Voice of America Digest, 13 October 1995

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] !!! VOA DIGEST - OCTOBER 13, 1995

WEAPONS CONFERENCE -- DELEGATES TO AN INTERNATIONAL WEAPONS CONFERENCE HAVE SUSPENDED THEIR ATTEMPTS TO FURTHER RESTRICT THE USE OF DEADLY ANTI-PERSONNEL LAND MINES. THE NEGOTIATIONS MAY RESUME IN GENEVA IN DECEMBER. ON A SEPARATE ISSUE, THE DELEGATES WERE EXPECTED TO APPROVE A GLOBAL BAN ON THE SALE AND USE OF BLINDING LASER WEAPONS. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS FROM VIENNA. (10/13)

US / LAND MINE CONFERENCE -- A MULTI-NATIONAL UN CONFERENCE ON LAND MINES AS SUSPENDED WORK IN VIENNA WITH DELEGATES STALEMATED OVER PROPOSALS TO FURTHER REGULATE THE WEAPONS. THE INCONCLUSIVE END TO THE THREE-WEEK CONFERENCE HAS DRAWN EXPRESSIONS OF DISAPPOINTMENT FROM ANTI-LAND MINE ACTIVISTS IN THE US CONGRESS AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS. CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS. (10/12)

BOSNIA / CEASE-FIRE -- UN OFFICIALS SAY FIGHTING IS CONTINUING IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA AROUND THE TOWN OF SANSKI MOST. BUT ELSEWHERE IN BOSNIA, A CEASE-FIRE APPEARS TO BE HOLDING. CORRESPONDENT DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO. (10/13)

IZETBEGOVIC / CZECH -- BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC SAYS HE BELIEVES THE CEASE-FIRE IN BOSNIA WILL HOLD. STRINGER ALENA KENCLOVA REPORTS FROM PRAGUE. (10/13)

BOSNIA DIPLOMACY -- US BOSNIA NEGOTIATOR RICHARD HOLBROOKE WILL BE RESUMING HIS PEACE MISSION NEXT WEEK IN THE BALKANS IN PREPARATION FOR TALKS IN THE UNITED STATES THAT BEGIN ON OCTOBER 31ST. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT ON THE PLANNING FOR THOSE TALKS. (10/12)

TROOPS / BOSNIA -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' PAMELA TAYLOR REPORTS ON THE LATEST PROSPECTS FOR PEACE IN BOSNIA. INCLUDES INTERVIEWS WITH RETIRED ADMIRAL JACK SHANAHAN, NOW DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR DEFENSE INFORMATION, UNPROFOR SPOKESMAN IN ZAGREB, PHIL ARNOLD AND UNPROFOR PLANNING OFFICER GEN. MANFRED EISELE. (10/13)

AFGHAN FIGHTING -- IN AFGHANISTAN, THE GOVERNMENT'S ATTEMPT TO DISLODGE THE OPPOSITION TALIBAN ISLAMIC FORCES FROM THE HILL SOUTH OF KABUL SEEMS TO BE FAILING. STRINGER TIM JOHNSTON REPORTS FROM KABUL THE TWO SIDES WERE STILL EXCHANGING ROCKET AND ARTILLERY FIRE FRIDAY. (10/13)

KOREA DEFECTOR -- A DEFECTOR FROM NORTH KOREA'S ARMY SAYS HE BELIEVES THE COUNTRY'S COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT IS HEADING TOWARDS COLLAPSE BECAUSE OF ECONOMIC PROBLEMS AND A LACK OF SUPPORT FOR LEADER KIM JONG-IL. CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS ON A NEWS CONFERENCE FRIDAY BY THE HIGHEST RANKING OFFICIAL EVER TO DEFECT FROM NORTH KOREA. (10/13)

PHILIPPINES / REBELS -- A GROUP OF FORMER PHILIPPINE MILITARY OFFICERS INVOLVED IN SEVERAL COUP ATTEMPTS DURING THE LATE 1980'S HAS MADE A FORMAL AGREEMENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT NOT TO LEAD ANY MORE ARMED UPRISINGS. STRINGER MARIE ORARA REPORTS FROM MANILA THAT THE GROUP, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE "REFORM THE ARMED FORCES" MOVEMENT, SAYS IT WILL NOW WORK PEACEFULLY TO ACHIEVE POLITICAL AND SOCIAL CHANGE IN THE PHILIPPINES. (10/13)

INDONESIA / DILI -- INDONESIAN SECURITY FORCES SAID FRIDAY THEY HAVE RESTORED ORDER IN AND AROUND DILI, THE CAPITAL OF THE TROUBLED TERRITORY OF EAST TIMOR. CORRESPONDENT DAVID BUTLER REPORTS FROM BANGKOK, A MILITARY SHOW OF FORCE THURSDAY AND FRIDAY ENDED FOUR DAYS OF CLASHES BETWEEN RIVAL GANGS AND CONFRONTATIONS BETWEEN PROTESTERS AND SECURITY FORCES IN EAST TIMOR. (10/13)

CAMBODIA PRESS -- AN APPEALS COURT IN CAMBODIA HAS UPHELD THE CONVICTION OF A NEWSPAPER EDITOR CHARGED WITH PUBLISHING ARTICLES THAT INSULTED THE COUNTRY'S LEADERS. CORRESPONDENT DAN ROBINSON WAS IN THE COURT ROOM IN PHNOM PENH, AND REPORTS HUMAN RIGHTS OBSERVERS ARE CALLING THE DECISION PART OF A CONTINUING GOVERNMENT CRACKDOWN ON THE PRESS. (10/13)

NOBEL PEACE PRIZE -- THIS YEAR'S NOBEL PEACE PRIZE HAS GONE TO BRITISH PHYSICIST JOSEPH ROTBLAT AND THE PUGWASH CONFERENCES ON SCIENCE AND WORLD AFFAIRS. THEY ARE HONORED FOR THEIR WORK TO RID THE WORLD OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS. STRINGER FENELA CHILDS REPORTS FROM STOCKHOLM. (10/13)

RUSSIA / CHECHNYA -- RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN SAYS HE REMAINS COMMITTED TO FINDING A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE CHECHEN CONFLICT. CORRESPONDENT ELIZABETH ARROTT IN MOSCOW REPORTS MR YELTSIN ARGUES THE STABILITY OF THE WHOLE COUNTRY DEPENDS ON EVENTS IN THE BREAKAWAY REPUBLIC. (10/13)

MACEDONIA / BLOCKADE -- GREECE ON SUNDAY IS EXPECTED TO END ITS 18-MONTH ECONOMIC BLOCKADE OF ITS NORTHERN NEIGHBOR, MACEDONIA. CORRESPONDENT BARRY WOOD REPORTS FROM SOFIA THAT BULGARIA'S GOVERNMENT HOPES AN END TO THE SANCTIONS WILL PROMOTE A GENERAL IMPROVEMENT IN THE REGION'S ECONOMY. (10/13)

GERMANY / TRIAL -- A DUESSELDORF COURT HAS FOUND FOUR YOUNG GERMANS GUILTY OF MURDER IN THE 1993 FIREBOMBING OF A HOUSE IN THE GERMAN CITY OF SOLINGEN THAT KILLED FIVE TURKISH GIRLS AND WOMEN. THE ATTACK WAS THE WORST SUCH INCIDENT IN A WAVE OF RACIST ASSAULTS THAT HAVE SWEPT THROUGH GERMANY SINCE UNIFICATION FIVE YEARS AGO. FROM BONN, DAGMAR BREITENBACH REPORTS. (10/13)

SAF / SAVIMBI -- UNITA LEADER JONAS SAVIMBI IS IN SOUTH AFRICA ON AN OVERNIGHT VISIT FOR TALKS WITH THE GOVERNMENT ON THE ANGOLAN PEACE PROCESS. STRINGER DELIA ROBERTSON REPORTS FROM JOHANNESBURG, MR SAVIMBI IS TOURING AFRICAN COUNTRIES WITH A POSITIVE MESSAGE ON DEVELOPMENTS IN ANGOLA. (10/13)

