Voice of America, 11 May 1996

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CONTENTS

[01] !!! VOA DIGEST - MAY 10, 1996

[01] !!! VOA DIGEST - MAY 10, 1996

INDIA ELECTION / RAO RESIGNS -- INDIAN PRIME MINISTER PV NARASIMHA RAO HAS RESIGNED AS POLITICAL LEADERS PLOT THEIR NEXT MOVES AFTER INDIA'S INCONCLUSIVE GENERAL ELECTION. MR RAO HAS BEEN ASKED TO SERVE IN A CARETAKER ROLE WHILE A NEW GOVERNMENT IS FORMED FROM POLITICAL ALLIANCES. CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE REPORTS FROM NEW DELHI. (5/10)

INDIA / ELECTION -- AS INDIA AWAITS THE RESIGNATION OF PRIME MINISTER P V NARASIMHA RAO, POLITICAL LEADERS ARE PLOTTING STRATEGIES TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT. CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE HAS THE LATEST ON INDIA'S INCONCLUSIVE GENERAL ELECTION. THE INDIAN POLITICAL SCENE IS IN CHAOS AFTER GENERAL ELECTIONS THAT PRODUCED A FRAGMENTED PARLIAMENT. STATE-RUN TELEVISION SAID PRIME MINISTER RAO WILL RESIGN ON FRIDAY. (5/9, 5/10)

INDIA / RAO -- INDIAN PRIME MINISTER P V NARASIMHA RAO IS STEPPING DOWN AFTER HIS CONGRESS PARTY'S MASSIVE DEFEAT IN GENERAL ELECTIONS. CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE LOOKS AT MR RAO'S RISE AND FALL FROM POWER. (5/10)

US / CHINA NUCLEAR -- THE UNITED STATES HAS DECIDED NOT TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS AGAINST CHINA FOR SELLING NUCLEAR COMPONENTS TO PAKISTAN. STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS. (5/10)

LORD ON DOLE -- THE TOP US DIPLOMAT FOR EAST ASIAN AFFAIRS HAS DEFENDED THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION AGAINST CRITICISM OF ITS ASIA POLICIES BY US SENATOR AND REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE BOB DOLE. EAST ASIA CORRESPONDENT DAN ROBINSON REPORTS ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE WINSTON LORD COMMENTED DURING A NEWS CONFERENCE ENDING AN ASIA-PACIFIC SECURITY MEETING IN INDONESIA. (5/10)

DOLE / CHINA -- US SENATE MAJORITY LEADER AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE BOB DOLE HAS DECLARED HIS SUPPORT FOR RENEWING CHINA'S TRADE BENEFITS, BUT IS ALSO ATTACKING PRESIDENT CLINTON'S RECORD ON CHINA AND ASIAN AFFAIRS. CORRESPONDENT DAVID SWAN REPORTS. (5/9)

CHINA / AIDS -- HEALTH EXPERTS HAVE WARNED THE DEADLY DISEASE KNOWN AS AIDS COULD SPREAD QUICKLY IN CHINA UNLESS MORE IS DONE TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES. BEIJING CORRESPONDENT STEPHANIE HO REPORTS EXPERTS SAY THEY ARE INCREASINGLY WORRIED ABOUT THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE BEING TRANSMITTED THROUGH SEXUAL CONTACT. (5/10)

RUSSIA / POLITICS -- AS RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN CAMPAIGNS FOR RE-ELECTION, HE IS FINDING HIS FIERCEST CRITICS ARE PEOPLE HIS OWN AGE. AT MANY CAMPAIGN STOPS, THE RUSSIAN LEADER HAS BEEN ACCOSTED BY ELDERLY CITIZENS ACCUSING HIM OF BETRAYING THE IDEALS OF THEIR GENERATION. AND, OPINION SURVEYS INDICATE OLDER RUSSIANS WILL VOTE COMMUNIST IN LARGE NUMBERS IN NEXT MONTH'S ELECTION. WHY IS IT SO MANY PEOPLE OF BORIS YELTSIN'S GENERATION DISLIKE HIM? TO FIND THE ANSWER, STRINGER PETER HEINLEIN IN MOSCOW INTERVIEWED A SMALL-TOWN MAN WHOSE LIFE CLOSELY PARALLELS THE PRESIDENT'S. (5/10)

ISRAEL / LEBANON -- AMBASSADORS FROM THE FIVE COUNTRIES TAKING PART IN THE MONITORING GROUP FOR THE ISRAELI-LEBANESE BORDER ARE MEETING AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS THEY ARE DECIDING ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE GROUP. (5/10)

CLINTON / MIDEAST -- PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS HIS MIDDLE EAST POLICY REMAINS HONEST AND FAIR TO BOTH ARABS AND ISRAELIS. AT A JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE WITH VISITING GREEK PRESIDENT CONSTANTINOS STEPHANOPOULOS, PRESIDENT CLINTON RESPONDED TO ARAB CONCERN HIS POLICY IS TILTING TOWARD ISRAEL. CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS. (5/9)

BOSNIA / OGATA -- THE UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, SADAKO OGATA SAYS ABOUT SEVENTY THOUSAND BOSNIAN REFUGEES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES SINCE THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORD WAS SIGNED. MRS OGATA TOLD A SARAJEVO NEWS CONFERENCE THAT THE PACE OF THE REPATRIATION PROGRAM IS MUCH SLOWER THAN ORIGINALLY FORECAST. CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS. (5/9)

BOSNIA FEDERATION -- LEADERS OF THE BOSNIA FEDERATION OF CROATS AND MUSLIMS MEET WITH THE US SECRETARY OF STATE AT BLAIR HOUSE ON TUESDAY. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS THE DELEGATIONS WILL TRY TO CLEAN UP UNRESOLVED ISSUES. (5/10)

HONG KONG / VIETNAMESE VIOLENCE -- POLICE IN HONG KONG ARE CONTINUING TO SEARCH FOR IMMIGRANTS FROM VIETNAM WHO ESCAPED FROM A SPECIAL DETENTION CENTER IN THE TERRITORY FRIDAY. THEY SAY ABOUT SIXTY HAVE BEEN CAPTURED SO FAR, OUT OF AN INITIAL GROUP OF TWO HUNDRED. HONG KONG CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS THE MASS ESCAPE ACCOMPANIED A DAY OF FIRES AND RIOTS AT THE CAMP AS INMATES PROTESTED PLANS FOR THEIR REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM. (5/10)

HONG KONG / VIETNAMESE VIOLENCE -- POLICE IN HONG KONG HAVE LAUNCHED A MASSIVE SEARCH FOR MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM VIETNAM WHO ESCAPED FROM A SPECIAL DETENTION CAMP IN THE TERRITORY. ABOUT TWO HUNDRED ESCAPED INITIALLY, BUT AUTHORITIES SAY SEVERAL DOZEN HAVE BEEN RECAPTURED. CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS THE UNREST IS THE LATEST IN A STRING OF VIOLENT INCIDENTS TRIGGERED BY HONG KONG'S ATTEMPTS TO SEND THOUSANDS OF MIGRANTS BACK TO VIETNAM. (5/10)

