Voice of America Digest, 5 December 1995

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] !!! VOA DIGEST - DECEMBER 5, 1995

NATO MINISTERS -- NATO FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTERS ARE MEETING IN BRUSSELS TO DISCUSS THE DEPLOYMENT OF SIXTY THOUSAND ALLIANCE TROOPS TO CARRY OUT THE BOSNIA PEACE AGREEMENT. STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS, NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS ARE WELCOMING FRANCE'S DECISION TO PARTICIPATE IN MILITARY MATTERS. (12/5)

NATO / BOSNIA -- WITH LESS THAN TWO WEEKS TO GO BEFORE THE SIGNING OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE ACCORD, NATO MILITARY PLANNERS ARE PREPARING TO DEPLOY A MULTINATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE OF MORE THAN SIXTY THOUSAND TROOPS. THE FIRST CONTINGENT OF NATO LOGISTICS AND COMMUNICATIONS EXPERTS FLEW INTO SARAJEVO MONDAY TO LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR WHAT WILL BE THE LARGEST OPERATION OF ITS KIND IN THE ALLIANCE'S HISTORY. CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING HAS A BACKGROUND REPORT ABOUT THE NATO TROOPS THAT WILL FORM THE MAJOR PART OF THE FORCE. (12/5)

BOSNIA / SARAJEVO SERBS -- MORE NATO ADVANCE FORCES ARE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA TO PREPARE FOR THE DEPLOYMENT OF NATO TROOPS TO HELP IMPLEMENT THE NEW BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT. IN SARAJEVO, A UN SPOKESMAN SAYS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE RENEGOTIATED IF SERBS IN THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL REJECT THE ACCORD IN A REFERENDUM. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS FROM VIENNA. (12/5)

PERRY / BOSNIA -- AS ADVANCE ELEMENTS OF US FORCES BEGAN ARRIVING IN BOSNIA, US DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY AGAIN STRESSED THAT THE UNITED STATES IS GOING THERE TO ENFORCE PEACE, AND NOT TO FIGHT A WAR. HE SAID HE EXPECTS THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT TO LIVE UP TO ITS PLEDGE TO REMOVE ISLAMIC MILITANT VOLUNTEERS FROM THE COUNTRY. CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE PENTAGON. (12/4)

NATO'S DEFINING MOMENT -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' ERICA BENIS DISCUSSES NATO'S NATO'S BOSNIAN MISSION, ITS FIRST AND THE LARGEST PEACEKEEPING OPERATION EVER. (12/5)

US OPINION / BOSNIA -- IN A FURTHER EFFORT TO GAUGE THE MOOD OF THE NATION TOWARD THE BOSNIAN PEACEKEEPING MISSION, CURRENT AFFAIRS' ANDREW GUTHRIE CALLED SEVERAL EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS AND WRITERS TO FIND WHY THEIR PAPERS WERE SUPPORTING THE PRESIDENT OR NOT, AND HOW THEIR OPINIONS MATCHED THOSE OF THE READERS IN THEIR AREAS. (12/5)

BOSNIA / HIGH TECH -- WHEN THE BULK OF THE US CONTINGENT TO THE NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE BEGINS ARRIVING IN BOSNIA, THE TROOPS WILL BE BRINGING SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY. AS CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING REPORTS, THAT TECHNOLOGY WILL GIVE US FORCES AN UNPRECEDENTED ABILITY TO RESOLVE POTENTIAL CONFLICTS. (12/4)

US / CZECH / BOSNIA -- THE CZECH REPUBLIC, CONSIDERED A LEADING CANDIDATE FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP WHEN THE ALLIANCE EXPANDS, IS MAKING A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE NATO-LED PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN BOSNIA. THE REPUBLIC'S PRIME MINISTER VACLAV KLAUS DISCUSSED THE DEPLOYMENT IN TALKS WITH DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY. CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON. (12/4)

FRANCE/ STRIKE -- THOUSANDS OF DEMONSTRATORS MARCHED THROUGH FRENCH CITIES TO PRESS THE GOVERNMENT TO WITHDRAW ITS PROPOSED REFORM OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM. STRINGER JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS THAT THE WORK STOPPAGES THAT HAVE VIRTUALLY PARALYZED FRANCE, ARE NOW IN THEIR TWELFTH DAY. (12/5)

ISRAEL / DIPLOMACY -- ISRAEL'S PRIME MINISTER SHIMON PERES IS EMBARKING ON A SERIES OF TRIPS STARTING WEDNESDAY WHICH WILL TAKE HIM TO MEETINGS WITH THREE ARAB LEADERS AND PRESIDENT CLINTON. CORRESPONDENT AL PESSIN IN JERUSALEM REPORTS ON MR PERES' FIRST MAJOR DIPLOMATIC OUTING SINCE HE BECAME PRIME MINISTER A MONTH AGO AFTER THE ASSASSINATION OF YITZHAK RABIN. (12/5)

EGYPT / ELECTIONS -- EGYPTIANS RETURN TO THE POLLS WEDNESDAY FOR THE RUN-OFF ROUND OF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. ONE-THIRD OF THE 444 PARLIAMENTARY SEATS WERE WON IN THE FIRST ROUND BY THE RULING NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT THE RULING NDP PARTY WILL TAKE CONTROL OF AT LEAST THREE-FOURTHS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. (12/5)

SAUDI POLITICS -- SAUDI ARABIA'S KING FAHD REMAINS HOSPITALIZED AFTER BEING ADMITTED THURSDAY WITH WHAT THE ROYAL COURT DESCRIBES AS A TEMPORARY HEALTH EMERGENCY. THE ILLNESS AND GENERAL WEAK HEALTH OF THE KING HAS OBSERVERS THINKING ABOUT THE PROSPECTS OF A SAUDI ARABIA UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP. MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN LOOKS AT THE POLITICAL CHALLENGES. (12/5)

US / SAUDI KING -- SAUDI KING FAHD REMAINS HOSPITALIZED IN RIYADH FOR WHAT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS CALL A TEMPORARY HEALTH EMERGENCY. A TEAM OF AMERICAN DOCTORS HAS FLOWN TO SAUDI ARABIA AND IS ASSISTING IN HIS TREATMENT. STAFFER VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS THE US GOVERNMENT EXPRESSED HOPE THAT THE MEDICAL STATEMENTS ON THE KING'S CONDITION REMAIN UPBEAT. (12/4)

ISRAEL / RABIN -- ISRAELI PROSECUTORS HAVE SUBMITTED FORMAL CHARGES AGAINST THE CONFESSED ASSASSIN OF YITZHAK RABIN, HIS BROTHER, AND ANOTHER ALLEGED CONSPIRATOR. CORRESPONDENT AL PESSIN IN JERUSALEM REPORTS THE CHARGE SHEET WAS PRESENTED TO A TEL AVIV COURT AS ISRAEL WAS MARKING THE END OF THE OFFICIAL 30-DAY PERIOD OF MOURNING FOR MR. RABIN. (12/5)

NIGERIA / MILITARY -- NIGERIA'S LEADER, GENERAL SANI ABACHA, SAYS NIGERIA CAN WITHSTAND AN ARMS EMBARGO IMPOSED BY SOUTH AFRICA AND SEVERAL WESTERN NATIONS BY BECOMING MORE SELF RELIANT. WEST AFRICA CORRESPONDENT PURNELL MURDOCK REPORTS THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT IS FACING WIDESPREAD CONDEMNATION FOR THE EXECUTION LAST MONTH OF NINE ACTIVISTS WHO WERE CONVICTED OF ORDERING THE MURDER OF FOUR PROMINENT ETHNIC MINORITY POLITICIANS. (12/5)

EU / NIGERIA -- THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS APPROVED MORE SANCTIONS AGAINST NIGERIA TO PROTEST HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES THERE. STRINGER JOHN FRASER IN BRUSSELS REPORTS THIS IS IN ADDITION TO SANCTIONS IMPOSED SOON AFTER NIGERIA EXECUTED NINE DISSIDENTS, INCLUDING THE WRITER KEN SARO WIWA. (12/4)

NIGERIA / ANALYSIS -- THE EXECUTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST KEN SARO WIWA AND EIGHT OTHERS LAST MONTH HAS BROUGHT WORLDWIDE CONDEMNATION OF NIGERIA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT. THE EUROPEAN UNION, THE UNITED STATES, AND SOUTH AFRICA ARE ALL CONSIDERING INTENSIFIED SANCTIONS. BUT A NIGERIAN POLITICAL ANALYST SAYS THE WORLD IS LOSING SIGHT OF THE REAL ISSUE, THE NIGERIAN MILITARY'S ANNULMENT OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS TWO-YEARS AGO. STAFFER WILLIAM EAGLE REPORTS MOST OBSERVERS THOUGHT THOSE ELECTIONS WERE FREE AND FAIR. (12/5)

RWANDA / QUESTION -- THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL MAY BE FORCED TO DISCONTINUE ITS PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN RWANDA AFTER FRIDAY. SECRETARY GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI HAS RECOMMENDED PULLING THE TWENTY-ONE-HUNDRED MAN FORCE OUT OF THE COUNTRY BECAUSE THE RWANDAN GOVERNMENT NO LONGER WANTS IT THERE. CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS. (12/4)

UGANDA / SUDAN -- UGANDAN PRESIDENT YOWERI MUSEVENI IS THREATENING COMMANDO RAIDS INTO NEIGHBORING SUDAN, UNLESS AUTHORITIES OF THE ISLAMIC GOVERNMENT THERE STOP AIDING REBELS TRYING TO OVERTHROW HIM. EAST AFRICA CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS. (12/5)

