Voice of America Digest, 2 October 1995

From: yanni@ix.netcom.com (Ioannis Bousnakis)

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] !!! VOA DIGEST - OCTOBER 2, 1995 !!!

AUSTRALIA / BOMB REACTION -- AUSTRALIA HAS EXPRESSED OUTRAGE AT THE DETONATION BY FRANCE OF ITS SECOND NUCLEAR DEVICE IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. PRIME MINISTER PAUL KEATING CALLED THE SECOND TEST "DEPLORABLE." THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR TO AUSTRALIA WAS SUMMONED TO PARLIAMENT HOUSE IN CANBERRA BY THE ACTING MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS BOB MCMULLAN. STRINGER ROBIN POKE REPORTS FROM CANBERRA. (10/2)

FRANCE / NUCLEAR -- THE ECOLOGICAL ORGANIZATION GREENPEACE HAS CALLED FOR FRANCE'S DIPLOMATIC ISOLATION AFTER FRANCE EXPLODED THE SECOND IN A SERIES OF NUCLEAR DEVICES IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. STRINGER JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS. (10/02)

US / FRANCE / NUCLEAR -- THE UNITED STATES HAS JOINED THE INTERNATIONAL CHORUS OF COUNTRIES CONDEMNING FRANCE'S LATEST NUCLEAR TEST IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. CORRESPONDENT VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS A WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN HAS ONCE AGAIN CALLED ON PARIS TO REFRAIN FROM FURTHER TESTS. (10/2)

EU / NUKES -- EUROPEAN UNION OFFICIALS SAY THEY ASKED THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT ON FRIDAY TO POSTPONE ITS SECOND NUCLEAR TEST IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. BUT FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC IGNORED THE DEMAND. STRINGER JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS. (10/2)

FRANCE / NUCLEAR -- FRANCE EXPLODED THE SECOND OF ITS NUCLEAR DEVICES IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. THE FIRST TEST FOUR-WEEKS AGO SPARKED A STORM OF PROTESTS WORLDWIDE. STRINGER JULIAN NUNDY REPORTED. (10/1)

BOSNIA / FIGHTING -- AMERICAN PEACE ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE HAS RETURNED TO SARAJEVO TO PURSUE A CEASE FIRE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. HOPES FOR A NATIONWIDE CEASE FIRE ARE DIM IN THE WAKE OF HEAVY FIGHTING IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA WHERE SERB FORCES ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE LAUNCHED A COUNTER-OFFENSIVE AGAINST GOVERNMENT TROOPS. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (10/2)

UN / CROATIA -- THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS THE MISTREATMENT OF ETHNIC SERBS IN CROATIA AND THE LOOTING AND BURNING OF THEIR ABANDONED HOMES ARE CONTINUING DESPITE STRONG UN PROTESTS. IN A NEW DEVELOPMENT, REMAINING SERBS IN CROATIA ARE NOW BEING ROBBED. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (10/2)

YUGO / SITREP -- US PEACE ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE HAS MET WITH CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN, AND WITH THE BOSNIAN FOREIGN MINISTER AS HE CONTINUES HIS SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY IN THE BALKANS. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (10/1)

YUGO / TALKS -- AMERICAN ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE CONTINUES HIS SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY IN THE BALKANS TO TRY TO SECURE A CEASE FIRE AMONG THE WARRING PARTIES. BUT, DURING A STOP IN BELGRADE, MR. HOLBROOKE SAID HE DIDN'T BELIEVE PEACE WOULD COME ANYTIME SOON TO THE REGION. WAYNE COREY REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (9/30)

BOSNIA / SITREP -- AMERICAN PEACE ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE HAS RESUMED HIS SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. HE SAYS HIS LATEST TALKS WITH THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT IN SARAJEVO HAVE BEEN THE MOST PRODUCTIVE SO FAR. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS. (9/29)

US / CROATIA -- THE TOP AMERICAN HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL JOHN SHATTUCK HAS STRONGLY CRITICIZED HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AGAINST ETHNIC SERBS IN CROATIA. HE WARNS OF A POSSIBLE LOSS OF AMERICAN SUPPORT FOR CROATIA UNLESS THE RIGHTS OF THE SERBS ARE PROTECTED. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (9/30)

SENATE / BOSNIA -- THE US SENATE IS CALLING ON PRESIDENT CLINTON TO OBTAIN CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL BEFORE SENDING ANY AMERICAN TROOPS TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AS PEACEKEEPERS. BY A VOTE OF 94-TO-2, THE SENATE APPROVED A NON-BINDING RESOLUTION URGING THE PRESIDENT TO CAREFULLY SPELL OUT THE MISSION OF US TROOPS BEFORE THEY HEAD TO BOSNIA AS PART OF A NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE. CORRESPONDENT JIM MALONE REPORTS. (9/29)

CLINTON / BOSNIA -- IN WASHINGTON, PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS MET WITH MEMBERS OF THE US CONGRESS TO DISCUSS HIS BOSNIA POLICY, SPECIFICALLY, THE SIZE AND COST OF A US TROOP CONTINGENT THAT WOULD BE PART OF ANY NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE THERE. THE MEETING CAME IN RESPONSE TO COMPLAINTS BY SOME CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS THIS WEEK THAT THEY HAD NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY CONSULTED ON THE PRESIDENT'S PLANS. CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS. (9/29)

ALGERIA / ATTACK -- ISLAMIC MILITANTS IN ALGERIA HAVE KILLED 18 PEOPLE SUNDAY IN AN ATTACK ON A BUS. MEANWHILE, IN FRANCE, THERE WAS UNREST IN THE TOWN WHERE A SUSPECTED ALGERIAN TERRORIST, KILLED BY POLICE FRIDAY, USED TO LIVE. STRINGER JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS. (10/1)

FRANCE / TERRORISM -- ONE DAY AFTER FRENCH POLICE SHOT DEAD AN ALGERIAN WANTED FOR A SERIES OF BOMBINGS THAT KILLED SEVEN PEOPLE OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS, THE GOVERNMENT SAYS EMERGENCY SECURITY MEASURES WILL REMAIN IN FORCE. STRINGER JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS. (9/30)

FRANCE / TERRORISM -- FRENCH POLICE SAY THEY HAVE SHOT DEAD A YOUNG ALGERIAN WANTED FOR BOMBINGS BLAMED ON ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS IN FRANCE. STRINGER JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS. (9/29)

TURKEY / QUAKE -- AT LEAST 43 PEOPLE HAVE DIED AND MORE THAN 200 OTHERS HAVE BEEN INJURED BY AN EARTHQUAKE THAT ROCKED WESTERN TURKEY LATE SUNDAY. STRINGER AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA. (10/2)

GERMANY / UNITY -- FIVE YEARS AFTER THE UNIFICATION OF EAST AND WEST GERMANY, A PUBLIC OPINION POLL INDICATES EAST GERMANS ARE FEELING MUCH BETTER ABOUT THE CHANGES THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH. CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN. (10/2)

GERMAN UNITY / ANNIVERSARY -- FIVE YEARS AFTER ADOPTING A FREE MARKET ECONOMY, THE FORMER COMMUNIST EAST GERMANY IS STILL STRUGGLING. UNEMPLOYMENT IS HIGH AND MANY NEWLY PRIVATIZED COMPANIES IN THE EAST STILL RUN THE RISK OF FOLDING. BUT, AS STAFFER DAGMAR BREITENBACH REPORTS FROM BONN, THE "BLOOMING LANDSCAPES" CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL HAD PROMISED EAST GERMANS UPON UNIFICATION HAVE BEGUN TO TAKE SHAPE. (10/2)

ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS -- ISRAELI SETTLERS CROSSED ILLEGALLY INTO JORDAN MONDAY TO GAIN PUBLICITY FOR THEIR EFFORT TO BLOCK THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT'S PLAN TO GIVE CONTROL OF MUCH OF THE WEST BANK TO THE PALESTINIAN AUTONOMY AUTHORITY. FROM JERUSALEM, CORRESPONDENT AL PESSIN REPORTS DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FIRST WEEK FOLLOWING THE SIGNING OF THE LATEST ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PEACE ACCORD. (10/2)

ISRAEL / WIDER PEACE -- ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER SHIMON PERES CALLED ON SYRIA AND LEBANON MONDAY TO CONTRIBUTE TO MIDDLE EAST STABILITY BY MAKING PEACE WITH ISRAEL. THE ISRAELI OFFICIAL PRESSED HIS MESSAGE IN THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY JUST FOUR DAYS AFTER SIGNING AN AGREEMENT IN WASHINGTON EXTENDING PALESTINIAN SELF-RULE IN THE WEST BANK. CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (10/2)

EGYPT / TRIAL -- FOUR BRITISH BARRISTERS HAVE JOINED EGYPTIAN LAWYERS TO DEFEND MEMBERS OF THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD ON TRIAL BEFORE AN EGYPTIAN MILITARY COURT AT HAEKSTEP, SOME 40 KILOMETERS OUTSIDE CAIRO. THE 49 BROTHERHOOD MEMBERS ARE ACCUSED OF BELONGING TO AN ILLEGAL ORGANIZATION. STRINGER KIM REID HAS MORE FROM CAIRO. (9/30)

CLINTON / MIDEAST -- PRESIDENT CLINTON IS EXPRESSING CONFIDENCE ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION WILL LIVE UP TO THEIR COMMITMENTS TO THE JUST-SIGNED PEACE ACCORD EXTENDING SELF-RULE TO PALESTINIANS LIVING IN THE WEST BANK. CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS. (9/29)

CHRISTOPHER / SYRIA -- THE UNITED STATES IS SHIFTING ITS ATTENTION TO THE STALLED ISRAEL-SYRIA TALKS NOW THAT THE SECOND ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN AGREEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS. (9/29)

AFGHANISTAN / UN -- A UNITED NATIONS ENVOY IS SHUTTLING BETWEEN RIVAL LEADERS IN AFGHANISTAN TO DISCUSS A POSSIBLE CEASE FIRE. CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD THE UN REPRESENTATIVE HAS HELD TALKS WITH A NORTHERN MILITARY COMMANDER AND HIS MAJOR RIVAL. (10/2)

UN / AFGHANISTAN UPDATE -- A UN ENVOY SAYS TWO RIVAL LEADERS IN AFGHANISTAN HAVE ACCEPTED SOME CONDITIONS FOR A PROPOSED CEASE FIRE. BUT ISLAMABAD CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN REPORTS MORE WORK REMAINS AHEAD BEFORE A TRUCE CAN BE REALIZED. (10/2)

BRITAIN / CHINA -- CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER QIAN QICHEN IS IN LONDON AT THE START OF A TWO-DAY VISIT THAT INCLUDES MEETINGS WITH SENIOR BRITISH OFFICIALS, INCLUDING PRIME MINISTER JOHN MAJOR, AND BUSINESSMEN. CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA IN THE BRITISH CAPITAL LOOKS AT THE ISSUES TO BE DISCUSSED. (10/2)