US / NORTH KOREA -- UNITED STATES AND NORTH KOREAN OFFICIALS HAVE COMPLETED TALKS IN NEW YORK ON LOCATING AND RETURNING THE REMAINS OF MORE THAN EIGHT THOUSAND AMERICAN SERVICEMEN MISSING SINCE THE KOREAN WAR OF THE 1950'S. JOINT RECOVERY OPERATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN NORTH KOREA LATER THIS YEAR. CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS. (5/9)

LIBERIA / PEACE TALKS REACT -- LIBERIANS SAY THEY ARE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC THE PEACE TALKS IN THE GHANAIAN CAPITAL, ACCRA, WILL HELP END THE CRISIS IN LIBERIA. CORRESPONDENT PURNELL MURDOCK REPORTS. (5/9)

PENTAGON / LIBERIA -- THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT IS GIVING DETAILS ON A US OFFER OF ADDITIONAL AID TO WEST AFRICAN PEACEKEEPERS IN LIBERIA PROVIDED THAT THE ECOMOG FORCE TAKES A MORE ASSERTIVE ROLE. NO US TRAINERS WOULD ACTUALLY BE DEPLOYED IN LIBERIA. CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS. (5/9)

UGANDA ELECTIONS -- AS PREDICTED THE INCUMBENT PRESIDENT WON THE ELECTION IN UGANDA, FAVORED BY A NO-PARTY ELECTION SCHEME. LOSERS PROTEST THE BALLOTING AS FRAUDULENT. CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS FROM KAMPALA. (5/10)

UGANDA / ELECTION -- INITIAL RESULTS FROM UGANDA'S FIRST-EVER DIRECT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS GIVE THE INCUMBENT, YOWERI MUSEVENI, AN EARLY LEAD. CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS. (5/9)

SAF POLITICS -- THE DECISION BY SOUTH AFRICA'S NATIONAL PARTY TO LEAVE THE GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY AT THE END OF JUNE WAS QUICKLY AND WIDELY ACCEPTED. REPORTER DELIA ROBERTSON IN CAPETOWN REPORTS THERE IS GROWING CONSENSUS THE MOVE WAS THE RIGHT ONE FOR THE PARTY AND THE COUNTRY. (5/10)

AUSTRALIA / GUN CONTROLS -- THE MASSACRE OF THIRTY FIVE PEOPLE ON THE AUSTRALIAN ISLAND OF TASMANIA HAS SPARKED AUSTRALIA TO BAN ALL AUTOMATIC AND SEMI-AUTOMATIC WEAPONS. IT WILL ALSO INTRODUCE A NATIONAL FIREARMS REGISTER. THE MOVE COMES AFTER A DAY OF TALKS BETWEEN POLICE MINISTERS REPRESENTING THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS. FROM CANBERRA, STRINGER ROBIN POKE REPORTS. (5/10)

HAITI / UN FORCE -- THE UNITED NATIONS REPRESENTATIVE FOR HAITI, ENRIQUE TER HORST IS RECOMMENDING THAT UN TROOPS AND CIVILIAN POLICE STAY IN HAITI AT LEAST UNTIL THE END OF THIS YEAR TO PREVENT A SERIOUS BACKSLIDING IN THE COUNTRY'S DRIVE FOR STABILITY. BUT CHINA, A PERMANENT MEMBER OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL, MAY NEED SOME CONVINCING. CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS. (5/9)

COLOMBIA / POLITICS -- A COLOMBIA COURT RULES IN A WAY THAT RELIEVES THE PRESIDENT OF SOME LEGAL BURDENS, THAT HE EXCEEDED A CEILING ON CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS. STILL PENDING ARE CHARGES THAT HE RECEIVED MILLIONS FOR HIS CAMPAIGN FROM CALI DRUG CARTEL FIGURES. CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK REPORTS FROM RIO DE JANEIRO. (5/10)

MEXICO / ECON -- NEW ECONOMIC STATISTICS RELEASED IN MEXICO THIS WEEK HAVE RAISED HOPES THAT THE COUNTRY IS FINALLY BEGINNING TO EMERGE FROM ITS LONG AND DEEP RECESSION. BUT AS CORRESPONDENT BILL RODGERS REPORTS FROM MEXICO CITY, MOST ECONOMISTS BELIEVE THE COUNTRY STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE IT CAN ACHIEVE FULL RECOVERY. (5/10)

US / BRITAIN / CRASH -- A SERIOUS ACCIDENT HAS MARRED THE US-BRITISH MILITARY EXERCISE UNDERWAY ALONG THE US ATLANTIC COAST IN NORTH CAROLINA. TWO US MARINE HELICOPTERS, BELIEVED CARRYING A TOTAL OF SIXTEEN SERVICEMEN, COLLIDED IN MID-AIR DURING A MOCK AMPHIBIOUS LANDING. ALL BUT TWO MARINES ABOARD ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN KILLED. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS. (5/10)

US ECONOMY / PPI -- PRICES AT THE WHOLESALE LEVEL ROSE MODERATELY IN APRIL, INDICATING INFLATION IS HOLDING STEADY IN THE UNITED STATES. AS ECONOMICS REPORTER JILL GATHMANN EXPLAINS, FRIDAY'S PRODUCER PRICE INDEX SUGGEST THE US CENTRAL BANK WILL NOT RAISE INTEREST RATES LATER THIS MONTH. (5/10)

CONGRESS ADOPTION -- THE US CONGRESS IS TAKING ACTION TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR WOULD-BE PARENTS TO ADOPT CHILDREN. THE GOAL IS TO HELP HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF YOUNGSTERS WHO NEED LOVE AND A PERMANENT HOME. EVERYONE AGREES ON THE NEED TO HELP THEM. BUT THERE IS ALSO CONTROVERSY. CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS ONE BIG DISPUTE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS OVER THE RIGHT OF NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBAL AUTHORITIES TO CONTROL THE FATE OF ALL CHILDREN OF AMERICAN INDIAN ANCESTRY. (5/10)

CLINTON / PENN STATE -- PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL BE THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES AT PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY FRIDAY. IT WILL BE THE FIRST OF SEVERAL COMMENCEMENT ADDRESSES MR CLINTON WILL DELIVER IN THE COMING WEEKS, OFFERING THE PRESIDENT A FORUM FOR DISCUSSING CAMPAIGN THEMES THIS ELECTION YEAR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS. (5/9)

INSIDE USA:

EAST & SOUTH ASIA / REFUGEES -- REPORTER SUSAN YACKEE SPEAKS WITH IRAM RUIZ, A POLICY ANALYST AT THE US COMMITTEE FOR REFUGEES IN WASHINGTON, ABOUT THE REFUGEE PROBLEM IN EAST AND SOUTH ASIA. HE TALKS ABOUT REFUGEES FROM SRI LANKA, AFGHANISTAN, VIETNAM, BURMA, AND OTHER NATIONS. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 5/9)

