Oh, yes, it would minimize tensions if he didn't have to ask her as a superior officer to pass along any orders-or suggestions--about the trip.

The bureau is committed to a nonconfrontational approach designed to minimize tensions and avoid a repetition of the Federal authorities' recent deadly conflicts at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, and near Waco, Tex.

Through constitutional reforms in the 1970s and 1980s, regionalisation of the unitary state led to a three-tiered federation: federal, regional, and community governments were created, a compromise designed to minimize linguistic, cultural, social and economic tensions.

On the contrary, the congress issued an unusually restrained statement tonight offering to cooperate in minimizing tensions between policemen and residents.

The official said that a dispute in Nazareth, where the Israeli government recently gave permission to Muslim leaders to build a mosque next to the city's main Roman Catholic shrine, did not come up explicitly, but that the two did discuss ways to "minimize tensions."

The delegates, often from countries that have been bitter adversaries for decades, agreed that the economies of the occupied territories were in deplorable shape and needed a quick burst of aid to minimize tensions after the peace accord between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization.

The ship was relatively crowded, but they got used to it, the common threat and impending action minimizing tensions.

In compliance with Honor's orders to minimize tensions as much as possible, Ephraim Tudor had broken off the engagement when it became obvious the Andies were maneuvering to avoid further action.

Palestinian economists said they thought that if the $3 billion proposed by the World Bank starts flowing, it would go not just to Gaza and Jericho, but also to all of the West Bank with an eye to minimizing tensions.

"For Israel," a columnist from Ynet, Yediot's English-language Web site concluded, "the way to cope with the Iranian nuclear threat is to adopt indirect routes, by supporting tougher sanctions against Iran and also by securing an agreement with the Palestinian Authority that would minimize regional tensions."