KENYA / ALIENS -- KENYA'S RECENT CRACKDOWN AGAINST ALLEGED ILLEGAL ALIENS HAS NETTED SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE, MANY OF THEM FROM SOUTHERN SUDAN. CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS MOST OF THE ILLEGAL ALIENS ARE BEING HELD IN A MAKESHIFT HOLDING CENTER OUTSIDE OF NAIROBI WHERE RELIEF WORKERS SAY CONDITIONS ARE GRIM. (12/5)

SAF / GORE -- VISITING AMERICAN VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE HELD TALKS TUESDAY WITH PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA AND OTHER SOUTH AFRICAN OFFICIALS, THE FIRST DAY OF A TWO-DAY VISIT. CORRESPONDENT MALLORY SALESON IN PRETORIA REPORTS THE TALKS FOCUSED ON BILATERAL ISSUES AND THE SITUATION IN NIGERIA. (12/5)

RUSSIA / CHECHNYA -- RUSSIAN OFFICIALS HAVE REAFFIRMED THEIR DETERMINATION TO HOLD ELECTIONS IN CHECHNYA DESPITE A SURGE OF VIOLENCE IN THE BREAKAWAY REPUBLIC. STRINGER PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS FROM MOSCOW THAT SECURITY WAS TIGHTENED IN THE CHECHEN CAPITAL AFTER A CAR BOMB KILLED ELEVEN PEOPLE. (12/5)

GERMANY / TURKEY -- TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER HAS MET WITH GERMAN POLITICAL LEADERS IN A BID TO SECURE GERMANY'S SUPPORT FOR A TRADE AGREEMENT WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION. FROM BONN, STAFFER DAGMAR BREITENBACH REPORTS. (12/5)

CAMBODIA / US -- CAMBODIA'S CO-PRIME MINISTER, HUN SEN, HAS SHARPLY CRITICIZED WHAT HE CALLS ATTEMPTS BY FOREIGN COUNTRIES TO INTERFERE IN CAMBODIA'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS. CORRESPONDENT DAN ROBINSON REPORTS. (12/5)

HONG KONG / DEMOCRACY -- AS HONG KONG APPROACHES ITS 1997 TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY FROM BRITAIN TO CHINA, ITS LARGEST PRO-DEMOCRACY PARTY FACES GROWING CRITICISM FROM BEIJING AND PRO-CHINA BUSINESS PEOPLE. FROM THE BRITISH COLONY, CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRMAN MARTIN LEE SAYS HE WILL CONTINUE TO CHALLENGE CHINA'S POLICIES IF THEY THREATEN TO REDUCE THE TERRITORY'S AUTONOMY AFTER THE HAND-OVER. (12/5)

US / VIET / BOAT PEOPLE -- THE UNITED STATES HAS ENTERED INTO A NEW PHASE OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH VIETNAM ON THE FATE OF APPROXIMATELY FORTY THOUSAND VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN SOUTHEAST ASIAN REFUGEES CAMPS, SOME OF WHOM HAVE BEEN THERE FOR AS LONG AS 20 YEARS. STAFFER VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS A US GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAYS EACH REFUGEE WOULD BE OFFERED AN IMMIGRATION INTERVIEW BUT NO GUARANTEE OF RESETTLEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES. (12/4)

FISHING TREATY -- TWENTY FIVE COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA, SIGNED A TREATY IN NEW YORK TO REGULATE FISHING NEAR TERRITORIAL WATERS AND PREVENT DISPUTES ON THE HIGH SEAS OVER RAPIDLY DWINDLING STOCKS. A CRISIS OFF THE COAST OF NEWFOUNDLAND BETWEEN CANADA AND SPANISH TRAWLERS EARLIER THIS YEAR SPURRED NEARLY THREE YEARS OF NEGOTIATIONS TOWARD A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION. CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS. (12/4)

ROMANIA / MARKETS -- ROMANIA'S INFANT STOCK EXCHANGE THURSDAY WILL HAVE ITS THIRD TRADING SESSION IN AS MANY WEEKS. CORRESPONDENT BARRY WOOD REPORTS ROMANIA IS TRYING TO CATCH UP WITH OTHER EAST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES IN DEVELOPING CAPITAL MARKETS. (12/5)

EAST EUROPE / ECON -- THE UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION OF EUROPE SAYS THE ECONOMIES OF EASTERN EUROPE AND THE FORMER SOVIET UNION ARE PICKING UP AND THAT MORE THAN HALF OF THE TWENTY SIX COUNTRIES WILL REGISTER POSITIVE GROWTH IN 1996. CORRESPONDENT BARRY WOOD REPORTS. (12/4)

US / UNIDO -- THE UNITED STATES HAS ANNOUNCED IT WILL WITHDRAW FROM THE VIENNA-BASED UNITED NATIONS INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY IN VIENNA REPORTS THE US GOVERNMENT SAYS THE ORGANIZATION IS TOO BUREAUCRATIC AND INEFFICIENT. (12/4)

INTERNATIONAL TELCO ISSUES -- A HIGH-RANKING US OFFICIAL SAYS THAT TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY, A PRIORITY IN THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S ECONOMIC AGENDA, WILL BE THE FOCAL POINT FOR AN UPCOMING G-7 MINISTERIAL MEETING. REPORTER ANDREW BAIRD HAS THE DETAILS. (12/4)

VENEZUELA ELECTION -- VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT RAFAEL CALDERA SAYS HE IS READY TO START A DIALOGUE WITH THE REGIONAL AUTHORITIES FROM OPPOSITION PARTIES WHO WON SUNDAY'S STATE AND LOCAL ELECTIONS. ACCORDING TO UNOFFICIAL RESULTS, MR CALDERA'S NATIONAL CONVERGENCE PARTY WON ONLY ONE GOVERNORSHIP AND TEN PERCENT OF THE CITY HALLS. WE HAVE A REPORT FROM SOUTH AMERICA CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK. (12/4)

MEXICO / SALINAS -- FORMER MEXICAN PRESIDENT CARLOS SALINAS DE GORTARI HAS DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR MEXICO'S ECONOMIC CRISIS AND BLAMED ANOTHER FORMER MEXICAN LEADER FOR TRYING TO UNDERMINE HIS LEGACY. MR SALINAS' DENIAL COMES IN THE MIDST OF A GROWING CORRUPTION SCANDAL INVOLVING HIS FAMILY, AS CORRESPONDENT BILL RODGERS REPORTS. (12/4)

NAFTA / 1996 -- A SENIOR WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL SAID THE PROCESS OF CREATING A FREE TRADE ZONE IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE WILL GO AHEAD DESPITE RECENT SETBACKS. CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE REPORTS FROM MIAMI, WHERE HUNDREDS OF TRADE OFFICIALS AND BUSINESS EXECUTIVES ARE MEETING AT THE 19TH ANNUAL MIAMI CONFERENCE ON THE CARIBBEAN AND LATIN AMERICA. (12/4)

COLLEGE JOB OUTLOOK -- A MAJOR UNIVERSITY IN THE AMERICAN MIDWEST REPORTS THE JOB OUTLOOK FOR GRADUATING COLLEGE STUDENTS IN THE COMING YEAR HAS IMPROVED. BUT THE SURVEY SAYS STUDENTS WILL HAVE TO HUNT FOR JOBS, EMPLOYERS WILL NOT BE COMING TO THEM. MORE FROM CORRESPONDENT PAUL FRANCUCH. (12/4)

AUTOMOBILES / US -- AUTOMOTIVE EDITOR JOHN BIRCHARD HAS DRIVEN MANY CARS MANY MILES DURING THE PAST YEAR. BUT HE WAS FINALLY CONVINCED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD LONG ENOUGH TO FILE THIS REPORT ON AUTOMOBILES IN AMERICA. (12/4)

OKLAHOMA BOMBING / JUDGE NAMED -- A FEDERAL APPELLATE COURT IN THE WESTERN STATE OF COLORADO HAS NAMED A NEW JUDGE TO PRESIDE OVER THE TRIAL OF THOSE CHARGED IN LAST APRIL'S BOMBING OF A FEDERAL OFFICE BUILDING IN OKLAHOMA. CORRESPONDENT PAUL FRANCUCH REPORTS THE CHANGE WAS ORDERED BECAUSE DEFENSE LAWYERS SUCCESSFULLY ARGUED THE ORIGINAL JUDGE MAY HAVE BEEN BIASED. (12/4)

PIPELINE / POLITICS -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' FRANK RONALDS LOOKS AT THE ENORMOUS POTENTIAL OF THE OIL AND GAS RESERVES IN THE CASPIAN SEA AREA AND THE "PIPELINE POLITICS" OF GETTING THE OIL OUT. HE TALKS WITH VARIOUS ANALYSTS ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE REGION COULD LEAD TO A "WIN-WIN" RESULT FOR EAST-WEST RELATIONS, AS WELL AS THE FIVE COUNTRIES BORDERING ON THE CASPIAN, AND THE OIL COMPANIES CONCERNED. (12/5)