SAXOPHONIST / COURTNEY PINE -- BRITISH-BORN SAXOPHONIST, COURTNEY PINE, IS ON A WORLD TOUR TOUTING HIS LATEST CD MODERN DAY JAZZ STORIES. HE STOPPED BY THE VOA AND GAVE A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE AS THE GUEST OF REPORTER RITA ROCHELLE ON THE WORLD OF MUSIC. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 5/9)

INSIDE AFRICA:

SAF / CONSTITUTION -- JOHANNESBURG STRINGER GENEVIEVE MAURER REPORTS ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY NATIONAL PARTY VICE-PRESIDENT FREDERIK DE KLERK TO WITHDRAW FROM THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY. THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE ONE DAY AFTER THE ADOPTION OF SOUTH AFRICA'S NEW CONSTITUTION. (FRENCH 5/9)

LIBERIA / SHOOTING -- SPORADIC SHOOTING CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE DAY IN MONROVIA. REPORTER RICHARD KOTEY SPOKE WITH CORRESPONDENT PURNELL MURDOCK FROM MONROVIA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 5/9)

LIBERIA / ANALYSIS -- LIBERIA WATCHERS HAVE EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT WITH WEDNESDAY'S FAILED SUMMIT OF WEST AFRICAN LEADERS ON THE LIBERIA CRISIS. REPORTER WILLIAM EAGLE SPOKE WITH THE DIRECTOR OF LIBERIA'S NATIONAL CATHOLIC JUSTICE AND PEACE COMMISSION, KOFI SAMUEL WOODS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 5/9)

NIGERIA / HEALTH -- A CHOLERA AND TYPHOID FEVER EPIDEMICS HAVE KILLED UP TO ONE THOUSAND PEOPLE IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA. REPORTER CHINEDU OFFOR REPORTS FROM LAGOS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 5/10)

NIGERIA / CAMEROON -- STRINGER MOHAMED ELBOU REPORTS THAT INCIDENTS ON THE BAKASSI PENINSULA ARE ON THE INCREASE; NIGERIA AND CAMEROON BLAME EACH OTHER FOR THE INCIDENTS IN THIS LONG-STANDING BORDER DISPUTE. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS CALLING FOR RESTRAINT, AND UN ENVOY LAKHDAR BRAHIMI IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE IN THE REGION SHORTLY. (FRENCH 5/9)

BURUNDI / ATTACK -- REPORTER JOHN PITMAN SPEAKS TO DR FRANCOIS SAIVE, THE MEDICAL COORDINATOR FOR DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS IN BURUNDI, ABOUT THE SCENE AT JOHNSON CAMP, WHERE TEN PEOPLE WERE KILLED. MSF MAINTAINS A NURSE FULL TIME AT THE CAMP. THE NURSE WAS AWAKENED BY THE SOUND OF GUNFIRE AND GRENADES, BUT DID NOT SEE ANY OF THE ATTACKERS. (ENP 5/9)

BURUNDI / MASSACRE -- STAFFER FERDINAND FERELLA REPORTS A NEW MASSACRE HAS TAKEN PLACE IN BURUNDI. THIS LATEST MASSACRE TOOK PLACE IN THE BUBANZA PROVINCE IN NORTHERN BURUNDI; IN AN EARLIER INCIDENT, TWO HUNDRED THIRTY FOUR CIVILIANS WERE KILLED IN THE CENTRAL PROVINCE OF GITEGA. IT HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LATEST VIOLENCE. (FRENCH 5/9)

UGANDA / ELECTION ANALYSIS -- UGANDAN PRESIDENT YOWERI MUSEVENI HAS TAKEN THE LEAD IN THURSDAY'S ELECTIONS. REPORTER SHAKA SSALI DISCUSSED THE POLITICAL PROSPECTS OF A MUSEVENI VICTORY WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE KENYAN FOREIGN PRESS CENTER, HORACE AWORI, FROM NAIROBI. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 5/10)

NIGER / REFERENDUM -- A REFERENDUM ON THE CONSTITUTION IS TO BE HELD SUNDAY IN NIGER, BUT THE GOVERNMENT IS APPARENTLY ENCOUNTERING SOME FINANCIAL PROBLEMS IN ORGANIZING THIS REFERENDUM. REPORT BY STRINGER LAWAL BOUCAR FROM NIAMEY. (FRENCH 5/9)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS / AFRICA -- STAFFER CAMILLE GROSDIDIER INTERVIEWS FRANCINE LAMBERT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION UNION. MS LAMBERT DISCUSSED THE NEW REPORT ISSUED BY THE UN AGENCY ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SECTOR IN AFRICA, AN ISSUE BEING EXAMINED AT THE REGIONAL CONFERENCE HELD THIS WEEK IN ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST. (FRENCH 5/9)

SOUTH AFRICA / TRUTH COMMISSION -- SOUTH AFRICA'S TRUTH & RECONCILIATION COMMISSION IS WINDING UP A MONTH OF TESTIMONY FROM THE VICTIMS OF APARTHEID OR THEIR FAMILIES. HOWEVER, THE QUESTION OF AMNESTY IS BECOMING A MAJOR ISSUE. REPORTER JOE DECAPUA SPOKE WITH PROFESSOR JEREMY SARKIN, HEAD OF SOUTH AFRICA'S HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE ABOUT IT. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 5/10)

ZAMBIA / REFORMS -- ZAMBIAN CABINET MINISTER SIMON ZUKAS HAS RESIGNED FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT FREDERICK CHILUBA. REPORTER RICHARD KOTEY SPOKE WITH MR ZUKAS FROM LUSAKA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 5/10)

ETHIOPIA / AMERICAN INVESTORS -- THE DELEGATION REPRESENTING THIRTY FIVE MAJOR US COMPANIES HAS CONCLUDED A FIVE DAY VISIT TO ETHIOPIA. THEY MET WITH PRIME MINISTER MELES ZENAWI AND DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY OF INVESTMENT IN ETHIOPIA. IN A PRESS CONFERENCE THEY SAID THAT ETHIOPIA IS A VERY ATTRACTIVE PLACE FOR FUTURE INVESTMENT. THE TRIP WAS ORGANIZED BY CORPORATE COUNCIL FOR AFRICA. STRINGER TAFESSE KIFLE REPORTS FROM ADDIS ABABA. (AMHARIC 5/10)

ETHIOPIAN ATHLETES / NETHERLANDS -- SIX ETHIOPIAN ATHLETES WERE GRANTED POLITICAL ASYLUM IN THE NETHERLANDS THIS WEEK. AN OFFICIAL OF THE ETHIOPIAN ATHLETICS FEDERATION, MR SHIFERAW DEMEKE IN ADDIS ABABA TOLD STRINGER SOLOMON KIFLE THAT THE ATHLETES HAVE NO GROUNDS FOR A POLITICAL ASYLUM. (AMHARIC 5/10)

