1.   A preparatory session in Geneva last month made little headway in resolving the issue, they said.

2.   Abu Ala himself said Barak had doomed Camp David by cutting short the preparatory session.

3.   After another preparatory session in August, planners hope to present a draft plan to a committee of the General Assembly in the fall.

4.   The meeting was a preparatory session for four-party talks proposed by President Clinton and President Kim Young Sam of South Korea more than a year ago.

5.   A preparatory session in Beijing was to be held between the two sessions but was canceled.

6.   A planned preparatory session in Beijing was canceled.

7.   Declarations for U.N. conferences are normally drafted in advance at a series of preparatory sessions to try to head off clashes at the final meeting.

8.   Declarations for U.N. conferences are normally drafted in advance at a series of preparatory sessions, to try to head off clashes at the final meeting.

9.   The preparatory session is intended to draw up an agenda and draft final documents.

10.   Even before that, a summit preparatory session by military commanders is due to be held in mid-April in Brussels.