SAF / VILJOEN -- THE LEADER OF THE FREEDOM FRONT AND FORMER CHIEF OF SOUTH AFRICA'S DEFENSE FORCE, CONSTAND VILJOEN, SAYS UNTIL JUST DAYS BEFORE LAST YEAR'S ELECTION HE WAS PREPARING TO ESTABLISH A VOLKSTAAT OR AFRIKANER HOMELAND BY FORCE. HOWEVER, AS STRINGER DELIA ROBERTSON REPORTS FROM JOHANNESBURG, EVEN THOUGH MR VILJOEN AND HIS SUPPORTERS ARE STILL SEEKING AN AFRIKANER HOMELAND, THEIR CONCEPT OF THIS IS NOW VERY DIFFERENT. (10/13)

GALILEO SATELLITE PROBLEM -- US SPACE AGENCY ENGINEERS ARE INVESTIGATING ANOTHER PROBLEM ABOARD THE GALILEO SPACECRAFT AS IT HURTLES TOWARD JUPITER. SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT DAVID MCALARY REPORTS THAT THE COLLECTION OF PICTURES GALILEO IS TAKING COULD BE IN JEOPARDY. (10/13)

US ECONOMY -- THE SECOND OF TWO MAJOR REPORTS ON US INFLATION THIS WEEK SHOWS CONSUMER PRICES FOR GOODS AND SERVICES BARELY MOVED IN SEPTEMBER. STRINGERJILL GATHMANN REPORTS THE SLIGHT RISE IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX IS NOT EXPECTED TO HAVE ANY EFFECT ON US INTEREST RATES. (10/13)

RUBIN / CPI -- US TREASURY SECRETARY ROBERT RUBIN HAS EXPRESSED SATISFACTION WITH THE LATEST INFLATION STATISTICS. THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX WAS UP JUST ONE-TENTH OF ONE PERCENT IN SEPTEMBER, THE SAME AS IN AUGUST. CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS FROM WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA. (10/13)

FRANCE / POWELL -- GENERAL COLIN POWELL, WHO WAS CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE US ARMED FORCES DURING THE 1991 GULF WAR, HAS PROMPTED A GOOD DEAL OF INTEREST IN HIS POLITICAL AMBITIONS DURING A VISIT TO FRANCE. STRINGER JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS. (10/13)

IMF / WORLD BANK -- THE JOINT ANNUAL MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AND WORLD BANK CONCLUDED THURSDAY IN WASHINGTON. ALTHOUGH THE BAILOUT OF THE MEXICAN PESO CRISIS WAS PRAISED AS A SUCCESS STORY FOR THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, ANOTHER ISSUE WAS NOTED AS A KEY CONCERN. A THREATENED CUT IN FUNDING TO THE WORLD BANK'S INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION COULD HAVE DRAMATIC CONSEQUENCES FOR THE WORLD'S POOREST NATIONS. STRINGERS DINA WEINSTEIN AND JILL GATHMANN REPORT. (10/12)

COSTA RICA / ECUADOR -- THE FUGITIVE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF ECUADOR HAS FLED HIS COUNTRY AND HAS ASKED FOR POLITICAL ASYLUM IN COSTA RICA. CORRESPONDENT BILL RODGERS REPORTS FROM SAN JOSE, COSTA RICAN AUTHORITIES ARE CONSIDERING WHETHER TO GRANT THE FORMER OFFICIAL'S REQUEST. (10/12)

SENATE CUBA -- THE US SENATE DEBATED TOUGHER SANCTIONS AGAINST CUBA THURSDAY EVEN AS DEMOCRATS CONTINUED THEIR ATTEMPT TO BLOCK A VOTE ON THE MEASURE. SENATE CORRESPONDENT JIM MALONE REPORTS THE CUBA SANCTIONS BILL WHICH WAS PASSED EASILY IN THE HOUSE HAS RUN INTO TROUBLE IN THE SENATE. (10/12)

MEXICAN ECONOMY -- AS MEXICO'S PRESIDENT ERNESTO ZEDILLO COMPLETED HIS VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES, A LEADING EXPERT ON MEXICO'S ECONOMY TOLD BUSINESS EXECUTIVES IN NEW YORK THURSDAY THAT THE COUNTRY IS RECOVERING FROM ITS FINANCIAL CRISIS. STRINGER DINA WEINSTEIN REPORTS. (10/12)

CHRISTOPHER / MIDEAST -- SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER WILL BE TRAVELING TO THE MIDDLE EAST AT THE END OF THE MONTH. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, HE WILL BE CUTTING THE TRIP SHORT. (10/12)

US / LASER WEAPONS -- THE US MILITARY HAS CANCELLED FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF A BACK-PACK LASER WEAPON FOR TROOPS UNDER A NEW POLICY PROHIBITING WEAPONS DESIGNED TO BLIND ENEMY SOLDIERS. THE DECISION COMES AMID SLOW-MOVING EFFORTS FOR A WORLD-WIDE BAN ON SUCH DEVICES. CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE PENTAGON. (10/12)

CONGRESS / BUDGET -- THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE DEMOCRATIC WHITE HOUSE AND THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS OVER CUTTING THE FEDERAL BUDGET IS HEATING UP. SENATE CORRESPONDENT JIM MALONE REPORTS THE RHETORIC IS GETTING HARSHER ON BOTH SIDES AS CHANCES FOR AN EARLY RESOLUTION OF DIFFERENCES OVER THE BUDGET APPEAR TO BE FADING AWAY. (10/12)

CLINTON / BUDGET DEBATES -- PRESIDENT CLINTON IS EXPRESSING FRUSTRATION WITH THE INCREASINGLY PARTISAN CHARACTER OF HIS BUDGET FIGHT WITH THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED CONGRESS. AND HE IS VOWING HE WILL CONTINUE TO OPPOSE REPUBLICAN BUDGET PRIORITIES EVEN IF IT MEANS BLOCKING THEIR BUDGET PLAN TO FUND THE GOVERNMENT AND FORCING CONGRESS TO RETURN TO WORK IF LAWMAKERS SEND HIM THE PLAN AND ADJOURN THEIR SESSION. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA HAS MORE ON THE ONGOING HIGH-STAKES POLITICAL DRAMA IN WASHINGTON, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ANNUAL BUDGET BATTLE. (10/12)

CLINTON / MARCH -- THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE GOALS OF PLANNED CIVIL RIGHTS MARCH IN WASHINGTON ON MONDAY, BUT IS VOICING CONCERNS ABOUT ITS CONTROVERSIAL SPONSOR, AS WE HEAR FROM WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE. (10/12)

MILLION MAN MARCH / TWO VIEWS -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' NEAL LAVON TALKED TO TWO EXPERTS ABOUT WHAT THE MARCH MEANS, AND HOW IT WILL AFFECT THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND ITS LEADER, NATION OF ISLAM LEADER LOUIS FARRAKHAN. (10/13)

WOMEN'S HALL OF FAME -- THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S HALL OF FAME IS INDUCTING ITS NEWEST MEMBERS SATURDAY AT THE ORGANIZATION'S MUSEUM IN SENECA FALLS, NEW YORK, THE TOWN WHERE THE FIRST WOMEN'S RIGHTS CONVENTION WAS HELD IN 1848. CORRESPONDENT MARTIN BUSH REPORTS. (10/13)

GLOBAL ECONOMY -- MORE COMPANIES ARE VENTURING INTO THE GLOBAL ECONOMY THAN EVER BEFORE. WHAT'S BEHIND THIS NEW TREND AND SHOULD BUSINESS OWNERS EMBRACE IT? ROSABETH MOSS KANTER TALKS ABOUT THOSE ISSUES AND HOW THEY AFFECT COUNTRIES, COMPANIES AND CONSUMERS IN HER NEW BOOK "WORLD CLASS: THRIVING LOCALLY IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY." CURRENT AFFAIRS' CAROL PEARSON REPORTS. (10/13)

BUSINESS COUNCIL -- THE US ECONOMY IS HEADING FOR STEADY GROWTH, AND CONTINUED LOW INFLATION AND MODERATE UNEMPLOYMENT, ACCORDING TO A NEW SURVEY OF BUSINESS LEADERS FROM TOP US CORPORATIONS. CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS FROM WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA, WHERE THE BUSINESS COUNCIL IS HOLDING ITS SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING. (10/12)

