61.   The European Commission launched the eastward expansion of the European Union by picking six Eastern European countries to open talks on membership.

62.   The first move by the administration will most likely be to search for a way to open substantive talks, a senior administration official said Sunday.

63.   The government said it would open talks with Enel and with Electricite de France, whose bid was apparently submitted late and was not published.

64.   The European Commission said Japan also agreed to open talks to resolve outstanding request from European carmakers to reduce noise-emission standards for cars exported to Japan.

65.   The group opened talks with India on Friday.

66.   The law allows Israeli President Ezer Weizman to open talks on the formation of a new government.

67.   The insurer also said it opened talks with the industry regulator that could result in an extra dividend for shareholders.

68.   The president is expected to open talks with major political figures Tuesday.

69.   The raid was carried out by the National Liberation Army, or ELN, a guerrilla group that wants to open peace talks with the government.

70.   The rules adopted in the Uruguay Round required WTO members to open talks by the end of the decade on freeing agricultural trade and protecting intellectual-property rights.