Voice of America Digest, 16 October 1995

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] !!! VOA DIGEST - OCTOBER 16, 1995

MILLION MAN MARCH -- AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN FROM AROUND THE UNITED STATES ARE TAKING PART IN A MASSIVE RALLY IN WASHINGTON. V CORRESPONDENT PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS HUNDREDS-OF-THOUSANDS HAVE GATHERED IN A DISPLAY OF UNITY AND RECONCILIATION. (10/16)

WASHINGTON / MARCH -- THE EVENT KNOWN AS THE MILLION MAN MARCH, IS UNDERWAY IN WASHINGTON, AS BLACK MEN FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES GATHERED NEAR THE US CAPITOL BUILDING. STAFFER MICHAEL BOWMAN WALKED ALONG THE RALLY GROUNDS AND SPOKE WITH SOME OF THE MARCH PARTICIPANTS. (10/16)

NATION OF ISLAM / ORIGIN -- DURING THE EARLY 1900'S, THE LAWS IN AMERICA SUPPORTING RACIAL SEGREGATION AND UNEQUAL ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT GAVE RISE TO BLACK NATIONALIST MOVEMENTS. MANY BLACKS IN AMERICA FOUND THESE ORGANIZATIONS ADDRESSED THEIR POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SPIRITUAL AND SOCIAL NEEDS. THE NATION OF ISLAM, WHICH IS TODAY LED BY MINISTER LOUIS FARRAKHAN, IS THE LARGEST AND MOST ECONOMICALLY SUCCESSFUL BLACK NATIONALIST GROUP. STAFFER RASHIDAH HASAN REPORTS ON THE ORIGINS OF THAT ORGANIZATION. (10/16)

MILLION MAN MARCH -- TENS OF THOUSANDS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN ARE CONVERGING ON WASHINGTON FOR A RALLY (MONDAY) TO FOSTER BLACK UNITY AND FIND SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS FACING THE BLACK COMMUNITY. CORRESPONDENT JANE BERGER REPORTS PROMINENT AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND OTHERS, IN A SERIES OF TELEVISION INTERVIEWS, DISCUSSED THE MILLION MAN MARCH AND ITS CONTROVERSIAL ORGANIZER, NATION OF ISLAM LEADER LOUIS FARRAKHAN. (10/15)

MILLION MAN MARCH -- A PLANNED MARCH ON WASHINGTON BY THOUSANDS OF BLACK MEN GETS UNDER WAY SUNDAY IN WHAT ORGANIZERS SAY WILL BE A DAY FOR BLACK MEN TO SHOW THEIR RESOLVE IN FIGHTING PROBLEMS FACING THE BLACK COMMUNITY. BUT WHAT IS BEING CALLED THE MILLION MAN MARCH IS DRAWING INCREASING CRITICISM BECAUSE OF RACIAL COMMENTS MADE BY ITS KEYNOTE SPEAKER, LOUIS FARRAKHAN, LEADER OF A GROUP KNOWN AS THE NATION OF ISLAM. CORRESPONDENT NICK SIMEONE REPORTS. (10/13)

WOMEN / MILLION MAN MARCH -- OPINIONS ARE DIVIDED AMONG NEW YORK CITY'S BLACK WOMEN ABOUT THEIR EXCLUSION FROM MONDAY'S MILLION MAN MARCH ON WASHINGTON. NATION OF ISLAM MINISTER LOUIS FARRAKHAN, THE ORGANIZER OF THE EVENT, CALLS IT A ONE-DAY DEMONSTRATION OF BLACK MEN'S RESOLVE TO COMBAT CRIME AND THE BREAK-UP OF THE BLACK FAMILY. CORRESPONDENT MARTIN BUSH REPORTS. (10/13)

BLACK MARCH / SCENESETTER -- CONTROVERSY CONTINUES TO SWIRL AROUND THE ORGANIZER OF MONDAY'S MARCH OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL, NATION OF ISLAM LEADER LOUIS FARRAKHAN. CORRESPONDENT JIM MALONE REPORTS SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE PART IN MONDAY'S MARCH WHICH IS BEING PROMOTED AS A DAY OF ATONEMENT, PRAYER AND INSPIRATION FOR BLACK MEN. (10/13)

CLINTON / SPEECH SCENESETTER -- PRESIDENT CLINTON IS IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, WHERE WAS TO ADDRESS THE NEED FOR RACIAL HARMONY IN THE UNITED STATES. THE SPEECH COMES ON THE DAY OF A MAJOR CIVIL RIGHTS MARCH IN WASHINGTON AND JUST WEEKS AFTER A JURY'S ACQUITTAL OF OJ SIMPSON ON DOUBLE MURDER CHARGES DIVIDED THE NATION ALONG RACIAL LINES. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTED FROM AUSTIN. (10/16)

BOSNIA / FIGHTING -- HEAVY FIGHTING IS CONTINUING IN NORTHWEST BOSNIA AS GOVERNMENT AND CROAT TROOPS PUSH TOWARD KEY SERB-HELD TOWNS, BUT ELSEWHERE IN BOSNIA A CEASE-FIRE IS HOLDING. UN MILITARY OBSERVERS WILL GO TO SERB-HELD TERRITORY TO ASSESS WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTINUED FIGHTING, WHICH RISKS CAUSING THE COLLAPSE OF THE CEASE-FIRE. CORRESPONDENT DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO. (10/14)

BOSNIA / SERBS -- A SENIOR BOSNIAN SERB OFFICIAL HAS RESIGNED FOLLOWING THE LOSS OF MORE SERB TERRITORY TO MUSLIM AND CROAT FORCES IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS. (10/16)

HAVEL / IZETBEGOVIC -- CZECH PRESIDENT VACLAV HAVEL SAID THAT IF THE PRINCIPLE OF CIVIL COEXISTENCE LOSES THE BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL IN BOSNIA, THEN IT HAS LOST IT IN EUROPE AS A WHOLE. STRINGER ALENA KENCLOVA REPORTS. (10/13)

WHO ARE THE CROATS? -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' PAMELA TAYLOR REPORTS ON THE THREE MAIN ETHNIC GROUPS OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. THIS REPORT INCLUDES INTERVIEWS WITH HISTORIANS IVO BANAC OF YALE UNIVERSITY AND STJEPAN MESTROVIC OF TEXAS A&M. (10/16)

WHO ARE BOSNIA'S MUSLIMS? -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' PAMELA TAYLOR REPORTS ON THE THREE MAIN ETHNIC GROUPS OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. THIS REPORT INCLUDES INTERVIEWS WITH BOSNIA'S AMBASSADOR TO THE US, SVEN ALKALAJ, HISTORIAN JOHN FINE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, NOEL MALCOLM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND MARIA TODOROVA OF FLORIDA UNIVERSITY. (10/16)

IRAQ / ELECTIONS -- IRAQI VOTERS ARE GOING TO THE POLLING STATIONS SUNDAY TO SAY YES OR NO WHETHER THEY WANT SADDAM HUSSEIN TO STAY IN POWER. FROM CAIRO, STRINGER PEYMAN PEJMAN REPORTS THAT THE OUTCOME IS A FOREGONE CONCLUSION. (10/15)

ISRAEL / LEBANON -- AN ATTACK BY IRANIAN BACKED GUERRILLAS HAS KILLED FIVE ISRAELI SOLDIERS IN SOUTHERN LEBANON, THE DEADLIEST SUCH STRIKE THIS YEAR AND THE SECOND ATTACK IN THREE DAYS. CORRESPONDENT AL PESSIN REPORTS FROM KIBBUTZ SHOMRAT IN NORTHERN ISRAEL. (10/15)

ISRAEL LEBANON / PALESTINE -- ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIAN AUTONOMY AUTHORITY HAVE SET AN EARLY DATE FOR PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS, AND ADVANCED THE TIMETABLE FOR ISRAELI REDEPLOYMENT FROM PALESTINIAN CITIES ON THE WEST BANK. BUT SUNDAY'S PROGRESS TOWARD PEACE ON THAT FRONT WAS SOMEWHAT OVERSHADOWED BY THE MOST DEADLY ATTACK AGAINST ISRAELI FORCES IN SOUTHERN LEBANON THIS YEAR, WHICH LEFT SIX ISRAELI SOLDIERS DEAD. CORRESPONDENT AL PESSIN REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM. (10/15)

SENATE / JERUSALEM -- SENATE MAJORITY LEADER BOB DOLE HAS INTRODUCED NEW LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD REQUIRE THE UNITED STATES TO MOVE ITS EMBASSY IN ISRAEL FROM TEL AVIV TO JERUSALEM. CORRESPONDENT JIM MALONE REPORTS SENATE ACTION ON THE PROPOSAL COULD COME WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. (10/13)

PAKISTAN ARMY -- PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER BENAZIR BHUTTO SAYS SEVERAL SENIOR OFFICERS IN THE PAKISTANI ARMY HAVE BEEN ARRESTED, BUT SHE HAS NOT CONFIRMED NEWSPAPER REPORTS THEY ARE SUSPECTED OF WORKING FOR AN ISLAMIC REVOLUTION. CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN REPORTS. (10/15)

AFGHANISTAN / ROCKET ATTACK -- IN AFGHANISTAN A ROCKET HAS LANDED IN A SUBURB OF KABUL, KILLING FIVE PEOPLE AND WOUNDING FIFTEEN. BUT, AS STRINGER TIM JOHNSTON REPORTS FROM THE AFGHAN CAPITAL, THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE TALIBAN STUDENT MOVEMENT IN THE HILLS SOUTH OF THE CITY APPEARS TO HAVE GROUND TO A HALT WITH NEITHER SIDE MAKING SIGNIFICANT GAINS. (10/15)

AFGHAN FIGHTING -- IN AFGHANISTAN, THE GOVERNMENT'S ATTEMPTS TO DISLODGE THE TALIBAN ISLAMIC STUDENT MOVEMENT FIGHTERS FROM THE HILLS TO THE SOUTH OF THE AFGHAN CAPITAL, KABUL, HAVE CONTINUED FOR A SECOND DAY. TIM JOHNSTON REPORTS FROM KABUL, THERE HAVE BEEN HEAVY EXCHANGES OF ROCKET AND ARTILLERY FIRE. (10/14)