PRODUCT AND TECHNICAL STANDARDS -- THE PUSH FOR BETTER PRODUCT AND TECHNICAL STANDARDS IS ONE OF THE KEY ISSUES FACING THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER NATIONS KEEN ON INCREASING GLOBAL TRADE. STAFFER ANDREW BAIRD HAS A REPORT ON WHAT THE US GOVERNMENT AND THE NATION'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY ARE DOING TO FOSTER THE CREATION OF FAIR STANDARDS. (10/12)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS / TURMOIL -- AMERICAN INDUSTRY, COMMERCE AND LABOR HAVE LONG BEEN CONDITIONED TO ACCEPT RADICAL CHANGE, FROM THE AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTIONS TO THE MECHANIZATION OF FACTORY JOBS. BUT TODAY WORKERS ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF AUTOMATION ON THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES. CURRENT AFFAIRS' LINDA CASHDAN AND TED LANDPHAIR EXAMINE THE IMPACT OF THESE CHANGES. (10/13)

CARNEGIE COUNCIL REPORT / ADOLESCENTS -- ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT, AMERICAN YOUTHS AGED TEN TO FOURTEEN ARE THE MOST NEGLECTED AND MISUNDERSTOOD AGE GROUP. THE CARNEGIE COUNCIL ON ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT WARNS 19 MILLION YOUNG AMERICANS NEED MORE SUPPORT AND ADULT GUIDANCE. CURRENT AFFAIRS' ZLATICA HOKE REPORTS. (10/13)

HAITIAN ART -- CORRESPONDENT PAUL FRANCUCH INTERVIEWED THE CURATOR AND COORDINATOR OF A REVEALING EXHIBITION OF HAITIAN ART ENTITLED "HAITI-500 YEARS: A PEOPLE'S HISTORY," WHICH OPENS THIS WEEKEND AT THE CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER. (10/13)

OJ SIMPSON / FINANCIAL FUTURE -- CAN OJ SIMPSON RENEW HIS CAREER AS A PRODUCT SPOKESMAN, ACTOR AND TELEVISION SPORTS ANNOUNCER IN SPITE OF HIS NOTORIETY AND THE FACT THAT HALF THE PEOPLE IN AMERICA BELIEVE HE IS GUILTY OF MURDER? CORRESPONDENT GREG FLAKUS SPOKE TO INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES IN LOS ANGELES REGARDING MR SIMPSON'S FUTURE AND HIS NEED FOR MONEY TO PAY HIS LEGAL FEES. (10/13)

FROM TB IN MUMMIES TO AIDS -- THE DISCOVERY OF PENICILLIN AND OTHER ANTIBIOTICS EARLY IN THIS CENTURY LED TO A DRAMATIC DECLINE IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES. LATELY, HOWEVER, A NUMBER OF THOSE DISEASES HAVE BEEN MAKING A COMEBACK. STRINGER LASZLO DOSA LOOKS AT THE HISTORY AND THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE STRUGGLE AGAINST INFECTIOUS DISEASE. (10/13)

INSIDE USA:

ARIZONA / TRAIN WRECK -- JOSEPH ARPAIO, SHERIFF OF MARICOPA COUNTY, ARIZONA, SITE OF THE TRAGIC AMTRAK TRAIN DERAILMENT, SAYS THAT THE ACCIDENT IS BEING INVESTIGATED AS A TERRORIST ATTACK. STAFFER BRIJ SHARMA INTERVIEWS MR. ARPAIO. (HINDI 10/12)

UPCOMING MILLION MAN MARCH -- DIMITRY SIMES, PRESIDENT OF THE NIXON CENTER FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM, LEON ARON OF THE AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE AND STAFFER VLADIMIR MATLIN DISCUSS CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE UPCOMING MILLION MAN MARCH ORGANIZED BY LOUIS FARRAKHAN. (RUSSIAN 10/12)

AMERICAN IMMIGRANTS / TALK TO AMERICA -- A TIDE OF ANGER IS RISING IN THE UNITED STATES ABOUT INCREASING NUMBERS OF IMMIGRANTS IN RECENT YEARS. BUT 'TALK TO AMERICA' GUEST SANFORD UNGAR HAS PUBLISHED A NEW BOOK THAT OFFERS A FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT NEW IMMIGRANTS MAKE TO MODERN US SOCIETY. MR. SANFORD UNGAR, AUTHOR OF FRESH BLOOD:THE NEW AMERICAN IMMIGRANTS JOINS US TO DISCUSS HOW THESE AMERICAN IMMIGRANTS ARE MAINTAINING THEIR OWN IDENTITY WHILE STILL ENRICHING THEIR NEW COMMUNITIES. (TTA 10/13)

WORLD BANK / CRITICISM -- THE ANNUAL WORLD BANK MEETING ENDED THURSDAY IN WASHINGTON. A GROUP CALLED, "50 YEARS IS ENOUGH" IS CRITICAL OF WORLD BANK POLICIES. REPORTER DEBORAH BLOCK SPOKE TO ROB BUCHANON, A MEMBER OF THE GROUP. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/13)

BIG MAC INDEX -- REPORTER JOHN PITMAN SPEAKS TO PAM WOODALL, ECONOMICS EDITOR OF THE ECONOMIST MAGAZINE, ABOUT THE BIG MAC INDEX, WHICH MEASURES INFLATION AROUND THE WORLD. MS. WOODALL TALKS ABOUT HOW AND WHY THE MAGAZINE CAME UP WITH THE INDEX AND HOW IT WORKS. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 10/12)

19TH CENTURY AMERICAN PAINTER -- FARSI STAFFER KATAYOUN BEGLARI REPORTS ON THE CURRENT NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART SHOW, WHICH FEATURES THE WORK OF WINSLOW HOMER. IT INCLUDES AN INTERVIEW WITH THE EXHIBITION CURATOR. (FARSI 10/12)

NOBEL LAUREATE / LITERATURE -- STAFFER KATAYOUN BEGLARI INTERVIEWED AHMAD KARIMI HAKKAK, A COMPARATIVE LITERATURE SPECIALIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON ABOUT THE POETRY OF THIS YEAR'S WINNER OF THE NOBEL PRIZE FOR LITERATURE, SEAMUS HEANY. (FARSI 10/13)

MUSIC / IRAN -- THIS WEEK'S "ROUNDTABLE WITH YOU" IS THE FIRST OF A TWO -PART SERIES OF CALL-IN SHOW ON MUSIC AND MUSIC IN IRAN. GUESTS ARE SINGERS AREF AND VIGEN. NEXT WEEK, WASHINGTON BASED CONDUCTOR AND MUSICOLOGIST MS. GOLNOUSH KHALEGHI AND DR. MAHMOUD KHOSHNAM, WHO WAS THE FOUNDER AND EDITOR OF IRAN'S MUSIC MAGAZINE. (FARSI 10/13)

ISLAMIC LEADER /CONFERENCE -- MOHAMMED MOOSAVI, THE LONDON BASED IMAM OF THE SHIA SECT OF ISLAM, WHO CAME TO WASHINGTON TO ATTEND A CONFERENCE OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS, IS INTERVIEWED BY STAFFER BHAGWAN PRAKASH. (HINDI 10/11)

POLISH MINISTER OF PRIVATIZATION -- WIESLAW KACZMAREK, THE POLISH MINISTER OF PRIVATIZATION VISITED WASHINGTON TO SEEK AMERICAN INVESTMENTS IN THE POLISH TIRE INDUSTRY. INTERVIEW BY POLISH SERVICE STAFFER MAREK KRZYZANSKI. (POLISH 10/10)

AMERICA / POST POPE -- TAD SZULC, AUTHOR OF THE BESTSELLING BIOGRAPHY OF POPE JOHN PAUL II DISCUSSED THE IMPACT OF THE POPE'S VISIT ON AMERICAN POLITICAL AND SPIRITUAL LIFE. INTERVIEW BY STAFFER JAREK ANDERS. (POLISH 10/12)

CANCER TREATMENT / US / CZECH REPUBLIC -- FIVE CZECH ONCOLOGISTS WHO ARE ON A MONTH-LONG STUDY TOUR IN THE US, ARE INTERVIEWED BY STAFFER OTA CERNOCH . THE CZECH SPECIALISTS TALKED ABOUT THE PSYCHOLOGICAL SIDE OF CANCER TREATMENT AND POINTED OUT THE DIFFERENCES IN THE PATIENT-DOCTOR RELATIONSHIP IN THE US AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC. (CZECH 10/11)

