21.   The remarks came after negotiators of the two countries failed to settle a bilateral aviation dispute in talks last week in Washington.

22.   The talks will be the first bilateral aviation talks since August, when ministerial-level talks broke down, the official said.

23.   The two countries failed to settle bilateral aviation disputes in talks held last week in Washington.

24.   The two routes are among several flight services whose formal opening has been delayed amid a bilateral aviation dispute.

25.   The United States and Britain reported limited progress Thursday toward a new bilateral aviation accord but warned there was still a gap in their positions.

26.   The United States and France are to open talks here Tuesday aimed at reaching a new accord governing bilateral civil aviation.

27.   The two countries failed to reach an agreement last week over the bilateral aviation talks after Tokyo rejected US demand for new flight routes to Asia.

28.   Transport Minister Yoshiyuki Kamei urged Washington through diplomatic channels last week to resume bilateral aviation talks on passenger services, government officials said.

29.   Japan proposed an interim bilateral civil aviation accord with the understanding that the agreement be reviewed in three to four years, Kyodo News has said.

30.   Japan argued that the allowing Federal Express the new routes would further accentuate an imbalance in bilateral aviation traffic in favor of the United States.