TAIWAN / PRESIDENT INVITE -- THE GOVERNMENT IN TAIWAN GAVE A CAUTIOUS WELCOME MONDAY TO A SUGGESTION BY CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN THAT HE AND TAIWAN PRESIDENT LEE TENG HUI MEET, EITHER IN BEIJING OR IN TAIWAN. STRINGER RUPERT HAYES REPORTS THE PROSPECTS FOR SUCH A MEETING REMAIN UNCERTAIN. (10/16)

CHINA / ECONOMIC ROUND UP -- CHINA HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS TO ATTRACT MORE FOREIGN INVESTMENT TO THE COUNTRY'S LESS-DEVELOPED INLAND CITIES. MEANWHILE, BEIJING PLAYS HOST TO A MAJOR INTERNATIONAL AUTO PARTS EXHIBITION. BEIJING CORRESPONDENT STEPHANIE HO HAS THIS ROUND-UP OF ECONOMIC NEWS FROM BEIJING. (10/16)

CHINA / BROWN VISIT -- US COMMERCE SECRETARY RON BROWN IS BEGINNING A VISIT TO CHINA AIMED AT ADVANCING BILATERAL TRADE RELATIONS. MR. BROWN WILL TAKE PART IN A JOINT COMMISSION ON COMMERCE AND TRADE AND INAUGURATE A NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL. CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER REPORTS FROM BEIJING. (10/16)

CHINA / DISSIDENT -- A LEADING CHINESE DISSIDENT HAS GONE ON A HUNGER STRIKE IN PRISON TO PROTEST HIS TREATMENT BY CHINESE AUTHORITIES. CORRESPONDENT STEPHANIE HO REPORTS THE DISSIDENT'S WIFE SAID HE BEGAN THE FAST AFTER OFFICIALS FAILED TO RESPOND TO HIS APPEALS FOR MEDICAL HELP AND FROZE THEIR BANK ACCOUNT. (10/14)

CHINA / FOREIGN EXCHANGE -- AS CHINA MOVES FORWARD WITH ECONOMIC REFORMS, ONE OF ITS MOST CHALLENGING TASKS IS TO MAKE ITS CURRENCY, THE RENMINBI CONVERTIBLE ON INTERNATIONAL MARKETS. CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON SAYS EXPERTS ON CHINA'S ECONOMY SAY THE COUNTRY RISKS BEING LEFT OUT OF KEY INTERNATIONAL TRADING BODIES, SUCH AS THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION, IF IT DOES NOT MOVE QUICKLY TO REFORM ITS FOREIGN EXCHANGE SYSTEM. (10/13)

US / JAPAN / SPYING --JAPANESE LEADERS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT A REPORT IN THE NEW YORK TIMES NEWSPAPER THE US CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY SPIED ON JAPANESE OFFICIALS DURING AUTOMOBILE TRADE TALKS EARLIER THIS YEAR. STRINGER THOMAS CALDWELL REPORTS FROM TOKYO. (10/16)

KOREA / TALKS -- SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT KIM YOUNG-SAM SAYS IT IS UP TO NORTH KOREA TO MAKE THE NEXT MOVE TOWARDS EASING TIES BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS. CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS ON MR. KIM'S SPEECH IN THE SOUTH KOREAN CAPITAL, SEOUL. (10/16)

TURKEY / POLITICS -- TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER LOST A CRUCIAL VOTE OF CONFIDENCE BY THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT SUNDAY. STRINGER AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA MRS. CILLER HAS CALLED FOR EARLY GENERAL ELECTIONS. (10/15)

BULGARIAN NUKE -- BULGARIA IS SET TO RESTART THE TROUBLED NUMBER ONE REACTOR AT THE KOZLODUY NUCLEAR POWER PLANT 200 KILOMETERS NORTH OF SOFIA. CORRESPONDENT BARRY WOOD HAS MORE FROM THE BULGARIAN CAPITAL. (10/14)

US / UZBEK MILITARY -- THE UNITED STATES AND UZBEKISTAN HAVE SIGNED A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FORMALIZING THEIR MILITARY AND SECURITY RELATIONS. THE ACCORD WAS CONCLUDED IN THE PENTAGON FRIDAY BY DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY AND THE UZBEK DEFENSE MINISTER RUSTAM AKHMEDOV. CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS. (10/13)

RUSSIA / CHECHNYA -- THE HEAD OF A EUROPEAN MISSION MONITORING THE WAR IN CHECHNYA HAS CONDEMNED RUSSIAN AIR STRIKES IN THE REGION. CORRESPONDENT PETER COLLINS REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, TENSION CONTINUES TO RISE IN THE BREAKAWAY REPUBLIC. (10/14)

RUSSIA / BUS HIJACK -- A GROUP OF SOUTH KOREAN TOURISTS WHO ESCAPED UNHURT AFTER A 10-HOUR HOSTAGE DRAMA IN CENTRAL MOSCOW SAY THEY WILL CONTINUE THEIR TOUR OF RUSSIA AND GERMANY. STRINGER REBECCA MCMENAMIN REPORTS FROM MOSCOW THE HIJACKING ENDED WHEN RUSSIAN COMMANDOS STORMED THE BUS CARRYING THE HOSTAGES. (10/15)

FRANCE JUPPE -- FRENCH PRIME MINISTER ALAIN JUPPE IS STANDING UNOPPOSED FOR THE PRESIDENCY OF HIS GAULLIST PARTY. HIS SUPPORTERS HOPE HIS ELECTION WILL BEGIN A REVIVAL FOR A POLITICIAN WHOSE REPUTATION HAS BEEN SHAKEN IN RECENT WEEKS. STRINGER JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS. (10/15)

NATO / CLAES -- NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL WILLY CLAES SAYS IT IS TOO SOON TO SAY IF HE WILL RESIGN, FOLLOWING A BELGIAN PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION HE STAND TRIAL ON CORRUPTION CHARGES. STRINGER JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS. (10/14)

US / ALBANIA MILITARY -- ALBANIA IS OFFERING THE UNITED STATES AND NATO THE USE OF ITS MILITARY FACILITIES FOR THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE PLANNED PEACE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE IN BOSNIA. THE OFFER WAS MADE BY THE ALBANIAN DEFENSE MINISTER SAFET ZHULALI, WHO HELD TALKS IN WASHINGTON WITH SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WILLIAM PERRY. CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE PENTAGON. (10/16)

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

BANGLA / IRAN -- IRAN WILL SET UP AN OIL REFINERY IN BANGLADESH UNDER A JOINT COLLABORATION, AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF ONE BILLION DOLLARS. STRINGER ATIQUL ALAM REPORTS FROM DHAKA THAT THE AGREEMENT FOR THE REFINERY WAS SIGNED IN CHITTAGONG BY BANGLADESHI AND IRANIAN INDUSTRIALISTS AND IN THE PRESENCE OF VISITING IRANIAN PRESIDENT ALI AKBAR HASHEMI RAFSANJANI. (10/13)

GERMANY / ISLAM -- A CONTROVERSIAL AUTHOR WHO HAS WRITTEN EXTENSIVELY ABOUT ISLAM HAS BEEN AWARDED THIS YEAR'S PRESTIGIOUS PEACE PRIZE FROM THE GERMAN BOOK INDUSTRY. ANNEMARIE SCHIMMEL WAS HONORED FOR PROMOTING UNDERSTANDING OF ISLAM. BUT AS STRINGER KYLE KING REPORTS, MANY GERMAN INTELLECTUALS HAD BITTERLY OPPOSED THE CHOICE OF MS. SCHIMMEL, CLAIMING SHE HAD TURNED A BLIND EYE TOWARD HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN MUSLIM COUNTRIES. (10/15)

ALBANIA / AUTOS -- ALBANIA, EUROPE'S POOREST COUNTRY, IS IN THE MIDST OF AN ECONOMIC BOOM, ALBEIT ONE FROM A LOW BASE. CORRESPONDENT BARRY WOOD IN TIRANA REPORTS THAT BUILDING ROADS IS A MAJOR PRIORITY IN AN ECONOMY WITH ALMOST NO MODERN INFRASTRUCTURE. (10/16)

GORE / HAITI VISIT -- THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AL GORE, TRAVELLED TO HAITI SUNDAY TO MARK THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE RETURN TO HAITI OF THAT COUNTRY'S PRESIDENT, JEAN-BERTRAND ARISTIDE. CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE REPORTS FROM MIAMI THE VISIT COMES AS CONTROVERSY HAS DEVELOPED IN HAITI OVER EFFORTS TO PRIVATIZE STATE-OWNED BUSINESSES. (10/15)

GORE / HAITI VISIT -- US VICE-PRESIDENT AL GORE HELPED HAITIAN PRESIDENT JEAN-BERTRAND ARISTIDE MARK THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF HIS RETURN FROM EXILE, AND THE RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY IN HAITI. CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE REPORTS. (10/15)

HAITI / HUMAN RIGHTS --A NEW YORK-BASED HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION SAYS HAITI HAS MADE A MARKED IMPROVEMENT IN ITS HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD SINCE PRESIDENT JEAN-BERTRAND ARISTIDE REGAINED POWER ONE YEAR AGO. STRINGER MONA GHUNEIM REPORTS. (10/14)

LATIN AMERICA SUMMIT -- ARGENTINA IS HOSTING ITS LARGEST SUMMIT MEETING EVER, 18 HEADS OF STATE FROM SPAIN, PORTUGAL, AND LATIN AMERICA. THE LEADERS ARE EXPECTED TO CALL FOR AN END TO THE US TRADE EMBARGO AGAINST CUBA. SOUTH AMERICA CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK REPORTS FROM THE SOUTHERN ARGENTINE CITY OF BARILOCHE. (10/16)

CHILE / ARGENTINA -- CHILE HAS LOST ITS BID FOR REVISION OF AN ADVERSE INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION RULING IN A BORDER DISPUTE WITH ARGENTINA. THE DECISION WAS ANNOUNCED IN SANTIAGO BY CHILEAN FOREIGN MINISTER JOSE MIGUEL INSULZA. CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK REPORTS. (10/13)

NICARAGUA / ENVIRONMENT -- THE INTER-AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK HAS AGREED TO LOAN NICARAGUA 45-MILLION DOLLARS TO CLEAN UP AND SAVE THE SEVERELY POLLUTED LAKE MANAGUA, ONE OF CENTRAL AMERICA'S WORST ECOLOGICAL DISASTERS. DAN TROTTA REPORTS. (10/13)

