The proof lay in today's pledge: a genuine renewal of negotiations at an accelerated pace.

He added, however, that "the renewal of negotiations does not by any means imply that all the difficulties have been resolved."

The official described Iran's call for a renewal of negotiations as "vacuous because the Iranians have created the conditions to make it impossible to talk."

While saying that Israel had "suffered immensely from terror attacks," he said that only a renewal of negotiations could end the violence and the closures.

But as the violence continued, the committee concentrated instead on measures that might permit a renewal of negotiations and security cooperation, and issued a series of recommendations.

Two days later, the UN Security Council ordered a cease-fire and established a committee to broker a truce and a renewal of negotiations.

However, Kirchner asked King Juan Carlos of Spain to facilitate the renewal of negotiations between the two countries.

Mr. Barak is reportedly resisting attempts by Mr. Sharon to have a veto over any future peace moves, keeping options open for a possible renewal of negotiations.

But after the rulings, jury selection was delayed for two hours as prosecutors and defense lawyers huddled in what people involved in the talks said was a renewal of negotiations for a deal to end the case.

For Mr. Arafat, the three-day conference could provide solid political backing for his next move - whether it is a renewal of negotiations or a continuation of the fighting - from the often divided Muslim leadership.

Mr. Barak said on Friday, before much of Israel closed down for the Sabbath, that the talks would be an effort to end the violence, but added he did not expect they would "lead to a renewal of negotiations."

UN sources in New York said Oman had on Friday submitted to the Security Council a draft resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Yemen and the renewal of negotiations between the warring sides.

That seizure came as the Hamas government, led by Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, was finishing negotiations with the more moderate Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas, on a political document that might have allowed the renewal of negotiations with Israel.

If such an agreement were reached, the next step would be a renewal of negotiations aimed at persuading Bosnian Serb leaders to accept the peace plan drawn up by the five-nation "contact group," made up of the United States, Germany, France, Britain and Russia.

Lastly, the Union hopes that the gains made in the negotiations are preserved and that the Review Conference is able to take decisions that offer prospects for a rapid renewal of negotiations within the multilateral framework of the Convention, with the participation of all States involved.