INSIDE MIDEAST:

AFGHAN / MINE CLEARING -- GINO STRADA, A DOCTOR BASED IN NORTHERN IRAN WHO RUNS TWO CENTERS FOR TREATMENT OF MINE VICTIMS, SAYS THE PROBLEM OF MINES IN AFGHANISTAN IS MOST PRESSING. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER SPOZHMAI MAIWANDI, STRADA SAID THE TYPES OF MINES USED IN AFGHANISTAN ARE PARTICULARLY NASTY: THERE ARE BIG RUSSIAN MINES, AND THE SMALL 'TOY' MINES. COMMENTING ON THE RECENT GENEVA AGREEMENT ON MINES, STRADA SAID WHAT HAPPENED IN GENEVA WAS JUST TO LEGALIZE ONCE AGAIN, AND TO ALLOW TO CONTINUE, A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY. (PASHTO 5/9)

GERMANY / IRAN -- STAFFER GUITTY SEDAGHAT REPORTS ON COMMENTS BY GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER KLAUS KINKEL ON US-IRAN POLICY MADE IN A SPEECH TO THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE. (FARSI 5/10)

GENERAL TWITCHELL / OBITUARY -- STAFFER ABBASS MALAYERI PREPARED AN OBITUARY OF MAJOR GENERAL HAMILTON TWITCHELL, WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THE US ARMY ADVISORY MISSION IN IRAN FOR SIX YEARS IN THE 1960'S AND 70'S. A FORMER US AMBASSADOR TO IRAN, LEBANON, AND JAPAN SHARES HIS MEMORIES OF GENERAL TWITCHELL WITH MALAYERI. TWITCHELL HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN THE MIDDLE EAST SINCE 1941. (FARSI 5/10)

INSIDE SOUTH ASIA:

INDIA / NEW GOVT / FOREIGN POLICY -- THE RESIGNATION OF INDIAN PRIME MINISTER RAO, A SKILLFUL PLAYER IN INDIA'S RELATIONS WITH MAJOR POWERS LIKE CHINA, RUSSIA, AND THE US, IS EXPECTED TO LEAVE A NOTICEABLE IMPACT ON INDIAN FOREIGN POLICY. ANALYSTS SAY INDIA'S FUTURE FOREIGN POLICY WILL DEPEND ON WHICH MAJOR PARTY WILL FORM THE COALITION GOVERNMENT. IT IS THOUGHT THAT IF THE NATIONALIST BJP FORMS THE COALITION, INDIA WILL TAKE A TOUGH STAND ON THE INDIA-CHINA BORDER DISPUTE, WHILE A LEFT-DOMINANT COALITION WILL BE MORE FRIENDLY TOWARD CHINA AND RUSSIA. STAFFERS XIAO HUA AND WILLIAM CHIEN REPORT WITH AN INTERVIEW WITH NALI SINGH, CHIEF EDITOR OF HINDUSTAN TIMES, NEW DELHI. (MANDARIN 5/10)

INDIA / ELECTIONS -- THE PREDICTIONS OF CONGRESS PARTY DEFEAT AND GAINS FOR BHARTIYA JANATA PARTY (BJP) WERE PROVING CORRECT AS MORE ELECTION RESULTS POURED IN. MANY PROMINENT MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESS INCLUDING CABINET MINISTERS HAVE LOST THEIR SEATS WHILE BJP CANDIDATES CONTINUED TO SCORE VICTORIES. THE THIRD FORCE, NATIONAL FRONT-LEFT FRONT ALLIANCE APPEARED TO BE DOING SLIGHTLY BETTER THAN PREDICTED AND MAY END UP WINNING MORE SEATS THAN THE CONGRESS PARTY, THOUGH IT WILL STILL BE BEHIND BJP. CORRESPONDENT RAVI KHANNA REPORTS. (HINDI 5/9)

INDIA ELECTIONS / FILM STAR -- A POPULAR FILM STAR, RAJESH KHANNA IS ONE OF THE MANY CONGRESS PARTY CANDIDATES WHO HAVE LOST THEIR BIDS FOR A PARLIAMENT SEAT IN THE CURRENT ELECTIONS IN INDIA. STAFFER SUBHASH VOHRA INTERVIEWS MR. KHANNA WHO WAS DEFEATED BY THE BJP CANDIDATE JAGMOHAN, THE FORMER GOVERNOR OF KASHMIR. (HINDI 5/9)

INDIA / ELECTIONS -- STAFFER JEAN-CLAUDE ANDRE HAS A SPECIAL REPORT ON INDIA'S LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS AND WHAT THE RESULTS, AS YET UNOFFICIAL, MIGHT MEAN FOR THE POLITICAL FUTURE OF THAT COUNTRY. INTERVIEWED WERE VIOLETTE GRAFF, RESEARCHER AT THE PARIS-BASED POLITICAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, AND MAX ZINSSE, FRENCH EXPERT ON INDIAN POLITICS WHO ANALYZED THE LOSSES INCURRED BY THE CONGRESS PARTY. FINAL RESULTS ARE EXPECTED FOR THE WEEKEND BUT IT IS PROJECTED THE PARLIAMENT WILL BE FRAGMENTED AND A COALITION WILL HAVE TO BE FORMED. INDIA'S PRIME MINISTER IS REPORTEDLY PREPARING TO RESIGN. (FRENCH 5/9)

INDIA / INDUSTRIAL LEADER -- RAUNAQ ENTERPRISES, A GROUP OF TWENTY ONE INDUSTRIES, IS ONE OF THE LARGEST BUSINESS HOUSES IN INDIA AND IS ENGAGED IN SEVERAL BUSINESS VENTURES WITH AMERICAN COMPANIES. REPORTER NIRMALA JOSHI INTERVIEWS THE CEO OF RAUNAQ ENTERPRISES, RAUNAQ SINGH. (HINDI 5/9)

INSIDE EAST ASIA:

US-CHINA / TRADE WAR -- THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION WILL IMPOSE SANCTIONS ON CHINA IF CHINA DOESN'T IMPROVE ITS PROTECTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS. CHINA THREATENS TO RETALIATE. STAFFER JACKIE LUO INTERVIEWS BROOKINGS INSTITUTION ECONOMIST NICHOLAS LARDY WHO THINKS A SINO-US TRADE WAR IS VERY LIKELY THIS YEAR BECAUSE CLEARLY CHINA DID NOT LIVE UP TO AN AGREEMENT SIGNED LAST YEAR. OTHER EXPERTS THINK ELECTION YEAR POLITICS ALSO MAKE SANCTIONS VERY LIKELY. (MANDARIN 5/9)