INSIDE AFRICA:

RWANDA-ZAIRE / REFUGEES -- RWANDA AND ZAIRE HAVE MADE PROGRESS TOWARD REPATRIATING NEARLY ONE-MILLION RWANDAN REFUGEES. REPORTER JOE DECAPUA SPOKE WITH RWANDA'S MINISTER FOR REHABILITATION AND SOCIAL INTEGRATION, PATRICK MAZIMPAKA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/13)

SIERRA LEONE / POLITICS -- FIFTEEN NEW POLITICAL PARTIES RECEIVED THEIR FINAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE THIS WEEK REPORTER KELVIN LEWIS HAS DETAILS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/12)

AFRICA / FINANCE MINISTERS -- KEY FINANCE MINISTERS ATTENDED THE ANNUAL WORLD BANK MEETING IN WASHINGTON. REPORTER DEBORAH BLOCK SPOKE WITH SEVERAL FINANCE MINISTERS FROM AFRICA. THE MINISTERS FROM NIGERIA, GHANA, MOZAMBIQUE, AND RWANDA TOLD HER ABOUT EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THEIR COUNTRIES' ECONOMIES. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/12)

GAMBIA / DEFECTED SPOKESMAN -- GAMBIA'S DEFECTED MILITARY SPOKESMAN, CAPTAIN EBOU JALLOW DENIES GOVERNMENT CHARGES HE FLED THE COUNTRY WITH THREE MILLION DOLLARS. REPORTER RICHARD KOTEY REPORTS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/13)

AFRICA / FOOTBALL -- FIRST-LEG MATCHES OF THE SEMI-FINAL ROUND OF ALL THREE CONTINENTAL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS GET UNDERWAY THIS WEEKEND. REPORTER BARRY MAUGHAN DETAILS EACH MATCH-UP WITH LEADING AFRICA FOOTBALL EXPERT MARK GLEESON. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/11)

ETHIOPIA / TRIAL -- ETHIOPIA'S CENTRAL SUPREME COURT REJECTS DEFENSE LAWYERS SUBMISSION THAT FORMER MILITARY RULERS BE TRIED BY AN INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL. REPORTER LAIKA MARIAM DEMESSIE HAS DETAILS FROM ADDIS ABABA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/12)

GAMBIA / MILITARY -- GAMBIA'S MILITARY RULER CAPTAIN YAYAH JAMMEH FACES SERIOUS PROBLEMS FROM HIS CLOSE ASSOCIATES. REPORTER WAGADOU GANAA REMME REPORTS FROM BANJUL. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/12)

ANGOLA / ROUND TABLE -- THE ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT WILL HOLD A DONORS' FOLLOW-UP MEETING OCTOBER 13TH AT THE IMF IN WASHINGTON. REPORTER LUISA PIETTE ASKED US BUSINESSMAN MAURICE TEMPELSMAN TO COMMENT ON THE RESULTS OF LAST MONTH'S ROUND TABLE HELD IN BRUSSELS, WHERE A BILLION DOLLARS WAS PLEDGED TO HELP REHABILITATE ANGOLA'S ECONOMY. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/12)

NIGERIA / ABIOLA -- THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DEMONSTRATED THURSDAY IN THE CITY OF ABEOKUTA -- THE HOMETOWN OF MKO ABIOLA IN SOUTHWESTERN OGUN STATE TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRACY. THEY CRITICIZED THE MILITARY REGIME FOR UNJUSTIFIED PERSECUTION AND URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO RELEASE HIM FOR THE SAKE OF PEACE AND TRANQUILITY IN THE COUNTRY. STRINGER AHMED KWALAM REPORTS FROM LAGOS. (HAUSA 10/11)

NIGERIA / ABUJA DEMONSTRATION -- STRINGER BABANGIDA JIBRIN REPORTS THAT THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT SECRETLY ORGANIZED A PRO-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATION IN ABUJA WHICH ENDED IN DISARRAY DUE TO CONFLICTS BETWEEN THE PARTICIPANTS. THE GOVERNMENT PAID PEOPLE FROM KANO, NIGER, BAUCHI AND KADUNA STATES TO COME TO ABUJA TO DEMONSTRATE IN SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT. THE REASON THE CONFLICT DEVELOPED WAS REPORTED TO BE OVER DIVIDING UP THE MONEY THE GOVERNMENT GAVE THEM. (HAUSA 10/11)

RWANDA / REFUGEES -- STAFFER FERDINAND FERELLA INTERVIEWED JOEL BOUTROUE, THE CHIEF OF REFUGEE REPATRIATION OPERATIONS FOR GOMA, ZAIRE AT THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSION ON REFUGEES. THE RWANDAN GOVERNMENT SAYS IT IS READY TO ACCEPT UP TO 20,000 RETURNING REFUGEES A DAY. OVER 700,000 RWANDAN REFUGEES ARE STILL IN CAMPS IN ZAIRE BUT SOME ARE RELUCTANT TO RETURN TO RWANDA. (FRENCH 10/12)

IVORY COAST / PRESS -- STAFFERS PIERRE POUILLON AND ROGER-GUY FOLLY REPORT ON THE PRESS IN IVORY COAST AS THAT COUNTRY PREPARES FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS TO BE HELD ON OCTOBER 22ND. THREE IVORIAN JOURNALISTS WERE INTERVIEWED AND SPOKE OF THE LAW THAT GOVERNS THE PRESS AND ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE PRESS DURING THE ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN. BIM YETTI, OF THE OPPOSITION REPUBLICAN PUBLICATION, ABDOULAYE SANGARE, OF THE INDEPENDENT LE JOUR, AND VALENTIN MBOUGENGUE, OF THE PRO-GOVERNMENT REVEIL HEBDO GAVE THEIR DIFFERING VIEWPOINTS. (FRENCH 10/12)

ALGERIA / CHIRAC -- THE WASHINGTON REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ALGERIAN ISLAMIC SALVATION FRONT (FIS), ANWAR HADDAM TOLD STAFFER MAIMOUNA MILLS WHY THE FIS IS OPPOSED TO THE MEETING BETWEEN FRENCH PRESIDENT CHIRAC AND ALGERIAN PRESIDENT ZEROUAL. THE TWO ARE SCHEDULED TO MEET IN NEW YORK IN LESS THAN TEN DAYS WHEN BOTH ARE SCHEDULED TO ADDRESS THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY. (FRENCH 10/12)

TANZANIA / ELECTION BOYCOTT -- STAFFER ABDUSHAKUR ABOUD SPOKE WITH ANTONY KUMO, DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OPPOSITION PARTY NCCR IN TANZANIA. MR KUMO SAID HIS PARTY WOULD BOYCOTT THE UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTIONS IF THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION DOES NOT RECTIFY IRREGULARITIES ON BALLOT PAPERS. (SWAHILI 10/13)

TANZANIA / ELECTION CAMPAIGN -- STRINGER KABENDERA SHINANI SPOKE WITH FOREIGN MINISTER JOSEPH RWAGESIRA, ONE OF THE RULING PARTY PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATES. (SWAHILI 10/13)

KENYA / KOIGI WA WAMWERE CASE -- A FORMER LEGISLATOR, KOIGI WA WAMWERE AND HIS COLLEAGUES, WHO EARLIER THIS MONTH WERE SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS IN JAIL, HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED TO KAMITI MAXIMUM PRISON CLOSE TO KENYA'S CAPITAL NAIROBI. THEY WERE TRANSFERRED FROM THE TOWN OF NAKURU IN THE TROUBLED RIFT VALLEY PROVINCE OF KENYA. STRINGER M G JOEL REPORTS FROM NAIROBI. (SWAHILI 10/13)

KENYA / KOIGI APPEAL -- STAFFER TOM ATANDI SPOKE WITH ONE OF KOIGI'S LAWYER'S OLALI CHACHE. THE LAWYER SAID THEY PRESENTED APPLICATION PAPERS FOR AN APPEAL. THE HEARING IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE NEXT WEEK ON MONDAY. (SWAHILI 10/13)

