51.   Informal contacts between the two parties have existed for several months, but official talks would be an innovation.

52.   Amid unprecedented optimism, they decided to extend the planned three days of talks with informal contacts over the last weekend of the year.

53.   But he has insisted that such informal contacts are counter to Thai government policy.

54.   But reliable military sources told AFP that the KPA had indicated in an informal contact that a reply to the offer, made on Friday, would be forthcoming.

55.   Diplomatic sources said Guatemala had made informal contact with China in an effort to resolve the dispute, with other countries involved in the discussions.

56.   Delegates to the official climate conference were holding informal contacts over the weekend prior to resuming proceedings on Monday.

57.   The US envoy said he wanted more time for informal contacts between the two sides to narrow their differences over Hebron.

58.   There have been a steady stream of informal contacts.

59.   There have been informal contacts including meetings between ambassadors and the chiefs of staff but even these have been suspended since the end of last year.

60.   US and South Korean officials also held informal contacts with the North Koreans to discuss the proposed peace negotiations.