Voice of America Digest, 20 November 1995

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] !!! VOA DIGEST - NOVEMBER 20, 1995

PERRY / BOSNIA TALKS -- DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY HAS JOINED OTHER SENIOR CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS IN DAYTON, OHIO, WHERE NEGOTIATIONS FOR A BOSNIA PEACE ACCORD MAY BE NEARING A CLIMAX. THE UNITED STATES WOULD BE THE LEAD CONTRIBUTOR IN A MULTINATIONAL FORCE TO IMPLEMENT AN ACCORD. CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON. (11/17)

BOSNIA / REFUGEES -- THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT IS STEPPING UP THE PRESSURE ON A LARGE GROUP OF BOSNIAN MUSLIM REFUGEES, WHO ARE RESISTING EFFORTS TO RETURN THEM TO THEIR HOMES IN THE NORTHWESTERN REGION OF BIHAC. MORE THAN TWENTY THOUSAND FOLLOWERS OF REBEL MUSLIM LEADER FIKRET ABDIC FLED TO CROATIA LAST AUGUST AFTER BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT TROOPS RECAPTURED THEIR STRONGHOLD AROUND THE TOWN OF VELIKA KLADUSA. UN OFFICIALS IN GENEVA FEAR CROATIAN AUTHORITIES MAY BE PREPARING TO FORCIBLY REPATRIATE THE REFUGEES. FROM GENEVA, CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS. (11/17)

CROAT-SERB RELATIONS -- CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN SAYS AN AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED TO NORMALIZE RELATIONS BETWEEN CROATIA AND SERBIA. BUT, HE SAYS THE AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE SIGNED UNTIL A BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT IS CONCLUDED AND A DECISION IS MADE TO LIFT INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS AGAINST SERBIA. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS. (11/17)

ALGERIA ELECTION -- AS EXPECTED, ALGERIA'S INTERIM PRESIDENT LIAMINE ZEROUAL HAS EASILY WON THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WITH SIXTY ONE POINT THREE.PERCENT OF THE VOTE. HIS CLOSEST RIVAL IN THE POLLS, HAMAS LEADER MAFHOUD NAHNA WON 25 PERCENT AND IS DISPUTING THE RESULTS. MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS OFFICIAL FIGURES SHOW A HIGH TURNOUT AS VOTERS DEFIED EXTREMIST THREATS OF VIOLENCE TO CAST THEIR BALLOTS. (11/17)

ALGERIA FRANCE -- FRANCE SAYS IT HOPES ALGERIA'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WILL BE FOLLOWED BY REAL PROGRESS TOWARD DEMOCRACY. MEANWHILE, STRINGER JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS THE FRENCH INTERIOR MINISTER SAYS ANTI-TERRORIST MEASURES WILL REMAIN IN FORCE TO COUNTER ATTACKS BY ALGERIAN EXTREMISTS ON FRENCH SOIL. (11/17)

SHUTTLE-MIR / FRIDAY -- THE COMBINED CREWS OF THE US SPACE SHUTTLE 'ATLANTIS' AND THE RUSSIAN SPACE STATION 'MIR' ARE SPENDING THEIR FINAL DAY TOGETHER. SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT DAVID MCALARY REPORTS THAT THEY HAVE FOUND TIME TO MAKE MUSIC IN ORBIT. (11/17)

INDIA / KASHMIR -- THE FORMER CHIEF MINISTER OF INDIAN KASHMIR, FAROOQ ABDULLAH, SAYS HE EXPECTS INDIA TO AGAIN TRY TO HOLD ELECTIONS IN THE STRIFE-TORN REGION BEFORE NATIONAL POLLS THAT ARE DUE BY MID-1996. CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE ATTENDED A NEWS CONFERENCE WITH MR. ABDULLAH AND HE FILES THIS REPORT. (11/17)

RUSSIA / POLL -- A NEW OPINION POLL PREDICTS A MASSIVE TURNOUT OF ELDERLY VOTERS WILL GIVE RUSSIAN COMMUNISTS A CLEAR VICTORY IN NEXT MONTH'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. STRINGER PETER HEINLEIN IN MOSCOW REPORTS THE RUSSIAN ELECTORATE APPEARS TO BE IN AN ANGRY MOOD. (11/17)

RUSSIA / CHECHNYA -- CHECHEN REBELS HAVE REACTED ANGRILY TO MOSCOW'S PLANS NEXT MONTH TO ELECT NEW LOCAL LEADERS IN CHECHNYA ON THE SAME DAY AS RUSSIA VOTES FOR A NEW PARLIAMENT. AS CORRESPONDENT PETER COLLINS REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, THE REBELS ARE THREATENING TO PUNISH AS TRAITORS ANY CHECHEN WHO COOPERATES WITH RUSSIA IN CHOOSING NEW REGIONAL LEADERS. (11/17)

APEC MINISTERS -- MINISTERS OF THE EIGHTEEN APEC (ASIA PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION) COUNTRIES HAVE COMPLETED WHAT THEY CALL A BROAD-RANGING AGENDA OF CONCRETE STEPS TO MOVE TOWARD FREE TRADE BY THE YEAR 2020. CORRESPONDENT DAN ROBINSON REPORTS, HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT OF APEC ARE IN OSAKA, PREPARING FOR THEIR SUNDAY SUMMIT THAT WILL GIVE A FORMAL STAMP OF APPROVAL TO MEASURES TO BEGIN REMOVING TRADE BARRIERS. (11/17)

SAF / NIGERIA PROTEST -- SOUTH AFRICAN CHURCH LEADERS AND POLITICIANS LED A PROTEST AGAINST NIGERIA IN THE SUBURBS OF JOHANNESBURG. CORRESPONDENT MALLORY SALESON REPORTS ABOUT 200 PEOPLE DEMONSTRATED OUTSIDE THE NIGERIAN CONSULATE AS LOCAL CRITICISM CONTINUED ABOUT THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT'S HANDLING OF THE NIGERIAN ISSUE. (11/17)

NIGERIA / OPPOSITION -- A LEADING OPPOSITION GROUP IN NIGERIA SAYS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS NOT DONE ENOUGH TO ENCOURAGE REAL CHANGE IN NIGERIA. CORRESPONDENT PURNELL MURDOCK REPORTS. (11/17)

KENYA / AIDS -- THE HEAD OF KENYA'S MEDICAL FACILITIES SAYS THE DISEASE AIDS IS SPREADING IN KENYA AT AN ALARMING RATE. EAST AFRICA CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS FROM NAIROBI. (11/17)

EUROPEAN ARMS TREATY -- THE DEADLINE HAS PASSED FOR SIGNATORY COUNTRIES TO COMPLY WITH THE 1990 TREATY TO REDUCE CONVENTIONAL FORCES IN EUROPE. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY IN VIENNA REPORTS RUSSIA IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE, BUT THAT IS NOT CONSIDERED A MAJOR SETBACK. (11/17)

MICROSOFT SECRETS -- MICROSOFT OPERATING SYSTEMS RUN 85 PERCENT OF THE WORLD'S PERSONAL COMPUTERS, AND SUPPLY HALF OF THE WORLD'S APPLICATION SOFTWARE. MICROSOFT'S PHENOMENAL FINANCIAL SUCCESS HAS MADE ITS 40-YEAR-OLD CHAIRMAN AND CO-FOUNDER, BILL GATES, POSSIBLY THE RICHEST MAN IN THE WORLD. CURRENT AFFAIRS' DAN NOBLE DISCUSSES HOW MICROSOFT BECAME SUCH AN INDUSTRY LEADER WITH MICHAEL CUSUMANO, CO-AUTHOR OF "MICROSOFT SECRETS: HOW THE WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL SOFTWARE COMPANY CREATES TECHNOLOGY, SHAPES MARKETS, AND MANAGES PEOPLE." (11/20)

THE STOCK MARKET AT 5000 -- DESPITE THE GOVERNMENT BUDGET CRISIS IN WASHINGTON, AND LESS THAN ROBUST NATIONAL ECONOMIC GROWTH, THE NEW YORK STOCK MARKET IS MOVING EVER-CLOSER TO THAT MAJOR PLATEAU -- THE 5000 DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE. CURRENT AFFAIRS' LINDA CASHDAN TALKS WITH SEVERAL MARKET ANALYSTS ABOUT THE FORCES BEHIND THIS UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH. (11/20)

MENTAL DISABILITIES OF THE HOMELESS -- AS DEFICIT-MINDED MEMBERS OF CONGRESS CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS, ONE PROGRAM THAT MAY BE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK IS CALLED "ACCESS," AN EXPERIMENTAL MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO HELP THE HOMELESS. IN THIS REPORT, STRINGER DARRYL CATER DISCUSSES WITH TWO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS HOW IT WAS DEVELOPED IN RESPONSE TO A PROBLEM THAT HAS FESTERED FOR NEARLY A GENERATION. (11/20)

US GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN / THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER SYSTEMS -- AN EXPLORATION OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS FOR THE IMPASSE BETWEEN THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT OVER THE BUDGET CRISIS. INCLUDES A LOOK AT THE "DOWNSIDE" TO THIS SYSTEM AND EXAMINES WAYS IN WHICH OUR CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES -- ESPECIALLY REGARDING FISCAL AND OTHER MATTERS -- COMPARES BOTH WITH PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACIES AND WITH TOTALITARIAN SYSTEMS. (11/20)

AFRICAN STUDIES / ANTHROPOLOGIST -- ON THE CAMPUS OF NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, A CELEBRATION IS UNDERWAY TO HONOR THE MEMORY AND WORKS OF AN ANTHROPOLOGIST WHO BECAME ONE OF THE WORLD'S FOREMOST EXPERTS ON THE CULTURAL INFLUENCE OF AFRICANS IN AMERICAN LIFE -- MELVILLE HERSKOVITS, WHO WAS BORN 100 YEARS AGO. CORRESPONDENT PAUL FRANCUCH TALKED WITH A UNIVERSITY LIBRARIAN WHO ORGANIZED A SERIES OF SPECIAL EXHIBITS WHICH ILLUSTRATE HERSKOVITS' MANY CONTRIBUTIONS. (11/20)

INSIDE USA:

