Preconditions mean that the party coming to the table with America has to concede, prior to the talks, on some of the points the talks are to be about. Basically "If you don't agree with us on these points, we're not even going to talk to you."

Preparations, on the other hand, indicate such things as setting an agenda, lower-level meetings, deciding on the venue, joint statements, etc..

The future is waiting



That's not what we meant when we said you should work on your stroke.