IVORY COAST / PROTESTS -- IVORY COAST IS BRACING ITSELF AGAINST THE POSSIBILITY OF MASSIVE DEMONSTRATIONS BY OPPOSITION GROUPS FOLLOWING THE BREAKDOWN OF TALKS SATURDAY BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION PARTY LEADERS. THE GOVERNMENT BANNED PUBLIC PROTESTS LAST MONTH AFTER SEVERAL TURNED VIOLENT. STRINGER PURNELL MURDOCK REPORTS. (10/15)

ZIMBABWE / ARREST -- VETERAN ZIMBABWEAN POLITICIAN NDABANINGI SITHOLE HAS BEEN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH AN ALLEGED PLOT TO ASSASSINATE PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE. STRINGER LAWRENCE BARTLETT REPORTS FROM HARARE. (10/14)

SAF / SAVIMBI -- ANGOLA'S UNITA LEADER JONAS SAVIMBI WRAPPED UP HIS SOUTH AFRICAN VISIT WITH A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA. DELIA ROBERTSON REPORTS FROM JOHANNESBURG THAT MR. SAVIMBI SAYS HIS COUNTRY CAN LEARN FROM SOUTH AFRICA'S POLITICAL EXPERIENCE. (10/14)

ZIMBABWE / SITHOLE -- ZIMBABWEAN OPPOSITION LEADER NDABANINGI SITHOLE APPEARED IN COURT MONDAY ON CHARGES OF PLOTTING TO ASSASSINATE PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE AND OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT. LAWRENCE BARTLETT REPORTS FROM HARARE. (10/16)

CLINTON / WAR CRIMES --FIFTY YEARS AFTER THE NUREMBERG TRIALS FOR THOSE ACCUSED OF NAZI WAR CRIMES, PRESIDENT CLINTON IS CALLING ON THE WORLD TO HEED THE LESSONS OF NUREMBERG, TO HOLD ACCOUNTABLE THOSE WHO VIOLATE HUMAN RIGHTS. MR. CLINTON'S COMMENTS COME AS UN TRIBUNALS ARE INVESTIGATING ATROCITIES IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AND IN RWANDA. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS. (10/15)

CLINTON / TRAVEL --PRESIDENT CLINTON IS BEGINNING A THREE-DAY CAMPAIGN-STYLE TRIP THAT WILL TAKE HIM TO THE NORTHEASTERN STATE OF CONNECTICUT, AND THEN TO CALIFORNIA AND TEXAS. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE IS TRAVELING WITH THE PRESIDENT, AND HAS THIS REPORT. (10/15)

SHUTTLE DELAYED SUNDAY -- THE LAUNCH OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA HAS BEEN POSTPONED FOR THE SIXTH TIME. CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE REPORTS THE SHUTTLE WILL STAY ON THE GROUND BECAUSE OF BAD WEATHER AT CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA. (10/15)

WALL STREET PREVIEW -- AFTER SOME WORRY EARLY LAST WEEK, STOCK PRICES BEGAN TO RALLY AGAIN AND CONFIDENCE SEEMS TO BE RETURNING TO WALL STREET. CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS. (10/13)

CONGRESS WEEK IN REVIEW -- THE US CONGRESSIONAL BATTLE ABOUT BUDGET CUTS IS EXPECTED TO HEAT UP NEXT WEEK WHEN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TAKES UP A CONTROVERSIAL REPUBLICAN PLAN TO REVAMP THE MEDICARE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FOR AMERICA'S ELDERLY. CORRESPONDENT JIM MALONE LOOKS AT ACTIVITIES IN THE US CONGRESS. (10/13)

FERRARO / WOMEN / BEIJING -- THE UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION SAID FRIDAY WOMEN AND HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES MOVED FORWARD AT THE RECENT UN WOMEN'S CONFERENCE IN BEIJING. STAFFER BARBARA SCHOETZAU REPORTS. (10/13)

GORE / RUSSIA -- VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE LAUNCHED A SERIES OF THREE SPEECHES ON UNITED STATES-RUSSIAN RELATIONS IN SAN FRANCISCO FRIDAY, URGING BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT OF RUSSIA'S TRANSITION TO A DEMOCRATIC MARKET-ORIENTED SOCIETY. STRINGER RICHARD CUSHING REPORTS. (10/13)

THE DEFENSE BUDGET BATTLE -- IN A SURPRISE MOVE, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES RECENTLY REJECTED THE FINAL VERSION OF THE 243 BILLION DOLLAR DEFENSE BILL FOR 1996. PUNDITS SAY THAT SUCH COMPROMISES ARE ROUTINELY ADOPTED. BUT IN THIS CASE, MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES, WITH DIFFERENT AXES TO GRIND, FORMED A COALITION LARGE ENOUGH TO OVERWHELM THE MEASURE. CURRENT AFFAIRS' ERICA BENIS LOOKS AT THE POLITICS BEHIND THE STALEMATE, AND THE POSSIBLE OUTCOME. (10/16)

JULIE ANDREWS / BROADWAY -- SINGER AND STAR OF STAGE AND SCREEN JULIE ANDREWS RETURNS TO BROADWAY A WEEK FROM NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN THIRTY YEARS IN "VICTOR VICTORIA." THE NEW BROADWAY SHOW BASED ON THE HIT MOVIE OF THE SAME NAME BOTH STARS ANDREWS AND IS DIRECTED BY ANDREWS' REAL-LIFE HUSBAND BLAKE EDWARDS. CURRENT AFFAIRS' ROBIN RUPLI REPORTS ON THE SINGER'S BROADWAY COME-BACK. (10/16)

BUYERS BEWARE -- CORRESPONDENT PAUL FRANCUCH TALKS WITH A ST. LOUIS LAW SCHOOL PROFESSOR WHO HAS WRITTEN A NEW GUIDE FOR ATTORNEYS ON HOW TO BETTER REPRESENT CONSUMERS IN TRANSACTION DISPUTES. (10/16)

GROWING THE AMERICAN TOURISM INDUSTRY -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' KEMING KUO INTERVIEWED UNDER SECRETARY OF COMMERCE FOR TRAVEL AND TOURISM GREG FARMER AND A SOUTHEASTERN STATES TOURISM OFFICIAL ABOUT EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE MORE TOURISTS FROM OVERSEAS TO VISIT THE UNITED STATES. (10/16)

ANTITRUST / HIGH TECH -- THE UNITED STATES HAS RELATIVELY STRONG LAWS PREVENTING INDIVIDUAL COMPANIES FROM UNFAIRLY DOMINATING THE MARKETPLACE FOR A PRODUCT OR SERVICE. BUT SOME EXPERTS ARE ASKING HOW THESE LAWS CAN BE IMPROVED TO REFLECT A MORE INTEGRATED GLOBAL ECONOMY DRIVEN BY HIGH TECHNOLOGY. CORRESPONDENT ANDREW BAIRD HAS THIS REPORT. (10/16)

ROXANNE / BARGE SINKING -- AT LEAST THREE PEOPLE HAVE DIED AND 23 OTHERS ARE MISSING IN THE GULF OF CAMPECHE OFF MEXICO'S YUCATAN PENINSULA, AFTER A PIPE-LAYING BARGE SANK LATE SUNDAY. CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE REPORTS THE BARGE SANK IN HEAVY SEAS CAUSED BY HURRICANE ROXANNE. (10/16)

BEIJING MARATHON -- CHINESE RUNNERS CAME IN FIRST AND SECOND IN THE BEIJING INTERNATIONAL MARATHON. CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER REPORTS THE EVENT DREW PARTICIPANTS FROM 17 COUNTRIES. (10/15)

INSIDE USA:

AFRICANS / MILLION MAN MARCH -- HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN TOOK PART IN A RALLY KNOWN AS THE MILLION MAN MARCH IN WASHINGTON. SOME OF THE PARTICIPANTS VOICED THEIR REACTIONS TO REPORTER JAMES BUTTY, WHO PROVIDED LIVE COVERAGE FROM THE MALL. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/16)

MILLION MAN MARCH -- 'TALK TO AMERICA' FEATURES DETAILED REPORTS FROM THE MARCH SITE ON CAPITOL HILL. CORRESPONDENT JIM MALONE REPORTS. (TTA 10/16)

MILLION MAN MARCH -- STAFFERS AHMED YERIMA AND MOHAMMED USMAN ATTENDED THE MILLION MAN MARCH DEMONSTRATION AND FILED LIVE FROM THE MALL. (HAUSA 10/16)

MILLION MAN MARCH -- THE FRENCH TO AFRICA SERVICE IS PROVIDING LIVE COVERAGE TODAY OF THE MILLION MAN MARCH DURING ITS PROGRAMS WITH STAFFERS MAIMOUNA MILLS AND IDRISSA FALL, INTERN GAEDIG BONABESSE AND AFRICA DIVISION STRINGER JULIUS BARTHSON. (FRENCH 10/16)

MILLION MAN MARCH -- URDU STAFFER AKMAL ALEEMI TALKS TO AMERICAN MUSLIMS INCLUDING THE FOLLOWERS OF WARITH D.MUHAMMAD, WHO DIFFERED WITH THE VIEWS OF THE LEADER OF THE NATION OF ISLAM, LOUIS FARRAKHAN. IN AN INTERVIEW DIRECTOR OF ISLAMIC EDUCATIONAL AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES MIR ARIF ALI SAYS THAT FARRAKHAN DOES NOT REPRESENT ISLAM AS THE MAJORITY OF MUSLIMS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD UNDERSTAND AND PRACTICE IT. (URDU 10/15)

MILLION MAN MARCH -- STAFFER HAIDER KARIM TALKED WITH TWO PARTICIPANTS OF THE MARCH, ONE FROM PHILADELPHIA AND ONE FROM DETROIT. THEY SAID THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE OF THE MARCH IS TO RETURN TO THE COMMUNITY TO FIGHT DRUG ABUSE AND CRIME AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE. ONE MAN SAID IF HE COULD HELP JUST ONE YOUNG MAN TO STAY AWAY FROM CRIME AND LEAD A CLEAN LIFE THE MARCH WOULD HAVE BEEN WORTH IT. (KURDISH 10/16)