US / PRIMARIES / SOUTH KOREA -- STAFFER SI CHANG NOH INTERVIEWS PROFESSOR SONG SOOGUN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WEST VIRGINIA ABOUT THE AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SYSTEM. COMPARING WITH THE SOUTH KOREAN SYSTEM, PROF. SONG EXPLAINS THE PRIMARIES AND CAUCUSES AS AMERICA'S UNIQUE PROCESS TO SELECT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR DEMOCRATIC AND PUBLICAN PARTIES. (KOREAN 11/17)

LABOR UNIONS -- THE RECENT CHANGES IN TOP AFL/CIO LEADERSHIP ARE ANALYZED BY STRINGER CONSTANTINE SIMIS IN HIS TALK WITH STAFFER NATALIE CLARKSON. (RUSSIAN 11/18)

ECONOMIC TALK -- DUKE UNIVERSITY ECONOMIST VLADIMIR TREML POINTS OUR WHY FEARS RAMPANT IN RUSSIA ABOUT THE FUTURE FATE OF THE CURRENT $100 BILLS ARE UNFOUNDED. (RUSSIAN 11/19)

WPAS / 30 YEAR ANNIVERSARY -- LENORA GATT, PRESIDENT OF THE WOMEN'S COMMITTEE OF THE WASHINGTON PERFORMING ARTS SOCIETY TALKED ABOUT THE GOALS OF THE WPAS AND ITS ACTIVITIES IN THIS, ITS THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY YEAR. (RUSSIAN 11/18)

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN -- DIMITRY SIMES, PRESIDENT OF THE NIXON CENTER FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM, LEON ARON OF THE AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE AND STAFFER NATALIE CLARKSON DISCUSS THE REASONS FOR THE STANDOFF BETWEEN THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN CONGRESS, LEADING TO A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. (RUSSIAN 11/16)

MIR / ATLANTIS DOCKING -- AMERICAN AND RUSSIAN SPACE CREWS MET IN SPACE IN THE SECOND OF SEVEN PLANNED SHUTTLE MIR LINK-UPS. STAFFER GEORGE ZORIN REPORTS ON THE MEETING, AND THE HANDSHAKE BETWEEN SHUTTLE COMMANDEER KEN CAMERON AND HIS MIR COUNTERPART YURI GIDZENKO AND TALKS ABOUT WHAT THEY HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH ON THIS FLIGHT. (RUSSIAN 11/15)

MIR / SHUTTLE / SAGDEYEV INTERVIEW -- ROALD SAGDEYEV, FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE MOSCOW SPACE INSTITUTE, ACADEMY OF SCIENCES NOW AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND TALKED TO STAFFER GEORGE ZORIN ABOUT THE HISTORIC MIR/ATLANTIS DOCKING AND THE FUTURE OF US/RUSSIAN SPACE COOPERATION. (RUSSIAN 11/15)

MIR / SHUTTLE -- DR. JAMES OBERG, LEADING AMERICAN SPECIALIST ON RUSSIAN SPACE PROGRAMS AND AUTHOR OF NUMEROUS BOOKS ON THE SUBJECT TALKS TO GEORGE ZORIN ABOUT THE MIR/ATLANTIS DOCKING, THE FUTURE OF THE SPACE PROGRAM AND FINANCIAL AND POLITICAL DIFFICULTIES WHICH COULD DELAY THE CREATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION ALPHA. (RUSSIAN 11/15)

HOW TO / STOCK MARKET -- STRINGER VAL SIBIRSKY TALKS ABOUT HOW RUSSIANS CAN LEARN TO PLAY THE INTERNATIONAL STOCK MARKET. (RUSSIAN 11/15)

US PROGRAMS / HUMANITARIAN AID -- STAFFER PHIL STARUCH INTERVIEWED JIM MONFMA FROM THE WASHINGTON HUMANE SOCIETY - SPCA AN ORGANIZATION THAT PREVENTS CRUELTY TO ANIMALS THROUGH LAW ENFORCEMENT, EMERGENCY RESCUE AND PUBLIC EDUCATION. (UKRAINIAN 11/15)

US PROGRAMS / HUMANITARIAN AID -- STAFFER PHIL STARUCH INTERVIEWS MARILYN FELDMAN FROM THE HEBREW HOME OF GREATER WASHINGTON, A NURSING HOME FOR THE ELDERLY. (UKRAINIAN 11/15)

FLORIDA / NEWS HEADLINES -- A GROUP OF URUGUAYAN AND CUBAN CITIZENS PROTESTED AGAINST THE VISIT OF CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO TO URUGUAY; SPEECH BY HAITIAN PRESIDENT ARISTIDE CREATES FEARS AND DOUBTS AMONG THE HAITIAN AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY OF MIAMI; NICARAGUAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE ARNOLDO ALEM?AN IS BEING HELP FINANCIALLY BY A FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN DONE IN MIAMI. SPANISH BRANCH MIAMI BUREAU CORRESPONDENT JORGE WEHBY REPORTS. (SPANISH 11/20)

CALIFORNIA / HISPANICS EMPLOYMENT -- A NEW REPORT ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY SHOWS A STATEWIDE INCREASE OF NEW JOBS FOR 1996, PARTICULARLY A NEW RECORD OF HISPANIC OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES. CORRESPONDENT HECTOR VELAZQUEZ MEJ?IA REPORTS FROM LOS ANGELES. (SPANISH 11/17)

CALIFORNIA / ELECTRIC CAR -- MANUFACTURERS OF THE ELECTRIC CAR ARE FACED WITH SMALL PROBLEMS. CORRESPONDENT HECTOR VELAZQUEZ MEJ?IA REPORTS. (SPANISH 11/17)

THE DOCTOR IS IN / HAIR LOSS -- HAIR LOSS CAN BE CAUSED BY A VARIETY OF FACTORS, BUT NO MATTER WHAT BRINGS IT ON, IT CAN BE AN EMOTIONALLY DEVASTATING EXPERIENCE, FOR BOTH WOMEN AND MEN. 'TALK TO AMERICA' WELCOMES D. ELIZABETH WHITMORE WHO IS A DERMATOLOGIST AT THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEMS TO TALK ABOUT CAUSES AND UPCOMING TREATMENTS. (ENGLISH 11/20)

THE MAYAN PROPHECIES -- 'TALK TO AMERICA' WELCOMES MR ADRIAN G GILBERT. HE IS CO-AUTHOR OF A NEW BOOK CALLED THE MAYAN PROPHECIES, AND HE JOINS US TO DISCUSS THIS CONTROVERSIAL BOOK WHICH IS BASED ON DISCOVERIES DERIVED FROM A LONG-SOUGHT TRANSLATION OF MAYAN DOCUMENTS, AND UNVEILS OMINOUS PROPHESIES MADE BY THESE PEOPLE. (ENGLISH 11/17)

RFK HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD -- THE RFK HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD WAS GIVEN TO KAILASH SATYARTHI, FOUNDER OF SOUTH ASIAN COALITION ON CHILD SERVITUDE. US LABOR SECRETARY ROBERT REICH WAS THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND SENATOR EDWARD KENNEDY ALSO ADDRESS THE MEETING. STAFFER ROQUIA HAIDER REPORTS ON THE EVENT. (BANGLA 11/17)

IRANIAN-AMERICANS / LOS ANGELES -- LOS ANGELES STAFFER REPORTS ON A LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY PROJECT TO ESTABLISH AN ARCHIVE ON THE CITY'S ACTIVE AND PROSPEROUS IRANIAN COMMUNITY. (FARSI 11/20)

BASSIST / CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE -- TWENTY-TWO YEAR OLD BASSIST CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE GRADUATED FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS IN PHILADELPHIA AND CONTINUED HIS STUDIES AT THE JUILLIARD SCHOOL. SINCE THEN HE'S PLAYED WITH SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN THE JAZZ INDUSTRY. REPORTER RITA ROCHELLE INTERVIEWS HIM IN STUDIO ABOUT HIS LATEST CD, GETTIN TO IT. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/20)

BLUES SINGER / BB KING -- THE MAN KNOWN AS THE KING OF THE BLUES IS CELEBRATING HIS 45TH YEAR IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS. REPORTER VERLA WILEY INTERVIEWS BB KING. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/15)

AMISTAD / FREEDOM SHIP -- A REPLICA OF A SHIP CALLED THE AMISTAD IS BEING BUILT IN MYSTIC, CONNECTICUT. IN 1839, ABOUT 50 AFRICANS DESTINED FOR SLAVERY REVOLTED AND LANDED IN THE UNITED STATES. THE SUPREME COURT EVENTUALLY SET THEM FREE. REPORTER JOE DECAPUA SPOKE WITH THE MAN BEHIND THE PROJECT, WARREN MARR, AND THE AMISTAD PROJECT COORDINATOR, QUENTIN SNEDIKER. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/16)

SLOVAK CHIEF JUSTICE / US -- SLOVAK CHIEF JUSTICE, DR MILAN CIC PRAISED THE AMERICAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND SAID THAT SLOVAKIA'S CONSTITUTIONAL COURT HAS MADE CLEAR THAT SLOVAK COURTS MUST REMAIN INDEPENDENT AND ABOVE POLITICS. DR CIC COMMENTED ON HIS MEETINGS WITH US SUPREME COURT JUSTICES, DURING THE "CENTER FOR DEMOCRACY'S" INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON, DC. STAFFER ERIK STRAZAN INTERVIEWS CHIEF JUSTICE CIC. (SLOVAK 11/15)

USA DICTIONARY -- THOMAS JURCZYNSKI, A POLISH AUTHOR AND SCHOLAR HAS WORKED FOR SEVEN YEARS ON THE "USA DICTIONARY," A REFERENCE BOOK OF AMERICAN CONTEMPORARY CULTURE WITH ENTRIES VARYING FROM DONALD DUCK TO AFFIRMATIVE ACTION. INTERVIEW BY STAFFER WITOLD SULKOWSKI. (POLISH 11/16)

INSIDE AFRICA:

NIGERIA / SHELL CONSUMER BOYCOTT -- THE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP GREENPEACE SPONSORED A ONE-DAY CONSUMER BOYCOTT OF SHELL STATIONS IN BRITAIN SATURDAY; AND GERMAN ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS ARE CONTINUING TO CALL FOR A BOYCOTT OF SHELL PRODUCTS. REPORTER WILLIAM EAGLE SPOKE WITH GREENPEACE SPOKESPERSON CINDY BAXTER IN LONDON; ULRICH DELIUS OF THE SOCIETY OF ENDANGERED PEOPLES IN GOTTINGEN, GERMANY; AND SHELL SPOKESMAN RAINER WINZENRIND IN HAMBURG. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/20)

