Voice of America Digest, 3 October 1995

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] !!! VOA DIGEST - 10/3/95

MACEDONIA / BOMBING -- THE PRESIDENT OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA, KIRO GLIGOROV, HAS SURVIVED AN APPARENT ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS. (10/3)

HOLBROOKE / MILOSEVIC -- AMERICAN PEACE ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE IS MEETING WITH SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IN BELGRADE, AFTER TALKS WITH CROATIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN ZAGREB. MR. HOLBROOKE DENIES THAT HIS ATTEMPTS TO END THE WAR IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA ARE AT AN IMPASSE. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (10/3)

RUSSIA / BOSNIA -- BOSNIA'S PRIME MINISTER HARIS SILAJDZIC AND RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ANDREI KOZYREV HAVE ENDED A MEETING IN MOSCOW SAYING THEY ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE CHANCES FOR PEACE IN BOSNIA. CORRESPONDENT PETER COLLINS REPORTS FROM MOSCOW. (10/3)

US / NATO / BOSNIA -- NATO SECRETARY GENERAL WILLY CLAES IS IN WASHINGTON FOR TALKS WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON AND SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER ABOUT AMERICAN PARTICIPATION IN A NATO-LED FORCE TO PROTECT A PEACE AGREEMENT IN BOSNIA. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS. (10/2)

YUGO / HOLBROOKE -- AMERICAN PEACE ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE IS IN ZAGREB FOR TALKS WITH CROATIAN OFFICIALS ABOUT A CEASE-FIRE IN BOSNIA AND OTHER ISSUES. HE EARLIER FAILED TO MAKE HEADWAY TOWARD A CEASE-FIRE IN BOSNIA DURING TALKS WITH BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC IN SARAJEVO. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (10/2)

FRANCE / NUCLEAR -- FRANCE INSISTS IT WILL CONTINUE ITS SERIES OF NUCLEAR TESTS, DESPITE WIDESPREAD PROTESTS AGAINST THE TESTING. BUT STRINGER JULIAN NUNDY IN PARIS REPORTS THERE ARE SOME DOMESTIC PRESSURES ON THE GOVERNMENT TO REDUCE THE PROGRAM. (10/3)

FRANCE / TERRORISM -- FRENCH POLICE HAVE ROUNDED UP SUSPECTED ISLAMIC MILITANTS NEAR PARIS IN CONTINUING EFFORTS TO BREAK UP A TERRORIST NETWORK. MEANWHILE, AS STRINGER JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS, CONTROVERSY HAS BROKEN OUT OVER THE POLICE KILLING OF THE MAIN SUSPECT LAST WEEK. (10/3)

US-CHINA / MEET -- PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL MEET CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN IN NEW YORK ON OCTOBER 24TH. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE UNITED STATES IS TRYING TO CLEAR UP SOME MISUNDERSTANDINGS WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. (10/2)

SOUTH PACIFIC / FRANCE -- THE PRIME MINISTER OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA, JULIUS CHAN, SAYS NATIONS OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC FORUM WILL SUSPEND DIALOGUE WITH FRANCE BECAUSE OF ITS INSISTENCE ON CONTINUING NUCLEAR TESTING. MR. CHAN SPOKE IN NEW YORK WHERE HE IS TO ATTEND THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY. UN CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS. (10/2)

ISRAEL / YOM KIPPUR -- ISRAEL'S GOVERNMENT HAS WARNED ISRAELIS TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR BOMBS OR OTHER SIGNS OF AN IMPENDING TERRORIST ATTACK AS THE COUNTRY OBSERVES THE HOLIEST JEWISH HOLIDAY OF THE YEAR, YOM KIPPUR. CORRESPONDENT AL PESSIN REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM. (10/3)

ISRAEL / PEACE -- ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER SHIMON PERES SAYS HE IS CONFIDENT PARLIAMENT WILL APPROVE THE ACCORD SIGNED IN WASHINGTON LAST WEEK EXTENDING PALESTINIAN SELF-RULE IN THE WEST BANK. BUT, AS STAFFER MICHELE KELEMEN NOTED, THE ISRAELI OFFICIAL ADMITS THE VOTE WILL BE CLOSE. (10/2)

SRI LANKA / FIGHTING -- THE SRI LANKAN MILITARY SAYS IT HAS REPULSED A COUNTER-ATTACK BY TAMIL SEPARATIST GUERRILLAS. CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE REPORTS. (10/3)

LANKA / FIGHTING -- THE SRI LANKAN MILITARY SAYS AT LEAST 174 TAMIL TIGERS AND 27 TROOPS HAVE BEEN LOST IN FIERCE FIGHTING IN BOTH LAND AND SEA BATTLES IN THE NORTHERN JAFFNA PENINSULA. STRINGER JENNIFER MORROW HAS THE DETAILS. (10/3)

BANGLADESH / FLOODS -- IN BANGLADESH, MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE HAVE DIED AND NEARLY ONE MILLION ARE MAROONED AFTER FLOODS SWEPT THE NATION'S NORTHERN DISTRICTS. STAFFER ANJANA PASRICHA REPORTS THIS LOW-LYING REGION HAS BEEN INUNDATED FOR THE THIRD TIME THIS YEAR. (10/3)

BRITAIN / CHINA -- CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER QIAN QICHEN HAS ENDED TWO DAYS OF TALKS WITH BRITISH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM LONDON THE TALKS FOCUSED ESSENTIALLY ON HONG KONG. (10/3)

JAPAN / RICE / NORTH KOREA -- JAPAN HAS AGREED TO SUPPLY MORE EMERGENCY RICE SHIPMENTS TO NORTH KOREA TO MEET A GRAIN SHORTAGE ESTIMATED AT THREE MILLION TONS. CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER IN BEIJING REPORTS, THE RICE IS TO BE PAID FOR OVER A 30 YEAR PERIOD. (10/3)

NORTH KOREA / NUCLEAR -- TALKS ON IMPLEMENTING LAST YEAR'S NUCLEAR AGREEMENT WITH NORTH KOREA ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE IN NEW YORK TODAY. THE TALKS DEAL WITH THE FINANCING OF TWO ADVANCED NUCLEAR REACTORS FOR NORTH KOREA. REPORTER VICTOR BEATTIE IN WASHINGTON SAYS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION WANTS A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME TO THE AGREEMENT'S IMPLEMENTATION REMAINS A TOP PRIORITY. (10/3)

VIETNAM / ASSEMBLY -- AT THE OPENING OF A MONTH-LONG SESSION OF VIETNAM'S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TUESDAY IN HANOI, PRIME MINISTER VO VAN KIET READ A GOVERNMENT REPORT CALLING FOR CONTINUED HIGH ECONOMIC GROWTH AND GREATER ACTION AGAINST SMUGGLING, CORRUPTION, AND RURAL BACKWARDNESS. STRINGER DAVID BUTLER REPORTS. (10/3)

BELGIUM / ISLAM -- A BELGIAN COURT HAS CONVICTED SEVEN MEN ON CHARGES THEY PLANNED TERRORIST ATTACKS. BUT AS STRINGER JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS, THE LEADING FIGURE IN THE TRIAL WAS ACQUITTED. (10/3)

GERMANY / UNIFICATION -- GERMANS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE WALL THAT ONCE DIVIDED THEM ARE MARKING THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF REUNIFICATION TUESDAY. OFFICIAL CELEBRATIONS, WHICH ARE HELD EACH YEAR IN A DIFFERENT GERMAN CITY, ARE TO TAKE PLACE THIS YEAR IN DUESSELDORF, WHERE LEFT-WING PROTESTERS HAVE ALSO BEEN STAGING ANTI-UNITY DEMONSTRATIONS. CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING REPORTS. (10/3)

ROMANIA / ECONOMY -- THE ROMANIAN MASS PRIVATIZATION PROGRAM HAS ENTERED ITS SECOND AND PERHAPS MOST CRITICAL PHASE. CORRESPONDENT BARRY WOOD REPORTS ALMOST 18-MILLION ADULT ROMANIANS HAVE UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR TO CHOOSE FROM AMONG FOUR-THOUSAND STATE ENTERPRISES IN WHICH THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE SHAREHOLDERS. (10/3)

KANSI / REWARD -- THE UNITED STATES IS OFFERING A TWO MILLION DOLLAR REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST OF MIR AIMAL KANSI, THE LEADING SUSPECT IN THE KILLING OF TWO PEOPLE AND THE WOUNDING OF THREE OTHERS OUTSIDE THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY IN 1993. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS. (10/2)

US / NIGERIA / MILITARY -- THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS EXPRESSING DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY NIGERIA'S MILITARY RULER TO REMAIN IN POWER FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS. GENERAL SANI ABACHA ANNOUNCED HIS DECISION IN A NATIONWIDE SPEECH SUNDAY. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS. (10/2)