US / VOLUNTEERS -- VOLUNTEERING TIME TO HELP OTHERS HAS LONG BEEN A BIG PART OF MANY AMERICANS' LIVES. BUT THE WAY OF LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES HAS CHANGED IN THE PAST FEW DECADES. FORMERLY, MOST VOLUNTEERS WERE MARRIED WOMEN WHO DID NOT WORK OUTSIDE THE HOME, OR RETIRED PEOPLE. NOW, SURVEYS SHOW THAT 48 PERCENT OF ALL ADULTS VOLUNTEER, AND THAT PEOPLE BETWEEN 25 AND 44 ARE THE MOST ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS. CURRENT AFFAIRS' MARILYN SILVEY REPORTS ON ONE ATTEMPT TO MAKE VOLUNTEERISM EASIER FOR TODAY'S BUSY WORKERS. (12/4)

CHRISTMAS SEASON CHORISTERS -- FROM NOW UNTIL DECEMBER 20TH, ONE OF THE FOREMOST BOYS' CONCERT CHOIRS IN THE US IS ON THE ROAD WITH ITS JOYOUS CHRISTMAS PROGRAM. CURRENT AFFAIRS' JANE HUGHES (FORMERLY KUCZYNSKI) TALKS WITH AMERICAN BOY CHOIR SCHOOL SINGERS, A CHOIRMASTER AND THE ADMISSIONS DIRECTOR ABOUT THE SPECIAL TALENT AND DEDICATION IT TAKES TO PRODUCE A SOUND THAT IS HAILED BY SOME OF THE WORLD'S TOP MUSICIANS AND CONDUCTORS. (12/5)

CHRISTMAS / TREE FARMING -- AMERICANS ARE EXPECTED TO BUY ABOUT 35 MILLION FARM-GROWN CHRISTMAS TREES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. THE NATIONAL CHRISTMAS TREE ASSOCIATION SAYS GROWING CHRISTMAS TREES IS BENEFICIAL FOR THE SOIL, ENVIRONMENT, AND ECONOMY. REAL TREES ARE RECYCLABLE AND BIODEGRADABLE. THEY MAKE EFFECTIVE SOIL EROSION BARRIERS AND SHELTERS FOR BIRDS. THEY GIVE FULL OR PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT TO ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND AMERICANS. CURRENT AFFAIRS' ZLATICA HOKE REPORTS. (12/5)

HILLARY / BOSNIA / CHRISTMAS -- AS THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY APPROACHES, FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON IS ASKING AMERICANS NOT TO FORGET THE US TROOPS WHO WILL BE GOING TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA ON A PEACEKEEPING MISSION. MRS CLINTON MADE HER COMMENTS AS SHE GAVE REPORTERS A TOUR OF WHITE HOUSE ROOMS DECORATED FOR THE HOLIDAYS. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS. (12/4)

INSIDE USA:

TERRORISM / TALK TO AMERICA -- INTERNATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS LONG COOPERATED IN ITS EFFORTS TO CONTROL TERRORISM, BUT AN UPCOMING MEETING OF THE MAJOR POWERS WILL FOCUS A NEW LEVEL OF ATTENTION ON THE ISSUE. AMBASSADOR PHIL WILCOX WILL REPRESENT THE UNITED STATES AT THIS MINISTERIAL-LEVEL MEETING AND HE JOINS 'TALK TO AMERICA' TO DISCUSS THE GOALS OF THE CONFERENCE. (ENGLISH 12/5)

AIDS / DEATHS -- THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION SAID AIDS IS THE MAIN CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG PEOPLE OF LESS THAT 45 YEARS OLD IN THE UNITED STATES AND WESTERN EUROPE. CORRESPONDENT LUIS TAMAYO REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (SPANISH 12/4)

US / UNIDO -- THE UNITED STATES ANNOUNCED ITS WITHDRAWAL OF UNIDO, AN UN AGENCY DEVOTED TO FOSTER INDUSTRIALIZATION OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, CONSIDERING ITS MISSION REDUNDANT. CORRESPONDENT LUIS TAMAYO REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (SPANISH 12/4)

COMPUTER PROGRAM -- COMPUTER SCIENTIST DR SAEED BOZOGUI NESBAT ANSWERS LISTENERS QUESTIONS DURING A DISCUSSION WITH STAFF REPORTER ABOUT THE COMPUTER FIELD AND HOW PEOPLE CAN STUDY AND PURSUE A CAREER IN THE COMPUTER INDUSTRY. (FARSI 12/5)

LANDMINES -- REPORTER TERRY WING TALKS WITH ED MILES, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR WITH THE VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA ABOUT LANDMINES. THE INITIAL PURPOSE OF THE INTERVIEW IS TO GET HIS REACTION TO WHAT IS BEING CALLED THE WORLD'S FIRST FRAGMENT AND BLAST RESISTANT COMBAT BOOTS. THE BOOTS, BEING MARKETED BY A SINGAPOREAN FIRM, ARE DESIGNED TO PREVENT SERIOUS INJURY CAUSED BY STEPPING ON ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES. MR. MILES, A FORMER CAPTAIN WHO WAS INJURED BY A MINE IN VIETNAM, DOESN'T PUT MUCH STOCK IN THE FIRM'S CLAIMS. THE INTERVIEW ALSO DEALS WITH WHAT NATO TROOPS ARE LIKELY TO FACE IN TERMS OF LANDMINES IN BOSNIA AND THE CONVENTION TO BAN THE PRODUCTION OF LANDMINES. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 12/4)

GLOBAL REFUGEE CRISES -- REPORTER TOM CROSBY TALKS WITH ARTHUR HELTON, THE DIRECTOR OF MIGRATION PROGRAMS AT THE OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE IN NY. HELTON SAYS MOST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES ARE ILL-PREPARED TO HANDLE REFUGEE CRISES. HE ALSO TALKS ABOUT THE REFUGEE CRISES IN BOSNIA, HAITI, CUBA, THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, MEXICO, RWANDA AND VIETNAM. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 12/4)

IRANIAN WOMEN -- STAFFER FARAH JAHANGIRI TALKS WITH IRANIAN-BORN JOURNALIST AND WRITER, MANSOUREH PIRNIA, ABOUT HER RECENT BOOK ON LEADING IRANIAN WOMEN WHO HAVE INFLUENCED SOCIETY AND CULTURE BEFORE AND AFTER THE REVOLUTION, INSIDE AND OUTSIDE IRAN. (FARSI 12/5)

INDIA SEMINAR -- IRIS, THE CENTER FOR INSTITUTIONAL REFORM AND INFORMAL SECTOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, ORGANIZED A SEMINAR ON INDIA IN THE NEW AGE OF COMMUNICATION. GAUTAM ADHIKARI, EXECUTIVE EDITOR OF THE TIMES OF INDIA STRESSED THE NEED FOR MORE EFFECTIVE USE OF RADIO AND TELEVISION IN GENERATING SUPPORT FOR ECONOMIC REFORM IN INDIA. ANOTHER PARTICIPANT, MURRAY SUGER, OF THE NEIMAN FOUNDATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF JOURNALISM AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY, PRAISED THE EFFORTS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA TO CARRY ON THE REFORM IN SPITE OF ALL THE CRITICISM. STAFFER ASIM CHAKRABARTI REPORTS. (BANGLA 12/4)

INDIAN MUSIC AND DANCE COMPETITION -- 12TH ANNUAL COMPETITION FOR INDIAN MUSIC AND DANCE WAS HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE CAMPUS. SPEAKING ON THIS OCCASION THE FOUNDER AND TEACHER OF THE FINE ARTS ACADEMY OF MARYLAND, USTAD HAMID HOSSAIN EXPRESSED SATISFACTION ON THE SUCCESS OF THE ANNUAL EVENT. HE SAYS MORE YOUNGSTERS IN THE US ARE NOW LEARNING INDIAN MUSIC AND DANCE. STAFFER ROQUIA HAIDER REPORTS. (BANGLA 12/3)

INDIAN DANCE SCHOOL -- DANCER SUKANYA TAGORE MUKHERJI IS THE FOUNDER OF THE INDIAN DANCE SCHOOL MAYUR IN WASHINGTON DC. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER MASUMA FAHMI SHE TALKS ABOUT HER TEACHING METHODS AND STAGE SHOWS. (BANGLA 12/2)

CZECH CENTER -- STAFFER EVA SASEK INTERVIEWS THE DIRECTOR OF THE CZECH CENTER, TOMAS ZYKAN, WHO EXPLAINED THE PURPOSE OF THE CENTER WHICH OPENED RECENTLY IN NEW YORK: TO PROMOTE CULTURAL AND BUSINESS TIES BETWEEN THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND THE UNITED STATES. (CZECH 12/4)

HEALTH AND HAPPINESS -- STAFFER JAGDISH VASHIST INTERVIEWS ACHARYA OM DUTT SHARMA OF A 'REJUVENATION CENTER' IN INDIA WHO IS VISITING THE US TO LECTURE ON THE OLD HINDU SCRIPTURES, THE VEDAS. MR SHARMA CLAIMS THAT THE VEDIC TEACHINGS OF HONESTY, COMPASSION FOR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS, VEGETARIANISM, AND FRUGAL EATING ARE ELEMENTS OF A HEALTHY AND HAPPY LIFE. (HINDI 12/3)

INSIDE AFRICA:

RWANDA / UN MANDATE -- THE UN APPEARS TO BE GETTING READY TO LEAVE RWANDA AS SCHEDULED ON DECEMBER 8TH. THIS, DESPITE STATEMENTS FROM RWANDAN OFFICIALS THAT THEY WOULD CONSIDER EXTENDING UNAMIR'S MANDATE. REPORTER CATHERINE MADDUX TALKS WITH RWANDA'S AMBASSADOR TO THE UN, MANZI BAKURAMUTSA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/5)

