21.   The U.S. conference followed investigations in Swiss holdings of Nazi gold.

22.   The conference followed the burning of an Islamic shrine in Charar-i-Sharief town of Indian Kashmir last week, which increased tension between India and Pakistan.

23.   The conference follows talks in Canada, started last October in Ottawa, focusing on a total worldwide prohibition of the deadly devices.

24.   The conference followed several similar meetings between the GCC and the West.

25.   The conference followed months of dialogue between the political forces during which the framework of principles had been hammered out.

26.   The conference follows a first pledging conference in December and a reconstruction conference in Sarajevo this weekend.