OJ SIMPSON / VERDICT -- AFTER LESS THAN A DAY OF DELIBERATIONS, JURORS IN THE OJ SIMPSON MURDER TRIAL HAVE REACHED A VERDICT TO BE REVEALED TUESDAY. THE FORMER ATHLETE IS CHARGED WITH KILLING HIS WIFE AND HER FRIEND, IN JUNE 1994. LOS ANGELES CORRESPONDENT ALAN SILVERMAN REPORTS ON (MONDAY'S) REMARKABLE DEVELOPMENTS. (10/2)

CLINTON / DOMESTIC VIOLENCE -- PRESIDENT CLINTON IS CALLING FOR A NATIONAL COMMITMENT TO END VIOLENCE AND ABUSE WITHIN THE FAMILY. HIS COMMENTS CAME AT A WHITE HOUSE CEREMONY MARKING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MONTH IN THE UNITED STATES. CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS. (10/2)

US / EU / CUBA -- THE UNITED STATES INTENDS TO DISCUSS WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION AN EU DECISION TO OPEN AN EXPLORATORY DIALOGUE WITH CUBA ON POSSIBLE FUTURE RELATIONS. REPORTER VICTOR BEATTIE IN WASHINGTON SAYS THE UNITED STATES HAS APPEALED TO THE EU TO THINK TWICE BEFORE TAKING SUCH A STEP. (10/3)

ECUADOR / CORRUPTION -- IN ECUADOR, A THREE-MONTH OLD CORRUPTION SCANDAL HAS NOW LED TO CONGRESSIONAL IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS AGAINST THE VICE PRESIDENT, WHICH COULD LEAD TO HIS REMOVAL FROM OFFICE. VICE-PRESIDENT ALBERTO DAHIK NOT ONLY DENIED THE ACCUSATIONS OF FRAUD BUT HURLED CORRUPTION CHARGES AGAINST CONGRESSMEN AND JUDGES. STRINGER RAYMOND COLLITT IN QUITO, ECUADOR, REPORTS. (10/3)

CONGRESS / POLL -- A NEW PUBLIC OPINION POLL HAS SOME GOOD NEWS FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON AND SOME BAD NEWS FOR THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED CONGRESS. SENATE CORRESPONDENT JIM MALONE HAS DETAILS ON A NEW PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY CARRIED OUT BY THE WASHINGTON POST NEWSPAPER AND THE ABC TELEVISION NETWORK. (10/3)

POPE / US -- POPE JOHN PAUL FLIES TO THE UNITED STATES WEDNESDAY FOR A FIVE-DAY VISIT THAT WILL TAKE HIM TO NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, AND MARYLAND. AS STRINGER PEGGY POLK REPORTS, A HIGH POINT OF THE TRIP WILL BE THE POPE'S ADDRESS MARKING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE UNITED NATIONS. (10/3)

BOMB VERDICT / ANTI-TERRORISM SECURITY -- AFTER THE CONVICTION OF TEN MUSLIM RADICALS IN THE WORLD TRADE CENTER BOMBING WAS ANNOUNCED, US AIRPORTS AND OTHER PUBLIC PLACES WERE PUT UNDER HEIGHTENED SECURITY TO AVOID TERRORIST REVENGE. THIS VERDICT COMES AT A TIME WHEN THE POPE IS DUE TO VISIT THE US AND THE HEADS OF STATES OF MOST OF THE WORLD'S NATIONS CONVERGE ON NEW YORK FOR THE UN'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY. CURRENT AFFAIRS' ADAM PHILLIPS LOOKS AT THE PROBLEMS OF DEALING WITH TERRORISM. (10/3)

US / AIR TALKS -- US AIR, THE SIXTH LARGEST AIRLINE IN THE UNITED STATES, IS ENGAGED IN POSSIBLE MERGER TALKS WHICH WOULD CREATE A HUGE DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL CARRIER. CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (10/3)

HURRICANE OPAL / TUESDAY -- HURRICANE OPAL IS MOVING CLOSER TO THE GULF COAST OF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES. THE STORM LEFT AT LEAST SEVEN DEAD IN SOUTHEASTERN MEXICO AND FORCED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS TO EVACUATE THEIR HOMES. CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE REPORTS OPAL IS NOW ABOUT 750-KILOMETERS SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF THE MOUTH OF MISSISSIPPI RIVER MOVING NORTH-NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 13-KILOMETERS AN HOUR. (10/3)

ECONOMICS / SWEATSHOPS -- IN JUST OVER A YEAR, EMPLOYMENT IN THE US APPAREL INDUSTRY HAS DROPPED MORE THAN SIX PERCENT AND 67 THOUSAND JOBS HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED. CURRENT AFFAIRS' LINDA CASHDAN REPORTS THAT ANALYSTS ATTRIBUTE THE JOB LOSS TO VAST INCREASES IN THE NUMBER OF US GARMENT MAKERS WHO HAVE MOVED PLANTS TO OTHER COUNTRIES IN SEARCH OF CHEAP LABOR. (10/3)

ECONOMICS / BOOMER GENERATION -- SEVENTY-SIX MILLION BABIES WERE BORN IN THE UNITED STATES BETWEEN 1946 AND 1964, IN THE BIGGEST POPULATION EXPLOSION THE COUNTRY HAS EVER KNOWN. JUDY ERNEST, FOUNDER OF THE "BOOMER INSTITUTE" ANALYZES THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT GENERATION HAS HAD AND WILL HAVE IN THE FUTURE. CURRENT AFFAIRS' LINDA CASHDAN REPORTS. (10/3)

NATIONAL DEPRESSION SCREENING DAY -- THIS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5TH, AMERICANS IN EVERY STATE CAN GO TO ONE OF 2400 SCREENING CENTERS FOR A FREE SCREENING FOR THIS COMMON, HIGHLY TREATABLE BUT DESTRUCTIVE ILLNESS. CURRENT AFFAIRS' CAROLYN WEAVER INTERVIEWS HAROLD BLOOMFIELD, MD, AUTHOR OF "HOW TO HEAL A DEPRESSION," ABOUT CLINICAL SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION AND CURRENT TREATMENTS. (10/2)

HOPE IN HOUGH -- CORRESPONDENT PAUL FRANCUCH VISITED THE EAST CLEVELAND NEIGHBORHOOD OF "HOUGH," ONCE A PLAYGROUND OF THE WEALTHY BUT IN RECENT DECADES AMONG THE CITY'S POOREST COMMUNITIES, TO SEE HOW LOCAL RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO CHANGE THE PLACE FOR THE BETTER. (10/3)

THE FIGHT OVER THE LAST FRONTIER / ALASKA -- AS PRESSURES HAVE MOUNTED TO EXPLOIT MORE AND MORE OF ALASKA'S ABUNDANT FORESTS, SEAFOOD AND PETROCHEMICAL TREASURES, ENVIRONMENTALISTS, TOURISTS AND OUTDOOR SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS HAVE BATTLED TO PROTECT THE 49TH STATE'S PRISTINE NATURAL AREAS. CORRESPONDENT GREG FLAKUS VISITED SOME OF THE DISPUTED TERRITORY AND TALKED TO OFFICIALS IN THE STATE CAPITAL, JUNEAU, FOR THIS REPORT. (10/2)

NEW ORLEANS' ITALIANS / COLUMBUS DAY -- OCTOBER IS NATIONAL ITALIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN THE UNITED STATES. IT'S HIGHLIGHTED BY THE OBSERVANCE OF COLUMBUS DAY, A FEDERAL HOLIDAY NEXT MONDAY. IN MANY AMERICAN CITIES WITH LARGE POPULATIONS OF ITALIAN DESCENT, THE HERITAGE MONTH AND THE HOLIDAY ARE MARKED WITH FESTIVALS AND PARADES. AND CURRENT AFFAIRS' TED LANDPHAIR REPORTS THAT ONE OF THE MOST ENTHUSIASTIC, THE FESTA D'ITALIA, IS IN A NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, WHICH IS FAR BETTER KNOWN FOR ITS RICH FRENCH, SPANISH, CREOLE, AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN TRADITIONS THAN FOR ITS ITALIAN HERITAGE. (10/2)

CAROL CHANNING / NATIONAL PRESS CLUB -- NOW ON HER THIRD NATIONAL TOUR OF "HELLO DOLLY," CAROL CHANNING IS STILL PACKING IN AUDIENCES TO SEE HER PERFORM HER SIGNATURE ROLE AS MATCHMAKER DOLLY LEVI. CAROL CHANNING SPOKE TO THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB ABOUT THE SHOW, HER CAREER AND THE STATE OF THE BROADWAY THEATER TODAY. CURRENT AFFAIRS' ROBIN RUPLI REPORTS. (10/2)