RWANDA / CHILDREN -- THERE ARE ABOUT SIXTEEN HUNDRED CHILDREN CURRENTLY IN RWANDAN PRISONS, MANY OF WHOM ARE ACCUSED OF GENOCIDE. IN KIGALI, UNICEF REPRESENTATIVE DAN TOOLE TALKS ABOUT EFFORTS TO HELP AND REHABILITATE THEM. A YEAR AFTER THE END OF THE CIVIL WAR, UNICEF CONTINUES TO WORK WITH THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN. DAN TOOLE, GIVES REPORTER JOE DECAPUA A STATUS REPORT ON THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THE CHILDREN. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/5)

RWANDA / MASSACRE -- UN HUMAN RIGHTS PERSONNEL ANNOUNCED THE DISCOVERY OF THE BODIES OF SOME TWENTY PEOPLE IN THE SOUTHWESTERN REGION OF RWANDA. STAFFER SAMUEL KIENDREBEOGO ASKED THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE UN MISSION IN RWANDA ISMAEL DIALLO WHAT IS KNOWN AT THIS TIME ABOUT THIS MASSACRE. (FRENCH 12/4)

NIGERIA / MILITARY CHIEFS' MEETING -- ALL GENERAL COMMANDING OFFICERS OF THE NIGERIAN ARMY, THE NAVY AND THE AIRFORCE UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF GENERAL ABACHA MET IN ABUJA. THEY REPORTEDLY DISCUSSED THE CONTINUED INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE ON NIGERIA FOR ITS POOR HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD AND THE GROWING ISOLATION OF THE MILITARY REGIME. CORRESPONDENT IN ABUJA BABANGIDA JIBRIL REPORTS ON THE SPEECH MADE BY ABACHA AFTER THE MEETING. (HAUSA 12/4)

NIGERIA / ANALYST -- A NIGERIAN ANALYST SAYS NORDIC COUNTRIES, AND NOT THE COMMONWEALTH, OR THE UNITED NATIONS, SHOULD TAKE THE LEAD IN BRINGING DEMOCRACY TO NIGERIA. REPORTER WILLIAM EAGLE SPOKE TO PROFESSOR OMO OMORUYI, FORMER DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE CENTER FOR DEMOCRATIC STUDIES IN ABUJA AND NOW A VISITING FELLOW AT THE HARVARD UNIVERSITY'S HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAM. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/4)

FRANCOPHONE SUMMIT -- STRINGER MOHAMED ELBOU REPORTS ON THE RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE HEADS OF STATE MEETING AT THE FRANCOPHONE SUMMIT AS THEY CONCLUDED THEIR WORK IN COTONOU, BENIN. THEY EXPRESSED THE NEED FOR THE ORGANIZATION TO HAVE MORE OF A POLITICAL ROLE AND CALLED ON NIGERIA'S MILITARY REGIME TO RESTORE DEMOCRACY, BUT STOPPED SHORT OF CONDEMNING THAT COUNTRY'S WIDESPREAD HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES. (FRENCH 12/4)

GHANA / RELIGIOUS CLASH -- THE LOCAL AUTHORITY OF KUMASI GHANA HAS BANNED ALL RELIGIOUS PREACHING IN THE MUNICIPALITY WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT. VIOLENCE BROKE OUT OVER THE WEEKEND WHEN MUSLIMS WERE ALLEGED TO HAVE TRIED TO FORCE CHRISTIAN EVANGELISTS TO STOP PREACHING IN AN AREA CONSIDERED TO BE DOMINATED BY THE MUSLIMS. SEVENTEEN PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED BUT RELEASED ON BAIL AFTER QUESTIONING. STRINGER ABDULMALIK DANBIRNI REPORTED FROM ACCRA. (HAUSA 12/4)

SENEGAL / CASAMANCE -- IN SENEGAL, THE LEADER OF THE CASAMANCE SEPARATIST REBELS HAS REPORTEDLY CALLED FOR A UNILATERAL CEASE-FIRE AND THE OPENING OF PEACE TALKS BY JANUARY 8TH. STAFFER IDRISSA FALL ASKED TIDJANE KASSE, SENIOR EDITOR AT THE DAKAR NEWSPAPER WAL FADJRI, ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND HOW THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT RESPOND TO IT. (FRENCH 12/4)

SENEGAL / SMALL BUSINESS -- STAFFER ELIZABETH MONNAC INTERVIEWS AZNA FALL NDIAYE, DIRECTOR OF THE PROJECT TO SUPPORT MICRO-ENTREPRISES (PAM) IN SENEGAL. MS NDIAYE SPOKE OF HER ORGANIZATION'S EFFORTS TO PROMOTE CRAFTSMANSHIP, SUCH AS CARPENTRY IN URBAN SETTINGS AND EXPLAINED THE REQUIREMENTS FOR OBTAINING PAM LOANS. (FRENCH 12/5)

CAMEROON / CRASH -- A CAMEROON AIRLINES BOEING 737 ON A SCHEDULED FLIGHT FROM COTONOU, BENIN CRASHED SUNDAY IN SWAMPS AROUND DOUALA AIRPORT AS IT ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN CAMEROON. STAFFER ROGER-GUY FOLLY INTERVIEWED CAMEROONIAN INFORMATION MINISTER KONTCHGOU KOUO MEGNI ABOUT THIS CRASH WHICH IS SAID TO HAVE KILLED AT LEAST SIXTY PEOPLE. (FRENCH 12/4)

ANGOLA / PEACE / AMBASSADOR -- THE ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT WAS RECENTLY ACCUSED BY UNITA OF VIOLATING THE PEACE ACCORD SIGNED LAST YEAR. UN SPECIAL ENVOY TO ANGOLA, ALIOUNE BLONDIN BEYE IS EXPECTED TO ASK THE JOINT COMMISSION ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PEACE TO EXAMINE THE ALLEGATIONS. STAFFER IDRISSA FALL ASKED ANTONIO DOS SANTOS FRANCA NDALU, ANGOLA'S AMBASSADOR TO THE US FOR HIS REACTION TO UNITA'S ACCUSATIONS. (FRENCH 12/4)

UNITA / QUARTERING -- A STATEMENT ISSUED AT UNITA'S HEADQUARTERS IN BAILUNDO SAID UNITA HAS DECIDED TO IMMEDIATELY STOP THE QUARTERING OF ITS TROOPS IN UN ASSEMBLY AREAS UNDER THE LUSAKA PEACE ACCORD. THE STATEMENT MONDAY NIGHT ALSO SAID UNITA HAD DECIDED TO REEVALUATE THE WHOLE APPLICATION PROCESS OF THE LUSAKA PROTOCOL. STAFFER OVIDIO PEQUENO INTERVIEWS UNITA'S SECRETARY GENERAL, PAULO GATO ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 12/4).

ANGOLA / AMBASSADOR -- ANGOLA'S AMBASSADOR TO THE US, GENERAL ANTONIO NDALU, IS INTERVIEWED BY STAFFER LUIS COSTA,ABOUT THE UPCOMING VISIT OF ANGOLAN PRESIDENT, EDUARDO DOS SANTOS TO UNITED STATES. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 12/4)

GUINEA BISSAU / OAU -- GUINEA BISSAU HAS BEEN SUSPENDED FROM THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY DUE TO NON-PAYMENT OF ITS CONTRIBUTIONS. STAFFER NELSON HERBERT INTERVIEWS ARISTIDES GOMES, DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF GUINEA BISSAU ON THE MATTER. SAME DECISION APPLIES TO SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE. STAFFER OVIDIO PEQUENO REPORTS THAT THE SANTOMEAN GOVERNMENT ALSO OWES CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE UNITED NATIONS. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 12/4)

ANGOLA / PRIVATE INVESTMENT -- A HIGH LEVEL DELEGATION FROM THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCE CORPORATION (IFC), A MEMBER OF THE WORLD BANK GROUP, ARRIVES WEDNESDAY IN LUANDA, ANGOLA, TO DISCUSS INVESTMENT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WITH LOCAL BUSINESSMEN. REPORTER LUISA PIETTE INTERVIEWS THE HEAD OF THE DELEGATION, BERNARD PASQUIER. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 12/5)

KENYA / CONSTITUTION -- A SPECIAL SYMPOSIUM OPENS IN NAIROBI ON CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES. MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AND MEMBERS OF OPPOSITION PARTIES ARE DISCUSSING WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN THE DELIBERATIONS ON THE CONSTITUTION. SWAHILI STRINGER M G JOEL IN NAIROBI REPORTS. (SWAHILI 12/5)

UGANDA / POLITICS -- THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE 1996 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN UGANDA. THIS IS AN INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT SINCE PRESIDENT MUSEVENI HAS SAID THAT THOUGH POLITICAL PARTIES ARE ALLOWED TO BE ACTIVE, LEGALLY THEY ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS. REPORT BY STRINGER MIKE ARERENG FROM KAMPALA. (SWAHILI 12/5)

TANZANIA / DAR TV -- THE TANZANIAN NATIONAL MEDIA BOARD FINED DAR ES SALAAM TV ONE MILLION TANZANIAN SHILLINGS. DTV WAS FINED HALF A MILLION SHILLINGS FOR INCORRECTLY ANNOUNCING CUF THE WINNER IN ZANZIBAR AND ANOTHER HALF MILLION SHILLINGS FOR ANNOUNCING THE DEATH OF FORMER PRIME MINISTER CLEOPA MSUYA, WHEN IN FACT HE WAS STILL ALIVE. STRINGER EVEREST MWITUMBA REPORTS FROM DAR ES SALAAM. (SWAHILI 12/4)

