1.   As part of their agreement, Major and Bruton decided that preparatory talks for full-scale negotiations will proceed simultaneously with the work of the commission.

2.   Preparatory talks to sort out the related issues will begin this autumn.

3.   The agreement said the preparatory talks should lead to full-scale negotiations involving all the parties by the end of February.

4.   The chairman of the developing country caucus, Dr. Mark Mwandosya of Tanzania, said his group would simply refuse to take part in the preparatory talks.

5.   The other track of the new framework involves preparatory talks between the Irish and British governments and all Northern parties.

6.   Preparatory talks are also underway with Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia, Slovakia and Lithuania.

7.   Peres is expected to hold preparatory talks with a senior Palestinian official later on Saturday.

8.   Peres, on a visit to Poland, said a meeting was possible next week, but noted that preparatory talks were still ongoing.

9.   Peres, who was visiting Poland, said a meeting was possible next week, but noted that preparatory talks were still ongoing.

10.   Ahead of the summit in Pyongyang, Kim Ryong Song charmed South Korean officials with rhetorical flourishes in preparatory talks in the border village of Panmunjom.