Defence Minister George Fernandes' Samata Party had organised the meeting ``to denounce the US-led NATO's aggression on Yugoslavia''. Fernandes, typically, led from the front against a ``much stronger and a vulgarly arrogant United States'' since the days of the Vietnam war. Envoys from the other six countries to India added a long list of adjectives in the same vein.

``We have to stop the US,'' agreed everyone, ``It started with Iraq, now Yugoslavia. We don't know who's next.''

In their anxiety, and in their furious speeches, there were subtle messages though. Like Yugoslav Ambassador Cedomir Strbac's significant statement that Belgrade was ready to ``guarantee all Kosovarssubstantial autonomy'' in accordance with international standards. ``But only if NATO stops its air strikes and a political dialogue is initiated in accordance with Gandhian principles. We are ready to accept a solution which respects our freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity,'' he said.

Others said the Cold War may be over, and the USSR may have disintegrated, but watch out for a new world order. ``They (the US) are showing Russia and others what they can do. We want India and China to join us in stopping US attempts to dominate the world. The equation is: To be, or not to be,'' said Russian ambassador Albert S Tchernshyev.

``The forthcoming 21st century should not witness a unipolar world,'' added China's political counsellor Liu Jenfeng, venting China's anger over NATO's bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, which left behind three dead and 20 injured.

Then there were the ambassadors from Cuba, Libya and Iraq. In their support for ``Yugoslavia's resilience'', they narrated theirstories. ``How can they pretend to solve a conflict by using destructive weapons themselves. For 38 years, they have held us to ransom with embargos,'' said Cuban Ambassador Olga Chamero a Trias. ``We have been called terrorists and law-breakers all these years. Now who is breaking the law,'' said Libyan Ambassador Nuri Al-Fituri El-Madani. ``People in Kosovo are becoming refugees because they are fleeing from the bombing, not because there is ethnic cleansing. We in Iraq know what it means lo live in the middle of bombs exploding all around,'' said Iraqi ambassador Salah Al-Mukhtar.

Fernandes agreed, and summarised. He said the US has run away from all norms set by the United Nations. ``Anyway the UN hardly has a say these days. America merely wished its way to doing what it's doing. Therefore, we (referring to Russia, China, India, Libya, Cuba, Iraq and Libya) who represent more than half of the world's population must get together to stop the US-led NATO hegemony.''

He pointed out that the newdoctrine adopted by NATO on its 50th anniversary an April 23, when Yugoslav towns were being bombed, made it clear that the military alliance was free to attack any sovereign country if it ``thought that country was doing or was likely to do anything against the interests of any NATO country''. Fernandes added: ``That the United States is the author of this doctrine does not need to be emphasised here.''

At the end of it all, inside the stuffy, old auditorium, an emotional Yugoslav ambassador Strbac stood up and said ``Jai Hind''.