51.   It considers Ibrahim Rugova, the pacifist Kosovo Albanian leader who has U.S. and other foreign support, a potential negotiating partner.

52.   It recognized Arafat as a negotiating partner and started a process of Israeli withdrawal on the West Bank, with territory being turned over to the Palestinian Authority.

53.   It was the first official confirmation by a negotiating partner that the talks under way in Kuala Lumpur are making significant headway.

54.   Milosevic also recognized the ethnic Albanian leader, Ibrahim Rugova, for the first time as a negotiating partner.

55.   Negotiating partners would be reluctant to sign off on a deal they believe Congress would amend.

56.   Nevertheless, Rugova is considered a more acceptable negotiating partner because he opposes violence.

57.   Nevertheless, the Saudi proposal offers Israel broad acceptance by Arab states and a negotiating partner beyond Arafat, whom Sharon is determined to push onto the diplomatic sidelines.

58.   No timetable has been given for entry, but Taiwan is reportedly close to clinching agreements with the European Union and Switzerland, its last two negotiating partners.

59.   One change that Netanyahu has brought about is a de facto acceptance of Arafat as a negotiating partner by his right-wing Likud Party.

60.   Prodi reiterated the EU view that Arafat remained the only valid negotiating partner for Israel.