It has a big role to play in a dangerous region, as well as considerable influence among developing nations.

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Her style, combining beautiful ensemble dancing with crazy solos which might involve disrobing, lighting a candle, hair-brushing, setting a newspaper on fire, even swimming, and always a great deal of talking, has had considerable influence on choreographers both inside and outside Germany.

ECONOMIST: Germany is now the dance centre of the world

Russia has become a sort of guest member of the NATO alliance under an arrangement that will afford it considerable opportunity to influence that organization's deliberations but, in theory at least, no veto over decisions taken by the other, full- fledged members.

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