CHINA / US -- CHINA'S FOREIGN MINISTER QIAN QICHEN HAS TRIED TO CLEAR UP CONFUSION ABOUT THE STATUS OF CHINA'S CONTROVERSIAL NUCLEAR POWER DEAL WITH IRAN. VOA'S MICHELE KELEMEN REPORTS HE TOLD THE FOREIGN POLICY ASSOCIATION IN NEW YORK FRIDAY THAT CHINA HAS SUSPENDED THE DEAL, AT LEAST FOR NOW. (9/29)

CHINA / ECONOMIC NEWS -- A CHINESE COURT HANDS DOWN A STIFF JAIL SENTENCE TO AN AUSTRALIAN-CHINESE BUSINESSMAN ON CHARGES OF CORRUPTION. MEANWHILE, THE COMMUNIST PARTY CENTRAL COMMITTEE COMPLETES THE COUNTRY'S NEXT FIVE-YEAR PLAN. CORRESPONDENT STEPHANIE HO HAS THIS ROUND-UP OF ECONOMIC NEWS FROM BEIJING. (10/2)

CHINA / ANNIVERSARY -- SUNDAY IS THE 46TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA. CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER REPORTS TIANANMEN SQUARE IN THE CENTER OF BEIJING, IS FILLED WITH EARLY CELEBRANTS. (9/30)

HONG KONG / FUTURE -- CHINA IS FACING CALLS TO HOLD TALKS WITH ITS LONG-TIME ADVERSARIES IN HONG KONG, THE TERRITORY'S LEADING PRO-DEMOCRACY POLITICIANS. AS CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS FROM THE BRITISH COLONY, THE CALLS FOLLOW LEGISLATIVE POLLS IN HONG KONG LAST MONTH, IN WHICH PRO-DEMOCRACY CANDIDATES WON NEARLY HALF THE SEATS IN THE TERRITORY'S LEGISLATURE. (10/2)

KOREA / AUTO -- THE LAST-MINUTE AUTO TRADE AGREEMENT REACHED LAST WEEK BETWEEN SOUTH KOREA AND THE UNITED STATES AVERTED THE THREAT OF SANCTIONS AGAINST SEOUL. STRINGER SHIN NA REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (10/2)

BURMA / SUU KYI -- THREE WEEKS BEFORE BURMA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT RESUMES A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, A BURMESE DIPLOMAT IS QUOTED AS RULING OUT ANY DIALOGUE WITH DEMOCRACY LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI. CORRESPONDENT DAN ROBINSON REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU, THERE IS CONTINUING SPECULATION ABOUT WHAT POSITION AUNG SAN SUU KYI WILL TAKE ONCE THE CONVENTION GETS UNDERWAY AGAIN IN RANGOON. (10/2)

US / JAPAN / RAPE -- THE WHITE HOUSE HAS ONCE AGAIN EXPRESSED US REGRET OVER AN ALLEGED SEPTEMBER FOURTH RAPE OF A 12 YEAR OLD OKINAWA GIRL BY THREE US MILITARY PERSONNEL. REPORTER VICTOR BEATTIE SAYS A WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN EXPRESSES HOPE THE INCIDENT WILL NOT HARM BILATERAL RELATIONS. (9/30)

BOMB BLASTS -- TWO BOMB BLASTS HAVE INJURED OVER 30 SUPPORTERS AND OFFICIALS FROM CAMBODIA'S THIRD LARGEST POLITICAL PARTY. THE BLASTS CAME ON THE EVE OF A POLITICAL RALLY WHICH HAD BEEN BANNED BY THE TWO PRIME MINISTERS. STRINGER TRICIA FITZGERALD REPORTS FROM PHNOM PEHN. (9/30)

LANKA / WAR -- SRI LANKAN MILITARY SPOKESMEN SAY AT LEAST 12 SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN KILLED AND AT LEAST 50 WERE WOUNDED WHEN THE ARMY RECAPTURED A NORTHERN TOWN FROM TAMIL SEPARATIST GUERRILLAS. REPORTS SAY MORE THAN 25 GUERRILLAS WERE ALSO KILLED. CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE REPORTS. (10/2)

ECUADOR / VP RESIGNS -- A TWO MONTH OLD CORRUPTION SCANDAL IN ECUADOR HAS LED TO THE DOWNFALL OF THE VICE PRESIDENT. FACING CHARGES OVER THE MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS, THE VICE PRESIDENT WAS ASKED TO RESIGN BY PRESIDENT SIXTO DURAN BALLEN. STRINGER RAYMOND COLITT REPORTS FROM QUITO. (9/30)

ARGENTINA / ECON FUTURE -- ARGENTINA'S FOREIGN MINISTER GUIDO DI TELLA HAS REASSURED INFLUENTIAL NEW YORK INVESTORS FRIDAY OF HIS GOVERNMENT'S CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO ECONOMIC REFORMS AND ITS REFORM-MINDED ECONOMIC TEAM. CORRESPONDENT BARBARA SCHOETZAU REPORTS. (9/29)

KENYA / KOIGI VERDICT -- KENYA'S LEADING DISSIDENT, KOIGI WA WAMWERE, AND THREE OTHERS ESCAPED THE DEATH PENALTY AT THE CLOSE OF A MARATHON TRIAL CLOSELY FOLLOWED BY INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS. BUT THREE OF THE MEN WERE EACH SENTENCED TO SERVE FOUR-YEARS IN PRISON AND RECEIVE SIX-STROKES OF THE CANE. DEFENSE LAWYERS CHARACTERIZED THE VERDICT AS A TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE AND SAID THEY WOULD LAUNCH AN IMMEDIATE APPEAL. STRINGER SONYA LAURENCE GREEN HAS DETAILS FROM OUR BUREAU IN NAIROBI. (10/2)

NIGERIA / POLITICS -- NIGERIA'S MILITARY RULER, GENERAL SANI ABACHA, IS EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE A DATE FOR THE RETURN OF CIVILIAN RULE DURING A NATIONWIDE SPEECH ON SUNDAY. CORRESPONDENT PURNELL MURDOCK REPORTS FROM LAGOS. (9/30)

NIGERIA / SITREP -- SECURITY IS BEING STEPPED-UP IN NIGERIA, AHEAD OF A NATIONAL ADDRESS SUNDAY BY MILITARY RULER GENERAL SANI ABACHA. GENERAL ABACHA IS EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE HIS TIMETABLE FOR RETURNING THE WEST AFRICAN NATION TO CIVILIAN RULE AFTER SOME 30 YEARS OF CONTROL BY THE MILITARY. CORRESPONDENT PURNELL MURDOCK REPORTS. (9/29)

KWAZULU / WAR -- POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN SOUTH AFRICA'S STRIFE-TORN KWAZULU/NATAL PROVINCE SEEMS NEVER-ENDING. EACH DAY, NEW KILLINGS ARE REPORTED, MORE HOMES ARE BURNED, AND MORE PEOPLE ARE DISPLACED. CORRESPONDENT MALLORY SALESON HAS BEEN VISITING THE REGION'S HARD-HIT SOUTH COAST AREA AND REPORTS THINGS HAVE CHANGED LITTLE FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS. (10/2)

SOUTH AFRICA / GANDHI -- SOUTH AFRICA AND INDIA HAVE LAUNCHED A JOINT POSTAGE STAMP ISSUE TO COMMEMORATE MAHATMA GANDHI. STAFFER DELIA ROBERTSON IN JOHANNESBURG REPORTS THE LAUNCH COINCIDED WITH THE 126TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MAHATMA'S BIRTH. (10/2)

US / COMOROS -- THE UNITED STATES HAS CONDEMNED THE MERCENARY-LED REVOLT IN THE COMOROS ISLANDS. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS. (9/29)

CLINTON / BUDGET -- PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS SIGNED A SPENDING BILL TO KEEP THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RUNNING FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. AS WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS, THE MOVE AVERTED THE FURLOUGHS OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FEDERAL WORKERS. (9/30)

US / SECURITY -- THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS ORDERED HEIGHTENED SECURITY AT AIRPORTS AROUND THE UNITED STATES AS A PRECAUTION AGAINST POSSIBLE TERRORIST ATTACKS. VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY FEDERICO PENA DOES NOT CITE ANY SPECIFIC THREAT TO US AIRPORTS BUT SAYS THE MEASURE IS IN RESPONSE TO WHAT HE CALLS CURRENT AND FUTURE EVENTS. (10/2)

WALL STREET / PREVIEW -- AS THE MONTH OF OCTOBER BEGINS, THERE IS SOME NERVOUSNESS ON WALL STREET, BUT MOST ECONOMIC INDICATORS CONTINUE TO LOOK POSITIVE. CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS. (9/29)

NY / ECON WRAP -- STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE MIXED FRIDAY AS TRADERS MADE END-OF-THE QUARTER PORTFOLIO ADJUSTMENTS. CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS. (9/29)

SENATE / AMBASSADORS -- THE CHAIRMAN OF THE US SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS SAYS HE HAS REACHED AGREEMENT WITH THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION WHICH ALLOWS THE FULL SENATE TO CONFIRM 15 AMBASSADORS WHOSE NOMINATIONS HAVE BEEN BLOCKED FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS. CORRESPONDENT JIM MALONE REPORTS. (9/29)

CONGRESS / WEEK IN REVIEW -- MEMBERS OF THE US CONGRESS ARE BACK IN THEIR DISTRICTS THIS WEEK AFTER TAKING ACTION TO AVERT A BUDGET CRISIS ON OCTOBER FIRST. CORRESPONDENT PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS. (9/29)

WILSON QUITS -- CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR PETE WILSON HAS FORMALLY ANNOUNCED HIS WITHDRAWAL FROM THE RACE FOR THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION. CORRESPONDENT GREG FLAKUS REPORTS THE GOVERNOR MAY STILL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY AT THE CONVENTION NEXT YEAR. (9/29)

MEDICAL RESEARCH AWARDS -- SEVERAL SCIENTISTS WERE HONORED FRIDAY IN NEW YORK WITH THE ALBERT LASKER MEDICAL RESEARCH AWARD FOR THEIR WORK IN HELPING TO REVOLUTIONIZE THE FIELD OF IMMUNOLOGY. CORRESPONDENT CHRIS SIMKINS REPORTS. (9/29)

