1.   Most controversial was the submission by the Christian Democrats that the two republics should be linked by a formal state treaty rather than by a political declaration.

2.   Political groupings in Slovakia continued to state their preference for a formal state treaty, as the draft constitution was put out for consultation and amendment.

3.   Its main aims were to press for a new constitution based on a formal state treaty and to slow the moves towards a market economy.

4.   An agreement to protect U.N. workers moved a step closer to becoming a formal treaty on Thursday when a dozen countries signed it.

5.   Bush signaled that he did not think that a formal treaty was necessary, but added he would be willing to make a less formal commitment.

6.   But Great Britain and the United States have a formal treaty of alliance.

7.   But Bush has made clear his aversion to signing another formal treaty which could take time to negotiate and would require Senate approval.

8.   But Mexico, unlike the United States, passed NAFTA as a formal treaty, not just a trade accord.

9.   Furthermore, Putin said that any weapons agreement should be part of formal treaty, something the Bush administration has opposed.

10.   In the absence of a formal treaty governing air travel between the two countries, France and the U.S. informally held to the terms of the former treaty.