US / SASSER'S CONFIRMATION DELAYED -- DUE TO SASSER'S COMMENTS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG, THE US SENATE HAS DELAYED HIS CONFIRMATION AS AMBASSADOR TO CHINA. SOME POLITICIANS IN HONG KONG CRITICIZE SASSER'S COMMENTS THAT BEIJING DOES NOT HAVE THE LEGAL OBLIGATION TO RECOGNIZE THE HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AFTER 1997. STAFFER YANG GUANG INTERVIEWS RICHARD CHU, HEAD OF ASIAN STUDIES, ROCHESTER UNIVERSITY. (MANDARIN 10/14)

LIBERIA / RECONSTRUCTION PROPOSAL -- THE LIBERIAN RECONSTRUCTION ORGANIZATION, HOUSTON, TEXAS, DEVELOPS A PROPOSAL FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DISARMAMENT IN LIBERIA. COPIES OF THE PROPOSAL HAVE BEEN SENT TO THE RULING INTERIM COUNCIL OF STATE, THE WHITE HOUSE, THE UNITED NATIONS AND ECOWAS. ENGLISH TO AFRICA REPORTER, TED ROBERTS, TALKED TO LRO CHAIRMAN, ALKINA PHILIPS ABOUT THE PROPOSAL. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/15)

MADISON / CRANE FOUNDATION -- STAFFER IBRAHIM ALFA AHMED REPORTS FROM WISCONSIN ON HIS TOUR OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRANE FOUNDATION IN MADISON, WHERE HE INTERVIEWED ASSISTANT CURATOR OF BIRDS, SCOTT SWENGEL. SWENGEL NOTED A BLACK CROWN CRANE PRESERVATION PROGRAM THE FOUNDATION STARTED IN KANO, NIGERIA EIGHT YEARS AGO. (HAUSA 10/16)

FISH / DEPLETION -- A NEW STUDY FROM THE GROUP POPULATION ACTION INTERNATIONAL SAYS POPULATION GROWTH THREATENS NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF UP TO ONE BILLION PEOPLE IN THE NEXT CENTURY. REPORTER RODRICK MURRAY TALKS TO THE AUTHORS OF THE STUDY. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/12)

AMERICAN-CROATIANS / CHARITY -- STAFFER IVAN PODNAR INTERVIEWS CAROL CUBELIC, PRESIDENT OF THE CROATIAN AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF PITTSBURGH...MS.CUBELIC TALKED ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES OF THIS AMERICAN-CROATIAN ORGANIZATION PARTICULARLY ABOUT THE CHARITY WORK FOR WAR ORPHANS IN CROATIA. (CROATIAN 10/15)

ATOM AND ENVIRONMENT -- STAFFER BEN ABBASSI INTERVIEWS PETER JOHNSON, ENGINEER-SCIENTIST AND MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. FOR SIX YEARS HE STUDIED THE CONSEQUENCES OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS PRODUCTION IN THE US AND THE FORMER SOVIET UNION. HE LOOKS AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS PRODUCTION, AND THE DUMPING OF NUCLEAR WASTE BY THE FORMER SOVIET UNION IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. (FARSI 10/16)

IRANIAN AUTHOR -- STAFFERS FARAH JAHANGIRI AND MANSOUR HATEFI REVIEW THE WORK OF CONTEMPORARY IRANIAN NOVELIST ISMAIL FASIH. (FARSI 10/15)

NEW YORK / CHINESE GANG MEMBERS CONVICTED -- SEVERAL LEADING FIGURES OF THE DONG AN GANG OF NEW YORK CITY CHINA TOWN WERE SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE BY A FEDERAL COURT. STRINGER FANG BING REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. THIS IS THE FIRST MAJOR VICTORY IN CRACKING DOWN ON GANG ACTIVITIES IN NEW YORK'S CHINA TOWN. GANG MEMBERS WERE CONVICTED ON SEVERAL ACCOUNTS, INCLUDING MURDER, ASSAULT, AND CONSPIRACY. STAFFER RUOSI WU INTERVIEWS CHEN GUOLIN, RUTGERS UNIVERSITY AND PETER KUANG, DIRECTOR OF ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES, CUNY. (MANDARIN 10/14)

LOS ANGELES / CALLIGRAPHER -- STAFFER KUO-FU SHU IN LOS ANGELES INTERVIEWS LIU JIANQING, PRESIDENT, CHINESE PROFESSORS ASSOCIATION OF CONTEMPORARY CALLIGRAPHY AND PAINTING. (MANDARIN 10/15)

LABOR UNIONS -- THE RIGHTS OF WORKERS DURING A STRIKE, AND THE RIGHTS OF SCABS EMPLOYED DURING THE STRIKE DISCUSSED BY LABOR EXPERT CONSTANTIN SIMIS. (RUSSIAN 10/14)

US FILM ON TIANANMEN SQUARE CRACKDOWN -- KARMA HINTON AND RICHARD GORDON, AUTHORS OF THE US FILM GATES OF THE HEAVENLY KINGDOM, ON THE TIANANMEN SQUARE CRACKDOWN PLAYING AT THE NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL TALK TO STAFFER ALEC BATCHAN ABOUT THE MAKING OF THEIR FILM. (RUSSIAN 10/15)

SALUTE TO RUSSIA / CONCERT -- THE SALUTE TO RUSSIA CONCERT AT CONSTITUTION HALL COVERED BY JULIA BOSKY, WHO INTERVIEWED WASHINGTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA DIRECTOR MARTIN PIETSUKH ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE ORCHESTRA AND ABOUT HIS TRIP TO RUSSIA, WHEN HE WAS THE ONLY AMERICAN PARTICIPANT IN THE KRASNOYARSK SECOND INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL. (RUSSIAN 10/14)

RUSSIAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL IN MCLEAN -- SAM ROBERTS, THE ORGANIZER OF THE RECENT RUSSIAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL IN MCLEAN TALKS TO JULIA BOSKY ABOUT THE FESTIVAL, WHICH HE ORGANIZED WITH THE HELP OF THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH IN WASHINGTON, THE RUSSIAN AMERICAN ASSOCIATION AND THE RUSSIAN EMBASSY. (RUSSIAN 10/14)

LOS ANGELES / HISPANICS DEMO -- ON THE EVE OF THE MILLION MAN MARCH ON WASHINGTON, ABOUT FOUR THOUSAND HISPANICS HELD A PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION IN THE STREETS OF LOS ANGELES DEMANDING JUSTICE AND PROTECTION FOR IMMIGRANTS, AND SUPPORT FOR AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAMS AND THEIR RIGHT TO HEALTH CARE. CORRESPONDENT HECTOR VELAZQUEZ REPORTS FROM LOS ANGELES. (SPANISH 10/16)

INSIDE AFRICA:

NIGERIA / OGONI TRIAL -- A NIGERIAN SPECIAL COURT TRYING OGONI MINORITY RIGHTS ACTIVIST KEN SARO-WIWA FOR MURDER SAYS IT IS READY TO DELIVER JUDGEMENT. REPORTER CHINEDU OFFOR REPORTED FROM LAGOS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/16)

WORLD FOOD DAY / AFRICA -- WORLD FOOD DAY, MONDAY, OCTOBER 16TH, IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT TO AFRICA THIS YEAR IN VIEW OF CUTS IN THE CURRENT US FOREIGN AID BUDGET. IN WASHINGTON, REPORTER COLE MALLARD INTERVIEWS CECE MODUPE-FADOPE, AN AFRICA POLICY ANALYST WITH "BREAD FOR THE WORLD," A US GRASSROOTS ANTI-HUNGER CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/16)

LIBERIA / DISARMAMENT CAMPAIGN -- LIBERIAN LOCAL GROUPS LAUNCH A FUND RAISING CAMPAIGN. THE AIM IS TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO THE INTERNATIONAL DONORS CONFERENCE ON LIBERIA, TO BE HELD AT THE UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 27TH. THE CONFERENCE WILL DISCUSS FUNDING OF ECOMOG DISARMAMENT EFFORTS IN LIBERIA. REPORTER TED ROBERTS TALKS TO DR TOGBA-NAH TIPOTEH, CHAIRMAN OF THE INTEREST GROUPS OF LIBERIA ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/15)

COMOROS / POLITICS -- REPORTER KEMI SOUTHEY-COLE MODERATES AS TWO COMORIANS ANALYZE THE COUP AND POLITICAL CRISIS FACING THEIR NATION. THE PARTICIPANTS ARE MR. SALIM HAMIDI, A FORMER HOME AFFAIRS MINISTER, NOW FREELANCE POLITICAL ANALYST BASED IN PARIS, AND KAMARDIE MOHAMMED, A FREE LANCE JOURNALIST. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/14, 10/15)

ZAMBIA / RWANDAN REFUGEES -- THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT DETAINS OVER 14 RWANDAN REFUGEES LIVING IN THE COUNTRY. REPORTER KELLYS KAUNDA REPORTS FROM LUSAKA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/13)

WORLD BANK / IMF / GABON / SOUTH AFRICA -- THE WORLD BANK AND THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND HELD THEIR ANNUAL MEETING IN WASHINGTON. REPORTER RODRICK MURRAY REPORTS ON WHAT GABON AND SOUTH AFRICA DELEGATES HAVE TO SAY. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/13)

MALAWI / BANDA TRIAL -- A STATE WITNESS MAKES STARTLING REVELATIONS AT THE ON-GOING TRIAL OF FORMER PRESIDENT KAMUZU BANDA IN BLANTYRE. REPORTER JULIUS KALIYA REPORTED FROM BLANTYRE. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/13)

ECOWAS / LIBERIA -- A FACT FINDING DELEGATION SENT TO LIBERIA BY THE CHAIRMAN OF ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES, PRESIDENT JERRY RAWLINGS OF GHANA, HAS RETURNED TO ACCRA WITH ITS REPORT. THE REPORT STATED THAT FRICTION WITHIN THE UNITED LIBERATION MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRACY IN LIBERIA FACTION, HEADED BY ALHAJI KOROMAH, HAVE BEEN RESOLVED, AND THAT THE FACTION PROMISED NOT TO DO ANYTHING THAT WILL ENDANGER THE PEACE PROCESS IN LIBERIA. CORRESPONDENT ABDULMALIK DANBIRNI REPORTED FROM ACCRA. (HAUSA 10/13)