NIGERIA / SHELL PROTEST -- HUMAN RIGHTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS PROTESTED AGAINST SHELL OIL OPERATIONS IN NIGERIA. THEY HELD DEMONSTRATIONS AT THE NIGERIAN EMBASSY AND SHELL OIL COMPANY IN WASHINGTON. STAFFER DEBORAH BLOCK REPORTS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/18)

NIGERIA / SHELL -- A FORMER SENIOR UNIPETROL EMPLOYEE WHO LIVED IN KEN SARO-WIWA'S HOME AREA WAS INTERVIEWED BY HAUSA STAFFER SHEHU YUSUFU KURA ABOUT CALLS FOR SHELL TO WITHDRAW FROM NIGERIA. ALHAJI ABUBAKAR SIDDIQ SULAIMAN EXPLAINED THAT NIGERIA MAY NOT LOSE MUCH IF SHELL STOPS DRILLING BECAUSE OTHER COMPANIES WILL IMMEDIATELY TAKE OVER TO FILL THE VOID. (HAUSA 11/20)

NIGERIA / PROTESTS -- PRO-DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS IN NIGERIA ARE OBSERVING A DAY OF NATIONAL MOURNING FOR NINE EXECUTED OGONI ACTIVISTS. STRINGER CHINEDU OFFOR REPORTS FROM LAGOS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/17)

NIGERIA / SHELL OIL -- CRITICISM CONTINUES OF SHELL'S OIL OPERATIONS IN NIGERIA. REPORTER DEBORAH BLOCK INTERVIEWS ERIC NICKSON, A SPOKESMAN FOR SHELL IN LONDON; LAWYER RICHARD DICKER OF HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH/AFRICA IN NEW YORK; AND CONSULTANT DUNCAN JAMES, A NIGERIAN SPECIALIST IN PARIS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/17)

NIGERIA / GOVERNMENT REACTION -- THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT SAYS IT WILL TAKE SEVERE RETALIATORY ACTION AGAINST DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN GROUPS CRITICIZING ITS EXECUTION OF NINE OGONI ACTIVISTS. OBSERVERS SAY THIS COULD MEAN A NEW CRACKDOWN ON HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS AND THE INDEPENDENT PRESS. REPORTER CHINEDU OFFOR HAS MORE ON THE STORY FROM LAGOS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/15)

NIGERIA / OGONI -- A PROMINENT OGONI AND THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE MOVEMENT FOR THE SURVIVAL OF THE OGONI PEOPLE, MOSOP, COMES OUT IN SUPPORT OF THE CONVICTION OF NINE OGONI ACTIVISTS. REPORTER RICHARD KOTEY SPOKE WITH DR GARRICK LETON FROM PORT HARCOURT. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/15)

NIGERIA / BEAUTY PAGEANT -- THE MISS WORLD PAGEANT HAS AGREED TO BAR MISS NIGERIA FROM THE FINAL DAY OF COMPETITION, FOLLOWING SOUTH AFRICAN OFFICIAL PROTESTS AGAINST THE RECENT OGONI EXECUTIONS. REPORTER JOE DECAPUA SPOKE TO ERIC MORLEY, CHAIRMAN OF THE MISS WORLD GROUP, IN SUN CITY, SOUTH AFRICA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/16)

LIBERIA / YELLOW FEVER -- THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION CALLS FOR THE VACCINATION OF THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF LIBERIA AGAINST YELLOW FEVER. REPORTER RICHARD KOTEY SPEAKS WITH DR DAVID HEYMANN, DIRECTOR OF THE WHO RAPID RESPONSE UNIT FOR EPIDEMICS WORLD-WIDE, FROM GENEVA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/17)

TANZANIA / ELECTIONS -- A PROMINENT TANZANIAN POLITICIAN SAYS THERE'S STILL HOPE FOR THE FUTURE OF THE OPPOSITION, DESPITE ITS POOR SHOWING IN THE CONTROVERSIAL RECENT ELECTIONS. REPORTER WILLIAM EAGLE SPOKE WITH ABDULRAHMAN MOHAMMED BABU, THE FORMER VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FOR THE OPPOSITION NCCR-MAGEUZI PARTY. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/17)

ALGERIA / ELECTION ANALYSIS -- FORMER GENERAL LIAMINE ZEROUAL HAS SWEPT TO VICTORY IN ALGERIA'S FIRST MULTI-PARTY PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. VOTER TURNOUT WAS HEAVY DESPITE DEATH THREATS FROM ISLAMIC MILITANTS WHO BOYCOTTED THE POLL. REPORTER CATHERINE MADDUX INTERVIEWED ANDREW PIERRE OF THE CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/18)

ALGERIA / ELECTIONS -- STAFFER PIERRE POUILLON SPOKE TO A JOURNALIST WITH THE ALGERIAN NEWSPAPER AL-WATAN ABOUT THE RESULTS OF ALGERIA'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS AND WHETHER THESE RESULTS ARE NOW CONSIDERED AS FINAL. STAFFER IDRISSA FALL ASKED NOURREDINE KHELASSIE, THE PARIS CORRESPONDENT OF THE ALGERIAN INDEPENDENT DAILY LA NATION TO ANALYZE THE ELECTIONS' RESULTS AND HOW THEY WILL AFFECT FUTURE POLITICAL LIFE IN ALGERIA. (FRENCH 11/17)

ALGERIA / ELECTIONS / REACT -- STAFFER JESSICA HARTMAN INTERVIEWS HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH SPOKESPERSON ERIC GOLDSTEIN ABOUT THE ALGERIAN ELECTIONS. MR GOLDSTEIN EXPLAINED WHY HIS ORGANIZATION STATED THESE ELECTIONS WERE NOT FREE. (FRENCH 11/17)

MALAWI / BANDA -- A FORMER GOVERNMENT MINISTER TESTIFIED THAT THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF MALAWI THREATENED TWO OF THE FOUR MEN HE IS NOW ACCUSED OF ORDERING SECURITY OFFICIALS TO KILL. REPORTER JULIUS KALIYA REPORTS FROM BLANTYRE. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/17)

NIGER / TEACHERS PROTEST -- NIGER'S TEACHERS' UNION HAS CALLED FOR A FOUR DAY STRIKE STARTING MONDAY, THE FIRST DAY OF THE ANNUAL NATIONWIDE EXAMINATIONS FOR ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDANTS. THE GOVERNMENT OF HAMMA AHMADOU HAS BEEN IN A TUSSLE WITH THE TEACHERS FOR SOME TIME NOW OVER TWO MONTHS OF NON PAYMENT OF TEACHERS SALARIES. THE GOVERNMENT HAS THREATENED TO TAKE DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS AGAINST THOSE TEACHERS CHOSEN TO OVERSEE THE EXAMINATIONS WHO REFUSE TO DO SO. HAUSA STRINGER LAWAN BOUCAR REPORTS. (HAUSA 11/20)

ETHIOPIAN ARCHBISHOP / JERUSALEM -- STAFFER NEGUSSIE MENGESHA INTERVIEWS THE ARCHBISHOP OF THE ETHIOPIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH AND MONASTERY IN JERUSALEM ABUNE MATHIEWOS DURING HIS RECENT TRIP TO ISRAEL. HE SPOKE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF ONE OF THE OLDEST CHURCHES IN JERUSALEM. (AMHARIC 11/19)

ETHIOPIA / EXPORT REVENUE -- THE GOVERNMENT OF ETHIOPIA HAS RELEASED ITS ANNUAL EARNING IN FOREIGN REVENUE FROM ITS EXPORTS. ACCORDING TO THE STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE GOVERNMENT, IT HAS EARNED ABOUT $480 MILLION DOLLARS FROM EXPORTS LIKE GOLD, HIDES, COFFEE AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS. STRINGER TAFESSE KIFLE REPORTS FROM ADDIS ABABA. (AMHARIC 11/20)

AFRICA / DEMOCRACY / UNIONS -- STAFFERS FATIM SIDIBE AND SAMUEL KIENDREBEOGO LOOK AT THE THE ROLE OF LABOR UNIONS IN DEMOCRACIES AND HOW IT AFFECTS DEMOCRACY-BUILDING IN AFRICA. INTERVIEWED FOR THIS REPORT WAS GEORGE MARTENS, HEAD OF THE UNION RIGHTS DEPARTMENT AT THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF FREE UNIONS IN BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, AND LOUIS SOMBES, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE WORKERS UNIONS FEDERATION OF CAMEROON, AND TOLE SAGNON, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE CGT-B UNION FEDERATION OF BURKINA FASO. (FRENCH 11/20)

ANGOLA / LUSAKA ANNIVERSARY -- TODAY IS THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE LUSAKA PEACE ACCORD FOR ANGOLA. FOR AN ANALYSIS OF THE PAST YEAR, PROFESSOR GERALD BENDER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND PROFESSOR MUHAMMED EL KHAWAS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ARE INTERVIEWED. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/20)

GANDHI AWARD / OBASANJO -- THE INDIRA GANDHI MEMORIAL FOUNDATION AWARDED THE IMPRISONED FORMER NIGERIAN HEAD OF STATE, GENERAL OLUSEGUN OBASANJO, THE INDIRA GANDHI INTERNATIONAL PRIZE FOR PEACE. REPORTER RICHARD KOTEY SPOKE WITH THE FOUNDATION'S VICE-CHAIRMAN, NATWAR SINGH, IN NEW DELHI. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/20)

NIGERIA / HUMAN RIGHTS -- AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL URGED WORLD GOVERNMENTS AND BUSINESSES TO EXERT PRESSURE ON NIGERIA TO SAVE SEVEN DETAINED ACTIVISTS FROM THE FATE OF EIGHT OTHERS EXECUTED BY THE MILITARY REGIME FEW DAYS AGO. RASHEED JAAFAR INTERVIEWS NIGERIAN INTELLECTUAL AMIN ABU BAKR ON THE SITUATION. (ARABIC 11/17)

INSIDE MIDEAST:

UAE / IRAN -- STRINGER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS FROM AMMAN THAT THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES AND IRAN HAVE AGREE TO RESUME TALKS AIMED AT REACHING AN AGREEMENT ON THEIR GULF TERRITORIAL LIMITS. (ARABIC 11/19)

