"The letter to Arafat will not have an impact," one senior official predicted at the time, "because of the tough statement to Israel."

The letter summarised with a terse, tough statement of the American view:

At their Bonn meeting in 1978, the seven also adopted a tough statement on aviation sanctions.

Among the tough and angry personal statements that open the film is one by a man who pretty much sets the tone for all that follows.

This is a very tough political statement for this time.

Secretary Albright made some very tough statements about how this new Serbian aggression would not be tolerated.

Mr. Silajdzic used today's ceremony to make surprisingly tough statements.

This is a tough statement, I readily admit.

But what use are all these tough statements?

Energy experts said Gazprom's tough statement against Ukraine reflected that struggle.