CLINTON / RADIO -- PRESIDENT CLINTON USED HIS SATURDAY RADIO ADDRESS TO CRITICIZE REPUBLICAN CUTS IN MEDICAID GOVERNMENT HEALTH INSURANCE FOR LOW-INCOME AMERICANS. THE PRESIDENT WARNS THAT THE REPUBLICAN PROPOSALS WOULD DENY NURSING HOME CARE TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ELDERLY AMERICANS, AND WOULD JEOPARDIZE THE US HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. REPUBLICANS, MEANWHILE, ARE DEFENDING THEIR PLAN, SAYING IT IS THE BEST WAY TO KEEP THE PROGRAM FROM GOING BANKRUPT. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS. (9/30)

SIMPSON / DELIBERATIONS BEGIN -- JURY DELIBERATIONS BEGAN MONDAY IN THE LOS ANGELES MURDER TRIAL OF OJ SIMPSON. THE AMERICAN SPORTS HERO-TURNED-ACTOR IS ACCUSED OF KILLING HIS EX-WIFE NICOLE SIMPSON AND HER FRIEND RONALD GOLDMAN IN JUNE 1994. AS CORRESPONDENT ALAN SILVERMAN REPORTS, AFTER MONTHS OF LISTENING THE JURORS NOW MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD. (10/2)

SIMPSON TRIAL / FRIDAY WRAP -- THE DOUBLE MURDER TRIAL OF FORMER FOOTBALL STAR OJ SIMPSON HAS COME TO A CLOSE AND THE CASE NOW GOES TO THE JURY. AS CORRESPONDENT GREG FLAKUS REPORTS FROM LOS ANGELES, A DECISION COULD COME AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK. (9/29)

HURRICANE / OPAL FORMS -- THE NINTH HURRICANE OF THE ATLANTIC AND CARIBBEAN SEASON HAS FORMED IN THE GULF OF MEXICO. CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE REPORTS FROM OUR MIAMI BUREAU HURRICANE OPAL IS LOCATED ABOUT 295-KILOMETERS WEST OF MERIDA, MEXICO, AND FORECASTERS SAY THE STORM WILL PROBABLY STAY FAR OUT IN THE GULF OF MEXICO FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. (10/2)

INSIDE USA:

OVERSEAS CHINESE / LA -- OVERSEAS CHINESE IN LOS ANGELES PARTICIPATED IN A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES ON OCT. 1, CHINESE NATIONAL DAY. IN ADDITION TO THE CELEBRATIONS, THERE WAS A SMALL DEMONSTRATION AT THE CHINESE CONSULATE, CALLING FOR THE RELEASE OF DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS, AND URGING THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS. STAFFER SHU KUO-FU COVERS THE DEMONSTRATION AND INTERVIEWS FENG SHUSEN, CONSUL- GENERAL, CHINESE CONSULATE, LA, JIANG WEN, PRES., US CHINA APPLIED TECH. AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, GU LIHUI, PRES., CHINESE STUDENTS AND SCHOLARS ASSOCIATION, UCLA, LIU ZIANLI, CHAIR OF CSSA, CALTECH, MO WEIQIANG, PRES., FEDERATION FOR A DEMOCRATIC CHINA, LA. (MANDARIN 10/2)

US / SUPER-COMPUTER / EXPORT CONTROL -- THE ADMINISTRATION IS TO RELAX RESTRICTIONS ON EXPORTS OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTERS. OPPONENTS FEAR THAT THE COMPUTERS WILL BE DIVERTED TO MILITARY USES, AND SAY IT IS A POLITICAL DECISION TO HELP THE COMPUTER INDUSTRY WHICH SUPPORTED CLINTON IN HIS 1992 CAMPAIGN. PROPONENTS ARGUE THAT AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS WILL SELL BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF POWERFUL COMPUTERS TO CIVILIAN CUSTOMERS AND THE US GOVERNMENT WILL MAINTAIN TIGHTER CONTROL OVER EXPORTS TO MILITARY CUSTOMERS. STAFFER TIEN YE INTERVIEWS ROBERT HALL OF JANES INTELLIGENCE REVIEW. (MANDARIN 10/2)

UN / 50TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS -- THE UN 50TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS AT THE CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE IN NEW YORK, AT WHICH UN GENERAL SECRETARY BUTROS GHALI SPOKE, AND ACTRESS MIA FARROW READ EXCERPTS FROM THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK. STAFFER ALEC BATCHAN'S REPORT. (RUSSIAN 10/1)

INDIA / UNGA -- STAFFER AKMAL ALEEMI REPORTS THAT PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER SARDAR ASIF AHMAD ALI, IN A SPEECH AT THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, CRITICIZED INDIA FOR FAILING TO HELP RESOLVE KASHMIR DISPUTE. STAFFER RAZI RIZVI REPORTS THAT IN HIS SPEECH TO THE WORLD BODY, INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTER PRANAB MUKERJEE ACCUSED PAKISTAN, WITHOUT NAMING IT, OF ACTS OF TERRORISM IN INDIAN KASHMIR AND AFGHANISTAN. (URDU 9/30)

UNGA / LATIN AMERICANS -- FOREIGN MINISTERS OF URUGUAY, CHILE, VENEZUELA, BOLIVIA AND COLOMBIA DELIVERED SPEECHES AT THE 50TH UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND TOUCHED ISSUES RANGING FROM CONTRIBUTIONS TO UN PEACE-KEEPING OPERATIONS TO ECONOMIC DECLINE OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AFTER THE COLD WAR. CORRESPONDENT LUIS TAMAYO REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (SPANISH 9/29)

TERROR / TRIAL / VERDICT -- EGYPTIAN CLERIC SHEIKH OMAR ABDEL-RAHMAN AND NINE OTHERS WERE FOUND GUILTY ON CONSPIRACY CHARGES, STEMMING FROM A PLOT TO CARRY OUT A SERIES OF TERRORIST ATTACKS IN NEW YORK AND TO ASSASSINATE EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK. STAFFER MOHAMED ATTIA SAAD REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (ARABIC 10/1)

WILSON / PRESIDENTIAL RACE -- CALIFORNIA'S GOVERNOR PETE WILSON ANNOUNCED THAT HE IS WITHDRAWING FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION RACE. CORRESPONDENT HECTOR VELAZQUEZ MEJIA REPORTS FROM LOS ANGELES. (SPANISH 9/29)

US / POLITICS -- IN A DIALOGUE WITH CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER JAY ROOT, STAFFER CLAUDE PORSELLA REVIEWED THE WEEK IN US POLITICS AND FOCUSED ON ROSS PEROT AND THE POSSIBLE CREATION OF A THIRD PARTY. (FRENCH 9/29)

OJ SIMPSON / TRIAL -- THE CASE AGAINST FORMER FOOTBALL STAR OJ SIMPSON, CHARGED WITH MURDERING HIS ESTRANGED WIFE NICOLE BROWN AND HER FRIEND RONALD GOLDMAN, IS FINALLY IN THE JURY HANDS. CORRESPONDENT HECTOR VELAZQUEZ MEJIA REPORTS FROM LOS ANGELES. (SPANISH 9/29)

CUBAN EXILES / CASTRO -- LEADERS OF CUBAN UNIONS IN EXILE SAID THEY OPPOSE ALL DIALOGUE WITH PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO'S GOVERNMENT UNLESS A BASE FOR DEMOCRATIZATION OF CUBA IS INCLUDED. CORRESPONDENT JORGE WEHBY REPORTS FROM MIAMI. (SPANISH 9/29)

YOUTH AND EDUCATION -- HAMZA YUSUF, AN ISLAMIC SCHOLAR AND TEACHER OF ARABIC IN CALIFORNIA WAS INTERVIEWED BY URDU STAFFER SALAHUDDIN AHMAD. HE STRESSED THE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THE RIGHTS OF MUSLIMS, WHO CONSTITUTE ONE FIFTH OF THE HUMAN RACE. (URDU 10/2)

ISLAMIC CALLIGRAPHY -- STAFFER KATAYOUN BEGLARI INTERVIEWS CURATOR, DR MASSOUMEH FARHAD AND REPORTS ON AN EXHIBITION OF MASTERPIECES OF ISLAMIC CALLIGRAPHY CURRENTLY ON DISPLAY AT THE SACKLER GALLERY. (FARSI 9/30)

FILM FESTIVAL OPENING -- FARSI STAFFER KATAYOUN BEGLARI PREPARED A REPORT ON THE OPENING OF THE SIXTH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF IRANIAN FILMS, WHICH OPENED THIS WEEKEND, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL. (FARSI 9/29)

NY / FILM FESTIVAL -- THE MOVIE CRITIC OF THE WEEKLY WESTSIDER PAPER MIKHAIL BRASHINSKY TALKED TO STAFFER ALEC BATCHAN ABOUT THE RISE OF THIRD WORLD FILMMAKERS, AND IN PARTICULAR ABOUT THE NEW CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED FILM FROM IRAN SHOWN AT THE FESTIVAL, WHITE BALL. (RUSSIAN 9/30)

CZECH CINEMA FESTIVAL -- JANNA STARY, CZECH CULTURAL ATTACHE, TALKED TO STAFFER JULIA BOSKY ABOUT THE FESTIVAL OF CZECH CINEMA, SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE. THIS INCLUDED THE FILMS OF MILOS FORMAN, BOTH CZECH AND AMERICAN AND WORKS OF CZECH FILM DIRECTORS PREDOMINANTLY OF THE FIFTIES AND SIXTIES. (RUSSIAN 9/30)

LATVIAN MUSEUM STAFF -- LATVIAN STRINGER AIDIS TOMSONS INTERVIEWED A GROUP REPRESENTING THE "MUSEUM OF OCCUPATION" IN RIGA, LATVIA, WHICH IS CURRENTLY TOURING THE UNITED STATES. THEY HAD JUST FINISHED A TOUR OF THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM. (LATVIAN 10/1)

POLISH IMMIGRANT / MOUNTAIN BIKES -- JAN KARPIEL, A FORMER POLISH NATIONAL SKI TEAM MEMBER, NOW OWNS A COMPANY WHICH MANUFACTURES HIGH TECH MOUNTAIN BIKES IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. INTERVIEW BY STAFFER MARGARET DEA. (POLISH 9/29)

AFGHAN / MUSIC -- STAFFER ZEBA ZAHER INTERVIEWED PASHTO SINGERS MANGAL AND NAGHMA WHO ARE ON A TOUR OF US, GIVING CONCERTS IN NEW YORK, WASHINGTON, DC AND CALIFORNIA. (PASHTO 9/29)

AFGHAN / HEALTH -- STAFFER ALAMI SPOKE WITH DR. VEGGEBERG ON BASIC FIRST AID TECHNIQUES THAT AFGHANS COULD USE. DR VEGGEBERG EXPLAINED HOW TO CLEAN AND DRESS WOUNDS WITH HOUSEHOLD MATERIALS IN ORDER TO HEAL FASTER AND AVOID INFECTION. (PASHTO 9/29)