UGANDA / INFLATION -- UGANDA'S INFLATION RATE HAS GONE UP FROM 7% TO 9.6 % WHILE THE CENTRAL BANK OF UGANDA HAS INTRODUCED A 10,000 (SHILLING) NOTE. STRINGER MIKE ARERENG REPORTS FROM KAMPALA. (SWAHILI 10/13)

INSIDE MIDEAST:

ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL -- DR SAEB ARAKAT, MEMBER OF THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY, TALKS ABOUT THE ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL FROM SEVERAL OCCUPIED TOWNS IN THE WEST BANK IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER HAYAT ALKHATEEB. (ARABIC 10/12)

KURDS / TEHRAN MEETING -- STAFFER WURYA JAFF INTERVIEWS SAMI ABDULRAHMAN, MEMBER OF THE POLITBURO OF THE KDP (KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY) ABOUT TEHRAN'S ATTEMPT TO MEDIATE BETWEEN THE KDP AND THE PUK (PATRIOTIC UNION OF KURDISTAN). HE SAID THE TEHRAN MEETING IS A CONTINUATION OF THE DUBLIN TALKS, WHERE THE US MEDIATED. WURYA JAFF ALSO INTERVIEWS FUAD MASUM OF THE PUK ABOUT THE TEHRAN MEETING. THE PARTIES ARE GENERALLY IN AGREEMENT, BUT SOME DIFFERENCES REMAIN. HE THINKS THE DUBLIN TALKS FAILED. THE TEHRAN TALKS DEALT ONLY WITH IRAQI KURDS; NO DISCUSSION ON IRANIAN KURDS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE ISSUE TOOK PLACE, ACCORDING TO MASUM. (KURDISH 10/12)

IRAQ / UN / US -- IRAQ HAS CALLED CHIEF UN ARMS INSPECTOR ROLF EKEUS A LIAR, AFTER HE ISSUED A REPORT WHICH ENSURES AN EXTENSION OF THE SANCTIONS. IRAQ ALSO DENOUNCED THE US FOR MAKING CRITICAL COMMENTS ABOUT AN UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL REFERENDUM. STAFFER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 10/12)

PLO / HAMAS -- A PALESTINIAN OFFICIAL SAYS THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY AND HAMAS HAVE MADE PROGRESS TOWARD AN AGREEMENT TO STOP ATTACKS AGAINST ISRAEL. STAFFER IBRAHIM ABDIN REPORTED FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 10/12)

QADHAFI / EGYPT -- LIBYAN LEADER MUAMMAR QADHAFI IS EXPECTED TO VISIT EGYPT FRIDAY FOR TALKS WITH PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK ABOUT THE PALESTINIANS EXPELLED FROM LIBYA. STAFFER IBRAHIM ABDIN REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 10/12)

SUDAN / EGYPT -- SUDANESE FOREIGN MINISTER ALI OSMAN TAHA, TOLD STAFFER MOHAEM ATTIA SAAD IN NEW YORK THAT HIS COUNTRY IS ALWAYS INTERESTED IN HAVING GOOD RELATIONS WITH EGYPT. (ARABIC 10/12)

YEMEN / UNGA -- YEMEN TOLD THE UNGA THAT IT IS WORKING SERIOUSLY TO OVERCOME THE BORDER PROBLEM WITH SAUDI ARABIA. STAFFER MOHAMED ATTIA SAAD REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (ARABIC 10/12)

IRAQI DEFECTOR / LONDON -- IRAQI OPPOSITION LEADER LAITH KOBBAH IS INTERVIEWED BY STAFFER HAYAT ALKHATEEB ABOUT THE NEW IRAQI DEFECTOR AND WHAT THAT MEANS TO THE IRAQI OPPOSITION. (ARABIC 10/12)

US / OMAN -- STAFFER DIAA BEKHEET REPORTS ON THE PANEL DISCUSSION ON US AND OMAN RELATIONS HELD BY THE MIDDLE EAST POLICY COUNCIL. (ARABIC 10/12)

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL / DRUG TRAFFICKING --- FARSI STAFFER AMIN FEKRAT EXAMINES A RECENT AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT, WHICH PROTESTS THE USE OF THE DEATH PENALTY AS A SOLUTION TO DRUG TRAFFICKING. THE REPORT CITES IRAN AS ONE OF THE PRIME USERS OF THE DEATH PENALTY TO STOP ILLICIT DRUG TRADE. (FARSI 10/12)

HERAT / RECONSTRUCTION -- A SPOKESMAN OF TALEBAN, KHAIRULLAH NIAZI SAYS THE WESTERN AFGHAN PROVINCE OF HERAT IS PEACEFUL, AND RECONSTRUCTION EFFORTS AND REPAIR OF ROADS HAVE STARTED. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH PASHTO'S ZAMEN MOHMAND, NIAZI REJECTS THE REPORTS THAT THE GOZARA SUBDISTRICT OF HERAT WAS RECAPTURED BY THE GOVERNMENT FORCES. (PASHTO 10/13)

IRAQ REFERENDUM -- REPORTER JOHN PITMAN SPEAKS TO REND RAHIM FRANKE, DIRECTOR OF THE IRAQ FOUNDATION, ABOUT IRAQ'S PRESIDENTIAL REFERENDUM. SADDAM HUSSEIN IS THE ONLY CANDIDATE ON THE BALLOT. MS FRANKE SAYS THE REGIME IS USING SUBTLE INTIMIDATION TACTICS TO ENSURE A BIG WIN. SHE SAYS ALL VOTERS MUST TURN IN THEIR RATION CARDS WITH THEIR BALLOTS, WHICH ALSO HAVE THEIR NAME AND ADDRESS ATTACHED TO THEM. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 10/12)

INSIDE SOUTH ASIA:

INDIA / ECONOMY -- INDIAN FINANCE MINISTER MANMOHAN SINGH, WHO ATTENDED THE WORLD BANK IMF MEETINGS IN WASHINGTON, DISCUSSES INDIA'S ECONOMIC REFORMS. STAFFER BHAGWAN PRAKASH REPORTS. (HINDI 10/12)

NEPAL / UNGA -- NEPAL'S MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DR. PRAKASH CHANDRA LOHANI ADDRESSED THE 50TH UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION AND CALLED FOR A BALANCE IN THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL. STAFFER RASHMI SHUKLA REPORTS. (HINDI 10/12).

RAFSANJANI / BANGLADESH -- VISITING IRANIAN PRESIDENT ALI AKBAR HASHEMI RAFSANJANI TOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE IN DHAKA THAT THE US TRADE EMBARGO AGAINST IRAN IS HURTING THE UNITED STATES, AND NOT IRAN. THE IRANIAN LEADER WELCOMED THE INITIATIVE REGARDING THE PROPOSAL TO HAVE A PERMANENT MEMBER OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL REPRESENT A MUSLIM COUNTRY. HE SAID THAT AS THERE ARE 50 MUSLIM COUNTRIES, IT IS ESSENTIAL TO HAVE A PERMANENT MEMBER OF UN SECURITY COUNCIL FROM AMONG THESE MEMBER STATES. MR. RAFSANJANI SAID THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING SIGNED BY BANGLADESH, IRAN AND TURKMENISTAN FOR TRANSIT FACILITIES WILL BE BENEFICIAL FOR ALL THE THREE COUNTRIES. STRINGER MATIUR RAHMAN CHOUDHURY REPORTS. (BANGLA 10/12)

INSIDE EAST ASIA:

US / CHINA SUMMIT -- THE TAIWAN ISSUE WILL BE HIGH ON THE AGENDA OF THE UPCOMING SUMMIT BETWEEN PRESIDENT CLINTON AND CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN IN NEW YORK. BY ALL COUNTS, TENSIONS OVER THE ISSUE ARE NOT LIKELY TO BE EASED. NEWS REPORTS PAINT A PESSIMISTIC PICTURE OF THE SUMMIT, SAYING IT MAY NOT PRODUCE ANY SIGNIFICANT ADVANCE IN US-CHINA RELATIONS BECAUSE AMONG MANY OTHER REASONS, IT IS CAUGHT UP IN DOMESTIC PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS ON BOTH SIDES. STAFFER SUN CHENG REPORTS ON A STATE DEPTMENT BRIEFING. (MANDARIN 10/13)