AIDS / AFRICA -- WORLD BANK AIDS COORDINATOR, DEBRE WORK ZEWDIE DESCRIBES THE SERIOUSNESS OF AIDS IN AFRICA AND WHAT NECESSARY MEASURES SHOULD BE TAKEN TO CONTROL THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE. INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER TIZITA BELACHEW. (AMHARIC 12/5)

AFRICA / SPORT -- STAFFER CLAUDE PORSELLA IN COOPERATION WITH LIBREVILLE STRINGER FRITZ KOUM AND PARIS STRINGER YVES PINAUD REPORT ON THE MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS OF THE WEEK: THE VICTORY OF THE TUNISIAN TEAM IN THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC SOCCER CUP AND SOUTH AFRICA'S WIN OVER IVORY COAST IN THE FIRST LEG OF THE FINALS OF SOCCER CUP OF CHAMPION CLUBS. (FRENCH 12/4)

AFRICA / BOOKS / US -- STAFFER JEAN-CLAUDE ANDRE INTERVIEWS MARION BRASARD, OF THE US INFORMATION SERVICE IN PARIS. MS. BRASARD SPOKE OF THE NOUVEAUX HORIZONS PROJECT WHICH IS SPONSORED BY THE US INFORMATION AGENCY. THE PROGRAM MAKES IMPORTANT AMERICAN BOOKS, INCLUDING BOOKS ON MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMICS, AVAILABLE IN FRENCH AT AFFORDABLE PRICES TO AFRICAN READERS. MANY OF THESE BOOKS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THIS WEEK'S BOOK FAIR IN DAKAR, SENEGAL. (FRENCH 12/5)

INSIDE MIDEAST:

GCC SUMMIT OPENS -- STRINGER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS THE OPENING IN MUSCAT, OMAN OF THE 16TH SUMMIT MEETING OF LEADERS OF THE GULF STATES. THE SAUDI MONARCH, KING FAHD, WHO IS HOSPITALIZED, IS NOTABLY ABSENT. TAMIMI ALSO REPORTS THAT IRAQ HAS CALLED ON THE GULF LEADERS TO OPEN A NEW PAGE IN THEIR RELATIONS WITH BAGHDAD. (ARABIC 12/4)

GULF SUMMIT -- THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE GULF STATES LEADERS OPENED IN MUSCAT AMID REPORTS THAT THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ADDRESS SERIOUS ISSUES IN THE ABSENCE OF KING FAHD WHO IS STILL HOSPITALIZED IN SAUDI ARABIA. STAFFER HAYAT ALKHATEEB REPORTS. (ARABIC 12/4)

PERES / MUBARAK -- ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER SHIMON PERES WILL ARRIVE IN CAIRO THURSDAY FOR TALKS WITH EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT MUBARAK ON THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS. THE ISRAELI LEADER WILL TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON NEXT WEEK FOR A MEETING WITH US OFFICIALS. CORRESPONDENT IBRAHIM ABDIN REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 12/4)

ROSS / ISRAEL -- THE US SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE MIDDLE EAST, DENNIS ROSS ARRIVED IN ISRAEL IN A NEW ATTEMPT TO BRING ISRAEL AND SYRIA BACK TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE. HE IS ALSO TO VISIT SYRIA. STAFFER HAYAT ALKHATEEB INTERVIEWS ISRAELI RADIO COMMENTATOR SAUL MINACHE ON THE VISIT. (ARABIC 12/4)

EGYPTIAN ELECTIONS -- EGYPT'S INDEPENDENT COMMISSION FOR MONITORING ELECTIONS HAS ISSUED A STATEMENT. IT SAYS THE GOVERNMENT MAINTAINS THE POLLING WAS FREE. AND IT QUOTED THE OPPOSITION ACCUSING THE GOVERNMENT OF INTERFERENCE AND RIGGING ELECTIONS. IBRAHIM ABDIN INTERVIEWS THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMMISSION, MILAD HANNA IN CAIRO. (ARABIC 12/4)

EGYPT / RUNOFFS -- CORRESPONDENT IBRAHIM ABDIN REPORTS FROM CAIRO THAT HEATED CAMPAIGNS ARE UNDERWAY IN EGYPT FOR RUNOFF ELECTION WEDNESDAY. HE TOLD STAFFER USAMA FARAG THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF CANDIDATES FROM THE RULING PARTY AND OPPOSITION GROUPS ARE IN THE RACE FOR THE REMAINING SEATS IN THE PARLIAMENT. (ARABIC 12/4)

LEBANON / BRITAIN -- TWO BRITISH DELEGATIONS ARE VISITING BEIRUT TO STUDY POSSIBILITIES OF TAKING PART IN THE POST-WAR RECONSTRUCTION EFFORT. JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS FROM AMMAN THAT THE VISIT COINCIDED WITH STATEMENTS BY THE LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER ACCUSING ISRAEL OF UNDERMINING THE PEACE PROCESS BY CONTINUED MILITARY THREAT TO SOUTH LEBANON. (ARABIC 12/4)

PALESTINIAN BANKING -- THE HEAD OF THE PALESTINIAN MONETARY AUTHORITY FOUAD BSEISU SAYS HIS OFFICE WILL TAKE OVER FROM ISRAEL THE SUPERVISION OVER BANKING ACTIVITIES IN THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH JUMANA TAMIMI, HE RULED OUT THE ISSUING OF A PALESTINIAN CURRENCY. (ARABIC 12/4)

AFGHAN FIGHTING -- RIVAL CLANS OF THE ZADRAN TRIBE IN THE EASTERN AFGHAN PROVINCE OF PAKTIA ARE ENGAGED IN FIERCE CLASHES OVER CONTROL OF A LOCAL MOUNTAIN EXPLOITED FOR LUMBERING BUSINESS. STRINGER ABDUL HAI WARSHAN REPORTS THAT A PEACE MISSION FROM THE PROVINCIAL TALEBAN GOVERNMENT TRIES TO FIND A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE DISPUTE. BOTH SIDES ARE USING HEAVY WEAPONS THEY AMASSED DURING THE WAR AGAINST SOVIET FORCES IN THE 1980S. (DARI, PASHTO 12/5)

KABUL / FIRE -- A FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE IN KABUL MONDAY AND BURNED FOR NINE HOURS. STRINGER EKRAM SHINWARI REPORTS THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS NOT KNOWN BUT A PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESMAN SAYS THE FIRE STARTED IN THE GUARDS QUARTER OF THE PALACE DUE TO AN ELECTRIC PROBLEM. (PASHTO, DARI 12/4)

AFGHANISTAN / TALIBAN -- REPORTER SUSAN YACKEE SPEAKS WITH CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN IN QUETTA ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF THE TALIBAN. THE GROUP NOW CONTROLS ABOUT HALF OF AFGHANISTAN. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 12/4)

MOROCCO / ISRAELI TOURISM -- IN A FIRST MOVE OF ITS KIND FIVE HUNDRED ISRAELI TRAVEL AND TOURIST AGENTS HAVE ARRIVED IN MOROCCO SUNDAY TO HOLD A TOURISM CONFERENCE IN MARRAKESH. STRINGER BEN DADDOUCHE REPORTS FROM RABAT. (ARABIC 12/4)

INSIDE CENTRAL ASIA:

KAZAKHSTAN / VOTER APATHY -- FAMOUS POLITICAL FIGURES IN KAZAKHSTAN, AMANTAY ASILBEKOV AND AZAD HAKIMBEK, WHO ARE CANDIDATES FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE KAZAKH PARLIAMENT, TOLD STAFFER RANO HABIB THAT NUMEROUS IRREGULARITIES IN RECENT ELECTIONS IN THEIR REPUBLIC, AND THE MOVING OF THE STATE CAPITAL FROM ALMATY TO AKMOLA ARE THE PRINCIPLE REASONS FOR VOTER APATHY. (UZBEK 12/5)

INSIDE SOUTH ASIA:

BANGLA ELECTIONS -- THE ELECTION COMMISSION IN BANGLADESH HAS ANNOUNCED THAT PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD ON 18TH OF JANUARY 1996. THE COMMISSION ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT NOMINATIONS FOR THE EARLY POLLS MUST BE FILED BY DECEMBER 17TH. STRINGER ZAHURUL ALAM REPORTS FROM DHAKA. (BANGLA 12/3)

BANGLA OPPOSITION -- THE OPPOSITION PARTIES IN BANGLADESH SAY A PLAN TO HOLD ELECTIONS NEXT MONTH IS PART OF A CONSPIRACY TO KEEP PRIME MINISTER KHALEDA ZIA IN POWER. THE AWAMI LEAGUE CLAIMS THE ELECTION COMMISSION RUSHED TO ANNOUNCE THE NEW POLL BEFORE MRS ZIA HAD AGREED TO THEIR DEMANDS TO RESIGN. STRINGER MATIUR RAHMAN CHOUDHURY REPORTS FROM DHAKA. (BANGLA 12/4)

INDIA / TIBETANS -- EXILED TIBETANS IN INDIA HELD A DEMONSTRATION IN NEW DELHI TO PROTEST THE SELECTION OF A SIX YEAR OLD BOY BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AS THE NEXT PANCHAN LAMA, WHICH IS THE SECOND HIGHEST POSITION OF SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP OF THE TIBETAN PEOPLE. STRINGER KRANTI REPORTS. (HINDI 12/2)