SENATOR DOLE / US-CHINA RELATIONS -- STAFFER CHOU YUNTING REPORTS ON SENATOR BOB DOLE'S SPEECH AT THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, CRITICIZING PRESIDENT CLINTON'S ASIA POLICY. HOWEVER, SENATOR DOLE SUPPORTS CLINTON'S DECISION TO DELINK TRADE FROM HUMAN RIGHTS, FAVORS EXTENDING CHINA'S MFN TRADE STATUS. SENATOR DOLE BELIEVES THAT THE US SHOULD WORK THROUGH EXCHANGE PROGRAMS, INCREASED TRADE, THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR DEMOCRACY, RADIO FREE ASIA, AND OTHER MEANS TO ENCOURAGE DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM IN CHINA. (MANDARIN 5/10)

COMMENT / SEN DOLE'S POLICY SPEECH -- DESPITE SENATOR DOLE'S FIERCE CRITICISM OF PRESIDENT CLINTON'S ASIA POLICY, EXPERTS BELIEVE THERE IS NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN THE NATURE OF THE POLICIES OF THE TWO. EXPERTS SAY IT SEEMS DOLE HAS NOT GIVEN MUCH TO THE RIGHT-WING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, AND, AS A RESULT, DID NOT SUCCEED IN DIFFERENTIATING HIS ASIA POLICY FROM CLINTON'S. STAFFERS XIAO HUA AND WILLIAM CHIEN REPORT WITH AN INTERVIEW WITH PROF WINSTON YANG, DEAN OF ASIAN STUDIES AT SETON HALL UNIV. (MANDARIN 5/10)

US / CHINA RELATIONS -- STANLEY ROTH, CURRENT DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AND STUDIES AT THE US INSTITUTE OF PEACE AND A FORMER US NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL OFFICIAL, BELIEVES THAT ALTHOUGH WASHINGTON SHOULD STICK TO ITS STRONG POSITION ON MAJOR DISPUTES WITH CHINA, BEIJING WOULD THINK THE ENGAGEMENT POLICY A SHAM IF THE US PURSUES SANCTIONS ON SEVERAL ISSUES AT THE SAME TIME. ROTH SUGGESTED IDENTIFYING AREAS OF COOPERATION WITH CHINA. STAFFER JIANG TIAN REPORTS ON ROTH'S SPEECH AT THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S DEMOCRATIC CLUB. (MANDARIN 5/10)

PRIORITIES IN DEALING WITH CHINA -- THE US MUST SORT OUT ITS PRIORITIES IN DEALING WITH CHINA AND CANNOT HOPE TO RESOLVE DISPUTES WITH CHINA ALL AT THE SAME TIME, SAYS STANLEY ROTH, FORMER SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR ASIAN AFFAIRS, NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL. IN A SPEECH TO THE WOMEN'S NATIONAL DEMOCRACY CLUB IN WASHINGTON, ROTH WARNED THAT A TRADE WAR WITH CHINA WOULD GREATLY HURT US EXPORT INDUSTRIES. EVEN THE FUTURE OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL COULD BE AFFECTED, HE SAID, IF CHINA CHOOSES TO USE ITS VETO POWER TO RETALIATE. QIDE HE REPORTS. (CANTONESE 5/10)

JAPAN / CHINA / NUKE REPORT -- A MAJOR JAPANESE NEWSPAPER REPORTS THAT CHINA PLANS TO CONDUCT ANOTHER NUCLEAR TEST AS EARLY AS LATER THIS MONTH. THE PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN SAID HE HAD BEEN AWARE OF THE RUMOR BUT HAD NOT CONFIRMED IT. STAFFER WANG ZE INTERVIEWS PROF. RONALD MORSE, DIRECTOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS PROJECT AT UNIV. OF MARYLAND. (MANDARIN 5/9)

US-CHINA RELATIONS / MFN -- CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE SURROUNDING CHINA'S MFN TRADE STATUS THIS YEAR IS EXPECTED TO BE THE FIERCEST SINCE 1989. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S POLICY OF DELINKING TRADE FROM HUMAN RIGHTS HAS NOT ACHIEVED ITS PROJECTED GOAL OF HAVING BEIJING SOFTEN ITS HUMAN RIGHTS STAND. STAFFER CHOU YUNTING INTERVIEWS WU YUANLI, SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW AT THE HOOVER INSTITUTE AND A FOREIGN POLICY ADVISOR UNDER JIMMY CARTER. (MANDARIN 5/9)

CHINA / US TRADE -- REPORTER TERRY WING TALKS WITH MICHAEL RYAN, AN EXPERT ON INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DIPLOMACY AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, ABOUT POSSIBLE US SANCTIONS AGAINST CHINA FOR VIOLATIONS OF THEIR 1995 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AGREEMENT. HE COMMENTS ON MFN AND WHY THE US IS WILLING TO PRESS ITS CASE REGARDING COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT, BUT NOT ON HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 5/9)

CHINA / HK / TELECOM -- SHARES IN TELECOM ROSE AS MUCH AS FOUR PERCENT AMID SPECULATION CHINA MAY INCREASE ITS STAKE IN THE TERRITORY'S BIGGEST TELEPHONE COMPANY. LASK WEEK, TWO CHINESE COMPANIES BROKE A 48-YEAR BRITISH HOLD ON THE TERRITORY'S AIRLINE INDUSTRY. WITH FOURTEEN MONTHS TO GO BEFORE HONG KONG REVERTS TO CHINESE RULE, SOME INVESTORS ARE BETTING BRITISH-RUN COMPANIES WILL NOT STAY BRITISH FOR LONG. STAFFER ZHANG NAN INTERVIEWS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CHINA STRATEGIC INSTITUTE, DREW LIU ON THE SINIFICATION OF TRADITIONALLY BRITISH COMPANIES IN HONG KONG. (MANDARIN 5/9)

KOREA / US / JAPAN -- THE SOUTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT HELD A REUNIFICATION COORDINATION MEETING TO MAP OUT POLICY POSITION FOR NEXT WEEK'S DISCUSSIONS OF OFFICIALS FROM SOUTH KOREA, THE US, AND JAPAN IN CHEJU ISLAND. THE TWO-DAY TRIPARTITE TALKS ARE EXPECTED TO FOCUS ON THE ANALYSIS OF THE LATEST NORTH KOREAN SITUATION, THE WAY OF MATERIALIZING THE FOUR-WAY KOREAN PEACE TALKS, FOOD AID TO NORTH KOREA, AND IMPROVED RELATIONS BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA, NORTH KOREA AND THE US, AND NORTH KOREA AND JAPAN. STRINGER KIM TAE SOO REPORTS. (KOREAN 5/9)

KOREA / FORMER US AMBASSADOR -- FORMER US AMBASSADOR TO KOREA JAMES R LILLEY SAID FOUR-WAY TALKS COULD BE A POSITIVE STEP LEADING TO DIALOGUE BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA. AMBASSADOR LILLEY TOLD A SEOUL CONFERENCE THAT HE DOES NOT ANTICIPATE AN EARLY COLLAPSE OF NORTH KOREA, SAYING NEITHER CHINA NOR JAPAN WANTS IT. HE SAID MAKING SURE THAT FOREIGN ASSISTANCE FUNDS ARE NOT USED TO REINFORCE NORTH KOREA'S MILITARY IS PREREQUISITE TO AID FOR NORTH KOREA. STRINGER KIM TAE SOO REPORTS. (KOREAN 5/9)