CHINA / DEVELOPMENT IN POOR AREAS -- AT A RECENT PLENARY SESSION, THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY CALLED FOR A CONCERTED EFFORT TO NARROW THE WIDENING GAP BETWEEN ITS PROSPEROUS COASTAL REGIONS AND ITS UNDER-DEVELOPED HINTERLAND. ANALYSTS BELIEVE THIS IS AN IMPORTANT POLICY CHANGE AIMED AT COUNTERING POSSIBLE SOCIAL UNREST IN DEPRIVED AREAS. STAFFER ZHANG NAN INTERVIEWS HU ANGANG, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. (MANDARIN 10/13)

CHINA / LEGAL SYSTEM / HONG KONG SEMINAR -- IN THE LAST 15 YEARS, CHINA HAS PASSED MANY ECONOMIC LAWS, SEVERAL OF WHICH ARE SIMILAR TO THE LAWS IN THE WEST. BUT ENFORCEMENT IS A PROBLEM. EXPERTS GATHERING IN HONG KONG FOR A SEMINAR ON THE CHINESE LEGAL SYSTEM BELIEVE THE ENFORCEMENT PROBLEM IS LARGELY DUE TO CULTURAL DIFFERENCES. MUCH OF THE CONTENT OF THE LAWS ARE COPIED FROM WESTERN LAWS WITHOUT CONSIDERING THE CHINESE WAY OF THINKING. STAFFER HE PING IN HONG KONG INTERVIEWS ZHU SULI, LAW PROFESSOR, BEIJING UNIVERSITY, AND PROFESSOR BAUD, BRITISH COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, CANADA. (MANDARIN 10/13)

TAIWAN / CHINA EXCHANGES -- ALTHOUGH HIGH-LEVEL OFFICIALS FROM CHINA REFUSE TO VISIT TAIWAN, CULTURAL EXCHANGES AT LOWER LEVELS CONTINUE. CURRENTLY, AN ART GROUP FROM GANSU PROVINCE IS VISITING THE ISLAND, AND TAIWAN ACADEMIC SOCIETIES ARE INVITING MAINLAND JOURNALISTS TO TAIWAN TO COVER THE UPCOMING PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION. CORRESPONDENT TIEN KANGLIN IN TAIPEI INTERVIEWS LI QINGPING, TAIWAN STRAIT EXCHANGE FOUNDATION, AND LIU HONGDONG, CHIEF OF TAIWAN AFFAIRS OFFICE, GANSU PROVINCE. (MANDARIN 10/13)

HONG KONG / ELECTION -- CHIEF JUDGE WU KWOK HING, HONG KONG ELECTION COMMISSION CHAIR, ANNOUNCED THERE WAS NO HUMAN ERROR INVOLVED WHEN SOME VOTERS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO VOTE IN LAST MONTH'S LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS BECAUSE THEY FAILED TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICIAL QUESTIONNAIRE. LAWRENCE NG INTERVIEWS CHIEF JUDGE WU KWOK HING, LEGISLATOR TANG SIU TONG, AND CANDIDATE WONG SING CHI. (CANTONESE 10/13)

TAIWAN / ELECTIONS / FOREIGN POWERS -- TAIWAN'S RULING KMT GOVERNMENT WARNED OF FOREIGN POWERS, REFERRING TO MAINLAND CHINA, INTERFERING IN ITS ELECTION. SOME LEGISLATORS FROM OTHER PARTIES BELIEVE THE KMT'S WARNING WAS A SCARE TACTIC USED TO STIR UP FEAR OF MAINLAND CHINA. CORRESPONDENT TIEN KANGLIN IN TAIPEI INTERVIEWS WENQING LIU, DPP LEGISLATOR, QUAN ZHOU, NEW PARTY LEGISLATOR, AND WENGANG PAN, KMT LEGISLATOR. (MANDARIN 10/13)

JAPAN / US TROOPS -- A CAMPAIGN TO EXPEL SOME OF THE 45,000 AMERICAN TROOPS IN JAPAN IS GAINING STRENGTH AMID PUBLIC ANGER OVER THE ALLEGED RAPE OF A JAPANESE GIRL BY THREE US SERVICEMEN. PRIME MINISTER MURAYAMA SAID WEDNESDAY HE WILL DISCUSS REDUCING THE US MILITARY PRESENCE ON OKINAWA WHEN HE MEETS PRESIDENT CLINTON NEXT MONTH. EAST ASIA EXPERT PING KEFU, KANWA INFORMATION CENTER, TORONTO, TOLD STAFFER RUOSI WU THAT THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INTEND TO CUT US TROOPS, BUT IS USING THE INCIDENT TO FORCE THE US TO PAY MORE OF THE TROOPS' EXPENDITURE. (MANDARIN 10/13)

CHINA / US / JAPAN TRIANGLE -- "BUSINESS WEEK" SAYS THE US IS INVOLVED IN A HIGH-RISK POWER TRIANGLE WITH JAPAN AND CHINA. IT SAYS THAT THE US AND JAPAN HAVE IMPROVED THEIR ECONOMIC RELATIONS BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH OF CHINA'S ECONOMIC AND MILITARY MIGHT AND JAPAN'S CONCERN OF CHINA BECOMING A POSSIBLE THREAT TO THE REGION'S STABILITY. STAFFER BAO SHEN INTERVIEWS MR. CHEN YOUWEI, FORMER POLITICAL ATTACHE, PRC EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON, WHO RESPONDS TO THE ARTICLE. (MANDARIN 10/13)

CHINA / LEAP MONTH PANIC -- STAFFER LI SU IN HONG KONG INTERVIEWS ZHAO JUNLING, DIRECTOR OF THE SHANGHAI OBSERVATORY, CHINA SCIENCE ACADEMY, TAN ZUOMING, HONG KONG ALMANAC EXPERT, AND CHINESE WRITER DENG YOUMEI ON CHINESE "LEAP MONTH." ACCORDING TO CHINESE TRADITION, IT IS NOW THE MIDDLE OF AN AUGUST LEAP MONTH WHICH IS THOUGHT TO BRING DISASTER. (MANDARIN 10/13)

US / SASSER SPEAKS ON CHINA POLICY -- AT HIS SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARING, JAMES SASSER SAID THE US AND CHINA NEED EACH OTHER IN SPITE OF THEIR DIFFERENCES, REAFFIRMED THE ONE CHINA POLICY, AND WARNED TAIWAN THAT US WILL NOT SUPPORT ITS EFFORTS TO JOIN THE UN. STAFFERS WEI WEI AND CHIEN WEI SPOKE TO DR. LIN CHANGSHENG OF THE CLAREMONT INSTITUTE, WHO SAID SASSER'S SPEECH REFLECTS THE PRINCIPLES OF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S CHINA POLICY. (MANDARIN 10/13)

DALAI LAMA / JAPANESE CULT LEADER -- CHINA HAS ACCUSED THE DALAI LAMA OF HAVING CONNECTIONS WITH SHOKO ASAHARA, JAPAN'S DOOMSDAY CULT LEADER. NEWS REPORTS SAY THAT A SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE DALAI LAMA CONCEDED THAT THEY DID ACCEPTED AN UNSPECIFIED SUM OF MONEY FROM ASAHARA AFTER HE AND THE DALAI LAMA MET SEVERAL TIMES. BUT THE ASSISTANT SAID THAT IN RETROSPECT THE DALAI LAMA REGRETTED HAVING MET ASAHARA AND THAT THEY HAD NO INTENTION OF TAKING MONEY THAT WAS IN ANY WAY TAINTED. STAFFER FANG YUAN INTERVIEWED RINCHEN DHARLO, THE DALAI LAMA'S REPRESENTATIVE IN NORTH AMERICA. (MANDARIN 10/13)

