.

53.   Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on Thursday nominated a top aide to coordinate the Balkan stability pact to strengthen democracy and boost the economies of the region.

54.   Despite the global economic downturn, Solbes urged euro zone countries to adhere to the stability pact and not spend beyond their means.

55.   EU Finance Commissioner Yves-Thibault de Silguy met with Chirac Thursday morning, confident that the stability pact was advancing.

56.   Foreign ministers signed the stability pact two weeks ago in Cologne.

57.   France and other EU countries want more supple rules to the stability pact that would keep single currency members within tight reins.

58.   France wants to soften a German-inspired deal, known as the stability pact, that bans countries from excessive public spending after they adopt the euro.

59.   France casts doubts on a German-inspired deal known as the stability pact.

60.   German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said the EU will elaborate a Balkan stability pact that would also be open to Belgrade and be supported with broad economic support measures.