INDIA / US / AVIATION -- INDIA AND THE US HAVE SINGED AN AVIATION AGREEMENT TO ALLOW UNITED AIRLINES OF THE US TO START DIRECT FLIGHTS TO INDIA, AND EXTEND THE ROUTE OF INDIAN AIRLINE 'AIR INDIA' TO SEVERAL US CITIES IN ADDITION TO NEW YORK. STRINGER KV RAO REPORTS. (HINDI 12/3)

INDIA / IRAN -- AN IRANIAN DELEGATION LED BY ZOHRA SOJAEE OF THE EDUCATION MINISTRY OF IRAN IS IN INDIA TO FOSTER CLOSER CULTURAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO ASIAN COUNTRIES. STRINGER NANDAN REPORTS ON THE AREAS OF COOPERATION BEING DISCUSSED BY MS SOJAEE. (HINDI 12/4)

PAKISTAN / AFGHAN EXPULSION -- PAKISTAN EXPELLED FOUR MORE PRO-RABBANI AFGHANS. STRINGER EKRAM SHINWARI REPORTS THAT AFGHAN NEWS SOURCES IN PAKISTAN SAY A NUMBER OF AFGHANS IN ISLAMABAD HAVE MOVED TO PESHAWAR AND OTHER CITIES IN FEAR OF BEING HARASSED BY PAKISTANI POLICE. PAKISTAN HAS ALSO ORDERED THE CLOSURE IN PESHAWAR OF A FRENCH NGO SUSPECTED OF PROVIDING AID TO THE RABBANI FACTION. (PASHTO, DARI 12/4)

INSIDE EAST ASIA:

LOS ANGELES RALLY / WEI JINGSHENG -- SEVEN DEMOCRATIC GROUPS IN LA RALLIED LAST WEEKEND, CALLING FOR THE RELEASE OF CHINESE DISSIDENT WEI JINGSHENG. WEI JINGSHENG HAD BEEN DETAINED FOR MORE THAN A YEAR BEFORE BEING FORMALLY CHARGED LAST MONTH WITH ADVOCATING THE OVERTHROW OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. STAFFER KUO-FU SHU IN LA COVERS THE RALLY AND INTERVIEWS WU RENHUA, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE PRESS FREEDOM GUARDIAN. (MANDARIN 12/5)

TAIWAN AND MAINLAND SCHOLARS DISCUSS MARXISM -- A DELEGATION FROM THE HUMANITY STUDIES CENTER, BEIJING UNIVERSITY HAD A DISCUSSION WITH THEIR COUNTERPARTS FROM TAIWAN UNIVERSITY ON MARXISM AND CHINESE CULTURE. PROFESSORS FROM BEIJING UNIVERSITY ASSERTED THAT MARXISM CAN BE REGARDED AS A "GUIDELINE " FOR CHINESE SOCIETY, WHILE SCHOLARS FROM TAIWAN FOUND THE IDEA OF HAVING THAT GUIDELINE HARD TO ACCEPT. STRINGER FAN DAOZHUANG IN TAIPEI REPORTS. (MANDARIN 12/4)

LA / CONFERENCES ON CHINA -- STAFFER KUO-FU SHU IN LOS ANGELES COVERS TWO CONFERENCES ON CHINA. SILICON VALLEY FOR DEMOCRACY IN CHINA HOSTED A FORUM ON "US POLICY TOWARD CHINA," AND THE CLAREMONT INSTITUTE HELD A CONFERENCE ON "THE CHINESE THREAT: THEORY OR REALITY." INTERVIEWS WITH BAI BANGRUI, ATLANTIC COUNCIL, ZHANG WENHUA, DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT OF TAIWAN, AMBASSADOR JOSUE VILLA, PHILIPPINES CONSULATE GENERAL, LA, GU PINGSHAN, SILICON VALLEY BUSINESSMAN, AND MOREY SCHAPIRA, SILICON VALLEY BUSINESSMAN. (MANDARIN 12/4)

TAIWAN ELECTION / HONG KONG REACTION -- HONG KONG STAFFER CHOU YOUKANG INTERVIEWS MEMBERS OF THE CHINESE PEOPLE'S CONSULTATIVE CONFERENCE XU SI MIN AND LIU PEIQIONG, AND LIAO YAOZHU, MEMBER OF THE CHINESE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS, ON THE OUTCOME OF TAIWAN'S LEGISLATIVE ELECTION ON DECEMBER 2. (MANDARIN 12/4)

CHINA / POLICY ON FOREIGN INVESTMENT -- IN THE UP-COMING MEETING ON CHINA'S NATIONAL ECONOMY, BEIJING IS EXPECTED TO ISSUE ITS NEW POLICY ON FOREIGN INVESTMENT, INCLUDING A RESTRICTION ON THE NUMBER OF FOREIGN FIRMS AND JOINT ADVENTURES IN CHINA. HONG KONG STRINGER SHI LEI INTERVIEWS PROFESSORS ZHENG GUOHAN AND WU CHANGQI OF HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, AND PROFESSOR WANG DINGDING, HONG KONG UNIVERSITY, ON THESE ECONOMIC ISSUES IN CHINA. (MANDARIN 12/4)

KOREA / FORMER PRESIDENT / INDICTMENT -- FORMER PRESIDENT ROH TAE WOO WAS FORMALLY INDICTED TUESDAY ON CHARGES OF ACCEPTING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN BRIBES WHILE HE WAS IN OFFICE. PROSECUTORS TOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE TUESDAY THAT MR. ROH RECEIVED 370 MILLION DOLLARS FROM 35 BUSINESSMEN IN RETURN FOR GOVERNMENT CONTRACT AND FAVORS. FOUR FORMER AIDES AND SEVERAL TOP BUSINESS LEADERS WERE ALSO INDICTED BUT NOT DETAINED. CORRESPONDENT YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 12/5)

CAMBODIA / ANTI-HANOI ARMED GROUPS -- IN THE FIRST OF A THREE-PART SERIES, STAFFER LE LAI REPORTS ON THE PRESENCE OF SEVERAL ARMED GROUPS IN CAMBODIA LED BY VIET-AMERICANS WHO INTEND ACTION AGAINST THE SRV. THE REPORT INCLUDES STATEMENTS BY SPOKESMEN FOR THE US AND SRV EMBASSIES IN PHNOM PENH. (VIETNAMESE 12/5)

CANADA / HO CHI MINH CITY -- MONTREAL STRINGER TRUONG KY REPORTS THAT CANADA'S FOREIGN MINISTER IS BACK FROM OPENING A CONSULATE IN HO CHI MINH CITY. MR KY ALSO HAD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON CANADA'S NEW IMMIGRATION LAW. (VIETNAMESE 12/5)

WHEN A TOOTHACHE STRIKES -- FOR HIS REGULAR WEEKLY HEALTH FEATURE, STAFFER ANDY NEWENS HAD ADVICE FROM A LOCAL DENTIST, NGUYEN NHUT THANG, DMD, ON WHAT TO DO IN A DENTAL EMERGENCY. (VIETNAMESE 12/5)

INDONESIA / PRESS -- THE COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS (CPJ), A US BASED GROUP, SAYS IT PLANS A CAMPAIGN TO URGE INDONESIAN OFFICIALS TO FREE AHMAD TAUFIK, THE JAILED LEADER OF THE ALLIANCE OF INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS (AJI). ISA ISMAIL REPORTS .

TAUFIK / PRESS FREEDOM AWARD -- TAUFIK AND FELLOW JOURNALIST EKO MARYADI ARE SERVING THREE-YEAR JAIL SENTENCES AFTER A COURT FOUND THEM GUILTY OF PUBLISHING WITHOUT A LICENSE AND EXPRESSING FEELINGS OF "HOSTILITY, HATRED OR CONTEMPT TOWARD THE GOVERNMENT." EARLIER THIS YEAR, CPJ ANNOUNCED THAT TAUFIK WILL RECEIVE THE GROUP'S INTERNATIONAL PRESS FREEDOM AWARD. FROM INDONESIA, TAUFIK'S WIFE SAID SHE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE AWARDS CEREMONY IN NEW YORK. SHE SPOKE BY PHONE WITH STAFFER ZULKARNAIN TAJIBNAPIS. (INDONESIAN 12/5)

INDONESIA / POLITICS -- ABDUL NUR ADNAN SPOKE BY TELEPHONE WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF JAKARTA'S UNITED DEVELOPMENT PARTY (PPP). RUSYDI HAMKA SAID THE PPP WILL NOT ACTIVELY CAMPAIGN IN ADVANCE OF THE NEXT ELECTIONS. (INDONESIAN 12/4)

INDONESIA / EAST TIMOR -- THE VISITING UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS CALLED ON THE INDONESIA-APPOINTED EAST TIMOR GOVERNMENT ON TUESDAY TO OPEN DIALOGUE WITH LOCAL PEOPLE TO HELP SOLVE HUMAN RIGHTS PROBLEMS IN THE TERRITORY. STAFFER ANA GUEDES REPORTS. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 12/4)

INSIDE EUROPE:

NATO / BOSNIA -- THE FIRST BRITISH TROOPS HAVE ARRIVED IN THE CROATIAN PORT OF SPLIT. THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE TROOPS SAYS THEY ARE WELL PREPARED AND READY TO ASSUME THEIR DUTIES IN TUZLA. ONE HUNDRED MORE TROOPS ARE EXPECTED IN SPLIT LATER IN THE DAY, AND TO CONTINUE THE TRIP TO GORNJI VAKUF. STRINGER RUZICA MIKACIC REPORTS. (CROATIAN 12/4)

