1.   The agreement represents the first phase of the development and precedes agreements to construct units to upgrade the heavy oil output to produce a lighter, more marketable crude.

2.   The BP agreement was preceded by those signed last year by Wingas GmbH with British Gas Plc and Conoco Inc., the oil unit of Du Pont Inc.

3.   The October and November strikes by the Canadian Auto Workers and United Auto Workers preceded agreements on new three-year national contracts.

4.   While such discussions frequently precede cooperation agreements, there is as yet no sign that the government is prepared to offer Glisan a deal.

5.   The EU-Israel agreement was preceded this year by economic and political cooperation accords with Tunisia and Morocco.

6.   The agreement had been preceded by months of fruitless discussions until Washington threatened to unleash a trade war with Beijing if it failed to take action against the pirates.