IRAQ / CHOLERA -- A UNITED NATIONS RELIEF OFFICIAL IN NORTHERN IRAQ SAYS THE SPREAD OF CHOLERA THREATENS THE KURDISH AREAS. STRINGER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 11/19)

OMAN OIL -- CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS FROM MUSCAT THAT ALTHOUGH DEPENDENT ON OIL AS THE SOURCE OF MAJOR INCOME, THE SULTANATE OF OMAN IS DEVELOPING OTHER NON-OIL SOURCES OF INCOME. (ARABIC 11/19)

ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS -- FAWAZ KAMAL OF THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT PRESS OFFICE SAYS ISRAEL HAS TAKEN ANOTHER STEP TO IMPLEMENT THE PEACE AGREEMENT WITH THE PALESTINIANS. POLICE WITHDREW FROM THE WEST BANK OF NABLUS HANDING OVER SECURITY TO THE ARMY IN PREPARATION FOR A PALESTINIAN TAKEOVER. AN INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY STRINGER ZEINAB ABDEL RAHMAN. (ARABIC 11/17)

IRAN / IRAQ / SAUDI ARABIA -- STRINGER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS THAT IRAN AND IRAQ HAVE DENIED ANY INVOLVEMENT IN THE SAUDI EXPLOSION WHICH TOOK THE LIVES OF FIVE AMERICANS LAST WEEK. AN IRANIAN OFFICIAL SAYS THE BOMBING IS A REFLECTION OF INTERNAL SITUATION OF SAUDI ARABIA. (ARABIC 11/17)

US / JORDAN MEDICAL PROJECT -- DR JIHAD BARGHOUTI OF THE AMMAN SURGICAL HOSPITAL SAID THE FIRST JOINT PROJECT BETWEEN MAYO CLINIC AND TWO JORDANIAN HOSPITALS FOR CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS THROUGH SATELLITES HAS BEEN INAUGURATED. INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY STRINGER JUMANA TAMIMI. (ARABIC 11/17)

JORDAN / SAUDI RELATIONS -- STRINGER SULEIMAN KHAIRALLAH REPORTS THAT KING HUSSEIN HAS ACCEPTED THE CREDENTIALS OF THE FIRST SAUDI AMBASSADOR TO JORDAN SINCE THE GULF CRISIS. (ARABIC 11/17)

OMAN ANNIVERSARY --CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS FROM MUSCAT THAT THE SULTANATE OF OMAN IS PREPARING FOR A WEEK-LONG CELEBRATIONS TO COMMEMORATE THE COMING TO POWER OF SULTAN QABOOS TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO. (ARABIC 11/17)

ALGERIAN ELECTIONS -- CORRESPONDENT IBRAHIM ABDIN IN CAIRO INTERVIEWS MAHFOUZ NAHNAH OF THE ALGERIAN SOCIETY MOVEMENT (HAMAS) AND ABDEL HAMID MIHRI OF THE NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT IN ALGERIA ON THE ELECTIONS AND THEIR EXPECTATIONS ABOUT THE OUTCOME. (ARABIC 11/16)

ALGERIAN ELECTIONS / THREATS -- RABEH KEBIR OF THE ALGERIAN ISLAMIC SALVATION FRONT COMMENTS ON THREATS BY OPPOSITION GROUPS TO VOTERS THAT THEIR LIVES WOULD BE ENDANGERED IF THEY GO TO THE POLLS. INTERVIEW BY STRINGER ZEINAB ABDELRAHMAN. (ARABIC 11/16)

ELECTION / MANAGEMENT -- STAFFER IMAN RAFI INTERVIEWS M. NAFISA AL-AHRASH, MEMBER OF THE ALGERIAN TRANSITIONAL NATIONAL COUNCIL, ON HOW THE GOVERNMENT MANAGED THE ELECTIONS PROVIDING VOTERS WITH SECURITY MEASURES AND FREEDOM OF ELECTION. (ARABIC 11/16)

JORDAN / KING STATUE -- STRINGER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS FROM AMMAN THAT KING HUSSEIN IS REFUSING TO BE GLORIFIED BY STATUES, AND HAS ORDERED THE REMOVAL FROM AN AMMAN SQUARE A THIRTY FEET HIGH STATUE. (ARABIC 11/16)

BAGHDAD / US -- IRAQ HAS CRITICIZED THE US FOR SENDING AN OFFICIAL TO NORTHERN IRAQ TO MEDIATE THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN KURDISH GROUPS. STRINGER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 11/16)

ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS -- THE PALESTINIAN INFORMATION MINISTER YASSER ABD RABBO SAYS SOME PROGRESS HAS BEEN ACHIEVED IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH ISRAEL ON THE EXPANSION OF SELF-RULE IN THE WEST BANK. AN INTERVIEW BY STRINGER ZEINAB ABDEL-RAHMAN. (ARABIC 11/16)

SAUDI ARABIA /AMERICAN JEWS -- STRINGER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS FROM AMMAN THAT A DELEGATION REPRESENTING THE AMERICAN JEWISH ANTI DEFAMATION LEAGUE HAS VISITED SAUDI ARABIA AND HELD TALKS WITH OFFICIALS ON SEVERAL ISSUES, INCLUDING PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST. (ARABIC 11/16)

IRANIAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM -- STAFFER BEN ABBASSI INTERVIEWS GENEVA-BASED STRATEGIC ANALYST, DR SHAHRAM CHUBIN IN WASHINGTON. DR CHUBIN SAYS THAT IRAN'S ATTEMPTS TO BUILD NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS DO NOT MAKE SENSE ECONOMICALLY, BECAUSE OF THE COUNTRY'S RICH NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS. (FARSI 11/20)

INSIDE CENTRAL ASIA:

HUMAN RIGHTS -- STRINGER LUDMILA ALEXEYEVA REPORTS ON THE LATEST HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN UZBEKISTAN WHERE TWO PREGNANT WOMEN WERE FORCED TO UNDERGO ABORTIONS WHILE ILLEGALLY DETAINED. (RUSSIAN 11/19)

AZERBAIJAN / POLITICS -- STAFFER HASAN JAVADI INTERVIEWED PROFESSOR RAUL MONTIKA OF HEIDELBERG UNIVERSITY WHO WAS ONE OF 100 INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS SENT TO AZERBAIJAN TO MONITOR THE ELECTIONS. MONTIKA SAID THAT INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS WERE FREE TO MONITOR THE ELECTORAL DISTRICTS, BUT LOCAL OBSERVERS WERE OFTEN THROWN OUT OF THE BUILDING BY THE POLICE. HE SAID THE ELECTIONS WERE NOT VERY FAIR AND DEMOCRATIC. (AZERI 11/19)

AZERBAIJAN / WOMEN -- STAFFER OLCAY RACHED INTERVIEWED DR. MAHIN KIVI OF STOCKHOLM UNIVERSITY ON THE RIGHTSAND CONDITIONS OF AZERBAIJANI WOMEN IN THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN AND IRANIAN AZERBAIJAN. DR. KIVI HAS DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THE SUBJECT AND HAS RETURNED FROM A RECENT TRIP TO IRAN. (AZERI 11/18)

EASTERN WOMEN ASSOCIATION / ECOLOGY -- HURQIZ ILIYEVA, THE HEAD OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL WOMEN GROUP, EASTERN WOMEN ASSOCIATION, BASED IN ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN TOLD STAFFER RANO HABIB THAT HER ASSOCIATION IS TRYING TO TURN THE CENTRAL ASIAN REGION INTO A NUCLEAR FREE ZONE. ACCORDING TO HER, THE GROUP HAS OPENED OFFICES IN IN TAJIKISTAN AND KYRGYZSTAN AND MAKING EFFORT TO SET UP OFFICES IN UZBEKISTAN, TURKMENISTAN, TURKEY, IRAN AND AZERBAIJAN. (UZBEK 11/15)

KAZAKHSTAN / YOUNG UIGHURS -- IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER RANO HABIB, YOUNG UIGHUR ACTIVIST,TURSINAHAMD GARIYEV, WHO RESIDES IN ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN, SAYS KAZAKH AUTHORITIES DID NOT PERMIT YOUNG UIGHUR SPEAKERS TO DELIVER THEIR SPEECHES AT A MEETING THAT THEY ORGANIZED FOR TWO DAYS IN ALMATY ON OCTOBER 28 AND 29. (UZBEK 11/14)

INSIDE SOUTH ASIA:

BANGLADESH / JOURNALIST -- ZAHIRUL HUQ, PRESIDENT OF THE DHAKA UNION OF JOURNALISTS AND CHIEF REPORTER OF A DHAKA DAILY IS INTERVIEWED BY STAFFER SARKAR KABIRUDDIN. HE SPOKE ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE AS A JOURNALIST COVERING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN NEW YORK AND HE ALSO COMMENTED ON MEDIA COVERAGE OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN THE UNITED STATES. (BANGLA 11/19)

NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR SOUTH ASIAN AFFAIRS -- NACSAA WAS FOUNDED IN 1979 BY SOUTH ASIAN AMERICANS. THIS ORGANIZATION IS ENGAGED IN REGULAR DIALOGUE WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND VARIOUS HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES ABOUT PROMOTING BETTER RELATIONS AND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE US AND SOUTH ASIA REGION. IN HIS ADDRESS TO THE FIRST NACSAA WORKSHOP, CONGRESSMAN DOUG BEREUTER PROMISED TO WORK FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF US GOALS IN THE REGION. DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE GIB LANPHER STRESSED US INTEREST IN THE REGION. STAFFER ROQUIA HAIDER REPORTS. (BANGLA 11/13)

BANGLA POL -- THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN BANGLADESH CONTINUES AFTER THE SIX DAY OPPOSITION STRIKE. THE PARLIAMENT SESSION BEGUN ON NOVEMBER 15 AND ENDED ON NOVEMBER 19. THE RULING BANGLADESH NATIONALIST PARTY IS PLANNING TO HOLD ELECTIONS IN JANUARY, 1996. THE OPPOSITION PARTIES HAVE THREATENED TO BOYCOTT ELECTIONS UNDER THE BNP GOVERNMENT. THEY WANT ELECTIONS UNDER A NEUTRAL CARETAKER GOVERNMENT. STRINGER REPORTS. (BANGLA 11/17, 11/18, 11/19)