AFRICA / ECONOMIC GROWTH -- STAFFER MAIMOUNA MILLS PREPARED AN IN-DEPTH REPORT ON ECONOMIC GROWTH IN CFA ZONE COUNTRIES AS SEEN BY THE WORLD BANK/IMF AND BY THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THOSE ECONOMIES. WORLD BANK VICE-PRESIDENT EDWARD JAYCOX TOLD MS. MILLS ECONOMIC GROWTH IS CLEARLY TAKING PLACE BUT AFRICAN COUNTRIES SHOULD PRODUCE MORE AND RELY LESS ON IMPORTS. SENEGALESE ENTREPRENEUR AMADOU TOP ARGUED WORLD BANK FIGURES ARE INFLATED AND DO NOT REFLECT REALITY. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH FRENCH TO AFRICA STAFFER JEAN-CLAUDE ANDRE, BENIN'S FINANCE MINISTER PAUL DOUSSOU CITED EXCELLENT GROWTH FIGURES. BUT MALIAN HOMEMAKER TRAORE MARIAM DIARRA TOLD STAFFER FATIM SIDIBE LIFE IS HARDER THAN EVER. INTERN GAEDIG BONABESSE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS REPORT. (FRENCH 10/12)

IVORY COAST / ELECTIONS -- STRINGER JULIUS BARTHSON INTERVIEWS BERNARD EHUI KOUTOUA OF THE PDCI PARTY WHO REITERATED THE GOVERNMENT'S CRITICISM OF THE OPPOSITION'S ACTIONS DURING THE ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN. MR. KOUTOUA SAYS THE OPPOSITION SHOULD NOT BOYCOTT THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 22ND AND COOPERATE TO THE ELECTION PROCESS. (FRENCH 10/13)

WORLD BANK / BENIN MINISTER -- BENIN'S FINANCE MINISTER PAUL DOUSSOU TOLD STAFFER JEAN-CLAUDE ANDRE THAT DESPITE SOME GROWTH IN THE ECONOMIES OF THE CFA ZONE COUNTRIES, MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE. MR DOUSSOU SAID HE HOPED THE US CONGRESS WILL HEED PRESIDENT CLINTON'S CALL TOWARD MAINTAINING THE NECESSARY LEVELS OF FOREIGN AID, INCLUDING THE US CONTRIBUTION TO THE WORLD BANK'S INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION. (FRENCH 10/13)

INSIDE MIDEAST:

AMMAN CONFERENCE / EGYPT -- AN OFFICIAL OF THE EGYPTIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN TRADE NOTES THE IMPORTANCE OF AMMAN'S UPCOMING ECONOMIC CONFERENCE. MR. RAOUF SAAD SAID EGYPT WILL ATTEND THE CONFERENCE AND PRESENT A LIST OF PROJECTS THAT REQUIRE REGIONAL COOPERATION. STRINGER MUSTAFA LABIB REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 10/14)

AMMAN / CONFERENCE -- MOHAMED SALIM ALQUDWA, CHAIRMAN OF THE PALESTINIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, TALKS TO STAFFER HAYAT ALKHATEEB ABOUT AMMAN'S UPCOMING ECONOMIC CONFERENCE. (ARABIC 10/13)

ISRAEL / LEBANON / AMBUSH -- THE HEZBOLLAH HAS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR AN AMBUSH ATTACK IN SOUTHERN LEBANON WHICH KILLED THREE ISRAELI SOLDIERS AND WOUNDED SIX OTHERS, STRINGER SULEIMAN KHAIRALLAH REPORTED FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 10/13)

CLASHES / PEACE -- DR ASAAD ABU KHALIL, PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA TALKS TO STAFFER HAYAT ALKHATEEB ABOUT THE EFFECT OF HIZBOLLAH-ISRAELI CLASHES ON THE FUTURE OF THE SYRIAN-ISRAELI PEACE PROCESS. (ARABIC 10/13)

TUNIS / CULTURAL EVENTS -- SEVERAL ARAB AND AFRICAN COUNTRIES WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE CARTHAGE FESTIVAL STARTING THE 19TH OF OCTOBER. AND THE TUNISIAN CITY OF HAMMAMAT WILL HOST THE ARAB RADIO AND TV FESTIVAL. STRINGER RACHID MABROUK REPORTS FROM TUNIS. (ARABIC 10/14)

NORTH AFRICA / IMMUNIZATION -- THE 8TH IMMUNIZATION CAMPAIGN AGAINST SERIOUS AND CONTAGIOUS DISEASES HAS STARTED IN NORTH AFRICA STRINGER MOHAMED BENDEDDOUCHE REPORTS FROM RABAT. (ARABIC 1014)

MOROCCO / PARLIAMENT -- THE MOROCCAN PARLIAMENT IS GETTING READY TO ADDRESS THE POOR ECONOMIC SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY, ACCORDING TO A REPORT PREPARED BY THE WORLD BANK AT THE REQUEST OF KING HASSAN. STRINGER MOHAMED BENDEDDOUCHE REPORTS. (ARABIC 10/14)

IRAQ / PRICES -- PRICES HAVE GONE UP IN IRAQ FOLLOWING THE UN ARMS INSPECTOR'S REPORT PAVING THE WAY FOR AN EXTENSION OF THE SANCTIONS. STAFFER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 10/13)

IRANIAN / OPPOSITION -- STAFFER FARAH JAHANGIRI REPORTS ON AN EFFORT TO REVIVE THE IRANIAN NATIONAL FRONT ABROAD AND TO BRING TOGETHER MOVEMENT SUPPORTERS BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE IRAN. INTERVIEWS WITH LONG-TIME NATIONAL FRONT ORGANIZER GHASSEM LEBASCHI AND DR MOHMMED EGHTEDARI, A WASHINGTON AREA ORGANIZER OF THE MOVEMENT. (FARSI 10/16)

KURDS / TEHRAN MEETING -- STAFFER BEKR REBWAR INTERVIEWED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE KURDISH DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF IRAN, ABDULLAH IZZETPOUR, IN GERMANY. COMMENTING ON THE IRANIAN ATTEMPT TO MEDIATE BETWEEN THE FEUDING IRAQI KURDISH PARTIES, THE KDP AND THE PUK, HE SAID THEY SHOULD HAVE STAYED WITH US MEDIATION TO REBUILD IRAQI KURDISTAN, TO REESTABLISH THE REGIONAL PARLIAMENT AND ASK FOR HELP TO REBUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE. HE THINKS THE TWO PARTIES DO NOT UNDERSTAND THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE KURDISH PEOPLE. NORTHERN IRAQ BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE, NOT THE PARTIES. IZZETPOUR SAYS IRAN IS THE WORST ENEMY OF THE KURDS AND HAS SPIES EVERYWHERE IN NORTHERN IRAQ. IRAN IS JUST USING THE TWO PARTIES TO KILL KURDS, HE SAYS. IZZETPOUR SAYS THE RECENT EXECUTION OF IRANIAN KURDS IS NOTHING NEW. THE REGIME OF IRANIAN CLERICS HATES KURDS. WHEN IRANIAN PRESIDENT WAS IN IRANIAN KURDISTAN, PEOPLE DEMONSTRATED AGAINST HIM. SOON AFTER, TEN PRO-KDPI KURDS WERE EXECUTED. (KURDISH 10/13 & 14)

INSIDE CENTRAL ASIA:

CENTRAL ASIA / MIDDLE EAST OIL ISSUES -- STAFFER ALI FARHOODI INTERVIEWS OIL CONSULTANT HOSSEIN EBN-E YOUSEF ON THE CASPIAN OIL PIPELINE ROUTES, AND ALSO ABOUT IRAN'S BID TO BUILD A REFINERY IN VIETNAM AND TO STORE OIL IN SOUTH AFRICA. EBN YOUSEF SAID HE BELIEVES THAT IN THE FUTURE THE AZERBAIJAN CONSORTIUM IS BOUND TO APPROACH IRAN FOR HELP IN GETTING THE CASPIAN OIL TO INTERNATIONAL MARKETS. (FARSI 10/15)

AZERBAIJAN / ELECTIONS -- AZERI STRINGER RAFAEL HUSAINOV REPORTS ON THE AZERBAIJANI PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. SOME OPPOSITION PARTIES ARE CLAIMING IRREGULARITIES IN THE ELECTIONS. THE REPORT INCLUDES INTERVIEWS ON THE CANDIDACY OF OPPOSITION LEADER MAHMUD MEMEDOV, WHOSE CANDIDACY IS BEING CHALLENGED BY THE GOVERNMENT. (AZERI 10/16)

INSIDE SOUTH ASIA:

KARACHI / VIOLENCE -- STRINGER QAISER MAHMOOD REPORTS THE ARREST OF THE BROTHER-IN-LAW OF PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER BENAZIR BHUTTO ON SUSPICION OF THE MURDER SATURDAY NIGHT OF A PROMINENT PAKISTAN PEOPLES PARTY OFFICIAL AHMAD ALI SOOMRO IN KARACHI. POLICE ARRESTED THE HUSBAND OF PRIME MINISTER'S YOUNGEST SISTER SANAM BHUTTO, NASIR HUSSAIN WHEN HE BOARDED A PLANE AT THE KARACHI AIRPORT BOUND FOR DUBAI,. QAISER MAHMOOD ALSO REPORTS KILLINGS OF ELEVEN PEOPLE INCLUDING A DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE AND THREE OTHER POLICEMEN IN KARACHI. (URDU 10/14)

PAKISTAN / COURTS -- PAKISTAN'S FORMER LAW MINISTER SM ZAFAR SAID IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER RAZI AHMAD RIZVI THAT THE INTEGRITY OF THE COURTS OF PAKISTAN HAS BEEN TARNISHED AND THE SYSTEM OF JUSTICE IS IN DOLDRUMS. (URDU 10/13)

PAKISTAN / LEGAL AID -- PRESIDENT OF PAKISTAN WOMEN LAWYERS' ASSOCIATION RASHIDA PATEL TOLD STAFFER SAFIA KAZIM THAT A LEGAL AID CENTER HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IN KARACHI TO PROVIDE LEGAL ASSITANCE TO THOSE POOR WOMEN WHO LACK RESOURCES TO OBTAIN SERVICES OF A LAWYER AS WELL AS KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS. (URDU 10/14)

KASHMIR / UN REPORT -- THE HEAD OF PAKISTAN'S PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE NAWABZADA NASRULLAH KHAN TOLD STAFFER RAZI AHMAD RIZVI THAT HIS DELEGATION WILL MEET WITH VARIOUS UN DELEGATIONS AND WORLD LEADERS TO APPRISE THEM OF THE PRESENT SITUATION IN INDIAN KASHMIR AND SEEK SUPPORT FOR THE KASHMIR CAUSE. (URDU 10/13)