NATO / GERMANY -- THE BRITISH CONTINGENT OF NATO TROOPS FOR BOSNIA LEFT ITS GERMAN BASE. AMERICAN TROOPS WILL ALSO LEAVE FROM GERMANY, AND GERMAN TROOPS ARE ALSO PREPARING FOR THE MISSION. STRINGER IVICA LOVRIC REPORTS. (CROATIAN 12/4)

AMERICANS IN HUNGARY / BOSNIA -- STRINGER JOZSEF BALLAI REPORTS FROM KAPOSVAR ABOUT THE ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST AMERICAN MILITARY PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO THE BOSNIA PEACEKEEPING FORCES, IN KAPOSVAR, HUNGARY. (HUNGARIAN 12/5)

AMERICAN CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION / BELGRADE -- A GROUP OF AMERICAN CONGRESSMEN MET IN BELGRADE WITH SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. THE MEETING FOCUSED ON THE PROSPECTS FOR A LASTING PEACE IN BOSNIA, NORMALIZATION OF THE SITUATION IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AND THE RESUMPTION OF THE BILATERAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND YUGOSLAVIA. STRINGER JADRANKA KRONJA REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (CROATIAN 12/2)

US DELEGATION / BELGRADE -- A DELEGATION OF US CONGRESS, MADE UP OF BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, VISITED BELGRADE AND DISCUSSED THE ISSUE OF SAFETY OF AMERICAN PEACEKEEPING TROOPS WITH THE PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. THE AMERICAN DELEGATION SAID HE ASSURED THEM OF HIS FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE DAYTON AGREEMENTS. MILICA KUBUROVIC REPORTS FORM BELGRADE. (SERBIAN 12/2)

SERBS / BOSNIA -- BOSNIAN SERB MEDIA CONTINUE TO FOCUS THEIR ATTENTION TO THE FUTURE STATUS OF SOME PARTS OF SARAJEVO WHICH ARE NOW UNDER SERB CONTROL. THE SERBS APPEALED FOR SUPPORT FROM THE PATRIARCH OF THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH. STRINGER MILICA KUBUROVIC REPORTS. (SERBIAN 12/4)

UNPROFOR COMMANDER / REGRET -- THE COMMANDER OF UNPROFOR IN SARAJEVO, GENERAL JEAN-RENE BACHELET DISMISSED AS UNINTENDED HIS INADVERTENT CRITICISM OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY OVER THE SERB-HELD PARTS OF THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL TO THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT. STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO. (CROATIAN 12/2)

NATO / BOSNIA -- AN ADVANCE NATO GROUP FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PEACE AGREEMENT ON BOSNIA HAS ARRIVED IN SARAJEVO. IN THE MEANTIME, SERBS IN SOME PARTS OF THE CITY SCHEDULED A REFERENDUM ON DECEMBER 12TH. STRINGER BORO KONTIC REPORTS. (SERBIAN 2/4)

BOSNIAN CROATS PROTEST -- CROATS FROM THE BOSNIAN REGION OF POSAVINA PROTESTED IN THE CROATIAN CAPITAL AGAINST THE PROVISIONS OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT WHICH TRANSFER THE CONTROL OF THE REGION TO THE BOSNIAN SERBS. APPEALS FOR A DIFFERENT TERRITORIAL ARRANGEMENT WERE SENT TO THE GOVERNMENTS OF CROATIA AND BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, AS WELL AS TO US CONGRESS. STRINGER SLAVICA LUKIC REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (CROATIAN 12/2)

CITY GOVERNMENT / ZAGREB -- DURING THE FIRST MEETING OF THE NEW CITY GOVERNMENT IN ZAGREB, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNIFIED CROATIAN OPPOSITION ELECTED THE NEW MAYOR AND THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE CITY ASSEMBLY. AS STRINGER ?ZELJKO MATIC REPORTS FROM ZAGREB, CROATIAN PRESIDENT TUDJMAN IS EXPECTED TO BLOCK THE APPOINTMENT OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS. (CROATIAN 12/2)

BOSNIA / REBUILDING -- OFFICIALS FROM THE WORLD BANK AND EUROPEAN COMMISSION ARE DISCUSSING IN BRUSSELS THE RECONSTRUCTION OF BOSNIA AS THEY ARE ORGANIZING A CONFERENCE OF DONORS TO BOSNIA ON DECEMBER 20TH AND 21ST. THEY SAY THE CONFERENCE MUST CLOSELY FOLLOW THE PEACE CONFERENCES IN LONDON AND PARIS. STRINGER LADA STIPIC NISETEO REPORTS THAT THE CONFERENCE'S MAIN GOAL IS TO DEFINE AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL POWER AND PRIORITIES IN REBUILDING THE COUNTRY. (CROATIAN 12/4)

BOSNIA / REFUGEES -- UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES SADAKO OGATA MET WITH BOSNIAN PRESIDENT IZETBEGOVIC AND PRIME MINISTER SILAJDZIC IN SARAJEVO. THEY DISCUSSED THE START OF REPATRIATION OF BOSNIAN REFUGEES AND THEIR RETURN TO THE HOMES. THIS ACTION SHOULD BE CONDUCTED BY UNHCR WITH HELP OF BOSNIAN AUTHORITIES, SAYS STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC IN HIS REPORT FROM SARAJEVO. (CROATIAN 12/4)

CROATIA / HUMAN RIGHTS -- SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR FOR UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER ELIZABETH REHN MET IN CROATIA WITH PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN AND SEVERAL CROATIAN MINISTERS. THEY DISCUSSED THE HUMAN RIGHTS ASPECTS OF THE DAYTON AGREEMENT. CROATIAN OFFICIALS REASSURED MS REHN THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS OF MINORITIES AND REFUGEES. STRINGER LINDA MILISA REPORTED. (CROATIAN 12/4)

SERBIA / SANCTIONS -- SLOVENIA HAS SENT A LETTER TO BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI EXPRESSING CONCERN THAT THE NEW YUGOSLAVIA, CONSISTING OF SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO, WILL SIMPLY COLLECT TWO POINT THREE BILLION DOLLARS THAT HAD BEEN FROZEN IN WORLD BANKS, NOW WHEN THE SANCTIONS IMPOSED IN 1992 ARE LIFTED. CROATIAN REPRESENTATIVES AT THE UN EXPRESSED SIMILAR CONCERNS. STRINGER IVICA PULJIC REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (CROATIAN 12/4)

BOSNIA / MUSLIM FIGHTERS -- BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC HAS ASSURED US CHIEF OF THE JOINT STAFF GENERAL SHALIKASHVILI THAT ALL FOREIGN MUSLIM FIGHTERS WILL LEAVE BOSNIA IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PEACE AGREEMENT. STAFFER USAMA FARAG INTERVIEWS KUWAITI JOURNALIST IN BOSNIA, YASSIN RAWASHDEH ON THE SUBJECT. (ARABIC 12/4)

EU / BOSNIA -- FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY SUSPENDED TRADE SANCTIONS AGAINST SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE MEMBERS OF EU ARE READY TO RECOGNIZE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA. STRINGER DRAGAN BLAGOJEVIC REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS. (SERBIAN 12/4)

TUDJMAN / RHEN -- CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN MET WITH UN SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, ELIZABETH RHEN. IN THE MEANTIME, CROATIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE REJECTED THE ELECTION OF A MEMBER OF OPPOSITION AS THE MAYOR OF ZAGREB. STRINGER STEVICA SUSA REPORTS FORM ZAGREB. (SERBIAN 12/5)

MONTENEGRO / BOSNIA -- THE MONTENEGRO OPPOSITION HAS ACCUSED PRESIDENT BULATOVIC OF MAKING NO CONTRIBUTION TO THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT, AND BEING INFLUENCED BY SERBIAN PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC. STRINGER BOSKO DJUKIC REPORTS FROM PODGORICE. (SERBIAN 12/2)

KOMSIC / DAYTON -- BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY MEMBER AND A MEMBER OF BOSNIAN NEGOTIATING TEAM IN DAYTON, DR IVO KOMSIC, IS PUBLISHING HIS DIARY ON THE DAYTON PEACE PROCESS IN THE NEWSPAPER, 'SLOBODNA BOSNA,' SPONSORED BY THE SOROS FOUNDATION. DR KOMSIC REVEALED SOME OF YET UNKNOWN DETAILS OF THE DAYTON NEGOTIATIONS, SUCH AS A HEATED DEBATE BETWEEN CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN AND THE BOSNIAN CROAT DELEGATION, AND A REACTION OF BOSNIAN SERB LEADER, NIKOLA KOLJEVIC,TO SARAJEVO ISSUES. STRINGER BORO KONTIC REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO. (SERBIAN 12/2)

HUNGARIAN CONFERENCE -- LAJOS BURGET FED A REPORT FROM NYIREGYHAZA ABOUT A CONFERENCE OF HUNGARIAN CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS. THE SUBJECT OF THE CONFERENCE WAS: WHAT CAN CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS DO TO HELP BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA? (HUNGARIAN 12/5)