ISLAMABAD EXPLOSION -- STRINGER IBRAHIM ABDIN IN CAIRO INTERVIEWS THE EGYPTIAN CULTURAL ATTACHE IN ISLAMABAD, AHMED HUSSEIN AND FORMER AMBASSADOR TO ALGERIA IBRAHMI YUSRI ON THE BOMBING OF THE EGYPTIAN EMBASSY AND GROUPS WHICH CLAIM RESPONSIBILITY OF THE EXPLOSION. (ARABIC 11/19)

EXPLOSION REACTION -- STRINGER IBRAHIM ABDIN REPORTS ON EGYPTIAN REACTION TO THE ISLAMABAD BOMBING. (ARABIC 11/19)

INSIDE EAST ASIA:

APEC / SUMMARY -- ON THE FINAL DAY OF THE APEC MEETING, THE LEADERS OF ITS 18 MEMBERS SIGNED AN ACTION PLAN, WHICH WILL GUIDE FREE TRADE AND INVESTMENT IN THE REGION. REPORTERS CHOU YOUKANG IN OSAKA, JAPAN, LIN GUANGHUI IN SINGAPORE, ZHANG YONGTAI IN TAIPEI AND YANG FAN IN WASHINGTON HELD A LIVE DISCUSSION ON APEC'S FINAL DAY, APEC'S ACHIEVEMENTS AND THE REACTION FROM CHINA, TAIWAN AND SINGAPORE. IT IS REPORTED CHINA HAS ACCEPTED A ROADMAP SETTING OUT STEPS THE US WOULD LIKE TO SEE TAKEN FOR BEIJING'S ACCESSION TO THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. (MANDARIN 11/19)

APEC MEETING -- GUESTS ON THE CHINA FORUM CALL-IN SHOW WINSTON YANG, CHAIRMAN, DEPARTMENT OF ASIAN STUDIES, SETON HALL UNIV., AND SHAOGUANG WANG, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, YALE UNIV., DISCUSSED THE APEC FREE TRADE AGREEMENT, PRESIDENT CLINTON'S ABSENCE FROM THE MEETING, AND SINO-US RELATIONS. SIX CALLS FROM CHINA WERE TAKEN. (MANDARIN 11/20)

JIANG ZEMIN / APEC EVENTS -- STAFFER CHOU YOUKANG IN JAPAN HAS FIELD COVERAGE OF APEC EVENTS AND OF CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN'S AND VICE-PRESIDENT GORE'S MEETING ON THE EVE OF THE APEC SUMMIT. THE CHINESE PRESIDENT ALSO MET WITH JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER MURAYAMA. (MANDARIN 11/18)

APEC MEETING -- PEOPLE ARE VERY INTERESTED IN HOW TAIWAN PRESIDENT LEE TENGHUI'S REPRESENTATIVE GU ZHENFU WILL MEET WITH CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN. GU SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS WITH JIANG HOW TO RE-ESTABLISH COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE MAINLAND AND TAIWAN. CHINESE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN CHEN JIAN AT A PRESS CONFERENCE DENIED THE FACT THAT GU IS LEE TENGHUI'S REPRESENTATIVE. CHEN ALSO SAID HE HAS NO INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT GU WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS WITH JIANG. STAFFER CHOU YOUKANG IN OSAKA REPORTS WITH COMMENTS FROM GU ZHENFU AND CHEN JIAN. (MANDARIN 11/18)

CHINA / AIDS WEEK -- THE CHINA HEALTH MINISTRY ADMITTED RECENTLY THAT AS MANY AS 100,000 PEOPLE IN CHINA COULD BE HIV CARRIERS, THOUGH THE NUMBER OF OFFICIALLY DOCUMENTED CASES OF HIV IS 2,428. STAFFER YANG FAN INTERVIEWED PROF. LU WEIBO, A MEMBER OF CHINESE EXPERTS COMMITTEE ON AIDS, WHO SAID THE HIV CARRIES IN CHINA ARE MAINLY INFECTED BY DRUG ABUSE. CHINA WILL OBSERVE AIDS WEEK STARTING FROM "WORLD AIDS DAY" ON DECEMBER 1ST. CHINA IS ALSO PLANNING TO ENHANCE THE EDUCATION ON AIDS AMONG TEENAGERS. (MANDARIN 11/19)

TAIWAN / SOUTH AFRICA -- SOUTH AFRICA IS CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING WITH BEIJING TO ESTABLISH RELATIONS. LENG RUOSHUI, SPOKESMAN OF TAIWAN'S FOREIGN MINISTRY MAINTAINS THAT TAIWAN'S RELATIONS WITH SOUTH AFRICA ARE STILL STRONG AND STABLE. HE SAYS PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA WANTS A RELATIONSHIP WITH BOTH TAIWAN AND MAINLAND CHINA. STRINGER ZHANG YONGTAI REPORTS WITH COMMENTS FROM LENG RUOSHUI. (MANDARIN 11/20)

TAIWAN ELECTION / JINMEN AND MAZU ISLANDS -- JINMEN (QUEMOY) ISLANDS AND MAZU ISLANDS ARE IMPORTANT BATTLEFIELDS IN THE UP-COMING ELECTION. THE NEW PARTY'S PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, WANG JIANGXUAN SAYS TAIWAN'S CURRENT LEADERSHIP AND THE OPPOSITION PARTY, DDP, WANT AN INDEPENDENT TAIWAN AND WILL TRY TO ABANDON THE JINMEN AND MAZU ISLANDS, WHICH ARE CLOSE TO THE MAINLAND. HUANG BAIHONG, A DDP OFFICIAL EXPLAINS DDP'S POSITION ON THIS ISSUE. CORRESPONDENT TIEN KANGLIN IN TAIPEI INTERVIEWS WANG JIANGXUAN, HUANG BAIHONG, AND CAO YUANZHANG, LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATE. (MANDARIN 11/20)

TAIWAN / OSAKA TALKS -- TAIWAN'S SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE APEC INFORMAL SUMMIT SAID FRIDAY THAT DURING HIS STAY IN OSAKA, HE WILL CONVEY TO THE CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZE-MIN TAIWAN'S WILLINGNESS TO RESUME UNOFFICIAL TALKS BETWEEN MAINLAND AND TAIWAN. BEFORE LEAVING FOR JAPAN, GU ZHEN-FU, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TAIWAN STRAIT FOUNDATION, TOLD REPORTERS THAT AS HE SEES IT, BOTH SIDES OF THE TAIWAN STRAIT FEEL IT IS INAPPROPRIATE TO CUT OFF ALL DIRECT LINKS. STRINGER ZHANG YONGTAI REPORTS FROM TAIPEI WITH COMMENTS FROM GU ZHEN-FU AND GAO KONG-LIAN, MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE FOR MAINLAND AFFAIRS. (MANDARIN 11/17)

APEC / JOINT DECLARATION -- ASIAN AND PACIFIC LEADERS ENDED THEIR SUMMIT IN OSAKA, JAPAN WITH A JOINT STATEMENT THAT CONTAINS SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS FOR CREATING A FREE TRADE AND INVESTMENT ZONE IN THE REGION OVER THE NEXT 25 YEARS. THE SO-CALLED "ACTION AGENDA" OUTLINES NINE STEPS THE 18 APEC MEMBER NATIONS WILL TAKE TO BRING DOWN TRADE BARRIERS AND LIBERALIZE INVESTMENT, INCLUDING ACCELERATING TARIFF REDUCTIONS, STREAMLINING CUSTOMS PROCEDURES AND EASING VISA REGULATIONS FOR BUSINESSMEN. STAFFER YONG KYUN LIM HAS DETAILS FROM OSAKA. (KOREAN 11/19)

APEC / KOREAN / JAPANESE SUMMIT -- SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT KIM YOUNG SAM AND JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER MURAYAMA HELD A SUMMIT MEETING IN OSAKA WHERE THE ANNUAL APEC CONFERENCE IS BEING HELD. THE TWO LEADERS DISCUSSED JAPANESE "MISCONCEPTION"OF ITS COLONIAL RULE OF KOREA, JAPANESE POLICY TOWARD NORTH KOREA AND KOREA'S INCREASING DEFICITS IN TRADE WITH JAPAN. CORRESPONDENT YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS FROM OSAKA. (KOREAN 11/18)

APEC / BILATERAL SUMMITS -- ON THE EVE OF SUNDAY'S SUMMIT CONFERENCE, LEADERS OF EIGHTEEN APEC MEMBER NATIONS SATURDAY HELD BILATERAL MEETINGS IN OSAKA TO DISCUSS BILATERAL AND REGIONAL ISSUES. AMONG THE SUBJECTS DISCUSSED IN THEIR SEPARATE MEETINGS, CORRESPONDENT YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS, WERE POSSIBLE SECURITY FUNCTIONS OF APEC RAISED BY US SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PERRY, CHINA'S CONTINUING NUCLEAR TESTS, JAPANESE NEGATIVE PERCEPTION OF ITS COLONIAL PAST, DETERIORATING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN US AND JAPAN IN THE WAKE OF A RAPE INCIDENT INVOLVING AMERICAN GI'S IN OKINAWA AND CHINESE POLICY TOWARD HONG KONG AND TAIWAN. VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE ARRIVED IN OSAKA IN TIME TO ATTEND A DINNER FOR APEC PARTICIPANTS HOSTED BY THE JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER MURAYAMA. (KOREAN 11/18)

BEIJING / HONG KONG RAILWAY -- A 3,000 MILE RAILWAY FROM BEIJING TO KOWLOON HONG KONG HAS BEEN LAID AND THE WHOLE PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETED BY MID 1997. OBSERVERS SAY THAT THE RAILWAY WILL BE THE ARTERY FOR CHINA-HONG KONG TRANSPORTATION AND WILL PLAY A KEY ROLE ECONOMICALLY AND POLITICALLY. HONG KONG STRINGER SHE LEI INTERVIEWS PROF. ZUO ZHENG, JINAN UNIV., HONG KONG COMMENTATOR LIU RUISHAO, AND ZHU YAN, RESEARCHER. (MANDARIN 11/18)