RAISED BY WOLVES -- PHOTOGRAPHS AND STORIES OF RUNAWAYS. CURRENT AFFAIRS' CAROLYN WEAVER REPORTS ON A NEW EXHIBITION OF PHOTOGRAPHS, VIDEOTAPES, AND WRITINGS ASSEMBLED BY PHOTOGRAPHER JIM GOLDBERG, WHO SPENT SEVEN YEARS DOCUMENTING THE DANGEROUS LIVES OF TEENAGERS LIVING ON THE STREETS OF HOLLYWOOD AND SAN FRANCISCO. (10/2)

PACIFIC NORTHWEST BALLET -- AS THE CULTURAL SEASON OPENS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, CORRESPONDENT BARBARA SCHOETZAU TAKES A LOOK AT ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S LEADING BALLET COMPANIES, THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST BALLET, BASED IN SEATTLE. (10/3)

BLESSED RELIEF IN SAN FRANCISCO -- BEAUTIFUL OLD SAN FRANCISCO HAS A LOVELY NEW KIND OF STREET FURNITURE -- ATTRACTIVE PAY TOILETS IN ELEGANT OVAL KIOSKS ACCESSIBLE TO THE DISABLED. CORRESPONDENT TED LANDPHAIR REPORTS THAT IT TOOK ALMOST FOUR YEARS OF WRANGLING TO APPROVE THEM, BUT CITIZENS AND VISITORS ARE DELIGHTED WITH THESE COMFORT STATIONS, WHERE EVEN THE FLOOR GETS CLEANED AFTER EACH USE. (10/3)

SCULPTURE IN THE PARK -- A PUBLIC PARK IN THE MIDWEST CITY OF ST. LOUIS HAS BECOME ONE OF THE WORLD'S PREMIER LOCATIONS TO VIEW CONTEMPORARY SCULPTURE ALFRESCO. IT'S CALLED THE "LAUMEIER SCULPTURE PARK," A 47-HECTARE OPEN-AIR MUSEUM AND WORKSHOP THAT OPERATES IN A CONTINUAL STATE OF FLUX. CORRESPONDENT PAUL FRANCUCH RECENTLY PAID A VISIT AND HAS A REPORT. (10/2)

INSIDE USA:

SIMPSON / VERDICT / TALK TO AMERICA -- AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF TESTIFYING, DEBATING AND NUMEROUS JURY DISMISSALS, THE VERDICT OF THE OJ SIMPSON TRIAL IS IN. 'TALK TO AMERICA' IS JOINED BY LEGAL EXPERTS, DR LYN LEWIS, RITA SIMON, AND LAW PROFESSOR ROBERT COTTROL. THEY DISCUSS THE OUTCOME OF THE TRIAL AND ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM LISTENERS WHO WILL EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS. (ENGLISH 10/3)

OJ SIMPSON VERDICT -- FARSI WENT ON LIVE AS THE VERDICT WAS ANNOUNCED WITH A TWO-WAY WITH THE STAFFER MOHAMMAD RAZAVI IN LOS ANGELES WHO DISCUSSED THE DETAILS OF THE TRIAL AND THE MOOD IN LA. HE ALSO INTERVIEWED A LOS ANGELES-BASED, IRANIAN-BORN CRIMINAL LAWYER, WHO EXPLAINED THE TRIAL IN THE CONTEXT OF THE AMERICAN LEGAL SYSTEM. (FARSI 10/3)

OJ SIMPSON TRIAL / VERDICT -- THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES IS ANXIOUSLY AWAITING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE VERDICT IN THE DOUBLE MURDER TRIAL OF O J SIMPSON. STAFFER KUO-FU SHU REPORTS LIVE FROM LOS ANGELES. (MANDARIN 10/3)

THE OJ SIMPSON TRIAL -- UNEXPECTEDLY, IN LESS THAT 4 HOURS OF DELIBERATIONS, THE JURY IN THE MURDER TRIAL AGAINST FORMER FOOTBALL STAR OJ SIMPSON ANNOUNCED THAT IT REACHED A VERDICT THROWING THE COUNTRY IN A WHIRLWIND OF SPECULATION UNTIL THE DECISION IS REVEALED TUESDAY. CORRESPONDENT HECTOR VELAZQUEZ MEJIA REPORTS FROM LOS ANGELES. (SPANISH 10/3)

OPAL / UNITED STATES -- HURRICANE OPAL, AFTER CAUSING CASUALTIES AND DAMAGES IN MEXICO, THREATENS AN EXTENDED COASTAL AREA IN SOUTHERN UNITED STATES. CORRESPONDENT JORGE WEHBY REPORTS FROM MIAMI. (SPANISH 10/3)

ALERT / TERRORISM VERDICT -- NEW YORK CITY IS IN A STATE OF ALERT AFTER 10 MUSLIMS ACCUSED OF TERRORISM WERE FOUND GUILTY OF CONSPIRING TO BOMB BUILDINGS AND RIVER TUNNELS IN THE AREA. CORRESPONDENT LUIS TAMAYO REPORTS. (SPANISH 10/2)

SHEIKH / CONVICTION -- KHALED SAFOURI, DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN MUSLIM COUNCIL WAS INTERVIEWED BY STAFFER AMINA ELBISHLAWY ON THE JURY'S VERDICT AGAINST SHEIKH OMAR ABDELRAHMAN AND NINE OTHERS. (ARABIC 10/2)

ARAB-MUSLIM COMMUNITY / TRIAL VERDICT -- SEVERAL ARAB-MUSLIM AMERICAN LEADERS CRITICIZED THE JURY'S VERDICT IN THE TRIAL OF SHEIKH OMAR ABDELRAHMAN AND NINE OTHERS. STAFFER MOHAMED ATTIA REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (ARABIC 10/2)

US / TERRORISM -- REPORTER TERRY WING SPOKE WITH JEFF SIMON, AN INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT ON TERRORISM AND AUTHOR OF 'THE TERRORIST TRAP,' ABOUT THE JUSTIFICATION FOR STEPPING SECURITY IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE RAHMAN VERDICT. THEY ALSO DISCUSSED THE NATURE OF TERRORISM AND WHAT A GUILTY VERDICT WILL DO TO HELP REDUCED THE PROBLEM. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 10/2)

ETHIOPIANS IN AMERICA -- ONE ETHIOPIAN FAMILY RESIDING IN PHILADELPHIA HAS BEEN AWARDED BY THE ETHIOPIAN MUTUAL ASSISTANCE COMMUNITY IN THE PHILADELPHIA AREA FOR ITS DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO HELPING THE COMMUNITY. STAFFER ADDISU ABEBE INTERVIEWS MR. GIRMA, HIS WIFE, ALMAZ AND DAUGHTER, ELISABET. (AMHARIC 10/3)

FISHING / ENVIRONMENT -- STAFFER ELIZABETH MONNAC REPORTS ON THE ISSUE OF THE DEPLETION OF FISH DUE TO INDISCRIMINATE OVER-FISHING. SERGE GARCIA, FISH EXPERT AT THE FAO, SPOKE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF BALANCING THE NEED FOR FOOD AND THE NEED TO PROTECT THE OCEANS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. MR GARCIA ALSO SEES A ROLE FOR EXPANDED INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS ON FISHING. (FRENCH 10/2)

INDIA / STAR SINGER -- ONE OF THE MOST VERSATILE SINGERS OF INDIA, MANNA DEY ATTRACTED A LARGE AUDIENCE IN NEW YORK. STRINGER AMBALIKA MISRA INTERVIEWS THE INDIAN SINGER IN NEW YORK. (HINDI 10/1)

DURGA PUJA IN WASHINGTON -- HINDU BENGALEES OBSERVED THE RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL OF DURGA PUJA IN WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA. ASIM CHAKRABARTI REPORTS. (BANGLA 10/1)

INSIDE AFRICA:

NIGERIA / US REACTION -- THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION EXPRESSED ITS DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE TRANSITION TIMETABLE ANNOUNCED BY NIGERIA'S MILITARY RULER, DESCRIBING THE PROGRAM AS TOO LENGTHY. NIGERIA'S AMBASSADOR IN WASHINGTON, ZUBAIR KAZAURE, DESCRIBED GENERAL SANI ABACHA, WHO HAS VOWED TO STAY FOR THREE MORE YEARS IN POWER, AS TRUSTWORTHY. PRO-DEMOCRACY ADVOCATE CHIEF RALPH OBIOHA TOLD STAFFER, IBRAHIM AHMED, THAT TO SUBJUGATE NIGERIANS TO THREE MORE YEARS OF MILITARY FALLACY IS A GREAT INJUSTICE. (HAUSA 10/3)