AMERICAN CROATIANS / LANGUAGE COURSE -- STAFFER MIRJANA DEDAIC INTERVIEWED SNJEZANA FRANETOVIC AND SUSAN NICHOLS ON THE FIRST CROATIAN LANGUAGE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE THAT IS BEING CONDUCTED VIA VIDEO-TAPES. MS FRANETOVIC AND NICHOLS SAID THAT AMERICANS OF CROATIAN ORIGIN ARE VERY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE COURSE. (CROATIAN 10/1)

ADOPTIONS / RUSSIAN CHILDREN -- LINDA PEARLSTEIN, THE DIRECTOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION AGENCY CRADLE OF HOPE TALKED TO STAFFER JULIA BOSKY ABOUT A RECENT PICNIC IN ROCK CREEK PARK IN WASHINGTON DC FOR RUSSIAN CHILDREN, ADOPTED BY AMERICAN PARENTS. (RUSSIAN 9/30)

US SUPREME COURT / TALK TO AMERICA -- EACH YEAR, THE HIGHEST COURT IN THE LAND BEGINS A NEW SESSION ON THE FIRST MONDAY IN OCTOBER. 'TALK TO AMERICA' WELCOMES AS GUESTS UNIVERSITY LAW PROFESSORS HERMAN SCHWARTZ AND MR. PAUL ROTHSTEIN TO DISCUSS THE MAJOR CASES APPEARING ON THE COURT'S DOCKET THIS YEAR, AND THE INFLUENCE OF THE COURT AS AN INSTITUTION OF GOVERNMENT. (ENGLISH 10/2)

INSIDE AFRICA:

NIGERIA / GOVERNMENT IN EXILE -- ON THE EVE OF GENERAL SANI ABACHA'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF A 3-YEAR PLAN FOR CIVILIAN RULE, MEMBERS OF NIGERIA'S LEADING PRO-DEMOCRACY GROUP, NADECO, MET HERE IN WASHINGTON. NADECO'S US REPRESENTATIVE, CHIEF RALPH OBIOHA, CALLED FOR A GOVERNMENT IN EXILE. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/2)

NIGERIA / POLITICS REACT -- THE FOUNDER OF NIGERIA'S NATIONAL CONSCIENCE PARTY, POLITICAL ACTIVIST AND ATTORNEY CHIEF GANI FAWEHINMI, IS VERY CRITICAL OF PLANS FOR CIVILIAN RULE ANNOUNCED BY MILITARY RULER GENERAL SANI ABACHA. MR FAWEHINMI SPOKE WITH REPORTER JAMES BUTTY. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/2)

NIGERIA / ABACHA -- IN HIS MUCH-AWAITED NATIONAL BROADCAST, NIGERIA'S MILITARY LEADER GENERAL SANI ABACHA OUTLINED A SIX-PHASE POLITICAL PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDES THE INTRODUCTION OF A SIX-ZONAL, 30-YEAR ROTATIONAL SYSTEM OF POWER-SHARING AMONG THE COUNTRY'S REGIONS. THE ARRANGEMENTS KEEPS THE GENERAL IN POWER UNTIL 1998. ABACHA ALSO GRANTED CLEMENCY TO THE 40 PEOPLE ACCUSED OF PLOTTING A COUP, COMMUTING THEIR DEATH SENTENCES TO PRISON SENTENCES. AS FOR ABIOLA, THE MAN BELIEVED TO HAVE WON THE 1993 ANNULLED ELECTION, THE GENERAL SAID THAT'S A MATTER FOR THE COURTS. THE NIGERIAN LEADER ALSO LIFTED HIS BANS AGAINST SOME NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS. HAUSA STRINGER BABANGIDA JIBIRIN REPORTS FROM ABUJA. (HAUSA 10/2)

NIGERIA / ANNIVERSARY PREVIEW -- MANY NIGERIANS ARE HOPING MILITARY RULER GENERAL SANI ABACHA WILL USE TOMORROW'S 35 ANNIVERSARY BROADCAST TO ANNOUNCE A QUICK TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN RULE. REPORTER WILLIAM EAGLE SPOKE WITH BUSINESSMAN CHIEF CHRISTOPHER EZE IN LAGOS; FORMER GOVERNOR SAM MBAKWE IN OWERE; HOTEL EMPLOYEE CHRISTOPHER UCHECHUKWU IN LAGOS; AND ANGLICAN ARCHBISHOP OF ABUJA, PETER J. AKINOLA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 9/30)

NIGERIA / COMMONWEALTH -- THE COMMONWEALTH EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT GENERAL SANI ABACHA'S ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT RETURNING NIGERIA TO DEMOCRATIC RULE IN OCTOBER 1998. REPORTER RICHARD KOTEY SPOKE WITH THE COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY-GENERAL, CHIEF EMEKA ANYAOKU, FROM KINGSTON, JAMAICA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/2)

HUMAN RIGHTS / NIGERIA -- AMHARIC STAFFER TIZITA BELACHEW WROTE AND PRODUCED A FEATURE ON THE NIGERIAN HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION BASED ON A COUNTRY REPORT BY HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH AFRICA. THE REPORT CALLS UPON THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT OF GENERAL SANI ABACHA TO EXPEDITE TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY. THE WEEKLY FEATURE REVIEWED THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN NIGERIA FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. (AMHARIC 9/30)

ETHIOPIA / CARTER -- FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER DISCUSSED HIS TRIP TO EAST AFRICA IN A NEWS CONFERENCE IN ADDIS ABABA. STRINGER LAEKE MARIAM DEMESSIE REPORTS FROM ADDIS ABABA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 9/29)

LIBERIA / TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT -- THE TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT IN LIBERIA IS ONE MONTH OLD TODAY. ELWOOD DUNN IS A LIBERIAN AND A PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH IN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE. HE ASSESSES THE TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT'S FIRST MONTH IN OFFICE TO REPORTER JAMES BUTTY. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/1)

MALAWI / BANDA -- A FORMER POLICE CHIEF IN MALAWI TESTIFIED THAT THE FORMER GOVERNMENT ORDERED HIM TO KILL FOUR POLITICIANS IN 1983. STRINGER JULIUS KALIYA REPORTS FROM BLANTYRE. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 9/29)

WHO / AFRICA -- AT A JOINT ASSEMBLY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE GROUP OF AFRICAN, CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC COUNTRIES, DR. EBRAHIM SAMBA OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION DISCUSSED THE HEALTH CONCERNS OF AFRICA. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH REPORTER CATHERINE MADDUX, HE DETAILED PROGRESS IN THE AREA OF RIVER BLINDNESS, THE EBOLA EPIDEMIC AND MAINTAINING HEALTH SERVICES IN THE MIDST OF WAR. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 9/31)

NIGER / POLITICS -- FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MONTHS, THE NIGER CABINET HAS MET AND DISCUSSED ISSUES AFFECTING THE COUNTRY, WITHOUT CONFRONTATION AND DISAGREEMENTS. HAUSA STRINGER LAWAL BOUCAR REPORTED FROM NIAMEY THAT PRESIDENT MAHAMMANE OUSMANE AND PRIME MINISTER HAMMA AHMADOU BOTH ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS' MEETING. TOP ON THE AGENDA WAS THE APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTORS TO HEAD PUBLIC SERVICE DEPARTMENTS WHICH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ORIGINAL CLASH BETWEEN THEM. (HAUSA 9/29)

NIGERIA / KENYA -- KENYAN LEADER DANIEL ARAP AND HIS NIGERIAN COUNTERPART GENERAL SANI ABACHA HAVE MET TO DISCUSS ISSUES AFFECTING THEIR REGION AS WELL AS WAYS TO IMPROVE THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY. AT THE END OF HIS TWO-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO NIGERIA THE KENYAN LEADER ALSO TALKED ON STRATEGIES OF MAKING THE COMMONWEALTH ORGANIZATION AND NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT MORE VIABLE. HAUSA STRINGER BABANGIDA JIBRIN REPORTS. (HAUSA 9/29)

GHANA / ELECTIONS -- AS REGISTRATION BEGINS FOR EIGHT MILLION GHANIAN VOTERS, OPPOSITION PARTIES HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY ARE NOW WILLING TO ALLOW FOREIGNERS LIVING IN THE COUNTRY TO VOTE IN THE UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTIONS IN THE COUNTRY. STRINGER ABDULMALIK DANBIRNI REPORTS FROM ACCRA. (HAUSA 10/2)

COMOROS / DEVELOPMENTS -- STAFFER ABDUSHAKUR ABOUD SPOKE WITH ABDUL RAHMAN BARAMIA, A JOURNALIST IN THE COMOROS. MR. BARAMIA PROVIDED A SHORT PROFILE OF THE TWO CIVILIANS WHO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO ACT AS THE CO-PRESIDENTS OF THE COMOROS. HE ALSO SAID THAT THE OPPOSITION PARTIES REFUSED TO PARTICIPATE, UNLESS OR UNTIL, MERCENARY BOB DENARD LEAVES COMOROS. HE ALSO CONFIRMED THAT FRENCH WARSHIPS HAVE ARRIVED AND ARE VISIBLE FROM THE OUTSKIRTS OF MORONI, THE CAPITAL OF THE COMOROS. (SWAHILI 10/2)

COMOROS / COUP -- A RULING MILITARY COMMITTEE HAS BEEN SET UP IN COMOROS BY THE MERCENARY-BACKED REBELS WHO TOOK THE PRESIDENT OF THE INDIAN OCEAN ISLAND NATION HOSTAGE AND TOPPLED HIS GOVERNMENT. STAFFER JEAN-CLAUDE ANDRE ASKED YVES DUTRIO, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE FRENCH FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTRY WHAT ACTIONS, IF ANY, FRANCE WAS CONSIDERING. FRANCE CONDEMNED THE COUP BUT REFUSED TO INTERVENE MILITARILY AS SOME MEMBERS OF THE OUSTED GOVERNMENT HAD REQUESTED. ALSO INTERVIEWED WAS HACHIM SAID, COUNSELOR AT THE COMORAN EMBASSY IN PARIS. (FRENCH 9/29)

KENYA / SENTENCE -- A KENYAN COURT HAS CONVICTED KOIGI WA WAMERE ON CHARGES OF RAIDING A POLICE STATION. HE WAS SENTENCED TO FOUR YEARS IN JAIL AND SIX STROKES OF THE CANE. REPORTED BY STRINGER M G JOEL FROM NAIROBI. STAFFER TOM ATANDI INTERVIEWED KOIGI WA WAMWERE'S MOTHER AS WELL AS WITH MR. JAMES MAIGWA, WHO WAS RELEASED BY THE COURT WITHOUT CHARGES. (SWAHILI 10/2)

TANZANIA / MEDICAL STRIKE -- MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS IN DAR ES SALAAM WENT ON STRIKE MONDAY, DEMANDING A PAY INCREASE AND BETTER WORKING CONDITIONS. STRINGER PASCAL SHIJA REPORTED FROM DAR ES SALAAM. (SWAHILI 10/2)