CHINA / FOREIGN BUSINESS -- CHINA WILL PHASE OUT ITS SPECIAL TREATMENT SUCH AS TAX-FREE PRIVILEGES TO FOREIGN BUSINESSES. THERE ARE MIXED REACTIONS TO THIS PLAN. OVERSEAS BUSINESSMEN ARE WORRIED. MING PAO, A HONG KONG'S LEADING NEWSPAPER WARNS ABOUT THE NEGATIVE EFFECT OF THE PLAN. BUT SU QUANYUAN, MANAGER OF CHINA ELECTRIC IMPORT AND EXPORT COMPANY AND PROF. ZHAO HAIYING WITH HK UNIV. TOLD HONG KONG STAFFER HE PING THEY SUPPORT THIS MOVE. HE PING ALSO INTERVIEWS WEI CHENGSI, HK MING PAO EDITORIAL WRITER. (MANDARIN 11/18)

CHINA / FIRST MILITARY WHITE PAPER -- CHINA'S FIRST WHITE PAPER ON ARMS CONTROL HAS BEEN WIDELY PERCEIVED AS AN EFFORT TO DISPERSE THE CONCERNS OF CHINA'S MILITARY THREAT. EXPERTS ON CHINESE MILITARY AFFAIRS SAY THE PAPER REAFFIRMED CHINA'S LONG-TIME POSITION ON ARMS CONTROL, DISARMAMENT AND OTHER MILITARY CUTS. THEY BELIEVE IT MAY NOT SERVE ITS PURPOSE VERY WELL SINCE IT REVEALED LITTLE NEW INFORMATION ABOUT CHINA'S MILITARY BUILD-UP. STAFFER HE PING IN HONG KONG INTERVIEWS PING KEFU, CHINESE MILITARY AFFAIRS EXPERT, AND PROF. HU NIANZU, TAIWAN ZHONGSHAN UNIVERSITY. (MANDARIN 11/17)

TAIWAN ELECTION -- TAIWAN KMT CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT LIN YANGGANG AND HAO BOCUN SATURDAY SHOWED UP AT A MASS RALLY FOR THE NEW PARTY. LIN AND HAO CRITICIZED KMT PRESIDENT LEE TENGHUI, WHICH INDICATES THAT THE ELECTION WAR BETWEEN THE TWO KMT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES IS UNDER WAY AND WILL AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF THE LEGISLATIVE ELECTION. STRINGER FAN DAOZHUANG REPORTS FROM TAIPEI WITH COMMENTS FROM LIN YANGGANG, HAO BOCUN, AND JIAN HANSHENG, KMT SPOKESMAN. (MANDARIN 11/18)

TAIWAN / PRIVATE SCHOOL -- MINGDAO HIGH SCHOOL IS A TOP PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOL IN TAIWAN, WITH MORE THAN 13,000 STUDENTS. CORRESPONDENT TIEN KANGLIN TALKED WITH THE PRINCIPAL WANG DA-YONG AND TEACHER HAO HONGGANG. WANG POINTED OUT THAT THE SCHOOL HAS A HIGHLY EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF AND A DEDICATED AND PROFESSIONAL FACULTY, WHICH HAVE GUARANTEED THE SUCCESS OF THE SCHOOL. (MANDARIN 11/18)

TAIWAN / US REPUBLICANS VISIT -- A DELEGATION FROM THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE US REPUBLICAN PARTY IS VISITING TAIWAN TO SEE HOW THINGS ARE GOING IN THE ISLAND'S ELECTIONS CAMPAIGN. THE DELEGATION HAS MET WITH LEADERS OF TAIWAN'S THREE MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES AND SOME INDEPENDENT CAMPAIGNERS. ONE MEMBER OF THE DELEGATION TOLD VOA HE IS IMPRESSED BY TAIWAN'S ELECTION PROCESS. CORRESPONDENT TIEN KANGLIN IN TAIPEI INTERVIEWS MEMBERS OF THE US DELEGATION AND PENG MIN-MIN, PROGRESSIVE PARTY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE. (MANDARIN 11/17)

CHINA / STATE ENTERPRISE PRIVATIZATION -- CHINESE OFFICIALS RECENTLY INDICATED CHINA WILL NOT RESORT TO PRIVATIZATION AS THE MAJOR SOLUTION TO THE REFORM OF STATE ENTERPRISES. STAFFER HE PING IN HONG KONG TALKS TO EXPERTS WHO DISCUSS STATE ENTERPRISE REFORM IN CHINA. INTERVIEWS WITH FAN GANG OF THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE, CHINA SOCIAL SCIENCE ACADEMY, AND PROFESSORS XIAO GENG AND WANG DINGDING, ECON. DEPT, HK UNIV. (MANDARIN 11/17)

CHINA / PERSONAL CHECKS -- PERSONAL CHECKS MAY BE USED IN SHANGHAI IN PLACES WHERE CASH WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO USE. LOCAL BANK OFFICIALS POINT OUT THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME PERSONAL CHECKS HAVE REAPPEARED SINCE THE COMMUNIST TAKEOVER. STAFFER HAI TAO INTERVIEWS DR. FANG XINGHAI, WORLD BANK, LI YANG, FINANCE INSTRUCTOR AT UM-COLLEGE PARK AND WORLD BANK CONSULTANT, AND PROF. HONG ZHAOHUI, SAVANNAH STATE COLLEGE, GA. (MANDARIN 11/17)

INTERNATIONAL SPORT CASTER PRIZE NOMINEE -- US SPORTCASTERS' ASSOCIATION NOMINATED SONG SHIXIONG, THE BEST KNOWN SPORTCASTER IN CHINA, AS MAN OF THE YEAR. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME A CHINESE HAS WON THIS HONOR. SONG WAS CHOSEN FOR HIS BROAD KNOWLEDGE IN SPORTS AND 36 YEARS OF BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE. RUOSI WU INTERVIEWED THE PRESIDENT OF THE US SPORTSCASTERS ASSOCIATION. (MANDARIN 11/18)

CHINA MILITARY / INTERNATIONAL DISARMAMENT -- PANELISTS ZHANG MING, RESEARCHER AT NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIV., AND JIN GAN, PRESIDENT OF THE INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC POLICY STUDIES, POINT OUT THAT ALTHOUGH CHINA IS EXPANDING ITS MILITARY FORCES, IT HAS NOT POSED ANY REAL THREAT TO NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES. BUT, THERE ARE SIGNS THAT CHINA HAS TRANSFERRED CERTAIN NUCLEAR EQUIPMENT TO SOME ASIAN AND MIDDLE EAST NATIONS WHICH COULD CAUSE UNREST IN THOSE AREAS. STRINGER FANG BING AND STAFFER RUOSI WU LED THE DISCUSSION. (MANDARIN 11/18)

HAN DONGFANG / JAPAN -- JAPAN HAS TURNED DOWN HAN DONGFANG'S VISA APPLICATION FOR THE SECOND TIME IN A YEAR. HAN IS A CHINESE LABOR MOVEMENT LEADER AND CHINESE AUTHORITIES WILL NOT ALLOW HIM TO RETURN TO CHINA. HAN TOLD VOA THAT HE SUSPECTED THAT JAPAN'S REFUSAL WAS OUT OF FEAR OF DAMAGING RELATIONS WITH CHINA, WHERE IT HAS GREAT POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC INTERESTS. STAFFER CHOU YOUKANG IN HONG KONG INTERVIEWS HAN DONGFANG. (MANDARIN 11/14)

SOUTH KOREA / SCANDAL -- PROSECUTORS MONDAY INTERVIEWED FORMER PRESIDENT ROH TAE WOO IN A JAIL CELL WHERE HE HAS BEEN LIVING SINCE HIS ARREST LAST WEEK ABOUT A MASSIVE SLUSH FUND. PROSECUTORS ARE REPORTED TO QUESTION THE USE OF THE SECRET FUND AND SUSPECTED SECRET BANK ACCOUNTS IN SWITZERLAND. STRINGER TAE SOO KIM ALSO SAYS PROSECUTORS PLANS TO SUMMON THREE OTHER CLOSE AIDS OF MR. ROH FOR QUESTIONING THIS WEEK. MEANWHILE, ABOUT 50 INMATES AT THE SEOUL DETENTION CENTER WHERE MR. ROH IS BEING HELD, ARE THREATENING A HUNGER STRIKE TO PROTEST "SPECIAL TREATMENT" BEING RENDERED TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT. (KOREAN 11/20)

KOREA / SLUSH FUND SCANDAL -- FORMER PRESIDENT ROH TAE WOO'S ONE-TIME BODYGUARD WAS ARRESTED FRIDAY, ONE DAY AFTER MR. ROH WAS ARRESTED ON CHARGES OF BRIBERY. PROSECUTORS ALLEGED THAT MR. LEE HYUN WOO HELPED MANAGE FUNDS FOR FORMER PRESIDENT ROH AND RECEIVED MONEY FOR HIS ROLE. STRINGER TAE SOO KIM SAID THAT ABOUT A DOZEN OF TOP BUSINESSMEN ARE EXPECTED TO BE SUMMONED AGAIN NEXT WEEK, AND SEVERAL OF THEM MAY BE ARRESTED ON CHARGES OF GIVING A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT IN EXCHANGE FOR GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS AND FAVORS. (KOREAN 11/17)

INSIDE EUROPE:

OHIO / BOSNIA PEACE TALKS -- STAFFER ZDENKO NOVACKI REPORTED FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE US AIR FORCE BASE WRIGHT-PATTERSON IN DAYTON, OHIO. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN, NICHOLAS BURNS SAID THAT NEGOTIATIONS ARE AT THE DECISIVE POINT. (CROATIAN 11/20)

BOSNIAN DELEGATION / PEACE TALKS -- NEW YORK STRINGER IVICA PULJIC SPOKE WITH MEMBERS OF THE BOSNIAN DELEGATION AT THE DAYTON TALKS AND REPORTS THAT THE MAIN POINTS OF CONTENTION REMAINING ARE THE CONTROL OVER LAND CORRIDORS AND THE STATUS OF SARAJEVO. (CROATIAN 11/20)

DAYTON / NEWS CONFERENCE -- STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS THE WARRING PARTIES REPRESENTATIVES AT THE DAYTON TALKS WERE GIVEN DEADLINE TO COMPLETE THE TALKS BY MONDAY MORNING. STAFFER ZDENKO NOVACKI REPORTS FROM THE WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR BASE. (CROATIAN 11/19)

SECURITY COUNCIL / YUGO SANCTIONS -- STRINGER IVICA PULJIC REPORTS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS ON BRITISH AND RUSSIAN PROPOSALS TO SUSPEND THE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. ACCORDING TO BOTH PROPOSALS, INTERNATIONAL PEACE EFFORTS ARE GOING TO BE ENHANCED IF THE SANCTIONS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA ARE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED. (CROATIAN 11/18)