GHANA / DELEGATION -- A DELEGATION SENT TO THE US AND EUROPEAN CAPITALS BY PRESIDENT JERRY RAWLINGS RETURNED TO ACCRA WITH GOOD NEWS. THE WESTERN ALLIES HAVE EXPRESSED WILLINGNESS TO SUPPORT THE FRAGILE PEACE PROCESS IN LIBERIA AND THE EFFORTS ECOWAS IS MAKING TO ENSURE STABILITY IN THE REGION. HAUSA STRINGER ABDULMALIK DANBIRNI REPORTS. (HAUSA 10/3)

NIGERIA / COUP TRIAL VIDEO -- A VIDEOTAPE OF THE TRIAL OF COUP PLOTTERS HAS BEEN SHOWN ON NIGERIAN TELEVISION, BUT DOUBTS REMAIN ABOUT WHETHER THE TRIAL WAS FREE AND FAIR. STRINGER BABANGIDA JIBRIL REPORTS FROM ABUJA. (HAUSA 10/2)

NIGERIA / REACT -- A LEADING MEMBER OF A NIGERIAN PRO-DEMOCRACY GROUP NADECO AND THE FORMER MILITARY GOVERNOR OF ADAMAWA STATE, COL. YOHANNA MADAKI, HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT GENERAL ABACHA'S PLAN TO STAY IN POWER FOR 36 MORE MONTHS. STAFFERS KABIRU FAGGE AND AHMED YERIMA REPORT ON THESE AND OTHER REACTIONS TO ABACHA'S ANNOUNCEMENT. (HAUSA 10/2)

NIGERIA / AMBASSADOR -- THE NIGERIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES, ZUBAIR KAZAURE, SAYS MILITARY RULER GENERAL SANI ABACHA IS A MAN OF HIS WORD. GENERAL ABACHA SAYS HE'LL TURN OVER POWER TO CIVILIANS IN 1988. THE AMBASSADOR SPOKE TO REPORTER KELVIN LEWIS IN WASHINGTON. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/3)

NIGERIA / REACTION -- THE STREETS OF NIGERIA'S COMMERCIAL CAPITAL, LAGOS, ARE CALM FOLLOWING THE INDEPENDENCE DAY SPEECH BY MILITARY RULER GENERAL SANI ABACHA. FROM LAGOS, REPORTER CHINEDU OFFOR HAS REACTION TO GENERAL ABACHA'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF HIS PLAN TO RETURN THE COUNTRY TO CIVILIAN RULE. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/2)

NIGERIA / NEWSPAPERS -- NIGERIAN MILITARY RULER GENERAL SANI ABACHA HAS LIFTED A BAN ON TWO INDEPENDENT PAPERS, THE 'CONCORD' AND THE 'PUNCH' LAGOS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/3)

IVORY COAST / DEMONSTRATIONS -- STRINGER MOHAMED ELBOU REPORTS FROM ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST WHERE DEMONSTRATIONS BY THE OPPOSITION CONTINUED DESPITE A BAN BY THE GOVERNMENT. THE OPPOSITION IS PROTESTING THE NEWLY ADOPTED ELECTORAL CODE THAT DISQUALIFIES THEIR CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS TO BE HELD LATER THIS MONTH. (FRENCH 10/2)

COMOROS / COUP -- STAFFER MAHAMAT AHMAT ADAMOU ASKED COMORAN JOURNALIST KEMAL SAINDOU TO REPORT ON THE SITUATION IN COMOROS WHERE REBELS BACKED BY FOREIGN MERCENARIES TOPPLED THE GOVERNMENT LAST WEEK. (FRENCH 10/2)

COMOROS / DEVELOPMENT -- STAFFER ABDUSHAKUR ABOUD SPOKE WITH COMOROS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER, MOHAMED MSHANGAMA, ON DEVELOPMENTS IN COMOROS. MR MOHAMED SAID CIVILIANS AND OPPOSITION PARTIES STILL REFUSE TO PARTICIPATE AND THAT THE PRESENCE OF FRENCH WARSHIPS IS DISTURBING. (SWAHILI 10/3)

COMOROS / COUP ANALYSIS -- POLITICAL OBSERVERS SAY THE ALLEGED LEADER OF THE COMOROS COUP, MERCENARY BOB DENARD, HAS RELIED ON SHEER DETERMINATION TO SURVIVE 35 YEARS OF ACTIVITY IN AFRICA. ENGLISH TO AFRICA REPORTER TALKS TO SAMANTHA WEINBERG, AUTHOR OF THE LAST OF THE PIRATES: THE SEARCH FOR BOB DENARD. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/2)

KENYA / PARLIAMENT -- KENYA'S PARLIAMENT REOPENS AFTER A TWO MONTH HOLIDAY, AND STRINGER MWAI GIKONYO REPORTS FROM NAIROBI. (SWAHILI 10/3)

KENYA / KOIGI -- STAFFER TOM ATANDI SPOKE WITH KOIGI WA WAMWERE'S LAWYER MIRUGI KARIUKI ON THE COURT RULING THAT CONVICTED KOIGI. THE LAWYER CLAIMS THE KENYAN GOVERNMENT CONVICTED KOIGI SO THAT HE WOULD NOT TAKE PART IN THE 1997 GENERAL ELECTIONS. (SWAHILI 10/3)

TANZANIA / STRIKE -- STAFFER ABDUSHAKUR ABOUD SPOKE WITH STRINGER PASCAL SHIJA IN TANZANIA ABOUT THE MEDICAL WORKERS STRIKE IN THE CAPITAL, DAR ES SALAAM. THE MEDICAL WORKERS HAVE NOW BEEN JOINED BY ELECTRICAL WORKERS. (SWAHILI 10/3)

UGANDA / STRIKE -- STRIKING MEDICAL WORKERS IN UGANDA RESUMED WORK AFTER PRESIDENT YOWERI MUSEVENI INTERVENED. STRINGER MIKE ARERENG REPORTS FROM KAMPALA. (SWAHILI 10/3)

CAMEROON / REBELS -- THERE ARE REPORTS OF UNUSUAL TROOP MOVEMENTS IN NORTHERN CAMEROON. REPORTER JULIUS BARTHSON SAYS THOSE TROOPS ARE APPARENTLY CHADIAN REBELS LOYAL TO FORMER PRESIDENT HISSENE HABRE. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/3)

ZAMBIA / KAUNDA -- ZAMBIA'S GOVERNMENT MAY PROSECUTE FORMER PRESIDENT KENNETH KAUNDA FOR MASQUERADING AS A ZAMBIAN CITIZEN. REPORTER RICHARD KOTEY SPOKE WITH A POLITICAL ANALYST AND ZAMBIA'S FORMER VICE-PRESIDENT, MAINZA CHONA, FROM LUSAKA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/3)

GAMBIA / JOURNALISTS -- GAMBIAN SECURITY AGENTS HARRASS TWO FOREIGN JOURNALISTS FOLLOWING THEIR ACQUITTAL OF SEDITION CHARGES. REPORTER CHIKELUBA KENECHUKU REPORTS FROM BANJUL. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/2)

GHANA / REGISTRATION -- A TWO-WEEK VOTER REGISTRATION EXERCISE BEGINS IN GHANA. REPORTER KOFI OPARE-ADDO REPORTS FROM ACCRA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/2)

IVORY COAST / PROTESTS -- IN IVORY COAST, OPPOSITION PROTESTORS CLASHED WITH RIOT POLICE IN DEFIANCE OF A BAN ON DEMONSTRATIONS. CATHERINE MADDUX TALKS WITH REPORTER MOHAMMED ELBOU IN ABIDJAN. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/2)

AFRICA / SPORTS WRAP -- STAFFER CLAUDE PORSELLA, IN COOPERATION WITH LIBREVILLE STRINGER FRITZ KOUM AND PARIS STRINGER YVES PINAUD, REVIEW THE RESULTS OF MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS IN AFRICA AND THE WORLD, INCLUDING QUALIFYING AFRICA CUP SOCCER GAMES, THE MARATHON IN BELFORT, FRANCE, AND THE WORLD BICYCLING CHAMPIONSHIP IN BOGOTA, COLOMBIA. (FRENCH 10/2)

ZAMBIA / KAUNDA -- THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING LEGAL ACTION AGAINST FORMER PRESIDENT KENNETH KAUNDA BECAUSE IT SAYS HE DID NOT RENOUNCE HIS PARENTS' MALAWIAN CITIZENSHIP UNTIL HE WAS ALREADY PRESIDENT. STRINGER KELLYS KAUNDA REPORTS FROM LUSAKA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/2)

