"The club has been engaged in the process of negotiating with Don Cowie's representative for some months now, " Taylor added.

BBC: Cardiff snap up midfielder Cowie

Robert Zoellick, America's trade representative, who has extensive experience negotiating with the European Union and other key trading partners, has been nominated to be Ms Rice's deputy secretary of state.

ECONOMIST: More sticks, and the odd carrot | The

He was equally adept at the negotiating table, portraying himself not as the representative of a humiliated country but as the proud representative of a great power having to put up with a minor annoyance.

FORBES: Lessons for China from Russia's Ancien R��gime

His personal representative, Saeed Jalili, will lead Tehran's negotiating team in Kazakhstan.

WSJ: Iran Cools Nuclear Work as Vote Looms

Until quite recently, its negotiating positions, if it had any, were concocted by the permanent representative in Brussels on the eve of council meetings.

ECONOMIST: Charlemagne