NORTH / SOUTH KOREA / JOB TRAINING -- THE LG ELECTRONICS COMPANY OF SOUTH KOREA HAS DISCLOSED THAT THREE OF THE COMPANY'S TECHNICIANS GAVE TECHNICAL TRAINING TO A DOZEN OF NORTH KOREAN WORKERS AT A LG TELEVISION ASSEMBLY PLANT IN THAILAND FOR TWO WEEKS IN MARCH. THE NORTH KOREANS WERE FROM A PLANT IN NORTH KOREA THAT ASSEMBLES LG COLOR TELEVISION SETS. STRINGER KIM TAE SOO REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 5/9)

KOREA / EDIBLE OIL -- SOUTH KOREA'S RED CROSS SOCIETY WILL SEND SOME EIGHTEEN THOUSAND LITERS OF EDIBLE OIL TO NORTH KOREAN FLOOD VICTIMS THROUGH THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF RED CROSS. THE OIL IS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ABOUT TWENTY SIX THOUSAND NORTH KOREAN FAMILIES FOR THREE MONTHS. STRINGER KIM TAE SOO REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 5/9)

KOREAN DIPLOMAT / OPPOSITION PARTY -- CHOI SUNG JIN, A FORMER SOUTH KOREAN DIPLOMAT IN NEW ZEALAND, WAS ESCORTED TO A SEOUL PROSECUTORS OFFICE UPON ARRIVAL AT KIMPO AIRPORT FROM NEW ZEALAND. HE DENIED ALLEGATIONS BY THE SOUTH KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTRY THAT HE HAD FORGED A GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT TO HELP THE OPPOSITION PARTY IN LAST YEAR'S LOCAL ELECTIONS. STRINGER KIM TAE SOO REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 5/10)

ASIA / FREE TRADE -- AT AN ASIA SOCIETY CONFERENCE IN SEOUL, ECONOMIC EXPERTS STRESSED OPEN MARKETS AND FREE TRADE TO MAINTAIN SUSTAINED ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE REGION. KOREAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER RAH WOONG BAE SAID ASIAN COUNTRIES MUST UPGRADE THEIR POLICIES OF TRADE AND INVESTMENT TO MATCH THE INTERNATIONAL LIBERALIZATION STANDARD, AND CALLED FOR AN EXPANSION OF ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND A JOINT DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGY. MR RAH ALSO SAID IT IS IMPORTANT TO SOLVE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS IN THE COURSE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. CORRESPONDENT NOH SI CHANG REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 5/10)

ESPIONAGE IN THE POST COLD WAR WORLD -- RUSSIA'S SPY DISPUTE WITH BRITAIN HAS RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NEED FOR ESPIONAGE IN THE POST-COLD WAR ERA. STAFFER TIAN YE INTERVIEWS ZHONGBIN LIN, DIRECTOR OF THE POLITICAL INSTITUTE, TAIWAN ZHONGSHAN UNIV, ON POST-COLD WAR SPYING. (MANDARIN 5/9)

UN / LANDMINES -- FIFTY SEVEN COUNTRIES MEETING IN GENEVA REACHED A WEAK AGREEMENT ON RESTRICTING THE USE OF LANDMINES, WHICH ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR TEN THOUSAND DEATHS AND TWENTY THOUSAND INJURIES ACROSS THE WORLD EVERY YEAR, MOST OF THEM CIVILIANS. HOWEVER, THE UN CONFERENCE FELL SHORT OF BANNING ALL LANDMINES. STAFFER XIAO HUA INTERVIEWS XIN GAO, RESEARCH FELLOW, HARVARD CENTER FOR EAST ASIAN STUDIES, ON THE AGREEMENT. (MANDARIN 5/9)

REUNION IN VIETNAM -- STRINGER NAM ANH INTERVIEWS MUSICIAN TRAN AUOC BAO ABOUT HIS RECENT TRIP BACK TO THE SRV AND HIS EMOTIONAL MEETING WITH MORE THAN SEVENTY MUSICIANS POPULAR BEFORE SAIGON FELL IN 1975. MR BAO PRESENTED EACH ARTIST TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS AS A GIFT FROM MEMBERS OF THE VIET-AMERICAN COMMUNITY WHO WERE FANS OF THE ARTISTS IN THE OLD DAYS. (VIETNAMESE 5/9)

VIET POET'S PARIS LECTURE -- HIGHLY-REGARDED POET HUY CAN, WHO IS GUEST LECTURER ON VIETNAMESE CULTURE AT THE COLLEGE DE FRANCE, IS INTERVIEWED BY PARIS STRINGER PHAN NGOC. (VIETNAMESE 5/10)

INSIDE EUROPE:

BOSNIA / MASS GRAVES -- EXCAVATION OF A MASS GRAVE AT SANSKI MOST IN BOSNIA IS IN PROGRESS. AS REPORTED FROM ONE OF THE SITES OF MASS GRAVES BY STRINGER LINDA MILISA, IT IS BELIEVED THAT UP TO ONE HUNDRED MUSLIM CIVILIANS WERE BURIED THERE AFTER BEING KILLED BY BOSNIAN SERBS IN 1992. (CROATIAN 5/10)

SREBRENICA / MISSING -- THREE MEN MISSING SINCE THE FALL OF SREBRENICA IN JULY 1995, GOT IN TOUCH YESTERDAY WITH THEIR FAMILIES. THEY CALLED FROM SERBIA. STRINGER ZDRAVKO JAVOR REPORTS. (CROATIAN 5/9)

WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL / EXTRADITION -- THE FOURTH PERSON INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES COMMITTED IN BOSNIA HAS ARRIVED IN THE HAGUE. ZEINIL DELALIC, A MUSLIM, WAS EXTRADITED FORM GERMANY. STRINGER LADA STIPIC NISETEO REPORTS THAT HE PLEADED NOT GUILTY. (CROATIAN 5/9)

BOSNIA / CLASHES -- INTERNATIONAL POLICE OFFICIALS IN SARAJEVO SAY ETHNIC TENSIONS HAVE RISEN IN THE SUBURB OF DOBRINJA DURING THIS WEEK. AND THERE WERE CLASHES BETWEEN BOSNIAN SERBS AND MUSLIMS NEAR THE CENTRAL BOSNIAN CITY OF MAGLAJ. STRINGER BORO KONTIC REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO. (SERBIAN 5/9)

UN / MEDIA REACT -- YUGOSLAV STATE-RUN MEDIA INTERPRET THE LATEST UN DECLARATION ON YUGOSLAVIA AS AN APPEAL TO ALL SIDES TO COOPERATE WITH THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA IN BELGRADE CONSIDER THE UN STATEMENT AS A REPRIMAND OF YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES FOR LACK OF COOPERATION WITH THE TRIBUNAL. STRINGER DUSAN MASIC REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (SERBIAN 5/9)