PAKISTAN / KASHMIR -- STAFFER SALAHUDDIN AHMAD REPORTS ON A NEWS CONFERENCE BY THE HEAD OF THE KASHMIR HURRIYET CONFERENCE, MIR WAIZ UMAR FAROOQ, WHO MET WITH HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS IN NEW YORK, WASHINGTON, AND BOSTON SEEKING THEIR SUPPORT FOR KASHMIR. SALAHUDDIN ALSO REPORTS ON A UN RECEPTION BY FRIENDS OF KASHMIR WHICH WAS ADDRESSED BY LORD ERIC AVEBURY, CHAIRMAN OF THE UK PARLIAMENTARY HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP. (URDU 10/14)

INSIDE EAST ASIA:

CHINA / US / JIANG ZEMIN -- CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN SAID IN AN INTERVIEW THAT HE TAKES A POSITIVE AND PRAGMATIC APPROACH TO THE OCTOBER 24 SINO-US SUMMIT. BUT MR JIANG REPEATED CHINA'S ACCUSATIONS OF THE US, SAYING THE US COMMITTED A HEGEMONIC ACT BY GRANTING A VISA TO TAIWANESE PRESIDENT LEE TENG-HUI. STAFFER QI PENG INTERVIEWS DR. CHARLES PERRY, VICE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF STUDIES, INSTITUTE FOR FOREIGN POLICY ANALYSIS, WHO SAYS THAT IN THE STATEMENTS JIANG MAKES CONCERNING SINO-US RELATIONS, HE MUST CONSIDER HIS DOMESTIC AUDIENCE, ESPECIALLY THE CCP AND THE MILITARY, IN ORDER TO SURVIVE A POST-DENG POWER STRUGGLE. (MANDARIN 10/16)

TAIWAN / REACTION TO JIANG'S REMARKS -- THE PREMIER OF TAIWAN SAID JIANG ZEMIN'S REMARKS ON EXCHANGES OF VISITS BY TAIWANESE AND CHINESE LEADERS ARE A POSITIVE SIGN. DPP AND NEW PARTY REPRESENTATIVES SAY JIANG'S REMARKS ARE ENCOURAGING, BUT TAIWAN SHOULD WAIT AND SEE WHAT DEVELOPS. SCHOLARS SAY THAT THE FIRST MEETINGS NEED NOT DEAL WITH POLITICAL ISSUES AND THE MEETING ITSELF WILL HELP CREATE CLIMATE CONDUCIVE TO IMPROVING CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS. STRINGER ZHANG YONGTAI IN TAIPEI INTERVIEWS LIAN ZHAN, EXECUTIVE YUAN PREMIER, CHEN WEN-QIAN, DPP, YANG KAI-HUANG, SOOCHOW UNIVERSITY, AND ZHANG LIN-ZHENG, TAIWAN UNIVERSITY. (MANDARIN 10/16)

HONG KONG / JIANG'S REMARKS ON TAIWAN -- XU SIMIN, MEMBER OF CPPCC, BELIEVES THAT JIANG ZEMIN'S REMARKS ON CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS ON THE EVE OF HIS MEETING WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON SHOWS HE HAS NO CONFIDENCE IN THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE SINO-US SUMMIT HELP RESOLVE THE TAIWAN ISSUE. HONG KONG PRESS POINTS OUT THAT BY MAKING THESE REMARKS, CHINA HAS PASSED THE BALL TO TAIWAN AND IT IS NOW UP TO TAIWAN TO RESPOND. STAFFER DING LI IN HONG KONG INTERVIEWS XU SIMIN, LI GUOQIANG, CHIEF EDITOR, HORIZON MAGAZINE, AND JIANG SUHUI, DIRECTOR, GUANGHUA CULTURAL CENTER. (MANDARIN 10/16)

TAIWAN SCHOLAR ON JIANG ZEMIN'S REMARKS -- PROFESSOR LIN ZHONG-BIN OF TAIWAN'S ZHONGSHAN UNIVERSITY TOLD STAFFER TIAN YE THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF EXCHANGE OF VISITS BY THE LEADERS OF CHINA AND TAIWAN HAS INCREASED BUT IT IS MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN AFTER TAIWAN'S GENERAL ELECTIONS NEXT MARCH. AS TO THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TIMING OF JIANG'S REMARKS, LIN SAID THAT CHINA HAS ONCE AGAIN MADE IT CLEAR TO THE US THAT IMPROVING CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS MUST BE WORKED OUT BY CHINA AND TAIWAN. (MANDARIN 10/16)

CHINA / JIANG ZEMIN'S SPEECH / REACT -- CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY CHIEF JIANG ZEMIN'S RECENT SPEECH AT A PARTY PLENUM IS SEEN BY ANALYSTS AS AN IMPORTANT POLICY ADDRESS, NOT JUST FOR ITS CONTENT BUT FOR WHAT IT SIGNALS ABOUT JIANG'S SLOWLY GROWING STRENGTH. HOWEVER, THEY POINTED OUT THAT IN MANY INSTANCES, JIANG'S CLAIMS AND PROMISES HAVE BEEN CONTRADICTED BY FACTS AND POLICIES. STAFFER ZHANG NAN INTERVIEWS WILLY WO-LAP LAM, SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, SU SHAOZHI, FORMER DIRECTOR OF BEIJING'S INSTITUTE FOR MARXIST-LENINIST-MAO ZEDONG THOUGHT, AND TANG BEN, CLAREMONT INSTITUTE. (MANDARIN 10/15)

LOS ANGELES / EVERGREEN FORUM / REUNIFICATION -- OVER FORTY PEOPLE FROM CHINA AND TAIWAN PARTICIPATED IN THE EVERGREEN FORUM TO DISCUSS CHINESE REUNIFICATION. THE FOUNDER OF THE FORUM SAID OVERSEAS CHINESE ARE MORE EAGER TO SEE REUNIFICATION THOSE IN CHINA AND TAIWAN. PARTICIPANTS ENCOURAGED THE TWO GOVERNMENTS TO FIND POLITICAL BALANCE, AND SUGGESTED THAT OVERSEAS CHINESE COULD PLAY A ROLE OF COORDINATION IN THE PROCESS. KUO-FU SHU INTERVIEWS FANG XINYU, EVERGREEN FORUM FOUNDER, AND ZHONG MENG, PRES., SOUTHWEST CHINA FELLOWSHIP, LOS ANGELES. (MANDARIN 10/16)

CHINA BANKING SYSTEM -- CHINA PLANS TO SET UP A NATIONAL INTERBANK LENDING SYSTEM WHICH AIMS TO FREE CLOSED REGIONAL MONEY MARKETS AND STANDARDIZE TRADING TO ENSURE LIQUIDITY AND RATIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF CAPITAL. BANKERS WELCOME THE PROPOSAL BUT SAY IT COULD TAKE YEARS TO IMPLEMENT WHILE OFFICIAL CONTROLS REMAIN ON INTEREST RATES AND CREDIT QUOTAS. ECONOMISTS GENERALLY APPROVE THE PLAN BUT DIFFER ON HOW IT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED. STAFFER TIAN YE INTERVIEWS WEI JIE, ECONOMIC DEPARTMENT CHAIR, RENMIN UNIVERSITY, CHINA, AND HUAN GUCANG, VICE PRESIDENT, JP MORGAN. (MANDARIN 10/15)

CHINA / US BUSINESS -- AT A BUSINESS CONFERENCE IN HONG KONG, PARTICIPANTS DISCUSS CHALLENGES FACED BY FOREIGN BUSINESS PEOPLE IN CHINA. MOST AGREE THAT THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS CHINA'S INCOMPLETE LEGAL SYSTEM. DESPITE SHORTCOMINGS, MOST PEOPLE STILL THINK CHINA'S ECONOMIC PROSPECTS ARE GOOD AND WANT TO INVEST MORE. STAFFER CHOU YUNTIING IN HONG KONG INTERVIEWS JOHN WANG, GAMMON CONSTRUCTION, LEI SENHUA, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF INFOMIX GREAT CHINA REGIONAL OFFICE, STEPHEN WU, DIRECTOR OF ASIA-PACIFIC REGION, MOTOROLA, AND OTTO SHEK, GENERAL MANAGER, PERKIN ELMER LTD. (MANDARIN 10/15)

CANADA / LI PENG'S VISIT -- AT A STATE BANQUET TO WELCOME CHINESE PREMIER, LI PENG SAID THAT THE AGREEMENT FOR TWO NUCLEAR REACTORS WOULD PROMISE A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR TRADE BETWEEN CHINA AND CANADA. MEANWHILE, CHINESE PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS PROTESTED ON THE STREETS OF MONTREAL TO REMIND LI PENG THAT THE TIANANMEN INCIDENT WOULD NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. CANADIAN STRINGER INTERVIEWS HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST SHENG XUE AND PROTESTER YANG MING. (MANDARIN 10/14)

CANADA / LI PENG'S VISIT -- STAFFER YANG FAN REPORTS ON CHINESE PRIME MINISTER LI PENG'S VISIT TO CANADA. THE PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH LI PENG TO PROVIDE CHINA WITH TWO NUCLEAR REACTORS, WHICH SPAWNED PROTESTS. INTERVIEWS WITH JAN WONG, GLOBAL POST REPORTER, AND ZHU NINGSHENG, CHAIR OF STUDENTS ASSOCIATION OF CANADA. (MANDARIN 10/14)

CANADA / CHINA PROTESTS AGAINST LI PENG -- CHINESE PREMIER LI PENG ARRIVED IN CANADA FOR A VISIT AIMED AT PROMOTING COMMERCIAL TIES. HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS AND ANTI-NUCLEAR GROUPS STAGED VARIOUS PROTESTS AGAINST CHINA. UPON HIS ARRIVAL IN HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, LI PENG WAS FORCED TO ENTER HIS HOTEL THROUGH A BACK DOOR TO AVOID ANTI-NUCLEAR PROTESTERS. STAFFERS CHIEN WEI AND XIA QING INTERVIEW HUANG XING, EDITOR OF TORONTO TIMES. (MANDARIN 10/13)

