41.   The broad outlines of a proposed deal were worked out in exploratory talks between Panama and the United States over the past nine months.

42.   The company has begun exploratory talks with several parties in Singapore, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to export cement to these countries.

43.   The exploratory talks are meant to correct the existing discrepancies between trading in currency and that of actual goods and services.

44.   The exploratory talks have stalled and the rebels are demanding the release of all political prisoners as a condition for their resumption.

45.   The government has held exploratory talks with MILF leaders since early October, but the fighting had threatened plans for formal peace negotiations.

46.   The NATO allies agreed Friday to open exploratory talks in the next three months with East European nations that aspire to join the Western military alliance.

47.   The peace process is stalled over British demands that the IRA start handing over weapons before Sinn Fein can join exploratory talks.

48.   The violence came despite exploratory talks between Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli negotiators seeking to revive peace negotiations.

49.   There also were local protests after reports that U.S. officials held exploratory talks on establishing a permanent military facility in Aden, perhaps on the island Socotra.

50.   They were to meet Thursday with union representatives for exploratory talks.