BOSNIA / AID -- THE US AMBASSADOR TO BOSNIA, JOHN MENZIES, BOSNIAN PRIME MINISTER HASAN MURATOVIC, AND PRIME MINISTER OF THE BOSNIAN FEDERATION, IZUDIN KAPETANOVIC SIGNED AN OFFICIAL AGREEMENT ON A NEW AID PACKAGE FOR BOSNIA. STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO. (CROATIAN 5/9)

EASTERN SLAVONIA / MEDIA -- THE ADMINISTRATOR FOR EASTERN SLAVONIA, GENERAL JACQUES KLEIN SAYS THE MEDIA HAS A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN PROMOTING THE PEACEFUL REINTEGRATION OF EASTERN CROATIA. STRINGER VLADO BENIC REPORTS THAT THE LOCAL RADIO OPERATIONS ARE HINDERED BY SERBS WHO STILL CONTROL THE AREA. (CROATIAN 5/9)

ZAGREB / BELGRADE HIGHWAY -- STRINGER JADRANKA KRONJA FOUND OUT SEVERAL INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE NEWLY OPENED HIGHWAY BETWEEN ZAGREB AND BELGRADE. SHE SAYS THAT CROATIAN CITIZENS WILL HAVE TO GET A VISA, AND PAY ROAD TOLL AND SOME OTHER DUTIES BEFORE BEING ALLOWED INTO YUGOSLAVIA. (CROATIAN 5/9)

CROATIA / MEDIA -- THE US COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS CALLED ON THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT TO STOP INTIMIDATING THE INDEPENDENT PRESS. BUT A CROATIAN GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAYS THERE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA IN CROATIA. STRINGER STEVICA SUSA REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (SERBIAN 5/9)

JOURNALISTS / MACEDONIA -- MACEDONIAN JOURNALISTS HAVE DENOUNCED A COMMENT BY THE INTERIOR MINISTER CRITICAL OF NEGATIVE REPORTING ABOUT POLICE. OPPOSITION PARTIES HAVE JOINED THE MEDIA IN THE CONDEMNING THE MINISTER'S STATEMENT. STRINGER ZELJKO BAJIC REPORTS FROM SKOPJE. (SERBIAN 5/9)

CARL BILDT'S OFFICE / BANJALUKA -- ON MAY SIXTH, EU REPRESENTATIVE CARL BILDT'S OFFICE OPENED A BRANCH IN THE BOSNIAN SERB CITY OF BANJALUKA. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER MAJA DRUCKER, BILDT'S ASSISTANT MICHAEL MCCLAY TALKED ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MOVE AND OF CONTACTS WITH BOSNIAN SERB OFFICIALS. ACCORDING TO MCCLAY, THE OFFICE HAS NEVER HAD NOR WILL IT EVER HAVE ANY DEALINGS WITH RADOVAN KARADZIC, WHILE THE CONTACTS WITH PM RAJKO KASAGIC ARE INTENSE AND FRUITFUL. (SERBIAN 5/9)

HDZ / BOSNIA -- THE CROATIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY HELD A FORUM IN SARAJEVO TITLED 'CROATS IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, FEDERATION OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA AND ELECTIONS.' STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTS ON THE ISSUES THIS POLITICAL PARTY WOULD LIKE TO RESOLVE BEFORE THE SEPTEMBER ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA. (CROATIAN 5/9)

FREEDOM HOUSE / CROATIA -- LEONARD SUSSMAN, SENIOR SCHOLAR IN INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS AT FREEDOM HOUSE, CRITICIZED RECENT CROATIAN GOVERNMENT MEASURES AGAINST INDEPENDENT MEDIA. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER BOJAN KLIMA, MR SUSSMAN SAID THAT SUCH ACTIONS ARE HURTING CROATIAN CITIZENS AND CROATIAN CREDIBILITY IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. (CROATIAN 5/8)

BELGRADE / PRESS FREEDOM -- STRINGER JADRANKA KRONJA REPORTS FROM BELGRADE ON A CONFERENCE TITLED 'THREATS TO THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA, THREATS TO DEMOCRACY.' REPRESENTATIVES OF SERBIAN INDEPENDENT MEDIA AND STATE-OWNED MEDIA DISCUSSED THE FREEDOM OF PRESS IN YUGOSLAVIA. ONE OF THE CONCLUSIONS IS THAT THE CITIZENS OF YUGOSLAVIA ARE POORLY INFORMED. (CROATIAN 5/9)

USIA VISITOR PROGRAM / CROATIA -- COLONEL MLADEN NAKIC, CROATIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY OFFICIAL, VISITED GOVERNMENT, MILITARY AND ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS IN WASHINGTON, NEW YORK, SAN FRANCISCO AND CHICAGO. IN THE INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER BOJAN KLIMA, COL NAKIC SAID THAT HIS VISIT HELPED HIM TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE AMERICAN POLITICAL PROCESS AND US POSITION REGARDING THE CONFLICT IN THE BALKANS. (CROATIAN 5/9)

SERBIA / PROTEST -- TEN THOUSAND FACTORY WORKERS IN SERBIAN CITY OF NIS DEMONSTRATED FOR THE SECOND DAY DEMANDING OVERDUE SALARIES AND MORE WORK. BELGRADE TELEVISION DID NOT MENTION THE PROTEST IN NIS. STRINGER DUSAN MASIC REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (SERBIAN 6/9)

USAID / PUBLIC HEARING -- BRIAN ATWOOD, USAID ADMINISTRATOR TESTIFYING ABOUT HIS AGENCY'S PROGRAMS IN BOSNIA SAID THERE ARE TWO MAJOR PROGRAMS:ONE FOR FINANCIAL INPUT DIRECTLY INTO THE BOSNIAN BANKING SYSTEM, AND ONE FOR DIFFERENT BOSNIAN MUNICIPALITIES. MR ATWOOD ALSO SAID THAT NO MATTER OF HOW MUCH MONEY IS INVESTED IN BOSNIAN RECONSTRUCTION, NO REAL SUCCESS WILL BE SEEN UNLESS SERB LEADERS KARADZIC AND MLADIC ARE EXTRADITED TO THE HAGUE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. (CROATIAN 5/10)

BOSNIA / MUSEUM PROGRAM -- REPORTER JOHN PITMAN SPEAKS TO HELEN WALASEK, THE ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA HERITAGE RESCUE, ABOUT THE GROUP'S MUSEUM MANAGEMENT AND ART CONSERVATION TRAINING PROJECT IN BOSNIA. SHE SAYS BOSNIA'S MUSEUMS ARE SUFFERING AN ACUTE PERSONNEL SHORTAGE DUE TO WAR DEATHS, EMIGRATION, AND AN AGING POPULATION OF CURATORS. AMAZINGLY, SARAJEVO'S MAIN MUSEUM STAYED OPEN THROUGHOUT THE WAR. (ENP 5/9)

