1.   Even when ties warmed under Mikhail Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin, the atmospherics of presidential meetings thawed only partly.

2.   Or, as his ties have warmed slightly with Europe and Washington, he may simply be thinking he can get away with it.

3.   But ties recently have warmed with Gulf Arabs.

4.   Their ties have dramatically warmed since a historic summit of their leaders in June.

5.   Ties warmed again after a South Korean envoy visited North Korea in early April and agreed to restart stalled exchanges, including the family reunion project.

6.   Ties have never warmed, but Egypt has acted as a mediator between Israel and Arab states.

7.   However US-Wellington ties have recently warmed and Bolger has had several meetings with President Bill Clinton.