UGANDA / HABITAT CELEBRATIONS -- ON MONDAY, UGANDA JOINED OTHER UNITED NATIONS MEMBER COUNTRIES IN HABITAT DAY CELEBRATIONS. STRINGER MIKE ARERENG REPORTED FROM KAMPALA. (SWAHILI 10/2)

NAMIBIA / GOVERNMENT-JUDICIARY DISAGREE -- THE NAMIBIAN GOVERNMENT HAS DISAGREED WITH THE JUDICIARY ON THE WAY COURTS HAVE HANDLED STRIKE CASES. THE NAMIBIAN GOVERNMENT CLAIMS LABOR TRIBUNALS HAVE BEEN CONSPIRING WITH STRIKING EMPLOYEES. STRINGER WILLIAM NYOKA REPORTS FROM NAMIBIA. (SWAHILI 10/2)

INSIDE MIDEAST:

MIDEAST / PEACE -- ANA GUEDES INTERVIEWED AMERICAN RESEARCHER JEREMY PRESSMAN ON WHAT IS BEHIND THE TABA ACCORD AND PROBLEMS OF IMPLEMENTING SUCH A COMPLEX AGREEMENT. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 10/2)

LEBANON / ISRAEL / CLASHES -- A GUERRILLA WAS KILLED TODAY IN A FIERCE BATTLE IN SOUTHERN LEBANON BETWEEN THE ISRAELI FORCES AND HEZBOLAH FIGHTERS. CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 10/1)

IRAQ / UN -- UN ENVOY ROLF EKEUS SAID IN BAGHDAD MANY ISSUES REMAIN TO BE CLEARED OVER IRAQ'S SECRET MILITARY PROGRAM. STAFFER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTED FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 10/1)

IRAQ / UN -- UN ENVOY ROLF EKEUS CONTINUES HIS MISSION IN BAGHDAD SEEKING MORE INFORMATION ON IRAQ'S GERM WARFARE PROGRAM. STRINGER SULEIMAN KHAIRALLAH REPORTS. (ARABIC 9/30)

KUWAIT / LABOR -- QUOTING A KUWAITI DAILY, STAFFER JUMANA TAMIMI SAYS KUWAIT WANTS TO DEPORT A NUMBER OF FOREIGN LABORERS AND TO TAKE LEGAL MEASURES AGAINST TENS OF FICTITIOUS FIRMS WHICH EMPLOYED THEM. (ARABIC 10/1)

OMAN / ISRAEL / TRADE -- THE GULF STATE OF OMAN AND ISRAEL HAVE AGREED TO EXCHANGE TRADE OFFICES EVEN THOUGH THE TWO COUNTRIES DO NOT HAVE DIPLOMATIC TIES. STAFFER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS. (ARABIC 10/1)

ALGERIA / CANDIDATES -- ALGERIAN NEWSPAPERS SAY ONLY FIVE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ARE QUALIFIED TO RUN FOR THE OFFICE. CORRESPONDENT IBRAHIM ABDIN REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 10/1)

LIBYA / PALESTINIAN -- MORE PALESTINIANS LIVING IN LIBYA WERE EXPELLED TO THE COUNTRY'S BORDERS WITH EGYPT, CORRESPONDENT IBRAHIM ABDIN REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 10/1)

EGYPT / PYRAMIDS -- EGYPT HAS CLOSED THE PYRAMID OF KHARE TO REPAIR A DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE BREATH OF VISITORS. STAFFER ZEINAB ABDELRAHMAN REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 10/1)

UNION ACTIVITIES / TUNISIA -- DURING THE LAST FEW DAYS, TUNISIA HOSTED SEVERAL INTERNATIONAL, ARAB AND LOCAL UNION ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING THE MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE BUREAU OF THE AFRICAN UNION ORGANIZATION WHICH DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN AFRICA. STRINGER RACHID MABROUK REPORTS FROM TUNIS. (ARABIC 10/1)

MOROCCO / MIDEAST PEACE -- MOHAMED BOUCETTA, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE MOROCCAN AL-ISTIQLAL PARTY AND HEAD OF THE MOROCCAN ASSOCIATION FOR SOLIDARITY WITH THE PALESTINIANS, TALKED TO STAFFER MOHAMED CHERKAOUI ABOUT HIS COUNTRY'S REACTION TO THE NEW PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI AGREEMENT. (ARABIC 9/30)

ALGERIAN ELECTIONS -- ALGERIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER, MOHAMED SALEH DAMBARI SAID IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER MOHAMED ATTIA SAAD IN NEW YORK, THAT THE ALGERIAN ELECTIONS WILL BE DEMOCRATIC AND WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE 16TH OF NOVEMBER, 1995. (ARABIC 9/30)

PALESTINIAN AMERICAN DEATH -- STAFFER MAHAMAT AHMAT ADAMOU ASKED JERUSALEM STRINGER PASCALE ZONSZAIN TO REPORT ON THE DEATH IN JERICHO OF A US CITIZEN OF PALESTINIAN DESCENT. AZZAM MOHAMMED RAHIM DIED WHILE IN CUSTODY OF THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY POLICE; NO DEATH CERTIFICATE WAS ISSUED AND HIS FAMILY SAYS HE WAS TORTURED; THE US EMBASSY IS INVESTIGATING. (FRENCH 9/29)

AFGHAN / POLITICS -- A MEETING OF THE AFGHAN LEADERS IN JEDA, SAUDI ARABIA, INTENDED TO BRIDGE THE GAP AMONG THE VARIOUS FACTIONS TO ARRANGE A CEASEFIRE, HAS ENDED UNSUCCESSFULLY. DARI STRINGER ABDUL HAI WARSHAN REPORTS THAT THE OPPOSITION INSISTED THAT PRESIDENT RABANI STEP DOWN AND THAT COMMANDER MASUD LEAVE KABUL BEFORE ANY MEANINGFUL TALKS CAN TAKE PLACE. (PASHTO 9/30)

IRANIAN FILM /TOKYO -- STAFFER KATAYOUN BEGLARI REPORTS THAT THE IRANIAN FILM, "WHITE BALLOON," TIED FOR FIRST PLACE AT THE TOKYO FILM FESTIVAL. JAFAR PAHANI DIRECTED THE FILM, AND THE SCREEN-PLAY WAS BY ABBAS KIA ROSTAMI. (FARSI 10/1)

CHINA / IRAN / NUCLEAR -- PRESS REPORTS ON CHINA/IRAN NUCLEAR COOPERATION ARE THE SUBJECT OF THIS WEEK'S "ATOM AND ENVIRONMENT" PROGRAM. STAFFER BEHRUZ ABBASSI INTERVIEWS REPORTER CON COUGHLIN OF THE LONDON "DAILY TELEGRAPH," WHO HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE STORY CLOSELY. COUGHLIN ASSERTS THAT THE COOPERATION IS IN AN ADVANCED STAGE. (FARSI 10/2)

UN / AFGHANISTAN -- THE HEAD OF THE UN PEACE MISSION TO AFGHANISTAN, MAHMOUD MESTIRI, HAS GONE TO KABUL FOR TALKS WITH AFGHAN PRESIDENT BURHANUDDIN RABBANI. DARI STRINGER ABDUL HAI WARSHAN REPORTS THAT THE UN DIPLOMAT IS TRYING TO ARRANGE A CEASE FIRE BETWEEN THE WARRING FACTIONS SO THAT NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE CAN BE RESUMED. (DARI, PASHTO 10/1)

INSIDE CENTRAL ASIA:

US / TAJIKISTAN -- FORMER US AMBASSADOR TO TAJIKISTAN STANLEY ESCADERO SAYS THE UNITED STATES HAS PROVIDED ABOUT ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN HUMANITARIAN AID TO THE STRIFE-RIDDEN CENTRAL ASIAN STATE. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER RAUF MEHRPORE, MR. ESCADERO ALSO SAID THAT THE UNITED STATES HELPS THE FORMER SOVIET REPUBLIC'S MOVE TO MARKET ECONOMY AND A DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT. HE SAID PEOPLE IN TAJIKISTAN HIGHLY APPRECIATE WHAT HE CALLED UNDESIGNING US ASSISTANCE TO RESTORE STABILITY AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY TO THE COUNTRY. MR. ESCADERO SERVED AS US AMBASSADOR TO TAJIKISTAN FROM 1992 UNTIL THIS SUMMER WHEN HE WAS NAMED US AMBASSADOR TO UZBEKISTAN. (DARI 9/30)

US / UZBEKISTAN RELATIONS -- ALTHOUGH THERE ARE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN OUR TWO GOVERNMENTS ON CERTAIN ISSUES, RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND UZBEKISTAN ARE QUITE CLOSE AND THEY ARE GETTING CLOSER, SAYS THE NEW AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO UZBEKISTAN, STANLEY ESCUDERO, IN AN INTERVIEW THAT WAS CONDUCTED JOINTLY BY UZBEK, PASHTO AND DARI SERVICES. AMBASSADOR ESCUDERO NOTED THE US PARTICIPATION IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS THE RECENT VISIT BY SECRETARY PERRY TO UZBEKISTAN AND UZBEKISTAN'S DEFENSE MINISTER AHMADOV'S PLANNED VISIT TO THE US AS EXAMPLES OF GROWING COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. THE HEAD OF THE VISITING UZBEK PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TO US, BAHODIR ESHANOV, ALSO EXPRESSED THE SAME ASSESSMENT IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER ABDUL MANNAN KAISKEN. (UZBEK 9/30)

AZERBAIJAN / HISTORY -- THE AZERI STRINGER RAFAEL HUSAINOV TALKED WITH PROFESSOR ISMI KHAN RAHIMOV, THE LEADER OF AN ANTI-SOVIET ORGANIZATION IN 1950'S (ILDRIM) AND HIS NEW BOOK ABOUT THAT ORGANIZATION. (AZERI 10/2)

INSIDE SOUTH ASIA:

PAKISTAN / YOUTH CONFERENCE -- URDU STAFFER YASMIN JAMIL INTERVIEWED NAEEM QURESHI MEMBER OF A PAKISTANI DELEGATION TO THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP TRAINING CONFERENCE HELD AT THE UNITED NATIONS RECENTLY. NAEEM SAID HIS DELEGATION HAS GATHERED NEW IDEAS ON WAYS TO CHANNEL THE ENERGIES OF PAKISTANI YOUNGSTERS TO MORE CONSTRUCTIVE ACTIVITIES. (URDU 10/2)