UN / CHINA / TAIWAN -- CHINA DENOUNCED COUNTRIES THAT SUPPORTED TAIWAN'S BID FOR THE UNITED NATIONS. THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO UN ACCUSED THE SOLOMON ISLANDS AND OTHER COUNTRIES OF ABUSING THEIR RIGHTS AND MISINTERPRETING THE UN'S PRINCIPLE OF UNIVERSAL REPRESENTATION. STAFFER RUOSI WU IN NEW YORK COVERS THE SPEECH BY THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR. (MANDARIN 10/15)

NEW YORK / TIBETANS PROTEST -- SIX EXILED TIBETANS STAGED A HUNGER STRIKE IN NEW YORK, DEMANDING THE UNITED NATIONS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT TIBET IS AN OCCUPIED COUNTRY. THE PROTESTERS ALSO REQUESTED THAT THE EXILED GOVERNMENT OF THE DALAI LAMA BE GIVEN THE STATUS OF UN OBSERVER. STRINGER RUOSI WU IN NEW YORK INTERVIEWS TWO DEMONSTRATORS. (MANDARIN 10/14)

TAIWAN / LEGISLATIVE YUAN -- IN A MOVE TO REINFORCE DEMOCRATIC PROCEDURES IN TAIWAN, SENIOR JUDGES RULED THAT PREMIER LIAN ZHAN AND HIS CABINET MUST RESIGN AFTER A LEGISLATIVE ELECTION IN DECEMBER. THE RULING RESOLVES A TWO YEAR DISPUTE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE LEGISLATIVE YUAN OVER THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE CABINET. STAFFER CHIEN WEI INTERVIEWS PROFESSOR WINSTON YANG, SETON HALL UNIVERSITY, WHO BELIEVES THIS IS A MAJOR STEP TOWARD SYSTEMATIC DEMOCRACY AND IT SETS ANOTHER EXAMPLE FOR MAINLAND CHINA. (MANDARIN 10/13)

CHINA / DISSIDENT -- CHINESE DISSIDENT CHEN ZIMING HAS GONE ON A HUNGER STRIKE IN PRISON TO PROTEST HIS TREATMENT AT THE HANDS OF CHINESE AUTHORITIES. CHEN ZIMING'S WIFE SATURDAY SAID HE BEGAN THE FAST AFTER OFFICIALS FAILED TO RESPOND TO HIS APPEALS FOR MEDICAL HELP AND FROZE THEIR BANK ACCOUNT. STAFFER CHU XIAO INTERVIEWS LIU QING, HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA CHAIRMAN. (MANDARIN 10/14)

US / NORTH KOREA / DEFECTOR -- NORTH KOREA IS HOPING THAT AN ANTI-WAR BACKLASH IN THE US WILL BLUNT THE FIGHTING ABILITY OF US TROOPS IN SOUTH KOREA IF A NEW WAR ERUPTS, A NORTH KOREA DEFECTING OFFICER SAID. COLONEL CHOE, THE HIGHEST RANKING MILITARY OFFICER TO DEFECT TO THE SOUTH, SAID PYONGYANG LEADERS ARE NOT CONVINCED NORTH KOREA COULD WIN IN A FRESH WAR. HE SAID THE NORTH COULD START A WAR IF ITS LEADERS FEEL THREATENED. HE PREDICTED PYONGYANG WILL FALL IN FIVE YEARS DUE TO ACUTE ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES. CHIEN WEI INTERVIEWS CAO QIREN, SEOUL CORRESPONDENT, TAIWAN LIANHE DAILY. (MANDARIN 10/14)

CHINA / UN / WEAPONS CONFERENCE -- THE UN'S INHUMANE WEAPONS CONFERENCE ENDED WITHOUT AGREEMENT ON BANNING LANDMINES. CHINA SUPPORTS AN EVENTUAL BAN, BUT MAINTAINS THAT NATIONS HAVE THE LEGITIMATE RIGHT TO USE LANDMINES IN WARFARE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES. HOWEVER, ANALYST GAO XIN BELIEVES THAT THE MILITARY SIGNIFICANCE OF LANDMINES IS NIL, AND THAT CHINA OPPOSES THE BAN FOR DELIBERATE CONTENTION WITH THE US, THE INTERESTS OF WEAPONS SALES, AND TO STAND AS A SPOKESMAN FOR SMALL NATIONS. STAFFER FANG YUAN INTERVIEWS GAO XIN, VISITING SCHOLAR, HARVARD UNIVERSITY. (MANDARIN 10/14)

CHINA / COPYRIGHT PIRACY -- SEVEN MONTHS AFTER CHINA SIGNED A SWEEPING ACCORD WITH THE US PROMISING TO CRACK DOWN ON RAMPANT COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK PIRACY, US COMPANIES AND OFFICIALS SAY THE SITUATION MAY HAVE WORSENED. REPRESENTATIVES OF THE INTERNATIONAL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ALLIANCE INDICATE THAT THE NUMBER OF ILLICITLY PRODUCED COMPACT DISCS IN CHINA SURGED TO A RECORD 45 MILLION UNITS THIS YEAR. THE US ACKNOWLEDGES THAT CHINA HAS MADE SINCERE EFFORTS TO PROTECT COPYRIGHTS AND TO PREVENT RETAIL SALE OF PIRATED PRODUCTS, BUT IT HAS DONE LITTLE TO STOP PIRACY PRODUCTION. STAFFER CHU XIAO INTERVIEWS DR. WEN GUANZHANG, TRINITY COLLEGE. (MANDARIN 10/14)

CHINA / COMPUTER MARKETS -- THIS YEAR, COMPUTER SALES IN CHINA HAVE INCREASED 40% OVER LAST YEAR. BUT ABOUT 80% OF THESE COMPUTERS HAVE BEEN PUT TO OFFICE USE, AND MOST USE CHINESE SOFTWARE. DUE TO THE COMPLEX STRUCTURE OF CHINESE CHARACTERS, SO FAR NONE OF THE CHINESE SOFTWARE PROGRAMS DOMINATES THE MARKET. STAFFER HE PING IN HONG KONG INTERVIEWS SOFTWARE EXPERT MS. WANG SONGPING, INVENTOR OF A NEW METHOD TO CODE CHINESE CHARACTERS. (MANDARIN 10/15)

HONG KONG / CHINA / CULTURAL REVOLUTION -- STRINGER SHI LEI IN HONG KONG INTERVIEWS TWO WRITERS IN MAINLAND CHINA, WHO TALK ABOUT MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION, REFERRED TO AS "OLD THREE GRADERS" SINCE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE FINISHED SCHOOL IN THE 1966-1969 PERIOD. MOST WERE SENT TO THE COUNTRYSIDE TO RECEIVE "RE-EDUCATION" FROM PEASANTS. SOME EVENTUALLY ENTERED IMPORTANT POSITIONS IN POLITICS AND BUREAUCRACY, BUT NOW MANY ARE BEING EDGED OUT IN THE REFORMS OF RECENT YEARS BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO RECEIVE A GOOD EDUCATION. INTERVIEWS WITH ZHUO BO, SHANGHAI CHEMICAL COMPANY GENERAL MANAGER, LIANG XIAOSHENG, BEIJING WRITER AND PLAYWRIGHT, AND LU XINGER, SHANGHAI WRITER. (MANDARIN 10/14)

INTER-KOREAN RELATIONS / PRESIDENT KIM -- SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT KIM YOUNG SAM SAID THAT FURTHER PROGRESS IN NORTH-SOUTH KOREAN RELATIONS INCLUDING ECONOMIC COOPERATION DEPENDS ON PYONGYANG'S CHANGING ITS ATTITUDE. IN A SPEECH READ TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BY THE PRIME MINISTER, MR KIM SAID HIS COUNTRY IS READY TO INCREASE ECONOMIC COOPERATION, BUT THE COMMUNIST NORTH MUST DEMONSTRATE A WILLINGNESS TO IMPROVE RELATIONS. MEANWHILE, PRESIDENT KIM LEFT SEOUL MONDAY FOR CANADA AND NEW YORK WHERE HE WILL ATTEND THE UN SPECIAL SUMMIT SESSION. CORRESPONDENT YONG KYUN LIM SAID THAT MR KIM WILL SOLICIT SUPPORT FOR SOUTH KOREA'S BID TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL DURING HIS UN VISIT. (KOREAN 10/16)

SOUTH KOREAN STUDENTS / PROTEST -- RIOT POLICE BROKE UP A PROTEST BY STUDENT ACTIVISTS WHO HAD OCCUPIED AN OFFICE IN THE RULING PARTY'S HEADQUARTERS IN SEOUL. STAFFER YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS THAT THE STUDENTS DEMANDED THE GOVERNMENT PROSECUTE FORMER PRESIDENTS CHUN DOO HWAN AND ROH TAE WOO FOR THEIR ROLE IN THE BLOODY CRACKDOWN ON A POPULAR UPRISING IN KWANGJU 15 YEARS AGO. (KOREAN 10/16)

KOREA / JAPAN / ANNEX AGREEMENT -- THE SOUTH KOREAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED A RESOLUTION DECLARING THAT THE 1910 ANNEX TREATY BETWEEN KOREA AND JAPAN WAS INVALID BECAUSE THE PACT WAS PREPARED UNDER THREATS AND COERCION, AND NOT APPROVED AND SIGNED BY KING KOJONG WHO WAS THE HEAD OF THE STATE AT THAT TIME. THE KOREAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CALLED ON JAPAN TO REFLECT ITSELF ON HISTORIC MISTAKES IT MADE IN COLONIZATION OF KOREA. CORRESPONDENT YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 10/16)

NOBEL PRIZE WINNER -- THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER, BRITISH ANTI-NUCLEAR SCIENTIST ROTBLAT, SAYS THAT HIS AWARD IS A CLEAR SIGNAL TO CHINA AND FRANCE, THE ONLY 2 COUNTRIES STILL CONDUCTING NUCLEAR TESTS. THE NOBEL PRIZE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN HAS SAID THAT THE PRIZE IS A KIND OF PROTEST AGAINST TESTING OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND NUCLEAR ARMS IN GENERAL. STAFFER YANG GUANG INTERVIEWS JOSEPH ROTBLAT, NOBEL PRIZE WINNER, AND GERALD SEGAL, SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW, INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES, LONDON. (MANDARIN 10/13)

INSIDE EUROPE:

BOSNIA / US SENATORS -- STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO THAT BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC TOLD A GROUP OF US SENATORS THAT UNITED STATES MILITARY PRESENCE IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT. (CROATIAN 10/16)

