111.   But efforts to start talks with North Korea on the proposal have made little progress.

112.   But the Union will be wary of starting membership talks if the two sides are in open conflict.

113.   But lenders are waiting for the IMF to take a first step and reach a new loan deal with Russia before starting formal talks on debt restructuring.

114.   But the next month, on a visit to South Korea, Bush offered to start talks with the North to discuss ways of ending its alleged weapons program.

115.   But Wickremesinghe has said he would start peace talks and try to end the conflict.

116.   But the spokesman did not rule out trying to get talks started in the meantime.

117.   But the president has agreed to meet a rebel demand that he pull troops out of an area of southern Colombia in order to start the talks.

118.   But there is no sign yet of NATO or Milosevic making the concessions considered vital by one side or the other to start peace talks.

119.   But there is no sign yet of NATO or Yugoslav President Solobodan Milosevic making the concessions considered vital by one side or the other to start peace talks.

120.   By giving Pinheiro free access, the junta is apparently softening its position toward Suu Kyi amid reports that she and the top generals recently started reconciliation talks.