KARACHI / VIOLENCE -- KARACHI STRINGER QAISER MAHMOOD REPORTS MORE KILLINGS IN THE CITY SUNDAY FOLLOWING A STRIKE CALLED BY MQM, THE DOMINANT POLITICAL GROUP OF KARACHI. FOUR PEOPLE, INCLUDING TWO AIR FORCE OFFICIALS WERE KILLED AND MORE THAN TWO DOZEN VEHICLES WERE BURNED. MQM'S LEADER ALTAF HUSSAIN TOLD STAFFER RAZI RIZVI IN AN INTERVIEW FROM LONDON THAT PEACE TALKS WITH THE GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN STALLED BECAUSE OF WHAT HE DESCRIBED UNCONSTITUTIONAL MEASURES AND EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS OF MQM WORKERS BY AUTHORITIES. (URDU 10/1)

PAKISTAN / PLANNED PARENTHOOD -- DOCTOR ATIYA ENAYATULLAH PRESIDENT OF INTERNATIONAL PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION HAS SAID THAT THE RECENTLY CONCLUDED UN'S POPULATION CONFERENCE IN CAIRO WAS A LANDMARK FOR THOSE WORKING IN THE FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM AND EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN AND EQUAL ACCESS TO EDUCATION. SHE MADE THE COMMENTS AFTER ATTENDING THE CAIRO AND BEIJING CONFERENCES IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER SAFIA KAZIM. (URDU 9/25)

INSIDE EAST ASIA:

HK REACTION / JIANG ZEMIN'S US VISIT -- JIANG ZEMIN WILL PAY A WORKING VISIT TO NEW YORK IN OCTOBER INSTEAD OF A STATE VISIT TO WASHINGTON AS REQUESTED EARLIER. IN ORDER TO AVOID CRITICISM IN THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS PRESIDENT CLINTON DECIDED NOT TO INVITE JIANG FOR A FORMAL STATE VISIT. JIANG IS NOT WILLING TO GO TO WASHINGTON WITHOUT FORMAL RECEPTION, SO HE CHOSE TO GO TO THE UN INSTEAD. STAFFER CHOU YUNTING IN HONG KONG INTERVIEWS CAO JINGXING, DEP. EDITOR- IN-CHIEF, ASIA WEEK, PROF. ZHENG YUSHUO, CITY COLLEGE OF HK, AND CHENG CHAOZE, RESEARCHER AT ASIA-PACIFIC INSTITUTE, CHINESE UNIV. OF HK. (MANDARIN 10/2)

CLINTON / JIANG TO MEET -- PRESIDENTS CLINTON AND JIANG ZEMIN WILL MEET IN NEW YORK, SCRAPPING AN ORIGINAL PLAN FOR THE CHINESE PRESIDENT TO PAY A STATE VISIT IN WASHINGTON. CLINTON IS PERCEIVED TO BE SUBJECTING EVERY MOVE TO HIS RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN STRATEGIES, AND THE CHINESE LEADER IS SAID TO BE ANXIOUS TO FIND OUT THE REAL INTENTIONS OF THE US IN REGARD TO TAIWAN. LAWRENCE NG INTERVIEWED CHENG CHEK YIM, SENIOR LECTURER, CHINESE UNIV., JAMES TSANG, SENIOR LECTURER, HONG KONG UNIV., AND SUNG LAP KUNG, CHAIRMAN, HK MONITOR. (CANTONESE 10/2)

CHINA / NUKE SALE TO IRAN -- CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER QIAN QICHEN SAID CHINA HAS NOT TERMINATED, ONLY TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED THE SALE OF TWO NUCLEAR REACTORS TO IRAN. EXPERTS BELIEVE THE ISSUE OF NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER MIGHT COMPLICATE EFFORTS TO PLAN A SUMMIT BETWEEN THE CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN AND PRESIDENT CLINTON. STAFFERS XU FENG AND CHIEN WEI REPORT WITH AN INTERVIEW WITH PROF. SHI TIANJIN, DUKE UNIV. (MANDARIN 9/30)

US / RELATIONS / QIAN QICHEN -- AT A BREAKFAST MEETING HOSTED BY THE US FOREIGN POLICY ASSOCIATION IN NEW YORK, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER QIAN QICHEN SAID THAT THE US POSITION ON TAIWAN IS STILL THE BASIS OF SINO-US RELATIONS, QUOTING FROM PREVIOUS BILATERAL COMMUNIQUES. MR. QIAN ALSO COMMENTED ON A POSSIBLE OFFICIAL VISIT BY PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN AND REPORTS OF CHINA'S CANCELLATION OF NUCLEAR SALES TO IRAN. STAFFER B AO SHEN WITH A LIVE FEED FROM NEW YORK. (MANDARIN 9/29)

CHINA ECONOMY / PECC -- PRESIDENT LI PENG MET WITH LEADERS OF ALL DELEGATIONS TO THE 11TH PECC MEETING AFTER IT ENDED ON SEPTEMBER 29. STAFFER CHOU YOUKANG COVERS THE MEETING IN BEIJING. (MANDARIN 10/2)

CHINA / TAIWAN / STUDENT EXCHANGE -- A VICE PRESIDENT OF BEIJING'S QINGHUA UNIVERSITY IS HEADING A 20-MEMBER DELEGATION OF TOP STUDENTS FROM COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN CHINA TO TAIWAN, PARTICIPATING IN A LOCALLY ORGANIZED STUDENT-EXCHANGE PROGRAM FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS ACROSS THE TAIWAN STRAITS. THE STUDENTS ARE IN TAIWAN DURING A PERIOD OF TENSE CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS. STAFFER TIEN KANGLIN IN TAIPEI INTERVIEWS QINGHUA UNIV. VICE PRESIDENT CHEN XI, NANKAI UNIV. STUDENT TAO QUMING, AND ZENG ZHAOREN, TAIWAN UNIV. (MANDARIN 9/29)

TAIWAN / CHINA / US RELATIONS SEMINAR -- THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION, A CONSERVATIVE THINK TANK IN WASHINGTON, DC, HELD A CONFERENCE ON US RELATIONS WITH CHINA AND TAIWAN. THE PANELISTS CALLED FOR AN OVERALL REVIEW OF THE US POLICY TOWARD CHINA AND TAIWAN, A POLICY DESCRIBED BY ONE PANELIST AS FATALLY FLAWED WITH AMBIGUITY RESULTING IN SUCCESSIVE CONCESSIONS ON THE PART OF THE UNITED STATES. STAFFER QI FENG COVERS FROM THE FIELD. (MANDARIN 9/30)

CHINA / PROFESSOR DING ZI-LIN RELEASED / REACTION -- PROF. DING ZILIN AND HER HUSBAND JIANG PEIKUN, PARENTS OF A VICTIM OF THE JUNE 4, 1989 CRACKDOWN AND BEST KNOWN FOR THEIR EFFORT TO COLLECT JUNE 4 VICTIMS' NAMES AND CONSOLE OTHER PARENTS, WERE RELEASED BY CHINESE POLICE YESTERDAY. THEY WERE DETAINED ON THE EVE OF WOMEN'S CONFERENCE FOR FEAR THEY MIGHT ATTEND THE CONFERENCE. STAFFER SHU KUO-FU INTERVIEWS LIU QING, PRES. OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA, MR. LIN, A FRIEND OF PROF. DING, AND CHEN JINGLI, HARRY WU'S WIFE. (MANDARIN 9/30)

CHINA / COURT CASES -- REPORTER SUSAN YACKEE SPEAKS WITH AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PRESS OFFICER, JUDITH ARENAS, ABOUT TWO COURT CASES IN CHINA. THE HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP HAS APPEALED TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO STOP THE PLANNED EXECUTION OF WANG JIANYE, CONVICTED OF CORRUPTION. THE ORGANIZATION IS NOW TAKING A LOOK AT THE CASE OF AUSTRALIAN BUSINESSMAN JAMES PENG, SENTENCED TO 18-YEARS IN JAIL ON CORRUPTION CHARGES. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 9/29)

CHINA / HONG KONG / PRESS FREEDOM -- BEIJING-BACKED WEN WEI PAO HAS ACCUSED TREND, AN INDEPENDENT HONG KONG MAGAZINE, OF FABRICATING REPORTS OF POWER STRUGGLES AMONG CHINESE LEADERS. PRO-BEIJING MEDIA HAVE STEPPED UP EFFORTS TO DISCREDIT INDEPENDENT HONG KONG NEWS MEDIA. ANALYSTS SAY AS 1997 APPROACHES, HONG KONG'S MEDIA MAY FEEL MORE PRESSURE FROM BEIJING. STAFFER CHOU YUNTING IN HONG KONG INTERVIEWS MING LEI, EXEC. EDITOR, TRENDS MAGAZINE, AND JAMES KENNY, LECTURER AT CHINESE UNIV. OF HK. (MANDARIN 9/30)

CHINA / BEIJING RESHUFFLES MILITARY LEADERSHIP -- BEIJING RESHUFFLED ITS TOP MILITARY LEADERSHIP, PROMOTING TWO YOUNG HARD LINE GENERALS AS VICE CHAIRMEN OF THE CENTRAL MILITARY COMMISSION. ANALYSTS SAY THIS IS AN INDICATION THAT JIANG ZEMIN IS TRYING TO CONSOLIDATE POWER. STAFFER CHIEN WEI IN WASHINGTON INTERVIEWS MILITARY SPECIALIST ZHU FANG, HO PIN, DEPUTY CHIEF EDITOR OF CHINA TIMES WEEKLY, AND CHINA WATCHER GAO XIN. (MANDARIN 9/30)

CHINA / FOREIGN POLICY / MILITARY LEADERSHIP RESHUFFLE -- EXPERTS SAY THAT THE RESHUFFLE WILL STRENGTHEN THE CONSERVATIVE WING OF THE MILITARY, WHICH IS LIKELY TO LEAD TO TOUGHER A POSITION ON TAIWAN. HOWEVER, ANALYSTS THINK THE NEWLY PROMOTED GENERALS WILL NOT PUT TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON JIANG ZEMIN BECAUSE THEIR POSITIONS ARE STILL INSECURE. STAFFER CHIEN WEI IN WASHINGTON INTERVIEWS MILITARY SPECIALIST ZHU FANG, HO PIN, DEPUTY CHIEF EDITOR OF CHINA TIMES WEEKLY, AND CHINA WATCHER GAO XIN, WHO ALSO COMMENT ON OTHER ASPECTS OF CHINA'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS. (MANDARIN 9/30)

HONG KONG / TOURISM -- TOURISM, THE SECOND LARGEST INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG WITH AN ANNUAL PROFIT OF 70 BILLION DOLLARS, IS EXPECTED TO BECOME HONG KONG'S NO. 1 INDUSTRY BY 2000. OF THE 10 MILLION TOURISTS VISITING HONG KONG EACH YEAR, MAINLANDERS FORM THE LARGEST GROUP, FOLLOWED BY TAIWANESE AND JAPANESE. (CANTONESE 10/2)