GERMANY / BOSNIA -- BONN CORRESPONDENT IVICA LOVRIC REPORTS ON THE LEADING GERMAN OPPOSITIONAL PARTY, SOCIAL-DEMOCRAT PARTY, STRONGLY OPPOSING GERMAN SOLDIERS TAKING PART IN NATO FORCES IN BOSNIA THIS ATTITUDE HAS BEEN GROWING SINCE SDP RECENTLY GOT A NEW LEADER WHO IS CONSIDERED A LEFT-WINGER. (CROATIAN 11/18)

WAR CRIMES / BOSNIAN CROATS -- STRINGER LINDA MILISA TALKED TO TWO OUT OF SIX BOSNIAN CROATS INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES BY THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL. THEY SAY THEY ARE READY TO FACE THE TRIBUNAL SINCE THEY THINK THEY WILL BE ACQUITTED. (CROATIAN 11/18)

CROATIA / PEACE TALKS -- CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN TRAVELS TO THE USA TO REJOIN PEACE TALKS IN DAYTON, OHIO. AT THE ZAGREB AIRPORT HE SAID HE EXPECTS THE PEACE AGREEMENT TO BE COMPLETED MONDAY. STRINGER LINDA MILISA REPORTS. (CROATIAN 11/19)

BOSNIAN CROATS / OHIO PEACE TALKS -- ZAGREB STRINGER ZELJKO MATIC REPORTED THAT BOSNIAN CROAT NATIONAL COUNCIL PROTESTED AGAINST THE POSSIBLE COMPROMISE REGARDING THE POSAVINA CORRIDOR REGION IN NORTHERN BOSNIA, ACCORDING TO WHICH THIS AREA WOULD BE GIVEN TO BOSNIAN SERBS. (CROATIAN 11/18)

PEACE TALKS / DAYTON -- A STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED THE END OF THE PEACE TALKS IN DAYTON. HE SAID THAT THERE IS STILL A GAP REGARDING THE MAJOR ISSUES. THE CLOSING CEREMONY IS SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY. STAFFER DJORDJE PUTIC REPORTS FROM DAYTON. (SERBIAN 11/19)

NATO / AMERICAN TROOPS / BOSNIA -- NATO CLAIMS THAT THE DECISION OF THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NOT TO APPROVE THE FUNDS FOR SENDING AMERICAN TROOPS TO PEACE FORCES IN BOSNIA COULD ENDANGER THE WHOLE PEACE PROCESS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. STRINGER DRAGAN BLAGOJEVIC REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS. (SERBIAN 11/18)

BELGRADE MEDIA / DAYTON -- IN ABSENCE OF ANY FORMAL STATEMENTS FROM THE REPRESENTATIVES OF YUGOSLAVIA AND THE DELEGATION OF THE BOSNIAN SERBS WHO ARE ATTENDING PEACE TALKS IN DAYTON, YUGOSLAV MEDIA IS REPORTING THAT THE TALKS IN DAYTON ARE ENTERING THE FINAL STAGE. STRINGER DUSAN MASIC REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (SERBIAN 11/18)

TUDJMAN / SPEECH -- COMMENTING ON THE DAYTON PEACE TALKS, CROATIAN PRESIDENT F TUDJMAN SAID THAT AN AGREEMENT ON NORMALIZING RELATIONS BETWEEN ZAGREB AND BELGRADE HAS BEEN REACHED. HOWEVER, HE ADDED THAT THE ACCORD WILL NOT BE SIGNED UNTIL THE PEACE AGREEMENT ON BOSNIA IS ACHIEVED, AND INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS AGAINST SERBIA LIFTED. STRINGER STEVICA SUSA REPORTS FORM ZAGREB. (SERBIAN 11/17)

EUROPEAN UNION / HELP FOR FORMER YUGOSLAVIA -- EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTERS MEET IN BRUSSELS TO DISCUSS THE PLAN TO ASSIST THE COUNTRIES OF FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. STRINGER DRAGAN BLAGOJEVIC REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS THAT THE PLAN IS NOW FOCUSING ON THE WORLD BANK. (SERBIAN 11/19)

EUROPEAN UNION / RECONSTRUCTION PLAN -- STRINGER LADA STIPIC NISETEO REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS ON THE NEWEST EUROPEAN UNION PLANS TO HELP IN THE RECONSTRUCTION OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA AND CROATIA. (CROATIAN 11/18)

CROATIA / VUKOVAR ANNIVERSARY -- CORRESPONDENT ZELJKO MATIC REPORTS ON THE GATHERING IN FRONT OF THE US EMBASSY IN ZAGREB OF WOMEN WHOSE RELATIVES WERE KILLED OR DISAPPEARED IN THE CROATIAN TOWN OF VUKOVAR RUN OVER BY THE SERBS 1991. THE DEMANDED THAT THE US TO PUT PRESSURE ON SERBIAN PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC TO REVEAL WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE MISSING. (CROATIAN 11/18)

KOSOVO ALBANIANS / MILOSEVIC -- THE KOSOVO'S COUNCIL FOR THE DEFENSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS SAYS IT WILL HAND OVER DOCUMENTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA THAT COULD LEAD TO AN INDICTMENT OF SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. THE COUNCIL HAS CHARGED MILOSEVIC, FORMER SERBIAN POLICE CHIEF ZORAN SOKOLOVIC, AND OTHER POLICE OFFICIALS WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY AND GENOCIDE, INCLUDING THE KILLING OF ABOUT 150 ALBANIANS SINCE 1989. IT ALSO POINTS TO SOME 300,000 CASES OF HARASSMENT AND TORTURE. STRINGER AFERDITA SARACINI KELMENDI REPORTS. (ALBANIAN 11/20)

BRITAIN / BOSNIA -- BRITISH PRIME MINISTER JOHN MAJOR EXPRESSED ASSURANCES TO BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC. HE STRESSED THAT ONCE THE PEACE AGREEMENT IS IN PLACE, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY A LEADING ROLE IN THE PEACE IMPLEMENTATION MISSION. STRINGER RIJALDA SEBEK REPORTS FROM LONDON. (SERBIAN 11/19)

PAVLOVIC / SLAVONIA -- PROFESSOR OF HISTORY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON, S PAVLOVIC DISCUSSED THE AGREEMENT ON EASTERN SLAVONIA IN AN INTERVIEW WITH OUR STRINGER RIALDA SEBEK. MR. PAVLOVIC BELIEVES THAT THE ACCORD BETWEEN CROATIAN GOVERNMENT AND SERBS FROM EASTERN SLAVONIA REPRESENTS FIRST IMPORTANT STEP FOR COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT OF YUGOSLAV CRISIS. (SERBIAN 11/17)

LADJEVIC / SLAVONIA -- SPOKESMAN FOR THE SERBIAN DEMOCRATIC FORUM P LADJEVIC TALKS ABOUT THE ACCORD ON EASTERN SLAVONIA IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STRINGER RIALDA SEBEK IN LONDON. MR LADJEVIC HOPES THAT THE AGREEMENT WILL IMPROVE THE OVERALL SITUATION OF SERBIAN POPULATION THROUGHOUT CROATIA. (SERBIAN 11/17)

DAYTON / US EXPERT REACTIONS -- KEN JENSEN, DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN PEACE INSTITUTE AND CHARLES KUPCHAN OF THE COUNCIL FOR FOREIGN RELATION AGREE THAT THE PEACE AGREEMENT FOR BOSNIA WILL PROBABLY BE SIGNED IN A COUPLE OF DAYS. THEY ALSO AGREE THAT, AS A LONG TERM SOLUTION, THE FINAL AGREEMENT WILL PROBABLY NOT BE AS BAD FOR BOSNIA AS SOME PREDICT, ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT AS JUST AS IT SHOULD BE. THEY PREDICT THAT SERBIAN PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC WILL REMOVE THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS FROM POWER. MR. KUPCHAN ALSO SAID THAT IN SPITE OF THE SIGNATURES, SOME KEY ISSUES WILL STILL HAVE TO BE RESOLVED LATER. INTERVIEW BY STAFFER DZEILANA PECANIN. (CROATIAN 11/17)

UN / CROATIA -- THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL HAS POSTPONED DISCUSSIONS ON THE RESOLUTION ON CROATIA BECAUSE OF SERB COMPLAINTS. STRINGER IVICA PULJIC REPORTS FROM NEW YORK THE RESOLUTION WAS SENT TO DAYTON FOR DISCUSSIONS. THE DISPUTED PART OF THE RESOLUTION DEALS WITH THE WORDING OF THE STATUS OF CROATIA'S EASTERN SLAVONIA REGION. (CROATIAN 11/17)

MONTENEGRIN OPPOSITION / CROATIA -- CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN HAS PROMOTED AN OFFICER OF THE CROATIAN ARMY, WHO HAS BEEN INDICTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. THE MONTENEGRIN OPPOSITION CONSIDERS THAT DECISION YET ANOTHER PROOF OF THE HYPOCRISY. STRINGER BOSKO DJUKIC REPORTS FROM PODGORICA. (SERBIAN 11/18)

MONTENEGRO / ALBANIANS -- ALBANIAN POLITICAL FORCES IN MONTENEGRO ARE STRONGLY OPPOSED TO THE PROPOSITION OF PRESIDENT BULLATOVI, ON THE MAKE UP OF THE COUNCIL FOR PROTECTION OF NATIONAL AND ETHNIC GROUPS. ALBANIAN POLITICAL LEADERS SAY THAT NEW MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, WHO ARE REGARDED AS LOYAL REPRESENTATIVES OF THE RULING POLITICAL PARTY, DO NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE. STRINGER ALI SALAJ REPORTS. (ALBANIAN 11/20)

GLIGOROV / RETURN -- MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT K GLIGOROV WILL RETURN TO HIS DUTIES AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS OF RECOVERY. IN THE MEANTIME, PRIME MINISTER B CRVENKOVSKI REJECTED THE OFFER OF RESIGNATION FROM HIS MINISTER OF INTERIOR. STRINGER ZELJKO BAJIC REPORTS FROM SKOPJE. (SERBIAN 11/17)

