But the mood was more jovial on Thursday as the three lobbed gentle barbs at one another and remarked on how cordial their negotiations had been.
Reached by telephone, Maurizio Fiorilli, an Italian government lawyer who heads a negotiating committee on restitution issues, described the negotiations as "cordial but tough".
Both the governor and the Republicans described negotiations as cordial and productive.
Mr. Willimon and Ms. Ostrow described the negotiations as cordial, but also acknowledged that the Flea was torn about whether to keep the play or let it go elsewhere in exchange for, say, a producing credit and financial royalty.
[Jonathan] Blum [Komen's legal counsel] characterized the negotiations as "cordial and productive".
Afghanistan and Russia are now engaged in what appear to be cordial and mutually beneficial negotiations to improve Afghanistan's defense, at the same time shoring up Karzai's increasingly shaky position and providing a counterweight to the United States' domination of the region.
But by standing with a Latin American nation against the encroachment of a colonial power, Cleveland improved relations with the United States' southern neighbors, and at the same time, the cordial manner in which the negotiations were conducted also made for good relations with Britain.
While most lawmakers agreed that budget negotiations have been more cordial since M. Jodi Rell became governor, at least when compared with the process under John G. Rowland, the talks have hardly been tension-free.
McKinnis spoke separately to reporters and said the negotiations to date had been cordial but that a gap remains on dollar amounts for a contract extension.