POLAND / FOREIGN POLICY -- POLISH FOREIGN MINISTER ROSATI PRESENTED AN OUTLINE OF POLISH FOREIGN POLICY TO POLISH PARLIAMENT. HE STRESSED NATIONAL CONSENSUS IS NEEDED IN SUPPORT OF THE QUEST TO JOIN WESTERN POLITICAL AND MILITARY STRUCTURES. CORRESPONDENT TADEUSZ WALENDOWSKI REPORTS FROM WARSAW. IN INTERVIEWS WITH STRINGER MARIA BNINSKA, MAJOR PARTY LEADERS COMMENTED ON THE FOREIGN MINISTER'S SPEECH, INCLUDING PIOTR NOWINA KONOPKA OF THE FREEDOM UNION, WALDEMAR PAWLAK OF THE FARMERS PARTY, RYSZARD BUGAJ OF THE LABOR UNION, AND LONGIN PASTUSIAK OF THE DEMOCRATIC LEFT ALLIANCE. (POLISH 5/9)

POLAND / US -- POLISH PRESIDENT ALEKSANDER KWASNIEWSKI WELCOMED THE WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCEMENT ON HIS UPCOMING JULY 8 MEETING WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON. HE NOTED THAT HIS VISIT TO THE US COMES IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE RUSSIAN ELECTIONS. STRINGER MARIA BNINSKA REPORTS FROM WARSAW. (POLISH 5/9)

POLAND / ETHICS AND POLITICS -- JERZY CIEMNIEWSKI, FREEDOM UNION DEPUTY COMENTED ON CORRUPTION IN POLISH POLITICS. CIEMNIEWSKI STRESSED THAT LACK OF CLEAR DIVSION BETWEEN BUSSINESS AND POLITICS CREATES AN ENVIROMENT VULNERABLE FOR CORRUPTION. INTERVIEW BY CORRESPONDENT TADEUSZ WALEDNOWSKI IN WARSAW. (POLISH 5/9)

INSIDE EURASIA:

YELTSIN / ELECTIONS -- DIMITRY SIMES, PRESIDENT OF THE NIXON CENTER FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM, LEON ARON OF THE AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE, AND STAFFER VLADIMIR MATLIN EXAMINE THE RUSSIAN ELECTION CAMPAIGN, AND US REACTION TO THE STATEMENT BY YELTSIN'S SECURITY CHIEF ALEXANDER KORZHAKOV THAT THE JUNE 16TH ELECTIONS SHOULD BE POSTPONED. (RUSSIAN 5/9)

RUSSIA / CHINA / ECON REFORM -- STAFFER QIN CHUAN INTERVIEWS PROF HUANG YASHENG, UNIV. OF MICHIGAN, WHO COMPARED ECONOMIC REFORM IN CHINA AND RUSSIA. PRESIDENT YELTSIN RECENTLY VISITED CHINA AND SAID HE WAS IMPRESSED WITH CHINA'S REFORMS. (MANDARIN 5/10)

VICTORY DAY -- MOSCOW CORRESPONDENT ALEC BATCHAN INTERVIEWS ONLOOKERS AT THE VICTORY DAY PARADE IN MOSCOW AND REPORTS ON PRESIDENT YELTSIN'S ADDRESS FROM ATOP LENIN'S TOMB DURING THE MILITARY PARADE, AND ON COMMUNIST PARTY LEADER ZYUGANOV'S MARCH THROUGH MOSCOW. (RUSSIAN 5/9)

WAIVE THAT OL' RED FLAG -- SHOULD THE WEST BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMAGES OF THE COMMUNIST PAST BEING USED BY PRESIDENT YELTSIN IN HIS CAMPAIGN? RUSSIAN STUDIES SPECIALIST HARLEY BALZER SAYS NO. MR BALZER, DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR EURASIAN, RUSSIAN AND EAST EUROPEAN STUDIES AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY TELLS REPORTER TERRY WING IT'S BETTER HE'S TALKING ABOUT A SOVIET PAST THAN A SOVIET FUTURE. HE SAYS THE RUSSIANS NEED TO HOLD ON TO SOME POSITIVE IMAGES OF THEIR HISTORY. HE SAYS THE WEST SHOULDN'T GET UPSET ABOUT IMAGERY WHEN IT WASN'T PROPERLY DISGUSTED WITH MOSCOW'S ACTIONS IN CHECHNYA. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 5/9)

INSIDE LATIN AMERICA:

HAITI / SUMMERS / PREVAL -- US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE LAWRENCE SUMMERS WOUND-UP A THREE-DAY VISIT TO HAITI SIGNING A NINETY FIVE MILLION DOLLAR SOFT LOAN AGREEMENT WITH HAITIAN PRESIDENT REN?E PR?EVAL TO FINANCE A WIDE RANGE OF DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS. STRINGER GUY DELVA REPORTS. (CREOLE 5/9)

HAITI / TRADE -- RESIDENTS OF GONA?IVES, HAITI'S FOURTH LARGEST CITY, ARE COMPLAINING AFTER FREIGHTERS CARRYING CARGO FROM MIAMI HAD TO TURN BACK WITH THEIR CARGO BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT ACCEPT TO PAY THE NEWLY IMPOSED PORT TARIFFS. THE HAITIAN GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN ACTING RECENTLY TO HALT CONTRABAND AND FRAUD AT THE COUNTRY'S VARIOUS TRADING POINTS. (CREOLE 5/9)

HAITI / US / GIFT -- THE US DONATED HAITI SEVERAL POLICE TRUCKS TO EQUIP THE LOCAL POLICE FORCE. THE GIFT WAS PRESENTED BY US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN WHITE WHO IS VISITING THE CARIBBEAN NATION. (CREOLE 5/9)

HAITI / POLICE BRUTALITY -- THE JACMEL POLICE RELEASED FIVE JUVENILES ARRESTED EARLIER IN THE WEEK FOR ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF WEAPONS, AFTER A SEARCH FOUND NO WEAPONS. WILSON DUBUISSON REPORTS THAT THE YOUNG MEN ALLEGED THEY WERE SEVERELY BEATEN WHILE IN POLICE CUSTODY. ON A RELATED DEVELOPMENT, DUCK JONATHAN-JOSEPH REPORTS FROM THE SOUTHERN CITY OF LES CAYES THAT THE RECENT ARREST OF SEVERAL GRASS ROOTS ORGANIZATIONS' LEADERS, ALLEGEDLY BEATEN WHILE IN POLICE CUSTODY, HAS MET WITH PUBLIC OUTCRY. CIVIC LEADERS HAVE STAGED MASS DEMONSTRATIONS AND ARE CALLING ON THE AUTHORITIES TO ENFORCE THE RULE OF LAW. (CREOLE 5/9)
10-May-96 7:50 PM EDT (2350 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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