MALI / MOVIE INDUSTRY -- FATIMA SIDIBE INTERVIEWS MALIAN FILM-MAKER CHEICK OUMAR SISSOKO WHO IS PARTICIPATING IN THE 33RD NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL ALONG WITH ONLY ONE OTHER AFRICAN FILM-MAKER, THE SENEGALESE DJIBRIL MAMGETI DIOP. MR SISSOKO TOLD MS. SIDIBE HIS MOVIE "GUIMBA", WHICH WON AWARDS AT LAST YEAR'S FESPACO FILM FESTIVAL IN OUGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO, WILL BE SUBTITLED IN AFRICAN LANGUAGES, SUCH AS ZULU TO FACILITATE ITS PROMOTION AND RAISE FUNDS FOR THE AFRICAN MOVIE INDUSTRY. (FRENCH 10/2)

RWANDA / GENOCIDE / WOMEN -- A REPORT ISSUED BY THE LONDON-BASED AFRICA RIGHTS GROUP INCRIMINATES MANY WOMEN IN THE 1994 GENOCIDE IN RWANDA. STAFFER MAIMOUNA MILLS REVIEWED THE ROLE OF RWANDAN WOMEN IN 1994 AND THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST THEM. THE REPORT INCLUDES ACTUALITIES FROM RAKIYA OMAAR, CO-DIRECTOR OF AFRICA RIGHTS. THE SECOND PART WILL FOCUS ON REACTIONS TO THIS REPORT WHICH SOME SAY IS EXAGGERATED AND FAILS TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT ROLES THAT WOMEN PLAYED DURING THE GENOCIDE. (FRENCH 9/29)

CFA DEVALUATION / IMPACT -- STRINGER MOHAMED ELBOU REPORTS THAT THE DEVALUATION OF THE CFA FRANC, SOME TWENTY MONTHS AGO SEEMS TO HAVE HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE SEVEN MEMBER-COUNTRIES OF THE WEST AFRICAN ECONOMIC AND MONETARY UNION. THIS WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE CENTRAL BANK OF WEST AFRICAN STATES, CHARLES KONAN BANE. (FRENCH 9/29)

AFRICA / HOSPITALS -- STAFFER MAIMOUNA MILLS, IN COOPERATION WITH INTERN FATIM SIDIBE, REPORTS ON THE PROBLEMS FACING PUBLIC HOSPITALS THROUGHOUT AFRICA. SHE INTERVIEWED GABONESE JOURNALIST MOISE MIKENI-DIENGUESSE, WHO WROTE AN ARTICLE DESCRIBING THE STRUGGLES OF AFRICAN HOSPITALS. ALSO INTERVIEWED WERE MALIAN GYNECOLOGIST MAMOU DIAKITE, WHO WENT INTO THE PRIVATE SECTOR BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTIES IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS, AND AWA COLL SECK, INFECTIOUS DISEASES PROFESSOR AND HEAD OF SERVICE AT A DAKAR HOSPITAL. (FRENCH 9/29)

INSIDE MIDEAST:

UN / AFGHANISTAN -- THE HEAD OF THE UN PEACE MISSION TO AFGHANISTAN, MAHMOUD MESTIRI, MET WITH THE LEADER OF HEZB-E-ISLAMI, GULBUDDIN HEKMATYAR, IN PAKISTANI BORDER TOWN OF PARACHINAR. DARI STRINGER ABDUL HAI WARSHAN REPORTS THAT THE TALKS WERE FOCUSED ON WAYS TO REOPEN PEACE NEGOTIATIONS AMONG THE WARRING FACTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN. EARLIER, THE UN DIPLOMAT HELD TALKS WITH AFGHAN PRESIDENT BURHANUDDIN RABBANI IN KABUL, AND WITH THE NORTHERN LEADER ABDUL RASHID DOSTUM IN MAZAR-E-SHARIF. MR. MESTIRI'S TEAM IS TRYING TO ARRANGE A CEASE FIRE AS A FIRST STEP TOWARD RETURNING PEACE TO THE STRIFE-RIDDEN COUNTRY. (DARI, PASHTO 10/3)

AFGHAN / POL -- STAFFER ZEBA ZAHER INTERVIEWED FOUR FORMER AFGHAN ARMY OFFICERS ON THE POSSIBILITIES AND POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF THE TAKE OVER OF KABUL BY THE TALIBAN. GENERAL ABDUL HAKIM KATAWAZI, FORMER COMMANDER OF GENDARME AND POLICE, SAYS THE TALEBAN HAVE NOT TAKEN ANY LARGE CITY BY BRUTE FORCE. RATHER, THE PEOPLE HAVE COOPERATED WITH THEM. HE SAYS THE PEOPLE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF FIGHTING AND LAWLESSNESS. HE ADDS THE SAME CONDITIONS STILL PREVAIL. WHILE COLONEL MOHAMMADULLAH SHO'B AGREES WITH GENERAL KATAWAZI, GENERAL SAYEED AHMAD HAIDARI SAYS THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS IN A STRONGER POSITION AND CAN DEFEND KABUL. (PASHTO 10/3)

IRANIAN OPPOSITION FIGURE -- STAFFER BEN ABBASSI INTERVIEWED IRANIAN OPPOSITION LEADER, DARIUSH FORUHAR, FROM GERMANY WHERE HE WILL SOON UNDERGO SURGERY. FORUHAR, FOUNDER AND HEAD OF THE IRANIAN NATION PARTY, SAID HE HAS ASKED HIS FOLLOWERS AND OTHER OPPOSITION GROUPS TO BOYCOTT THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS SCHEDULED FOR MARCH, UNLESS BASIC CHANGES ARE MADE IN THE ELECTION LAW. (FARSI 10/3)

IRANIAN WRITER / CRITIC -- FARSI'S LOS ANGELES STAFFER MOHAMMAD RAZAVI INTERVIEWED WRITER, CRITIC, AND PUBLISHER DR. MAHMOUD ENAYAT, ABOUT HIS CAREER IN IRANIAN INTELLECTUAL LIFE, INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY. PRIOR TO THE REVOLUTION, ENAYAT, WHO NOW LIVES IN L.A., EDITED THE TEHRAN LITERARY JOURNAL, "NEGIN." (FARSI 10/2)

PLO / ISRAELI AGREEMENT / SHURA -- THE ARAB AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AT THE SHURA COUNCIL IN EGYPT ISSUED A SUPPORTIVE STATEMENT AFTER DISCUSSING THE PLO-ISRAELI AGREEMENT TO EXPAND THE SELF RULE IN THE WEST BANK. CORRESPONDENT IBRAHIM ABDIN REPORTED FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 10/2)

ISRAEL / PEACE -- ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER, SHIMON PERES, SPEAKING AT THE UN SAYS THE PALESTINIANS ARE NOW FREE TO GOVERN THEMSELVES AND NO PALESTINIAN WILL BE UNDER ISRAELI RULE STARTING NEXT YEAR. STAFFER MOHAMED ATTIA REPORTED FROM NEW YORK. (ARABIC 10/2)

SYRIA / ISRAEL -- SYRIA'S DEFENSE MINISTER, MUSTAFA TLAS, SAID HIS COUNTRY IS STILL COMMITTED TO BRING PEACE TO THE MIDDLE EAST, BUT IT INSISTS ON THE RETURN OF THE GOLAN HEIGHTS BEFORE ENTERING IN A PEACEFUL AGREEMENT WITH ISRAEL. CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 10/2)

PLO / ISRAELI ACCORD -- FORMER EGYPTIAN WAR MINISTER AMIN HOWEIDI IS INTERVIEWED BY STAFFER IMAN RAFI' ON THE RECENT PLO-ISRAELI AGREEMENT TO EXTEND PALESTINIAN SELF RULE IN THE WEST BANK. (ARABIC 10/2)

ARAB LEAGUE / PALESTINIAN DEPORTEES -- ADNAN OMRAN, UNDER SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ARAB LEAGUE SAID THE LEAGUE IS DOING EVERY THING TO STOP THE DEPORTATION OF PALESTINIANS FROM LIBYA. STAFFER MOHAMED ATTIA REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (ARABIC 10/2)

EGYPT / SUDAN / IRAQ -- EGYPT'S FOREIGN MINISTER AMR MOUSSA IS INTERVIEWED BY STAFFER THABET ELBARDICY ON EGYPT'S RELATIONS WITH SUDAN AND IRAQ. (ARABIC 10/2)

LEBANON / PALESTINIANS -- JUDICIAL SOURCES IN LEBANON SAID LEBANESE AUTHORITIES WILL CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION WITH A PALESTINIAN LEADER ACCUSED OF THREATENING TO KILL A LEBANESE MINISTER FOR INSULTING PALESTINIANS. STAFFER JUMANA TAMINI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 10/2)

SEIFI / ALGERIA ELECTIONS -- ALGERIAN PRIME MINISTER MIQDAD SEIFI PREDICTS THAT HIS COUNTRY WILL COME OUT OF ITS CRISIS. CORRESPONDENT IBRAHIM ABDIN REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 10/2)

