21.   EU officials said Japan also agreed to open talks to resolve outstanding requests from European carmakers to reduce noise-emission standards for cars exported to Japan.

22.   Experts in African military affairs say there are indications that the group has opened talks with the Sudan, Somalia, Mozambique and Malawi.

23.   Executives close to Cablevision, however, said that they had no plans to open separate talks and would proceed with the auction.

24.   From front-line positions barely five miles east of the pass, Taliban commanders have opened talks with Khalily, urging him not to fight.

25.   He has offered to open talks on a full range of issues and in any format, and to make the goal a full and comprehensive peace.

26.   He also said he regrets that China has failed to open talks with the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet.

27.   He also said he was willing to open round-the-clock talks, presumably with Arafat.

28.   He said he sought to call Maskhadov during his visit to Alkhan-Yurt to open the talks.

29.   He expressed confidence that a way would be found to open talks with Syria so that a comprehensive peace could be reached.

30.   He said the Indianapolis-based drugmaker opened talks with Sepracor only after the patent was certain to be approved.