21.   If Assad himself joins any talks, diplomats here guess, it will not be until the final moments, when a deal is ready to be signed.

22.   It was the Clinton administration that asked Bill Usery Jr. to join the talks as the mediator in October.

23.   It was the Clinton administration that asked Usery to join the talks as the mediator in October.

24.   It was deliberately vague, so that each side can join the talks and claim a moral victory.

25.   Joining the talks on behalf of management was Cliff Fletcher, the president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

26.   John Calhoun Wells, director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, has often joined the talks.

27.   Labor representatives were happy to have Brown join the talks.

28.   Leon Panetta, the White House chief of staff, issued a statement urging Dole to join talks on balancing the budget.

29.   Philip Morris Cos. might join talks to settle health-related lawsuits, the company said in an annual filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchnage Commission.

30.   Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin of Russia is scheduled to join the talks Saturday morning.