MILITARY EXERCISE / CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS -- TAIWAN AND CHINA BOTH CELEBRATE NATIONAL DAY IN OCTOBER. THIS YEAR, THE MILITARY EXERCISES THAT ARE PART OF THE CELEBRATIONS ARE ATTRACTING ATTENTION. TAIWAN SPECIALISTS SAY MILITARY EXERCISES CONDUCTED BY THE MAINLAND IN PAST MONTHS HAVE DEEPENED THE SUSPICION OF THE TAIWANESE AND HAS HAD A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE POLICIES OF POLITICAL PARTIES. TAIPEI STRINGER FAN DAOZHUANG INTERVIEWS ZHANG XU-CHENG, DPP LEGISLATOR, LIN ZHENG-YI, ACADEMIA SINICA, TAIWAN, ZHANG CHENG-ZHONG, TAIWAN DEFENSE MINISTRY, AND LI QING-PING, VICE DIRECTOR, CSRF. (MANDARIN 10/1)

CHINA / PORTRAIT OF MAO FOR SALE -- THE PORTRAIT TITLED "CHAIRMAN MAO GOES TO ANYUAN" WILL BE AUCTIONED NEXT WEEK. STAFFER HE PING IN HONG KONG INTERVIEWS LIU CHUNHUA, ARTIST OF THE PORTRAIT, WHO SAYS HE HOPES THE AUCTION WILL REFLECT THE VALUE OF THIS HISTORICAL ARTISTIC PIECE. ACCORDING TO HIM, THE ESTIMATED 2 MILLION YUAN IS FAR BELOW ITS REAL VALUE. CHEN DONGSHENG, CHAIRMAN OF CHINA GUARDIAN AUCTIONS CO., SAYS THE PORTRAIT HAS VALUE IN HISTORY, POLITICS AND ECONOMY, AND IT GOES FAR BEYOND A PIECE OF FINE ART. (MANDARIN 10/1)

FRANCE / NUKE / SOUTH KOREAN REACTIONS -- THE SOUTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT VOICED SHOCK AND DISAPPOINTMENT TO THE LATEST FRENCH NUCLEAR EXPLOSION IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. THE SOUTH KOREAN NEWS MEDIA GAVE A PROMINENT PLAY TO THE EXPLOSION, WHILE ENVIRONMENTALIST GROUPS STAGED DEMONTRATIONS PROTESTING THE FRENCH TEST IN FRONT OF THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE. CORRESPONDENT YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 10/2)

NORTH KOREA / NUCLEAR / KEDO -- NORTH KOREA THREATENS TO SEEK A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT DIRECTLY WITH THE US IF NO AGREEMENT ON TWO LIGHT-WATER REACTORS FOR PYONGYANG IS REACHED IN MEETINGS WITH THE KOREA ENERGY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION (KEDO) IN NEW YORK. NORTH KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY SAYS PYONGYANG WILL WATCH CLOSELY THE NEW YORK TALKS TO DETERMINE WHETHER KEDO IS A TRUSTWORTHY NEGOTIATING PARTNER. CORRESPONDENT YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 10/2)

NORTH / SOUTH KOREA / BEIJING TALKS -- INTER-KOREAN TALKS IN BEIJING ENDED WITHOUT ANY AGREEMENT. A SOUTH KOREAN DELEGATE SAID THAT BOTH PARTIES COULD NOT CLOSE A GAP OF DIFFERENCES. THEY AGREED IN PRINCIPLE TO MEET AGAIN, BUT NO DATE AND PLACE HAVE BEEN SET. CORRESPONDENT YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 10/2)

TWO SOUTH KOREAN STUDENTS / NORTH KOREAN VISIT -- TWO SOUTH KOREAN STUDENTS MAKING AN UNAUTHORIZED VISIT TO NORTH KOREA REPORTEDLY PLAN TO RETURN TO HOME TUESDAY THROUGH THE BORDER VILLAGE OF PANMUNJOM. CORRESPONDENT YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (10/2)

SOUTH KOREA / BURMA / HEROIN -- A BURMESE INSURGENT MILITARY GROUP REPORTEDLY SMUGGLED A LARGE AMOUNT OF HEROIN INTO SOUTH KOREA FROM BURMA. SOUTH KOREAN POLICE DISCLOSED THAT TWO KOREANS WERE ARRESTED AT A SEOUL HOTEL WHEN THEY WERE RECEIVING ABOUT 80 MILLION US DOLLARS WORTH OF HEROIN FROM AN AGENT FOR THE BURMESE GROUPS. CORRESPONDENT YONG KYUN LIM NOTES THAT IT IS THE FIRST TIME THAT BURMA IS INVOLVED IN DRUG SMUGGLING IN KOREA. (KOREAN 10/2)

INSIDE EUROPE:

HOLBROOKE / NEW BALKAN MISSION -- ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE STARTED A NEW ROUND OF BALKAN SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY BUT AFTER HIS FIRST SESSIONS IN SARAJEVO, BELGRADE AND ZAGREB THERE ARE NO SIGNS THAT THE CEASE FIRE IN BOSNIA IS IMMINENT. STRINGER DUSAN MASIC REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (SERBIAN 10/1)

HOLBROOKE / CROATIA -- STRINGER ZELJKO MATIC REPORTS FROM ZAGREB ON ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE'S TALKS WITH CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN. MR HOLBROOKE STRESSED THAT THE PEACEFUL REINTEGRATION OF EASTERN SLAVONIA WAS CRUCIAL TO THE SUCCESSFUL CONTINUATION OF THE PEACE PROCESS. (CROATIAN 10/1)

ZAGREB / HOLBROOKE VISIT -- WHILE HE WAS ON AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO ZAGREB, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE SAID THAT THE VIEWS OF THE WARRING PARTIES IN BOSNIA ARE STILL TOO FAR APART REGARDING CEASEFIRE. HE ALSO REITERATED THE US POSITION THAT THE QUESTION OF EASTERN SLAVONIA SHOULD BE RESOLVED PEACEFULLY. STRINGER STEVICA SUSA REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (SERBIAN 10/1)

BOSNIA / CROAT / MUSLIM RELATIONS -- STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO ON THE JOINT MUSLIM-CROAT PROJECT WHICH WILL ENSURE THE RETURN OF ALL REFUGEES, MUSLIM AND CROATS TO THE WEST-BOSNIAN BUGOJNO AREA. (CROATIAN 10/1)

BOSNIA / CROATIA / PEACE ACCORD -- PROSPECTS FOR PEACE IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA WERE DISCUSSED WITH CHRIS CVIIC, FELLOW AT THE ROYAL INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS IN LONDON, CHARLES KUPCHAN AND RICHARD HAAS, BOTH OF COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS IN INTERVIEWS WITH STAFFERS DZEILANA PECANIN, DZENITA MEHIC AND BOJAN KLIMA, THEY STRESSED THAT PEACE SEEMS TO BE APPROACHING BUT THAT MANY PROBLEMS REMAIN TO BE RESOLVED. (CROATIAN 10/1)

MONTENEGRIN PRIME MINISTER / NIN -- PRIME MINISTER OF MONTENEGRO MILO DJUKANOVIC GAVE AN INTERVIEW TO THE BELGRADE WEEKLY NIN. HE SAID THAT PODGORICA WILL STAY WITHIN YUGOSLAVIA ONLY AS LONG AS IT IS A DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY ASSURING EQUAL RIGHTS FOR MONTENEGRO. STRINGER BOSKO DJUKIC REPORTS FROM PODGORICA. (SERBIAN 10/1)

MACEDONIA / SERBIA -- MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT KIRO GLIGOROV HELD TALKS IN BELGRADE WITH HIS SERBIAN COUNTERPART SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. STRINGER DIANA TOSKA REPORTS FROM SKOPJE. (ALBANIAN 10/2)

SKOPJE / SOFIA RELATIONS -- MACEDONIAN-BULGARIAN RELATIONS ENTERED A NEW PHASE IN LIGHT OF THE WARMING OF RELATIONS BETWEEN SKOPJE AND ATINA. POLITICAL CIRCLES IN SOFIA ARE AWARE THAT THESE NEW RELATIONS BETWEEN MACEDONIA AND GREECE CAN HAVE FAR-REACHING EFFECTS. STRINGER ZELJKO BAJIC REPORTS FROM SKOPJE. (SERBIAN 10/1)

MACEDONIA / NO INTEGRATION OF YUGOSLAVIA -- PRESIDENT KIRO GLIGOROV OF MACEDONIA GAVE AN INTERVIEW TO THE BELGRADE WEEKLY NIN. HE SAID THAT THE INTEGRATION OF THE COUNTRIES OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA SHOULD NOT BE THE SUBJECT OF THE INTERNATIONAL DISCUSSIONS, SINCE SUCH A MOVE IS POLITICALLY UNREALISTIC AND UNACCEPTABLE. STRINGER ZELJKO BAJIC REPORTS FROM SKOPJE. (SERBIAN 9/30)

CROATIA / KRAJINA REFUGEES -- WHILE VISITING CROATIA, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, JOHN SHUTTACK, SAID THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT IS SUPPORTING THE RETURN OF THE REFUGEES FROM KRAJINA, AND IS AGAINST FORCED REPATRIATION OF THE BOSNIAN REFUGEES WHO ARE IN CROATIA. MEANWHILE, CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MATE GRANIC, UPON RETURNING FROM NEW YORK, EXPRESSED SATISFACTION THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS CONNECTING THE PROBLEM OF EASTERN SLAVONIA TO THE RESOLUTION OF THE BOSNIAN CONFLICT. STRINGER STEVICA SUSA REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (SERBIAN 9/30)

BOSNIA / SERB REFUGEES -- DESPITE GREAT EFFORTS TO SETTLE MORE THAN 129 000 REFUGEES FROM WESTERN AND CENTRAL BOSNIA, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE STILL ON THE ROAD MOVING TOWARDS FIFTY REFUGEE CENTERS. STRINGER DUSAN MASIC REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (SERBIAN 9/30)

EU / TURKEY -- EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN MINISTERS MEET IN LUXEMBOURG, TO DISCUSS AMONG OTHER THINGS, TURKEY'S EFFORT TO JOIN THE CUSTOMS UNION, BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. MEANWHILE, THE CARE-TAKER PRIME MINISTER OF TURKEY, TANSU CILLER, CANCELS A VISIT TO BRUSSELS DUE TO THE ONGOING POLITICAL CRISIS FOLLOWING THE COLLAPSE OF HER COALITION GOVERNMENT. STRINGER NUSRET OZGUL REPORTS FROM LUXEMBOURG. (TURKISH 10/2)