IRAQ / SANCTIONS -- THE MIDDLE EAST ECONOMIC SURVEY SAYS A NUMBER OF SENIOR IRAQI OFFICIALS ARE SUPPORTING BAGHDAD'S APPROVAL OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION WHICH ALLOWS IRAQ TO SELL LIMITED QUANTITIES OF OIL TO MEET HUMANITARIAN NEEDS. STAFFER JUMANA TAMINI REPORTED FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 10/2)

MOROCCO / SYRIA / AGREEMENT -- MOROCCO AND SYRIA SIGNED AN AGREEMENT FOR COOPERATION IN JUDICIAL MATTERS AND GUARANTEEING LEGAL PROTECTION FOR CITIZENS OF BOTH COUNTRIES. STRINGER MOHAMED BENDEDDOUCHE REPORTED FROM RABAT. (ARABIC 10/2)

EGYPT / TOURISM -- EGYPT'S INCOME FROM TOURISM DURING JULY WAS LESS IN COMPARISON WITH INCOME ONE YEAR AGO. STAFFER ZEINAB ABDELRAHMAN REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 10/2)

ALEXANDRIA / ANTIQUITIES -- A JOINT EGYPTIAN-FRENCH ARCHEOLOGICAL MISSION IS PREPARING TO BEGIN SALVAGING A RARE SET OF ARCHEOLOGICAL ARTIFACTS NEAR THE CASTLE OF QAYTABAY IN ALEXANDRIA. STAFFER ZEINAB ABDELRAHMAN REPORTS. (ARABIC 10/2)

.LEBANON / WORLD BANK -- LEBANON IS SEEKING FIVE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN LOANS FROM THE WORLD BANK TO EXPAND ITS ROAD NETWORK. CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 10/2)

OIC MEETING -- THE ORGANIZATION OF THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE HELD ITS ANNUAL CONFERENCE AT THE UN AND DISCUSSED SEVERAL ISSUES THAT CONCERN THE ISLAMIC WORLD. STAFFER MOHAMED ATTIA REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (ARABIC 10/2)

INSIDE CENTRAL ASIA:

AZERBAIJAN / POLITICS -- STRINGER RAFAEL HUSAINOV HAS INTERVIEWED ISA QANBAR, HEAD OF MUSAVAT PARTY, ABOUT THE EARLY STAGE OF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN AZERBAIJAN. MR. QANBAR TALKS ABOUT THE IRREGULARITIES IN THESE ELECTIONS AND THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT FULFILLED MOST OF ITS PROMISES ON THE ELECTIONS. (AZERI 10/3)

INSIDE SOUTH ASIA:

BANGLA STRIKE -- BANGLADESH PRIME MINISTER BEGUM KHALIDA ZIA AND THE FOUNDER OF GRAMEEN BANK PROFESSOR MUHAMMAD YUNUS HAS CRITICIZED THE 72 HOUR STRIKE OF THE OPPOSITION POLITICAL PARTIES. THEY SAY STRIKES ARE HURTING THE ECONOMY AND THE DEVELOPMENTAL EFFORTS. MATIUR RAHMAN CHOWDHURY REPORTS FROM DHAKA. (BANGLA 9/30)

INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTER / UNGA -- INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTER PRANAB MUKHERJEE IS ATTENDING THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION IN NEW YORK. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER ASIM CHAKRABARTI THE MINISTER TALKED ABOUT THE FRIENDLY RELATIONS BETWEEN THE US AND INDIA. HE ALSO TALKED ABOUT KASHMIR PROBLEM AND THE PROBLEM OF WATER SHARING BETWEEN BANGLADESH AND INDIA. (BANGLA 9/30)

GRAMEEN WORKSHOP IN BEIJING -- DURING THE WOMEN'S CONFERENCE IN BEIJING THE CHIEF OF GRAMEEN BANK PROFESSOR MUHAMMAD YUNUS WAS A KEY SPEAKER AT A GRAMEEN WORKSHOP. DR YUNUS EMPHASIZED THE ERADICATION OF POVERTY SPECIALLY AMONG THE WOMEN. STAFFER MASUMA FAHMI INTERVIEWED DR YUNUS, AND REPORTS. (BANGLA 9/30)

ISRAEL PLO ACCORD -- BANGLADESH HAS WELCOMED THE ISRAEL-PLO AGREEMENT SIGNED AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND PRAISED THE ROLE OF THE UNITED STATES. STRINGER MATIUR RAHMAN CHOWDHURY REPORTS FROM DHAKA. (BANGLA 9/30)

BANGLA FLOODS -- AT LEAST 23 PEOPLE DIED DUE TO FLOODS IN THE NORTHERN AREAS OF BANGLADESH. MORE THAN A MILLION PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED. STRINGER ZAHURUL ALAM REPORTS FROM DHAKA. (BANGLA 10/1)

GANDHI / COMMEMORATIVE -- THE YEAR LONG OBSERVATION OF MAHATMA GANDHI'S 125TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY CONCLUDED WITH THE ISSUING OF A COMMEMORATIVE STAMP JOINTLY IN INDIA AND SOUTH AFRICA. STAFFER BHAGWAN PRAKASH INTERVIEWED INDIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER, MANGAL MURTI IN PRETORIA. STRINGER AMBALIKA MISRA INTERVIEWED INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTER PRANAB MUKHERJEE IN NEW YORK WHERE HE IS ATTENDING THE UNGA SESSION. AND STRINGER KL NANDAN REPORTED ON THE OBSERVANCES IN INDIA. (HINDI 10/2)

GUJRAT / BJP -- THE REVOLT FROM WITHIN THE BJP, WHICH IS THREATENING THE STATE GOVERNMENT OF GUJRAT CHIEF MINISTER KESHUBHAI PATEL, IS ATTRACTING THE ATTENTION OF TOP LEADERS OF THE PARTY. BJP CHIEF, LK ADVANI RUSHED TO AHMEDABAD WHILE AB VAJPAYEE IS PREDICTING THAT HIS PARTY'S CHIEF MINISTER WILL BE ABLE TO PROVE HIS MAJORITY IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY. STRINGER REPORT. (HINDI 10/2)

INSIDE EAST ASIA:

US / CHINA RELATIONS / PECC -- STAFFER CHOU YOUKANG IN BEIJING INTERVIEWS PAUL KNAPP, PRESIDENT, CATALYST INSTITUTE, ADLAI STEVENSON, CHAIRMAN, ST&M INTERNATIONAL, AND WILLIAM WARAICK, CHAIRMAN OF AT&T CHINA, ALL MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN DELEGATION TO THE PECC IN BEIJING, AND CHEN LUZHI, VICE CHAIRMAN OF CHINA'S NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR PACIFIC ECONOMIC CORP. WHILE US-CHINA DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS ARE IN DIFFICULTY, THE DELEGATES AGREE THAT ECONOMIC RELATIONS AND COOPERATION IS VERY GOOD. (MANDARIN 10/3)

CHINA / FUTURES MARKET DEVELOPMENT -- AFTER SUSPENDING CHINA'S FUTURES TRADING IN TREASURY BILLS AND PUNISHING THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR SHANGHAI'S TREASURY BILL SCANDAL, CHINA TAKES STEPS TO REGULATE ITS FUTURES MARKET TO STRENGTHEN ITS RISK MANAGEMENT. STAFFER HE PING IN HONG KONG INTERVIEWS DR. SHAN WEIJIAN, VICE PRESIDENT OF JP MORGAN BANK, AND DR. ZHANG DAOGEN AT SHANGHAI SOCIAL SCIENCE ACADEMY WHO COMMENT ON FUTURES TRADING. (MANDARIN 10/3)

CHINA / POPULAR CULTURE -- "CHINA POP," A NEW BOOK RECENTLY PUBLISHED IN THE US, TELLS THE WESTERN READERS HOW SOAP OPERAS, TABLOIDS AND BESTSELLERS ARE TRANSFORMING CHINA'S CULTURE. ZHA JIANYING, AUTHOR OF THE BOOK, TOLD STAFFER DING LI THAT SHE OFFERS THE WESTERN READING PUBLIC A NEW ANGLE TO CHINA WATCHING. DING LI ALSO INTERVIEWS PROFESSOR PERRY LINK, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY. (MANDARIN 10/3)

SINO / US RELATIONS -- CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER QIAN QICHEN SAID THAT US OFFICIALS FORMALLY PROMISED THAT LEE TENG-HUI'S FUTURE VISITS TO THE US WOULD BE RESTRICTED TO PRIVATE BUSINESS AND NO POLITICAL SPEECHES WOULD BE ALLOWED. ANALYSTS DOUBT THE ACCURACY OF THE CHINESE INTERPRETATION OF THE AMERICAN POSITION. VOA STRINGER IN NEW YORK INTERVIEWS PROF. QIU HONGDA, UNIV. OF MD, AND HE PING, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL RESEARCH CENTER. (MANDARIN 10/3)