NORTH KOREAN DEFECTOR / PRESS CONFERENCE -- A NORTH KOREAN MILITARY DEFECTOR SAID THAT KIM JONG IL HAS NOT TAKEN THE TITLES OF PRESIDENT OF NORTH KOREA AND GENERAL SECRETARY OF COMMUNIST PARTY BECAUSE OF POLITICAL UNREST, ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES AND THE LACK OF HIS CONTROL OVER THE MILITARY. NORTH KOREAN ARMY COLONEL CHOI JU-HWAL TOLD A SEOUL NEWS CONFERENCE THAT THE UNCROWNED LEADER HAS TRIED TO WIN THE SUPPORT OF MILITARY LEADERS BY GIVING THEM LUXURIOUS APARTMENTS AND NEW MERCEDES BENZ AUTOMOBILES. MR. CHOI CONFIRMED RUMORS OF A FAILED COUP ATTEMPT IN 1992. HE SAID MOST OF NORTH KOREANS DO NOT KNOW SOUTH KOREA PROVIDING RICE RELIEF AID TO THEM, AND PREDICTED THAT THE PYONGYANG REGIME WILL COLLAPSE IN FOUR TO FIVE YEARS. CORRESPONDENT YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 10/13)

SOUTH KOREA / US / STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT -- THE SOUTH KOREAN ATTORNEY GENERAL TOLD PARLIAMENT THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL TRY TO HAVE WHAT HE CALLED THE POISONOUS ELEMENTS IN THE STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES ELIMINATED SO THAT KOREA CAN EXERCISE JUDICIAL POWER OVER US MILITARY PERSONNEL COMMITTING CRIMES. YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 10/13)

SOUTH KOREA / US / MILITARY EXERCISES -- US AND SOUTH KOREAN TROOPS BEGAN ANNUAL JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES CODE NAMED FOAL EAGLE. CORRESPONDENT YONG KYUN LIM SAID THAT THE MANEUVERS, WHICH WILL LAST UNTIL NOVEMBER 17TH, INVOLVE A REAR-AREA DEFENSE EXERCISE TESTING PROTECTION OPERATIONS AND MAJOR COMMAND, CONTROL AND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS. (KOREAN 10/13)

INDONESIA / EAST TIMOR -- ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP BELO OF EAST TIMOR HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE. TO GET OFFICIAL INDONESIAN REACTION, GUGA PARDEDE SPOKE BY PHONE WITH HENDAR PRAMUDIO OF THE INDONESIAN EMBASSY IN OSLO. (10/12)

INSIDE EUROPE:

US FORCES / BOSNIA -- ADMIRAL JACK SHANAHAN, DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR DEFENSE INFORMATION SAYS AMERICAN TROOPS WILL PROBABLY BE SENT TO THE DISPUTED AND VOLATILE NORTHEAST PART OF BOSNIA ONCE THE MULTINATIONAL PEACEKEEPERS START IMPLEMENTING THE PEACE SETTLEMENT. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER ?ZORZ CRMARIC, THE ADMIRAL SAID HE BELIEVES THE COMMAND OF THE PEACEKEEPING OPERATION SHOULD BE PART OF A COMPLETELY NEW STRUCTURE. (CROATIAN 10/12)

BOSNIAN-SERB / CEASE-FIRE REACT -- REPORTER JOHN PITMAN SPEAKS TO THE BOSNIAN SERB GOVERNMENT'S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE US AND CANADA, DANIELLE SREMAC, ABOUT THE CEASE-FIRE. SHE SAYS THE BOSNIAN SERBS DO NOT SHARE THE REST OF THE WORLD'S OPTIMISM ABOUT THE CEASE-FIRE SINCE THE MUSLIMS AND CROATS ARE STILL LAUNCHING LAST MINUTE ATTACKS. SHE ALSO TALKS ABOUT THE CONTINUING NEGOTIATIONS, THE POSSIBILITY FOR AMNESTY FOR KARADZIC AND WHETHER OR NOT UNPROFOR CEASE-FIRE MONITORS WILL BE SAFE IN BOSNIAN SERB-HELD TERRITORY. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 10/12)

GERMANY / BOSNIA CEASE-FIRE -- GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER KLAUS KINKEL WELCOMED THE CEASE-FIRE THAT WENT INTO EFFECT IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. STRINGER IVICA LOVRIC REPORTS FROM BONN ON THE OFFICIAL GERMAN REACTION TO THE CURRENT PEACE EFFORTS IN THE AREA. (CROATIAN 10/12)

HOLBROOKE / BOSNIA PEACE -- AMBASSADOR RICHARD HOLBROOKE, CHIEF US NEGOTIATOR FOR THE BALKANS SAYS THE PROXIMITY PEACE TALKS WILL LAST AS LONG AS NEEDED TO PRODUCE RESULTS. HE SAYS THAT THE BOSNIAN AND SERBIAN PRESIDENTS HAVE PROMISED NOT TO WALK AWAY FROM THE TALKS. STAFFER IVANA KUHAR REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT. (CROATIAN 10/12)

UN / ETHNIC CLEANSING -- THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL EXPRESSED DEEP CONCERN ABOUT ETHNIC CLEANSING OF THE NON-SERB POPULATION FROM WESTERN BOSNIA. THEY DESCRIBED EVENTS IN THE BANJA LUKA AREA AS A HUMANITARIAN CATASTROPHE. ALMOST EVERY EXPELLED PERSON NEEDS MEDICAL HELP. STRINGER IVICA PULJIC REPORTS. (CROATIAN 10/12)

BOSNIA / CEASE-FIRE -- BOSNIAN AND SERBIAN SOURCES SAY THAT THE LATEST CEASE-FIRE IS GENERALLY BEING HONORED BY THE WARRING SIDES, BUT THE FIGHTING HAS NOT COMPLETELY STOPPED. UNPROFOR REPRESENTATIVES IN SARAJEVO ESTIMATE THAT THE TRUCE WILL LEAD TO THE CONTINUATION OF THE PEACE PROCESS. STRINGER BORO KONTIC REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO. (SERBIAN 10/12)

BOSNIA / GERMANY -- GERMAN GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED THAT ITS SOLDIERS WOULD PARTICIPATE IN PEACEKEEPING OPERATION IN BOSNIA. BUT, THEY EMPHASIZED THAT GERMANY WOULD NOT SEND ITS GROUND FORCES. STRINGER DRAGAN BISENIC REPORTS FROM BON. (SERBIAN 10/12)

SARAJEVO / TRUCE -- STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTS THAT SARAJEVANS ARE REJOICED AT THE PEACE PROSPECTS. THE ONLY SHOTS HEARD THURSDAY WERE THOSE OF CELEBRATION. (CROATIAN 10/12)

BELGRADE / CEASEFIRE -- YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES HAVE PRAISED THE LATEST CEASEFIRE IN BOSNIA WHICH, THEY CLAIM, IS TAKING HOLD. BUT, ACCORDING TO BOSNIAN SERB MILITARY SOURCES, THE TRUCE IS BEING LESS RESPECTED WITH EVERY PASSING HOUR. STRINGER DUSAN MASIC REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (SERBIAN 10/12)

SILAJDZIC / PEACE -- BOSNIAN PRIME MINISTER HARIS SILAJDZIC BELIEVES THAT THERE IS MORE REASON AND HOPE FOR PEACE IN BOSNIA BECAUSE OF THE CHANGING INTERNATIONAL SITUATION. HE STRESSED THAT ANY INTERNATIONAL HELP TO BOSNIA SHOULD BE DIRECTED THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT IN SARAJEVO. STRINGER DRAGAN BLAGOJEVIC REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS. (SERBIAN 10/12)

KOSOVO / PEACE CONFERENCE -- ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADER IBRAHIM RUGOVA HAS APPEALED TO THE CONTACT GROUP ON FORMER YUGOSLAVIA THAT KOSOVO'S REPRESENTATIVE BE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE AT THE FORTHCOMING PARIS PEACE TALKS. DR. RUGOVA SPOKE AT A NEWS CONFERENCE IN PRISHTINA. STRINGER AFERDITA SARACINI KELMENDI REPORTS. (ALBANIAN 10/13)

GERMANY / PEACEKEEPING -- STRINGER MAREK ORZECHOWSKI REPORTS FROM BONN ON INTERNAL POLITICAL DISCUSSIONS FOCUSED THE PARTICIPATION OF GERMAN TROOPS IN NATO PEACEKEEPING IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. (POLISH 10/11)