ALBANIA / OPPOSITION -- ALBANIAN SOCIALIST PARTY LEADER SERVET PELLUMBI SAYS THE RECENTLY APPROVED LAW BARRING FORMER SENIOR COMMUNIST OFFICIALS FROM PUBLIC OFFICE IS AIMED AT SILENCING THE OPPOSITION. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STRINGER ILLIRIAN AGOLLI, PELLUMBI, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE SOCIALIST (FORMERLY COMMUNIST) PARTY SAID HIS PARTY IS WORKING FOR A UNITED FRONT WITH ALL LEFTIST FORCES AGAINST THE RULING DEMOCRATIC PARTY. (ALBANIAN 9/30)

ALBANIA / TELECOMMUNICATIONS -- THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED A MEASURE FOR THE PRIVATIZATION OF THE COUNTRY'S TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM. GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN A. SHEHU TOLD STRINGER ILLIRIAN AGOLLI THAT ALBANIA HOPES TO ATTRACT INVESTMENTS FROM BIG WESTERN COMPANIES. (ALBANIAN 10/2)

EUROPEAN UNION / LUXEMBOURG -- FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION WILL DISCUSS FUNDS FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF THE COUNTRIES OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AT THEIR MEETING IN LUXEMBOURG. THEY WILL ALSO TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSITION THAT THOSE COUNTRIES SIGN REGIONAL AGREEMENT ON TRADE AND COMMON USE OF COMMUNICATION ENERGY NET. STRINGER DRAGAN BLAGOJEVIC REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS. (SERBIAN 10/1)

ROMANIAN PRESIDENT / WEST COAST VISIT -- STAFFER NICHOLAS DIMA REPORTS FROM SEATTLE ON PRESIDENT ILIESCU'S MEETING WITH BOEING AND MICROSOFT TOP EXECUTIVES AND THE ROMANIAN DELEGATION MEETING WITH WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL LEADERSHIP. NICHOLAS DIMA ALSO REPORTED FROM LOS ANGELES ON PRESIDENT ILIESCU'S VISIT TO UNIVERSAL STUDIOS AND HIS MEETINGS WITH CALIFORNIA INVESTORS. AND HE INTERVIEWED MR.THOMAS VAZAKI, VICE -PRESIDENT FOR SALES OF THE BOEING CORPORATION ABOUT EXPANDING TIES WITH ROMANIAN FIRMS AND THE PROSPECTS OF ROMANIAN AIRLINES TAROM PURCHASING NEW BOEING STATE-OF-THE-ART AIRCRAFT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. (ROMANIAN 9/30, 10/1)

SHUTTACK / GLABRIGHT PRESS CONFERENCE IN ZAGREB -- ASSISTANT TO THE AMERICAN SECRETARY OF STATE, JOHN SHUTTACK AND THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO CROATIA PETER GALBRIGHT HELD A NEWS CONFERENCE IN ZAGREB. THEY POINTED TO THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT THAT IT SHOULD BE MORE FLEXIBLE TOWARDS THE RETURN OF KRAJINA SERBS. STRINGER STEVICA SUSA REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (SERBIAN 9/30)

POLAND / CALL FOR RECONCILIATION -- PIOTR NOWINA KONOPKA, PARLIAMENTARY DEPUTY FROM THE OPPOSITION "UNION OF FREEDOM" PARTY REACTED TO A CALL FOR RECONCILIATION ISSUED BY FORMER LEADING DISSIDENT ADAM MICHNIK AND FORMER COMMUNIST, WLODZIMIERZ CIMOSZEWICZ. KONOPKA REJECTED THE INITIATIVE AS PREMATURE AND SAID IT WAS A POLITICAL PLOT TO HELP SUPPORT THE POST-COMMUNIST CANDIDATE, KWASNIEWSKI. INTERVIEW BY REPORTER WOJTEK MINICZ. (POLISH 9/28)

POLISH ELECTION -- SEPTEMBER 28 WAS THE REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR POLISH PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES. A FEW HOURS BEFORE MIDNIGHT, FOURTEEN CANDIDATES HAD REGISTERED, INCLUDING PRESIDENT LECH WALESA, ALEKSANDER KWASNIEWSKI, THE LEADING POST-COMMUNIST CANDIDATE, AND HANNA GRONKIEWICZ-WALTZ, A BANK PRESIDENT WHO APPEARS TO BE A SURPRISINGLY STRONG CONTENDER. STRINGER MARIA BNINSKA REPORTS FROM WARSAW. (POLISH 9/28)

POLAND / SHALIKASHVILI -- AT THE END OF HIS VISIT TO POLAND, GENERAL JOHN SHALIKASHVILI SAID THAT NATO HAS NO INTENTION OF STATIONING BALLISTIC MISSILES IN POLAND. THE CHIEF OF THE POLISH GENERAL STAFF, GENERAL WILECKI SAID THAT THE POLISH MILITARY WOULD COME UP TO NATO REQUIREMENTS. ON THE FIRST DAY OF HIS VISIT TO WARSAW, GENERAL SHALIKASHVILI MET WITH LECH WALESA AND PRIME MINISTER OLEKSY. CORRESPONDENT WOJTEK MINICZ REPORTS FROM WARSAW. (POLISH 9/28, 9/29)

POLAND / NATO -- THE POLISH AMBASSADOR TO THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL, HENRYK KRZECZUNOWICZ, SPOKE ABOUT A NATO EXPANSION STUDY WHICH WAS MADE PUBLIC ON SEPTEMBER 28TH. INTERVIEW BY STAFFER MAREK KRZYZANSKI. (POLISH 9/29)

NATO EXPANSION / RUSSIA -- LEOPOLD UNGER, OF THE BELGIAN DAILY 'LE SOIR' COMMENTED ON THE RUSSIAN REACTION TO THE NATO ENLARGEMENT STUDY. UNGER EXPRESSED THE OPINION THAT RUSSIAN OPPOSITION TO NATO IS MOSTLY DUE TO DOMESTIC POLITICAL CONCERNS, SUCH AS THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS. INTERVIEW BY STAFFER MACIEJ WIERZYNSKI. (POLISH 9/29)

SLOVAKIA / UNITED NATIONS -- FOREIGN MINISTER OTO SCHENK TOLD THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT SLOVAKIA IS COGNIZANT OF ITS POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC TIES WITH THE WEST AND WANTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN THE PROSPEROUS COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRATIC NATIONS IN EUROPE. SLOVAK STAFFER REPORTS ON MR SCHENK'S SPEECH. (SLOVAK 9/28)

BRATISLAVA / DEMONSTRATION -- SLOVAK POLITICAL AND CULTURAL LEADERS CALLED FOR A DEMONSTRATION IN BRATISLAVA TO DEMAND THE SLOVAK GOVERNMENT TO INVESTIGATE THE RECENT HIJACKING OF PRESIDENT KOVAC'S SON. SOME 15,000 PEOPLE ATTENDED. FORMER PREMIER CARNOGURSKY TOLD VOA THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS HINDERING THE INVESTIGATION AND THAT THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT THE SLOVAK INFORMATION SERVICE SIS HAS CONCEALED IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND CONTINUES TO HINDER POLICE INVESTIGATION. (SLOVAK 9/29)

INSIDE EURASIA:

SOROS FUND / SIBERIA -- ALEXANDER GOLDFARB, DIRECTOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOROS FUND TALKS TO STAFFER ALEC BATCHAN ABOUT SCIENCE FUNDING FOR SIBERIA. HE IS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE SOROS SCIENCE FUND, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE RECENT MILLION AND A HALF DOLLAR DONATION BY BORIS BEREZOVSKY, PRESIDENT OF THE LOGOVAZ FOR THE SUPPORT OF TRIPS ABROAD BY RUSSIAN SCIENTISTS. (RUSSIAN 10/1)

UKRAINE / YOM KIPUR -- KIEV CORRESPONDENT ISRAEL KLEINER INTERVIEWS YAAKOV BLEICH, RABBI OF KIEV AND ALL UKRAINE. THE AMERICAN-BORN RABBI SPOKE ABOUT THE RECENT REBIRTH OF JEWISH RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL LIFE IN INDEPENDENT UKRAINE. (UKRAINIAN 10/2 )

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY / CSCE -- STAFFER NADINE PIKAS REPORTS ON A CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING CONDUCTED IN PREPARATION FOR THE HUMAN DIMENSION IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW, SCHEDULED TO BE HELD IN WARSAW IN NOVEMBER. THE REPORT, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE ISSUE OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN UKRAINE, INCLUDES STATEMENTS BY MICAH NAFTALIN, ESQ., PRES. NATIONAL COUNCIL OF SOVIET JEWS; DR. P. MARSHALL, A PROTESTANT THEOLOGIAN, AND L. HOMER, PRES. LAW AND LIBERTY TRUST. (UKRAINIAN 10/1)

ECONOMIC REFORMS IN UKRAINE -- STAFFER ADRIAN KARMAZYN INTERVIEWS OLEXANDER YEMETS, A RANKING PARLIAMENTARIAN AND ONE OF THE LEADING PROPONENTS OF FREE MARKET REFORMS IN UKRAINE. (UKRAINIAN 10/2)

INSIDE LATIN AMERICA:

HURRICANE / NOEL -- HURRICANE NOEL RETREATS TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC, WHILE TROPICAL STORM OPALO GATHERS STRENGTH IN THE GULF OF MEXICO THREATENING COASTAL RESORTS. CORRESPONDENT JORGE WEHBY REPORTS FROM MIAMI. (SPANISH 9/29)

BOLIVIA / ITALIAN PHONE COMPANY -- BOLIVIA'S PHONE COMPANY PRIVATIZATION ADVANCED WITH AN ITALIAN FIRM BUYING 50 PERCENT OF ITS STOCKS. STRINGER JORGE GUZMAN REPORTS FROM LA PAZ. (SPANISH 9/29)

CHILE / CONTRERAS REQUEST -- THE GOVERNMENT OF CHILE REJECTED A REQUEST BY FORMER SECRET POLICE CHIEF MANUEL CONTRERAS TO SERVE AT HOME A SEVEN-YEAR JAIL SENTENCE FOR HIS PARTICIPATION IN FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER ORLANDO LETTELIER ASSASSINATION. STRINGER PATRICIO VARGAS REPORTS FROM SANTIAGO. (SPANISH 9/29)

HONDURAS / US -- THE US AMBASSADOR TO HONDURAS DISMISSED THREATS BY A CLANDESTINE GROUP AGAINST DIPLOMATS IF THE UNITED STATES REJECTS THE EXTRADITION REQUEST FOR A HONDURAN DRUG KINGPIN JAILED IN A US PRISON. STRINGER JUAN BAUTISTA VASQUEZ REPORTS FROM TEGUCIGALPA. (SPANISH 9/29) 02-Oct-95 6:32 PM EDT (2232 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America