ALBANIA / KOSOVO / US -- AT HIS NEWS CONFERENCE IN TIRANA TUESDAY, ALBANIAN PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA PRAISED THE BOSNIA PEACE AGREEMENT. BUT HE ADDED THAT PEACE AND STABILITY IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA CANNOT BE RESTORED UNTIL A SOLUTION IS FOUND TO THE KOSOVO PROBLEM. THE ALBANIAN LEADER ALSO SAID HIS COUNTRY WILL ABIDE WITH THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL'S DECISION TO LIFT SANCTIONS ON RUMP YUGOSLAVIA. HE DISCLOSED THAT THE EMBARGO HAD COST ALBANIA SOME FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR. MEANWHILE, ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADER IBRAHIM RUGOVA IS VISITING THE UNITED STATES. RUGOVA HAS CALLED ON WASHINGTON TO MEDIATE POSSIBLE TALKS BETWEEN PRISHTINA AND BELGRADE. REPORTS FROM STRINGERS MERO BAZE IN TIRANA, AND AFERDITA SARACINI KELMENDI IN PRISHTINE. (ALBANIAN 12/5)

ALBANIA / GREECE -- GREECE HAS ANNOUNCED NEW BORDER REINFORCEMENT MEASURES TO STEM THE TIDE OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM ALBANIA. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND ALBANIANS HAVE ILLEGALLY CROSSED INTO GREECE IN SEARCH OF JOBS AND A BETTER LIFE. AMONG THE MEASURES, GREECE SAYS IT WILL INSTALL AN ELECTRONIC MONITORING SYSTEM AT BORDER POSTS. STRINGER RAYMOND KOLA REPORTS FROM GJIROKASTER. (ALBANIAN 12/5)

ALBANIA / UNIVERSITY EXCHANGES -- IN RECENT YEARS ALBANIA'S FIVE UNIVERSITIES HAVE INCREASED COOPERATION AND EXCHANGE WITH COUNTERPARTS IN OTHER COUNTRIES. THE UNIVERSITY IN THE SOUTHERN CITY OF GJIROKASTER HAS INITIATED A PROGRAM OF EXCHANGES WITH THE UNIVERSITY IN YANNINA, GREECE. WHILE OFFICIAL RELATIONS BETWEEN ATHENS AND TIRANA HAVE WITNESSED TWISTS AND TURNS, THE COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO UNIVERSITIES HAS GROWN STEADILY. STRINGER RAYMOND KOLA REPORTS. (ALBANIAN 12/5)

CENSORSHIP / BULGARIAN STATE RADIO -- STRINGER D PEEV REPORTS THAT BULGARIAN JOURNALISTS HELD A NEWS CONFERENCE TO DENOUNCE CENSORSHIP OF STATE RADIO PROGRAMS. THIRTY FOUR STATE RADIO JOURNALISTS SIGNED A DECLARATION ADDRESSED TO THE PARLIAMENT, THE PRESIDENT, AND MEDIA LEADERS PROTESTING ADMINISTRATION INTERFERENCE AND POLITICAL RESTRICTIONS ON BROADCASTS. (BULGARIAN 12/4)

VACLAV KLAUS IN THE US -- CZECH PRIME MINISTER VACLAV KLAUS IS IN THE UNITED STATES TO RECEIVE THE 1995 'JAMES MADISON INSTITUTE INTERNATIONAL PRIZE.' THE PRIZE, INCLUDING A $50,000 CASH AWARD, IS GIVEN ANNUALLY TO AN OUTSTANDING BUSINESS, POLITICAL OR ECONOMIC LEADER WHO HAS ADVANCED THE PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRATIC CAPITALISM AROUND THE WORLD. STAFFER JARMILA CECH INTERVIEWS PRIME MINISTER KLAUS. (CZECH 12/4)

KLAUS MEETINGS -- CZECH PRIME MINISTER KLAUS IS MEETING WITH AMERICAN LEADERS AND SPEAKING AT VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING THE CATO INSTITUTE AND THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION. REPORT BY JARMILA CECH. (CZECH 12/5)

THE FUTURE OF HOPE / CONFERENCE -- CZECH PRESIDENT VACLAV HAVEL IS IN HIROSHIMA, JAPAN, TO DELIVER A KEY-NOTE SPEECH AT THE 'FUTURE OF HOPE CONFERENCE.' STAFFER ALENA KENCLOVA REPORTS THAT ALTHOUGH HAVEL IS ON A PRIVATE VISIT, HE MET WITH THE JAPANESE EMPEROR. (CZECH 12/5)

AIDS DAY / POLAND -- THE POLISH NATIONAL COORDINATOR FOR AIDS PREVENTION, ARKADIUSZ NOWAK TALKED ABOUT THE HISTORY OF AIDS PREVENTION AND AIDS AWARENESS IN POLAND. INTERVIEW BY REPORTER WOJTEK MINICZ IN WARSAW. (POLISH 12/1)

NEW NATO SECRETARY GENERAL -- LEOPOLD UNGER, A JOURNALIST WITH THE BELGIAN NEWSPAPER 'LE SOIR' COMMENTED ON THE NOMINATION OF JAVIER SOLANA TO BE NATO SECRETARY GENERAL AND DISCUSSED THE UPCOMING NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS' MEETING. INTERVIEW BY STAFFER MACIEJ WIERZYNSKI. (POLISH 12/4)

CENTRAL EUROPEAN COALITION / CLINTON / BOSNIA -- THE POLISH AMERICAN CONGRESS AND THE OTHER CENTRAL EUROPEAN ETHNIC COMMUNITIES SUPPORT PRESIDENT CLINTON'S DECISION TO SEND TROOPS TO BOSNIA. THEY STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF US INVOLVEMENT IN EUROPEAN STABILITY. INTERVIEW BY STAFFER TADEUSZ WALENDOWSKI. (POLISH 12/4)

FRANCE / STRIKE -- PARIS IS LIVING A STATE OF CONFUSION RESULTING FROM THE DISRUPTION OF COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPORT SERVICES AS WORKERS STRIKES PROTESTING GOVERNMENT POLICIES CONTINUED. STAFFER USAMA FARAG INTERVIEWS SHARIF ELSHOBASHI, DIRECTOR OF THE EGYPTIAN AL AHRAM NEWSPAPERS IN PARIS. (ARABIC 12/4)

FRANCE / PREHISTORIC CAVE -- STAFFER JESSICA HARTMAN INTERVIEWS HENRI COSQUER, THE DIVER WHO DISCOVERED IN 1991 A CAVE WITH PREHISTORIC PAINTINGS ON THE FRENCH MEDITERRANEAN COAST NEAR MARSEILLE. MR. COSQUER IS CURRENTLY ON A TELE-CONFERENCE TOUR IN THE UNITED STATES, TALKING ABOUT WHAT HE REFERS TO AS GROTTE COSQUER (COSQUER CAVE). (FRENCH 12/4)

INSIDE EURASIA:

RULE OF LAW -- STRINGER DINA KAMINSKAYA DEVOTES THE RULE OF LAW SERIES THIS WEEK TO A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PROTECTION OF HONOR AND DIGNITY VERSUS THE 1ST AMENDMENT. (RUSSIAN 12/4)

KAZAKHSTAN / POLITICAL CLIMATE -- LIDYA VORONINA, AN EDITOR AT THE USIA WIRELESS FILE TALKS TO STAFFER AVIVA LEKUCH ABOUT THE POLITICAL CLIMATE IN KAZAKHSTAN, WHICH SHE RECENTLY VISITED ON THE EVE OF THE ELECTIONS. (RUSSIAN 12/4)

KAZAKHSTAN / ELECTIONS -- AZAD HAKIMBEK, CHAIRMAN OF THE ANTI NUCLEAR COMMITTEE LOPNOR AND PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE AMANTAJ ASILBEKOV, CHAIRMAN OF THE ANTI NUCLEAR MOVEMENT ATLAND TALK TO STAFFER AVIVA LEKUCH ABOUT THE ELECTIONS IN KAZAKHSTAN. (RUSSIAN 12/5)

BELARUS ELECTIONS -- ALEKSANDER MILINKIEWICZ, THE DEPUTY MAYOR OF THE BELARUS CITY OF GRODNO, DISCUSSED LAST WEEK'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN THAT COUNTRY. MILINKIWICZ POINTED OUT THAT EASTERN BELORUS VOTED MOSTLY FOR COMMUNIST AND AGRARIAN CANDIDATES, WHILE THE WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY VOTE MOSTLY FOR DEMOCRATS. INTERVIEW BY STAFFER MARK K PARKER. (POLISH 12/4)

INSIDE LATIN AMERICA:

SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS ADVANCES -- OAS SECRETARY GENERAL CESAR GAVIRIA SAID THE HEMISPHERIC INTEGRATION PROCESS STARTED WITH THE SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS ONE YEAR AGO IS MAKING PROGRESS. CORRESPONDENT JORGE WEHBY REPORTS FROM MIAMI. (SPANISH 12/4)

LATIN AMERICA / JOURNALISTS MURDERED -- THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION STRONGLY CONDEMNED THE MURDER OF ELEVEN JOURNALISTS IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES OF LATIN AMERICA DURING THE LAST YEAR. CORRESPONDENT JORGE WEHBY REPORTS. (SPANISH 12/4)

VENEZUELA / OPPOSITION VICTORY -- ACCION DEMOCRATICA, THE MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY, WON AN OVERWHELMING VICTORY OVER CANDIDATES OF THE GOVERNMENT PARTY COPEI IN GOVERNOR AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES ELECTIONS IN VENEZUELA. STRINGER URANIA MENDEZ REPORTS FROM CARACAS. (SPANISH 12/4) 05-Dec-95 5:07 PM EST (2207 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America