BOSNIA / CEASE-FIRE -- A CEASE-FIRE WENT INTO EFFECT AFTER MIDNIGHT IN BOSNIA. STAFFER MOHAMED ELSETOUHI INTERVIEWS FARIS NANIC, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BOSNIAN PRESIDENT IN CROATIA. (ARABIC 10/12)

ALBANIA / ITALY -- ALBANIAN PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA IS PAYING HIS FIRST STATE VISIT TO ITALY. ALTHOUGH ITALY HAS PROVIDED ALBANIA WITH SUBSTANTIAL FOREIGN ASSISTANCE, RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN COOL. BERISHA IS EXPECTED TO MEET WITH ITALY'S PRESIDENT AND OTHER SENIOR OFFICIALS. STRINGER MERO BAZE REPORTS. (ALBANIAN 10/13)

ALBANIA / US -- THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, GENERAL JOHN SHALIKASHVILI, SAYS THE UNITED STATES AND ALBANIA WILL INCREASE THEIR MILITARY COOPERATION IN THE FRAMEWORK OF NATO'S PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE PROGRAM. IN A NEWS CONFERENCE IN TIRANA ON FRIDAY, GENERAL SHALIKASHVILI CHARACTERIZED BILATERAL MILITARY TIES AS VERY WARM. HE TOLD REPORTERS THAT AT THE MOMENT THE US IS NOT ENVISIONING ESTABLISHING A BASE IN ALBANIA. MEANWHILE, ALBANIAN DEFENSE MINISTER ZHULALI WILL MEET WITH US DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY IN WASHINGTON NEXT WEEK. REPORT BY STRINGER ILIRIAN AGOLLI. (ALBANIAN 10/13)

POLITICAL REALIGNMENT IN LATVIA -- WHO WILL BE THE NEXT PRIME MINISTER OF LATVIA? STRINGER AIDIS TOMSONS IN RIGA LOOKS AT THE OPTIONS. (LATVIAN 10/13) TOMSONS ALSO LOOKS AT THE AFTERMATH OF THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS: A RIGHT WING COALITION FACES OFF AGAINST A LEFT-WING BLOC SUPPORTED BY A MAVERICK PARTY THAT CAMPAIGNED ON A RIGHT-WING PLATFORM. THE RULING CENTRIST PARTY IS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE. (LATVIAN 10/14)

IMF / WORLD BANK / LATVIA -- STAFFER KNUTS OZOLS INTERVIEWS LATVIAN ECONOMICS MINISTER JANIS ZVANITAJS ABOUT THE JUST-CONCLUDED IMF AND WORLD BANK MEETINGS IN WASHINGTON AND LATVIA'S RELATIONS WITH THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS. (LATVIAN 10/13)

POLISH PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE / WASHINGTON -- HANNA GRONKIEWICZ-WALTZ, A LEADING PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER AND CHAIRPERSON OF THE POLISH NATIONAL BANK VISITED WASHINGTON FOR THE IMF/WORLD BANK SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING AND GAVE AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW TO STAFFER TADEUSZ WALENDOWSKI. (POLISH 10/12)

POLISH POLITICS -- WOJCIECH ROSZKOWSKI, PROFESSOR OF THE POLISH ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, EXAMINES THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE IN POLAND PRIOR TO THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. INTERVIEW BY IN WARSAW REPORTER WOJTEK MINICZ. (POLISH 10/12)

POLAND / PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN -- THE "SOLIDARITY PARTY" OF INDIVIDUAL FARMERS DECLARED THEIR SUPPORT FOR RIGHTIST PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE JAN OLSZEWSKI. STRINGER MARIA BNINSKA REPORTS FROM WARSAW. (POLISH 10/10)

POLAND / PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN -- LEADING PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER OF THE "DEMOCRATIC LEFT ALLIANCE," ALEKSANDER KWASNIEWSKI, IS INTERVIEW BY REPORTER WOJTEK MINICZ IN WARSAW. KWASNIEWSKI PRAISED THE US AS A MODEL OF A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY. (POLISH 10/11)

POLAND / RUSSIA -- ANDRZEJ DRAWICZ, AN INTERNATIONAL POLICY ADVISOR TO POLISH PRIME MINISTER OLEKSY DISCUSSED POLISH POLICY TOWARD RUSSIA AND THE RUSSIAN APPROACH TO THE "NEAR ABROAD." INTERVIEW BY REPORTER WOJCIECH MINICZ IN WARSAW. (POLISH 10/10)

FIFTY YEARS OF FULBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM -- STAFFER NEEME RAUD INTERVIEWS VICKIE MIDDLETON, PUBLIC AFFAIR OFFICER IN TALLINN, ESTONIA, ABOUT THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FULBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. (ESTONIAN 10/13)

NOBEL PRIZE / ECONOMY -- VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY ECONOMICS PROFESSOR MIRON WOLNICKI EXPLAINS THE IMPORTANCE OF PAUL LUCAS' "RATIONAL EXPECTATIONS" THEORY WHICH WON HIM THE NOBEL PRIZE FOR ECONOMICS. INTERVIEW BY STAFFER MIREK KONDRACKI. (POLISH 10/11)

PRIVATIZATION / HUNGARY -- STRINGER JOZSEF BALLAI IN BUDAPEST INTERVIEWS THE DIRECTOR OF THE HUNGARIAN PRIVATIZATION COMPANY ABOUT THE MOVES TO PRIVATIZE THE ENERGY INDUSTRY. (HUNGARIAN 10/11)

RADIO / HUNGARY -- STRINGER ILONA FORGACH INTERVIEWS THE DIRECTOR OF ROMANIAN LANGUAGE RADIO IN SZEGED. THEY DISCUSSED THE SITUATION OF ETHNIC RADIOS IN HUNGARY AND THEIR FUTURE PROSPECTS. (HUNGARIAN 10/11)

INSIDE EURASIA:

US / RUSSIAN FARM LEADERS -- RUSSIAN WOMEN FARM LEADERS ARE VISITING THE US ON A TOUR SPONSORED BY THE AGRIBUSINESS VOLUNTEER PROGRAM OF THE CITIZENS NETWORK FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS. WHILE IN WASHINGTON, THEY TALKED TO VLADIMIR FRUMKIN ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF THEIR VISIT, WHICH IS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT FARM BUREAU STRUCTURE, EMPHASIZING WOMEN'S COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES AND NEW AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY. (RUSSIAN 10/12)

INSIDE LATIN AMERICA:

CASTRO / URUGUAY -- A HIGH LEVEL OF CONTROVERSY SURROUNDS THE VISIT OF CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO TO URUGUAY. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL NOT RECEIVE THE PRESIDENT, AND THE ARMED FORCES WILL NOT PARTICIPATE AT OFFICIAL PROTOCOL EVENTS ORGANIZED TO RECEIVE THE CUBAN PRESIDENT. STRINGER JORGE MONSALVE REPORTS FROM MONTEVIDEO. (SPANISH 10/13)

HILLARY CLINTON / NICARAGUA -- THE NICARAGUAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FORMER COMMANDERS OF THE NICARAGUAN RESISTANCE ASKED MRS. CLINTON TO INTERCEDE WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON TO STOP THE DEPORTATION OF NICARAGUANS ILLEGALLY LIVING IN THE US. FROM MANAGUA STRINGER OSWALDO BONILLA REPORTS. (SPANISH 10/13)

TROPICAL STORM / ROXANNE -- NOW OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO IS SLOWLY MOVING NORTH AFTER CREATING A PATH OF DESTRUCTION IN THE YUCATAN PENINSULA. STAFFER JORGE WEHBY REPORTS FROM MIAMI. (SPANISH 10/13)

GRENADA / PEST -- REPORTER MICHAEL LELAND TALKS WITH DALE ELLIS, HEAD OF THE PEST CONTROL UNIT OF GRENADA'S AGRICULTURE MINISTRY, ABOUT EFFORTS TO ERADICATE THE MEALY BUG. THE BUG HAS BEEN DAMAGING CROPS IN GRENADA AND TRINIDAD, AND GRENADA PLANS TO IMPORT CHINESE WASPS TO ATTACK THE BUGS. THE WASPS WERE USED IN THE 1930S TO WIPE OUT A SIMILAR PLAGUE OF MEALY BUGS. (ENGLISH 10/12) 13-Oct-95 4:39 PM EDT (2039 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America