21.   The European Union and Israel on Thursday initialled an accord aimed at expanding trade, political cooperation and cultural contacts.

22.   The European Union and Lebanon may initial an accord to stimulate trade and political ties in two weeks, European Commission President Romano Prodi said on Monday.

23.   The parties had agreed in Vienna last Friday to most of the terms of the agreement, but failed to initial the accord because of the name dispute.

24.   The parties had agreed in Viena on Friday to most of the terms of the agreement, but failed to initial the accord because of the name dispute.

25.   The protests came as Israeli and PLO negotiators in the Egyptian resort of Taba were close to initialing an accord on expanding Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank.

26.   The protests came as Israeli and PLO negotiators were poised to initial an accord on expanding Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank.

27.   The two accords had been initialed in Beirut last year.

28.   He had fuelled earlier expectations saying he hoped the accord would be initialled in Taba before the sabbath.

29.   He said the accord would be initialled by the chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat and his Israeli counterpart Dan Shomron.

30.   If the problems were solved Tuesday, Abu Rudeinah added, Arafat and Netanyahu could meet later in the day or Wednesday to initial an accord.