Henry Kissinger, in his 1979 memoirs, "The White House Years," was among the first to give the word a metaphoric stretch: "I favored European unity, but I was agnostic about the form it should take."

Politicians in Bonn have also argued that unification should be hurried along because the Soviet position could change and because Western allies favor quick unity.

"I believe that political authorities in this case have a great responsibility, because instead of favoring unity, they created the foundation to foment division."

"There is a schism, and it's a sin," said the Rev. Rick Matters, a co-founder of Remain Episcopal, the caucus favoring unity.

In contrast, Sayyid 'Ali al-Mirghani and the Khatmiyya became identified with the pro-Egyptian school of thought that favored unity of the Nile Valley.

In Germany, war crimes in World War II are acknowledged more forthrightly than in Japan, partly because German policy now favors European unity.

The Socialist Party declared itself to be Marxist and independent of Soviet or Chinese influence, favoring popular anti-imperialist unity, directed by the working class, which would end domestic injustice and foreign intervention.

Patriarch Bartholomew has appeared to favor such unity, which would be in keeping with Orthodox practice.

Although there was a secessionist movement of Tamils in India two decades ago, Tamil political leaders now firmly favor Indian national unity.

In Arab circles, the Crown Prince is known to be an Arab nationalist who strongly favors unity among Arab countries.