QIAN QICHEN / BRITAIN -- CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER QIAN QICHEN AND BRITISH DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER MICHAEL HESELTINE HAVE MET. A BRITISH SPOKESMAN SAID THEY AGREED ON THE NEED FOR A SMOOTH TRANSITION IN HONG KONG IN 1997. HOWEVER EXPERTS DO NOT THINK THERE IS ANY REAL CHANCE FOR IMPROVED RELATIONS UNTIL THIS ISSUE IS RESOLVED. STAFFER CHIEN WEI INTERVIEWS PROFESSOR GERALD SEGAL, LONDON INSTITUTE OF STRATEGIC STUDIES. (MANDARIN 10/3)

CHINA / DEMOCRACY -- PROFESSOR TU WEI-MING, HARVARD UNIVERSITY, STRESSES THAT CONFUCIAN SOCIETIES CAN TRANSFORM INTO DEMOCRATIC SYSTEMS, AND LISTS A NUMBER OF DEMOCRATIC CONFUCIAN IDEAS. DR. CHEN KUIDE, HUMANITIES DEPT COORDINATOR, CENTER FOR MODERN CHINA, SAYS DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS IN MAINLAND CHINA, TAIWAN, AND SINGAPORE HAS VARIED A GREAT DEAL, WHICH MEANS THAT EVEN WITH COMMON CULTURAL TRADITIONS, ACHIEVING DEMOCRACY IS DEPENDENT UPON REVISING AND ADAPTING THOSE TRADITIONS. STAFFER RUOSI WU COVERS THE PANEL DISCUSSION. (MANDARIN 10/3)

SOUTH KOREAN STUDENTS / NORTH KOREA -- TWO STUDENTS RETURNED TO SOUTH KOREA THROUGH THE BORDER VILLAGE OF PANMUNJOM AFTER AN UNAUTHORIZED VISIT TO NORTH KOREA. THEY WERE IMMEDIATELY ARRESTED BY SOUTH KOREAN POLICE. MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED STUDENTS WERE THERE TO WELCOME THE TWO AND PROTEST THEIR ARRESTS, CHANTING FOR THE ABOLISHMENT OF SOUTH KOREA'S NATIONAL SECURITY LAW. CORRESPONDENT YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 10/3)

SOUTH KOREAN AUTO / EU MARKETS -- IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE RECENT US-SOUTH KOREAN AUTO AGREEMENT, THE EUROPEAN UNION IS REPORTED TO BE PRESSING SOUTH KOREA FOR AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY. THE EU DEMANDED SOUTH KOREA TO ENLARGE ITS MARKET TO EU AUTO MAKERS. KOREAN STAFFER YONG KYUN LIM NOTED THAT DURING THE FIRST SEVEN MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, SOUTH KOREA EXPORTED 120,000 CARS TO EUROPE WHILE IMPORTED ONLY 25,000 EUROPEAN CARS. (KOREAN 10/3)

INSIDE EUROPE:

BOSNIA / HOLBROOKE -- STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO ON ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE, RICHARD HOLBROOKE'S VISIT TO SARAJEVO AND HIS TALKS WITH BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. MR HOLBROOKE DISCUSSED THE POSSIBLE TRUCE AND THE FUTURE OF THE OVERALL PEACE PROCESS IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA. (CROATIAN 10/2)

HOLBROOKE / BOSNIA -- US NEGOTIATOR R HOLBROOKE CONTINUED HIS MISSION IN SARAJEVO IN AN EFFORT TO REACH A CEASE-FIRE AGREEMENT FOR BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA. AT THE SAME TIME, AS REPORTED BY BOTH BOSNIAN AND SERBIAN MEDIA, THERE WAS HEAVY FIGHTING, ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTH-WEST PART OF THE COUNTRY. STRINGER BORO KONTIC REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO. (SERBIAN 10/2)

YUGOSLAVIA / RUSSIAN MILITARY -- A RUSSIAN MILITARY DELEGATION VISITS YUGOSLAVIA, AND MEETS WITH BOSNIAN-SERB REPRESENTATIVES. THEY CRITICIZE NATO AIR RAIDS AGAINST SERBIAN MILITARY POSITIONS IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA. STRINGER JADRANKA KRONJA REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (CROATIAN 10/2)

CROATIAN PEACE PLAN / UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY -- CROATIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER HAS PRESENTED TO THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY A PLAN FOR PEACEFUL REINTEGRATION OF EASTERN SLAVONIA UNDER CROATIAN AUTHORITY. THE PLAN CALLS FOR DISARMING PARAMILITARY UNITS, ESTABLISHING UNCRO CONTROL, DIPLOMATIC RECOGNITION AND EXCHANGE OF AMBASSADORS, AND THE OPENING OF MAJOR COMMUNICATION LINKS. STRINGER IVICA PULJIC REPORTS. (CROATIAN 9/30)

CROATIA / HUMAN RIGHTS -- STRINGER ZELJKO MATIC REPORTS FROM ZAGREB ON THE CROATIAN HELSINKI WATCH REPORT ON CONTINUING HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN THE KRAJINA REGION. CROATIAN SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS ARE BLAMED FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. (CROATIAN 10/2)

CROATIAN CHURCH / HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH -- CARDINAL FRANJO KUHARIC, HEAD OF CATHOLIC CHURCH IN CROATIA HAS CONDEMNED THE BEHAVIOR OF SOME CROATIAN ELEMENTS IN THE KRAJINA REGION. HE URGED THAT PERPETRATORS OF EVIL ACTS BE APPREHENDED BECAUSE, HE SAID, THEY ARE A GREAT SHAME TO CROATIA. STAFFER BOJAN KLIMA INTERVIEWED IVANA NIZIC, COORDINATOR FOR FORMER YUGOSLAVIA OF THE NEW YORK-BASED HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH. MS NIZIC SAID THAT HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN KRAJINA APPEAR TO BE TOLERATED BY CROATIAN GOVERNMENT. (CROATIAN 10/2)

KUHARIC / KRAJINA -- CARDINAL FRANJO KUHARIC OF CROATIA HAS CONDEMNED THE DESTRUCTION OF SERB PROPERTY IN KRAJINA. HE CALLED PERPETRATORS OF SUCH ACTS LOOTERS AND ARSONISTS. STRINGER STEVICA SUSA REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (SERBIAN 10/2)

NATO AMBASSADORS / BOSNIA -- NATO AMBASSADORS DISCUSSED THE DEPLOYMENT OF PEACEKEEPING TROOPS AND PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA. MILITARY EXPERTS ARE TO COMPLETE PLANS FOR PEACEKEEPING OPERATION IN TEN DAYS. OPERATION WILL BE UNDER EXCLUSIVE NATO COMMAND AND WILL FOLLOW NATO PROCEDURES. RUSSIA WELCOMED AN INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN PEACEKEEPING OPERATION. BRUSSELS STRINGER LADA STIPIC-NISETEO REPORTS. (CROATIAN 9/30)

GERMAN PEACEKEEPERS / BOSNIA -- GERMAN DEFENSE MINISTER VOLKER RUEHE ANNOUNCED THAT TROOPS FROM HIS COUNTRY WOULD PARTICIPATE IN THE NEW INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCES WHICH WOULD HELP IMPLEMENT THE FUTURE PEACE SETTLEMENT IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. STRINGER IVICA LOVRIC SAYS THE GERMAN DEFENSE MINISTER DISCLOSED THE DECISION IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE MAGAZINE 'FOCUS.' (CROATIAN 9/30)

EU / BOSNIA / CROATIA -- EU MINISTERS MET IN LUXEMBOURG AND DISCUSSED PLANS FOR REBUILDING BOSNIA AND CROATIA AFTER THE WAR. THEY SAY ONE OF THE MAJOR CONDITION FOR GETTING FINANCIAL AID IS THE RESTORATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, ESPECIALLY OF SERBIAN MINORITY. STRINGER LADA STIPIC NIZETEO REPORTS FROM LUXEMBOURG. (CROATIAN 10/3)

CROATIA / ELECTIONS -- THIRTEEN CROATIAN OPPOSITION PARTIES FORMED A COMMISSION FOR MONITORING FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS. STRINGER SLAVICA LUKIC REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (CROATIAN 10/3)

GLIGOROV / MILOSEVIC -- PRESIDENT OF FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA, KIRO GLIGOROV MAKES HIS FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT TO BELGRADE FOR TALKS WITH SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. THE TALKS CENTERED ON THE POSSIBILITY OF MUTUAL RECOGNITION BY TWO COUNTRIES. STRINGER DUSKO MASIC REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (SERBIAN 10/2)

