31.   Dissatisfied with the inauguration of the parliamentary negotiating group by other ruling parties just before Prime Minister Tsutomu Hata formed his cabinet, the SDP left the ruling coalition.

32.   Erakat said the Palestinians would also press Israel to announce the formation of eight negotiating groups due to tackle leftover matters from the interim peace accord.

33.   The two leading French creditors in the negotiating group were the BNP, a private bank, and Credit Lyonnais.