RUSSIA / MACEDONIA -- THE POSITION OF RUSSIA TOWARDS MACEDONIA IS RAISING CONTROVERSY AMONG THE ANALYSTS IN THE SOUTH BALKANS. WHILE FORMAL STATEMENTS ON BOTH SIDES ARE CITING POSITIVE ESTIMATES OF THEIR BILATERAL RELATIONS, THE ANALYSTS NOTE THERE IS NO INTENSIVE POLITICAL DIALOG BETWEEN MOSCOW AND SKOPJE. STRINGER ZELJKO BAJIC REPORTS FROM SKOPJE. (SERBIAN 11/19)

MACEDONIA / NATO -- ACCORDING TO AN OPINION POLL, 42% OF THE CITIZENS OF MACEDONIA SEE THE FUTURE OF THEIR REPUBLIC WITH THE WEST. AND 60% OF THE CITIZENS FAVOR JOINING THE NATO. STRINGER ZELJKO BAJIC REPORTS FROM SKOPJE. (SERBIAN 11/19)

MONTENEGRO / OPPOSITION -- THE MONTENEGRIN OPPOSITION IS CLAIMING THAT THERE ARE GROSS ABUSES OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN MONTENEGRO. STRINGER BOSKO DJUKIC REPORTS FROM PODGORICA. (SERBIAN 11/19)

MEDIA / ROUND TABLE -- MEMBERS OF THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA IN YUGOSLAVIA HELD A ROUND TABLE ON THE ROLE OF MEDIA IN THE POLITICAL LIFE OF THE COUNTRY. THE DISCUSSION WAS ORGANIZED BY SERBIAN RENEWAL MOVEMENT, ONE OF THE OPPOSITION PARTIES IN SERBIA. STRINGER DUSAN MASIC REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (SERBIAN 11/17)

ALBANIA / ITALY -- THE ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT RATIFIED A TREATY BETWEEN ALBANIA AND ITALY CALLING FOR WIDER ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND JOINT EFFORTS TO FIGHT ORGANIZED CRIME, DRUG TRAFFICKING, AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. THE TREATY ALSO INCLUDES A PROVISION REGULATING THE IMMIGRATION OF ALBANIAN SEASONAL WORKERS TO ITALY. THE PARLIAMENT THE SAME DAY PASSED A LAW ON THE PRIVATIZATION OF THE STATE-OWNED TRADE BANK. STRINGER MERO BAZE REPORTS. (ALBANIAN 11/20)

CORPORATE TAKE OVER / CZECH REPUBLIC -- STAFFER JARMILA CECH LOOKS AT THE THE FIRST CZECH ATTEMPT AT A HOSTILE CORPORATE TAKE-OVER OF PRIVATIZATION FUNDS BY AN INVESTMENT GROUP CONNECTED WITH THE PILSEN BANK. (CZECH 11/16)

POLAND / ELECTION RESULTS -- LATEST RESULTS OF SUNDAY NATIONAL ELECTIONS IN POLAND SHOW THAT FORMER COMMUNIST PARTY OFFICIAL ALEXANDER KWASNIEWSKI APPEARS TO HAVE DEFEATED CURRENT POLAND PRESIDENT LECH WALESA. SPANISH BRANCH STRINGER VLADIMIR OLESIAK REPORTS FROM WARSAW. (SPANISH 11/20)

POLAND / ELECTION -- ZBIGNIEW BRZEZINSKI, FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR FOR PRESIDENT CARTER, COMMENTED ON THE LIKELIHOOD OF KWASNIEWSKI'S VICTORY IN POLAND'S PRESIDENTIAL RACE AND POINTED OUT ITS POTENTIAL NEGATIVE EFFECT ON POLAND'S FUTURE MEMBERSHIP IN WESTERN STRUCTURES SUCH AS NATO AND THE EUROPEAN UNION. INTERVIEW BY STAFFER JAREK ANDERS. (POLISH 1/17)

WALESA / KWASNIEWSKI -- THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE WARSAW DAILY 'TRYBUNA,' DARIUSZ SZYMCZYCHA, DISCUSSED THE POLISH PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND HOW THE OUTCOME MIGHT AFFECT POLAND'S FUTURE. INTERVIEW BY CORRESPONDENT WOJTEK MINICZ. (POLISH 11/16)

POLAND / ELECTION -- BOTH POLISH PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES EXCHANGED ACCUSATIONS OF FINANCIAL IMPROPRIETIES. KWASNIWSKI ACCUSED WALESA OF NOT PAYING TAXES. WALESA RETALIATED BY SAYING THAT KWASNIWSKI PURCHASED HIS APARTMENT IN A GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIZED HOUSING PROJECT BELOW MARKET VALUE. STRINGER MARIA BNINSKA REPORTS FROM WARSAW. (POLISH 11/16)

POLAND / ELECTION / WALESA -- STRINGER MARIA BNINSKA INTERVIEWS PRESIDENT LECH WALESA, TWO DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION. WALESA EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE THAT HE WOULD WIN THE SUNDAY ELECTION AND DEFENDED HIMSELF AGAINST CHARGES OF TAX EVASION. (POLISH 11/17)

POLAND / ELECTION -- WARSAW REPORTER WOJTEK MINICZ INTERVIEWS INDEPENDENT POLLSTER WOJCIECH RYBCZYNSKI. ACCORDING TO RYBCZYNSKI, FOR THE FIRST TIME, TV DEBATES HAD A STRONG IMPACT ON POLISH VOTERS. (POLISH 11/17)

SLOVAKIA / LANGUAGE LAW -- STRINGER ELENA KENCLOVA REPORTED ON THE CONTROVERSIAL NEW SLOVAK LANGUAGE LAW AND THE FACT THAT THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS WARNED THE SLOVAK GOVERNMENT THAT UNLESS THEY SHOW MORE RESPECT FOR DEMOCRACY, IT (EU) WOULD SUSPEND ITS AID TO SLOVAKIA. (CZECH 11/17)

LANGUAGE LAW APPROVED -- THE SLOVAK PARLIAMENT PASSED NEW CURBS ON THE USE OF THE HUNGARIAN AND OTHER LANGUAGES IN SLOVAKIA. THE LAW STIPULATES THAT ALL PUBLIC EMPLOYEES MUST SPEAK SLOVAK AND THAT PUBLIC CEREMONIES, EXCEPT WEDDINGS, WILL BE PERFORMED ONLY IN SLOVAK. THE LAW HAS NOT YET BEEN SIGNED INTO THE LAW BY THE SLOVAK PRESIDENT, AND MAY BE VETOED. STRINGER IVAN RAJECKY REPORTS. (SLOVAK 11/15)

LATVIAN / LITHUANIAN / SEA BORDER DISPUTE -- LATVIAN STRINGER GUNTIS STAMERS, IN A REPORT FROM RIGA, EXAMINED WAYS OF ARBITRATING A MAJOR SEA BORDER DISPUTE BETWEEN LATVIA AND LITHUANIA. DIRECT TALKS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES SEEM TO HAVE REACHED A DEAD END. (LATVIAN 11/16)

US EMBASSY VILNIUS / GOVERNMENT SHUT-DOWN -- THE US EMBASSY IN VILNIUS WAS BUSY PREPARING FOR DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY'S VISIT, BUT THE CONSULAR SECTION WAS CLOSED FOR ALL BUT EMERGENCY VISA PROCESSING. STAFFER LINAS RIMKUS SPOKE WITH PAO LISA HELLING. (LITHUANIAN 11/15)

LITHUANIA / BANK MERGER -- THE PRESIDENTS OF THE TWO LARGEST BANKS IN LITHUANIA, WHICH ARE PLANNING TO MERGE, ARE IN WASHINGTON TALKING TO IMF AND WORLD BANK OFFICIALS. THEY SPOKE ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THEIR TALKS IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER ROMAS KASPARAS. (LITHUANIAN 11/20)

ANNIVERSARY OF THE VELVET REVOLUTION / SLOVAKIA -- SOME 15,000 PEOPLE ATTENDED A DEMONSTRATION IN BRATISLAVA ON THE EVE OF THE SIXTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FALL OF THE COMMUNIST REGIME IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA. STAFFER ERNEST STREDNANSKY INTERVIEWS SLOVAK RADIO JOURNALIST HOSTOVECKA. (SLOVAK 11/16)

LATVIAN BASKETBALL -- THE MEN'S AND WOMEN'S LATVIAN SELECT BASKETBALL TEAMS JUST FINISHED A TRIP AROUND THE UNITED STATES PLAYING AGAINST AMERICAN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. STAFFER PETERIS AIZUPITIS REPORTS. (LATVIAN 11/16)

INSIDE EURASIA:

US / RUSSIA AID -- ALLAN REICH, PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION ON DISABILITIES TALKS TO STAFFER IRENE KELNER ABOUT HOW HIS ORGANIZATION IS SENDING WHEELCHAIRS TO RUSSIA. MOST OF THE WHEELCHAIRS SENT TO RUSSIA WERE DONATED BY US CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES, AND BY US FIRMS. (RUSSIAN 11/15)

INSIDE LATIN AMERICA:

HONDURAS / DRUG WAR -- AN IMPORTANT MILITARY OFFICER IN HONDURAS SAID THAT HIS COUNTRY WILL CONTINUE THE WAR AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKERS AND CONTINUE SUPPORTING THE OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE CENTRAL AMERICAN REGION. STRINGER JUAN BAUTISTA VAZQUEZ REPORTS FROM TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS. (SPANISH 11/20)

COLOMBIAN CITIZEN / GREAT BRITAIN -- A COLOMBIAN CITIZEN WAS SENTENCED IN ENGLAND TO NINE YEARS IN PRISON FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING. SPANISH BRANCH LONDON STRINGER REPORTS. (SPANISH 11/20)

HAITI ELECTIONS / UN -- THE UNITED NATIONS QUALIFIED THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS IN HAITI AS CRUCIAL FOR THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF DEMOCRACY IN THAT CARIBBEAN NATION. CORRESPONDENT LUIS TAMAYO REPORTS. (SPANISH 11/17)

NICARAGUA / ELECTIONS -- ACCORDING TO POLITICAL ANALYST THE 1996 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN THAT COUNTRY ARE AT RISK IF AGREEMENT IS NOT REACHED TO ELECT A NEW NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. STRINGER OSVALDO BONILLA REPORTS FROM MANAGUA. (SPANISH 11/17) 20-Nov-95 6:55 PM EST (2355 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America