GLIGOROV / MILOSEVIC -- AFTER HIS RETURN FROM BELGRADE, MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT K. GLIGOROV HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE, EXPLAINING THE OUTCOME OF HIS TALKS WITH THE PRESIDENT OF SERBIA ABOUT MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF MACEDONIA AND YUGOSLAVIA, AS WELL AS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS POSSIBLY NEXT MONTH. STRINGER ZELJKO BAJIC REPORTS FROM SKOPJE. (SERBIAN 10/2)

UN / KRAJINA -- RIDA ETALESHANY, THE UN SPOKESMAN IN ZAGREB SAYS THE HARASSMENT OF SERBS REMAINING IN CROATIA HAS TAKEN A NEW TURN WITH ROBBERIES. MR. ETALESHANY SAID THAT UN HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES WILL HAVE TO TAKE NEW MEASURES TO HELP SERB THAT ARE BEING ROBBED OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL MACHINES. HE WAS INTERVIEWED BY STAFFER DJORDJE PUTIC. (SERBIAN 10/2)

SILAJDZIC / MOSCOW VISIT -- KHALED SAFOURI, IN HIS CAPACITY AS PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN TASK FORCE FOR BOSNIA IS INTERVIEWED BY STAFFER AMINA ELBISHLAWY ON THE BOSNIAN PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO MOSCOW. (ARABIC 10/2)

BOSNIAN POSITION -- KAMAL KURSPAHIC, EDITOR OF THE BOSNIAN DAILY, OSLOBODENJA IS INTERVIEWED BY STAFFER THABET ELBARDICY ON THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT'S POSITION TOWARDS THE PEACE EFFORTS. (ARABIC 10/2)

ALBANIA / UN / KOSOVO -- IN A SPEECH TO THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ALFRED SERREQI ACCUSED THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT OF PURSUING WHAT HE TERMED AS A POLICY OF TERROR AGAINST KOSOVO'S TWO-MILLION STRONG ALBANIAN POPULATION. SERREQI SAID HIS COUNTRY IS DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO AND WARNED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THE OUTBREAK OF CONFLICT. STAFFER ZAMIRA EDWARDS REPORTS. (ALBANIAN 10/3)

MACEDONIA / ALBANIAN REACTION -- ALBANIA HAS DENOUNCED THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT KIRO GLIGOROV. REPRESENTATIVES OF ALBANIAN POLITICAL PARTIES IN MACEDONIA AND KOSOVO ALSO DENOUNCED THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT.. STRINGER REPORTS FROM SKOPJE, TIRANA, AND PRISHTINA. (ALBANIAN 10/3)

POLAND / POLITICS -- EIGHT OF THE SEVENTEEN REGISTERED POLISH PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDERS TOOK PART IN A RADIO DEBATE ABOUT POLISH FOREIGN POLICY AND PARTICIPATION IN NATO INCLUDING POSSIBLE NUCLEAR WEAPONS DEPLOYMENT ON POLISH TERRITORY. STRINGER MARIA BNINSKA REPORTS FROM WARSAW. (POLISH 10/3)

POLISH POLICY / RUSSIA -- MAREK KARP, FROM THE CENTER FOR EAST EUROPEAN STUDIES DISCUSSED A SECRET MEMO ISSUED BY THE DEMOCRATIC LEFT ALLIANCE, WHICH CRITICIZES POLISH POLICY TOWARD RUSSIA. KARP DEFENDS THE POLICY. INTERVIEW BY REPORTER WOJTEK MINICZ IN WARSAW. (POLISH 10/3)

GERMANY / REUNIFICATION ANNIVERSARY -- CHANCELLOR KOHL EXPRESSED SATISFACTION WITH THE REUNIFICATION PROCESS. STRINGER MAREK ORZECHOWSKI REPORTS FROM BONN. (POLISH 10/3)

NEW YORK / PULASKI PARADE -- STRINGER MALGORZATA KALUZA REPORTS FROM NEW YORK ON THE TRADITIONAL PULASKI PARADE AND INTERVIEWS SEVERAL PARTICIPANTS, INCLUDING NEW YORK MAYOR RUDOLPH GIULIANI. (POLISH 10/3)

SLOVAK OPPOSITION CALLS FOR PARLIAMENTARY SESSION -- THE OPPOSITION CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS (KDH) ARE CALLING FOR A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE SLOVAK PARLIAMENT TO DEAL WITH THE SLOVAK INTELLIGENCE SERVICE (SIS). THE OPPOSITION SAYS THAT IF THE SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT REFUSES TO CALL A SPECIAL PARLIAMENTARY SESSION, IT PROVES THAT THE RULING COALITION OF VLADIMIR MECIAR IS NOT INTERESTED IN DEFENDING THE CONSTITUTIONAL STABILITY OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC. BRATISLAVA STRINGER IVAN RAJECKY REPORTS. (SLOVAK 10/2)

TURKEY / EUROPEAN UNION -- THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT'S PRIVATIZATION PROGRAM IS BEING MONITORED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION AS PART OF THE CUSTOMS UNION PROCESS. IN A BRUSSELS CONFERENCE, PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR REPRESENTATIVES FROM TURKEY MEET WITH THE EU OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS THE COURSE OF TURKISH PRIVATIZATION EFFORT. STRINGER NUSRET OZGUL REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS. (TURKISH 10/3)

US / TURKEY / TRADE -- TURKEY IS ONE OF THE ELEVEN COUNTRIES INCLUDED IN THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S BIG EMERGING MARKETS INITIATIVE, DESIGNED TO INCREASE US EXPORTS AND JOINT INVESTMENTS. STAFFER HALE EBIRI INTERVIEWS HASAN AKIPEK, A NEW YORK BASED TURKISH-AMERICAN BUSINESSMAN ON POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF THE US INITIATIVE. MR. AKIPEK SAYS TURKEY SHOULD BENEFIT FROM INCREASED FOREIGN INVESTMENTS AND JOINT, US-TURKISH VENTURES IN THE THIRD COUNTRIES. (TURKISH 10/3)

INSIDE EURASIA:

KAZAKH JOURNALIST / US -- GULZADA BAFINA, KAZAKH FREE PRESS CORRESPONDENT WHO SPENT A YEAR IN THE US COMPARES KAZAKH AND AMERICAN JOURNALISTS, THEIR WORK AND JOB ATTITUDE IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER AVIVA LEKUCH. (RUSSIAN 10/2)

US STUDENT / MOSCOW -- ALEXEY JASTREMSKY, A 20 YEAR OLD STUDENT FROM BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY WHO IMMIGRATED TO THE US FROM RUSSIA 20 YEARS AGO AT THE AGE OF FOUR MONTHS TALKS TO STAFFER AVIVA LEKUCH ABOUT HIS IMPRESSIONS OF THE RUSSIAN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. HE SPENT A SEMESTER STUDYING RUSSIAN LANGUAGE AND ENGLISH LITERATURE AT MOSCOW STATE UNIVERSITY. (RUSSIAN 10/2)

US / RUSSIA / BUSINESS -- STAFFER IRA KELNER REPORTS ON A RECENT CONFERENCE IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA OF US AND RUSSIAN BUSINESSMEN, SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO PEOPLE AMBASSADORS PROGRAM. SHE INTERVIEWED CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS TANKRED GOLENPOLSKY, AUTHOR OF BUSINESS WITH RUSSIA; ROBERT JOHNSON, US BUSINESSMAN, PRESIDENT OF THE VALLEY TECHNOLOGY CENTER IN PORTLAND, OREGON AND ALLAN MONTGOMERY, PRESIDENT OF THE PEOPLE TO PEOPLE AMBASSADORS PROGRAM IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA. (RUSSIAN 10/2)

INSIDE LATIN AMERICA:

ECUADOR / IMPEACHMENT -- REPORTER TOM CROSBY TALKED WITH RAY COLLETTE IN QUITO, ECUADOR, ABOUT THE START OF IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS AGAINST VICE PRESIDENT ALBERTO DAHIK WHO IS CHARGED WITH MISUSING FUNDS AND A QUESTIONABLE ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE A RADIO STATION. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 10/2)

MALVINAS / FALKLAND OIL BID -- AUTHORITIES OF THE MALVINAS/FALKLAND ISLANDS ANNOUNCED THAT THEY ARE RECEIVING BIDS FOR OIL EXPLORATION IN THE AREA AFTER GREAT BRITAIN AND ARGENTINA AGREED ON AN ARRANGEMENT TO SHARE PROFITS. STRINGER HUMBERTO CASTELLANOS REPORTS FROM LONDON. (SPANISH 10/2) 03-Oct-95 5:32 PM EDT (2132 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America