GENERAL SHALIKASHVILI / BOSNIA -- STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO ON THE VISIT TO BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, GENERAL SHALIKASHVILI. GENERAL SHALIKASHVILI DISCUSSED WITH BOSNIAN AND BOSNIAN-CROAT OFFICIALS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CEASE-FIRE AND THE DEPLOYMENT OF NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCES. (CROATIAN 10/14)

MACEDONIA / SHALIKASHVILI -- THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, GENERAL J. SHALIKASHVILI SAID DURING HIS VISIT TO SKOPJE THAT WASHINGTON WOULD PROVIDE FULL SUPORT TO THE EFFORTS OF MACEDONIA TO JOIN NATO'S PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE PROGRAM. IN THE MEANTIME, MACEDONIAN MINISTER OF DEFENSE B. HANDZISKI SUGGESTED THAT THE UN PREVENTIVE MISSION IN MACEDONIA SHOULD BE SEPARATED FROM THE UN COMMAND FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. STRINGER ZELJKO BAJIC REPORTS FROM SKOPJE. (SERBIAN 10/13)

SHALIKASHVILI / SARAJEVO VISIT -- THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, JOINT CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE US ARMED FORCES, GENERAL JOHN SHALIKASHVILI VISITED SARAJEVO. HE TALKED TO REPRESENTATIVES OF CIVILAN AND MILITARY LEADERS OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA. AT THE SAME TIME THE SARAJEVO HEADQUARTERS OF UNPROFOR EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE CONTINUED FIGHTING ARROUND SANSKI MOST IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA. STRINGER BORO KONTIC REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO. (SERBIAN 10/14)

BOSNIA / CEASE-FIRE -- STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO THAT A UN SPOKESPERSON SAID THE CEASE-FIRE IS GENERALLY HOLDING DESPITE THE SPORADIC FIGHTING IN NORTH-WESTERN BOSNIA. (CROATIAN 10/15)

BOSNIA / CEASEFIRE -- UNPROFOR OFFICIALS SAY THAT THE LATEST CEASEFIRE IS GENERALLY BEING HONORED BY THE WARRING SIDES, EXEPT IN THE NORTH-WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY. BOSNIAN SERB MILITARY LEADERS HAVE ACCUSED BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT FORCES FOR SHELLING PRIJEDOR, THE SECOND LARGESET SERB CITY IN THE AREA. STRINGER BORO KONTIC REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO. (SERBIAN 10/13)

MONTENEGRO / CEASEFIRE -- MONTENEGRIN POLITICAL ANALYSTS SAY THAT BOSNIAN TRUCE REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD PEACE, BUT STRESS THAT THERE IS NO REASON TO BE OVERLY OPTIMISTIC. THEY ALSO CLAIM THAT FINAL OUTCOME DEPENDS ON THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. STRINGER BOSKO DJUKIC REPORTS FROM PODGORICA. (SERBIAN 10/13)

GERMAN TROOPS / PEACE FORCES IN BOSNIA -- BONN RECEIVED FORMAL REQUEST FOR GERMAN TROOPS TO JOIN PEACE KEEPING FORCES IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. POLITICAL PREPARATIONS FOR SUCH A DECISION ALREADY STARTED IN BONN. STRINGER DRAGAN BISENIC REPORTS FROM BERLIN. (SERBIAN 10/14)

CROATIA / FRANCE -- STRINGER ZELJKO MATIC REPORTS FROM ZAGREB ON THE JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE BY FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER, HERVE DE CHARETTE AND CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MATE GRANIC. MR DE CHARETTE STRESSED THAT FRANCE SUPPORTS THE PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF THE QUESTION OF SERB-HELD REGION IN EASTERN SLAVONIA. (CROATIAN 10/15)

UN / CROATIA / YUGOSLAVIA -- STRINGER IVICA PULJIC REPORTS FROM NEW YORK ON CROATIA'S PROTEST TO THE UN REGARDING THE ACTIVITIES OF THE YUGOSLAV DIPLOMATS. CROATIAN AMBASSADOR MARIO NOBILO ASSERTED THAT THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC YUGOSLAVIA IS NOT FORMALLY RECOGNIZED AS A STATE. (CROATIAN 10/15)

CROATIAN PRESIDENT / ELECTION CAMPAIGN -- STRINGER ZELJKO MATIC REPORTS FROM ZAGREB ON THE PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN ELECTION SPEECH AT THE THIRD CONGRESS OF THE RULING CROATIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION. MR TUDJMAN PREDICTED THAT HIS PARTY WILL WIN THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS AT THE END OF THE MONTH. (CROATIAN 10/14)

CROATIAN PRESIDENT/ ELECTION CAMPAIGN -- AT THE THIRD CONGRESS OF CROATIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION, PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN CRITICISED THE RIGHT-WING OF HIS PARTY, STRESSING THAT RIGHT-WING RADICALS ARE DAMAGING CROATIA IMAGE IN THE WORLD. (CROATIAN 10/15)

CROATIAN ELECTIONS / PREDICTIONS -- SLAVEN LETICA, FORMER ADVISOR TO CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN, COMMENTS ON THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN CROATIA. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER BOJAN KLIMA, MR. LETICA PREDICTS OVERWHELMING VICTORY OF THE RULING CROATIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION. CROATIAN 10/16)

BOSNIAN SERBS / ASSEMBLY -- THE BOSNIAN SERB ASSEMBLY STARTED IT'S SESSION IN BANJA LUKA. IT IS STILL NOT CLEAR WHETHER THE DEPUTIES FROM THE RULING PARTY WILL ACCEPT THE RADICAL CHANGES PROPOSED BY INDEPENDENT ASSEMBLY MEMBERS. STRINGER DUSAN MASIC REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (SERBIAN 10/15)

BOSNIAN SERB ASSEMBLY / MILOVANOVIC -- BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC, MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS ALEKSA BUHA AND BOSNIAN SERB ARMY GENERAL MANOJLO MILOVANOVIC WERE AMONG THE FIRST SPEAKERS OF THE SESSION. GENERAL MILOVANOVIC SAID THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT ARMY IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH AND IS STILL RELYING ENORMOUSLY ON THE HELP OF THE CROATIANS. HE ALSO URGED SERBS TO UNITE ON ALL FRONTS. STRINGER DUSAN MASIC REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (SERBIAN 10/15)

MACEDONIA / SITUATION -- THE MACEDONIAN COALITION IS MARKING THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF ITS PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS VICTORY. HOWEVER THE DESTINY OF THE RULING COALITION IS STILL UNCERTAIN IN THE LIGHT OF THE RECENT ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE THE PRESIDENT. STRINGER ZELJKO BAJIC REPORTS FROM SKOPLJE. (SERBIAN 10/15)

GREECE / MADECONIA / EMBARGO -- THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SAYS IT HAS LIFTED THE UNILATERAL EMBARGO AGAINST MACEDONIA. HOWEVER, ON MACEDONIAN BORDER CROSSINGS THERE WAS NO CHANGE. STRINGER ZELJKO BAJIC REPORTS FROM SKOPJE THE EMBARGO MAY HAVE BEEN LIFTED, BUT MACEDONIA WILL NEED A LOT OF TIME BEFORE ITS ECONOMY IS REBUILT. (SERBIAN 10/14)

ALBANIA / US -- ALBANIA IS OFFERING THE UNITED STATES AND NATO THE USE OF ITS MILITARY FACILITIES FOR THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE PLANNED PEACE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE IN BOSNIA. THE OFFER WAS MADE MONDAY BY THE DEFENSE MINISTER SAFET ZHULALI, WHO HELD TALKS AT THE PENTAGON WITH SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WILLIAM PERRY. ZHULALI AND PERRY SIGNED AN AGREEMENT PROVIDING FOR THE SHARING OF CLASSIFIED INFORMATION. STAFFER AGIM FETAHAJ REPORTS. (ALBANIAN 10/16)

KLARIN / NASA BORBA -- NEWLY APPOINTED EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE BELGRADE INDEPENDENT DAILY "NASA BORBA", MIRKO KLARIN TALKED ABOUT HIS NEW DUTIES IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STRINGER DUSKO MASIC. MR KLARIN SAID THAT THE NEWSPAPER, WHICH WAS NOT PUBLISHED FOR NINE DAYS BECAUSE OF THE DISPUTE WITH THE OWNER, NEEDS TO BE RESTRUCTURED AND THAT HE WOULD CONSULT WITH ALL CONCERNED. (SERBIAN 10/13)

.NATO EXPANSION / LITHUANIA -- NATO OFFICIALS ARE IN VILNIUS TO ACQUAINT LITHUANIAN LEADERS WITH THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREARTY ORGANIZATION EXPANSION STUDY. STRINGER RITA MILIUTE REPORTS FROM THE LITHUANIAN CAPITAL ON THE STUDY AND REACTION BY LITHUANIAN OFFICIALS. (LITHUANIAN 10/16)

TURKEY / GOVERNMENT -- PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER'S NEW, MINORITY GOVERNMENT LOST THE PARLIAMENTARY VOTE OF CONFIDENCE. STAFFER HALE EBIRI INTERVIEWS YAVUZ SABUNCU, THE ANKARA UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW ON TURKEY'S DEEPENING POLITICAL CRISIS. THE EXPERT SAID DESPITE THE RHETORIC, NONE OF TURKEY'S POLITICAL PARTIES WOULD FAVOR AN EARLY ELECTION AND A NEW ATTEMPT FOR FORMING A BROAD BASED COALITION GOVERNMENT IS VERY LIKELY. (TURKISH 10/15)

US / TURKEY / VISIT CANCELLED -- PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL OF TURKEY HAS CANCELLED A SCHEDULED WHITE HOUSE MEETING WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON, THIS WEEK, DUE TO THE GOVERNMENT CRISIS IN TURKEY. STRINGER ZEYNEP TINAZ REPORTS ABOUT THE CANCELLATION AND THE LATEST IN TURKEY'S RAPIDLY CHANGING POLITICAL SCENE. (TURKISH 10/16)

US / TURKEY -- AMBASSADOR ONUR OYMEN, UNDERSECRETARY OF THE TURKISH MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, HOLDS TALKS IN WASHINGTON WITH OFFICIALS OF THE US DEPARTMENTS OF STATE AND DEFENSE AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER TACLAN SUERDEM, THE TURKISH DIPLOMAT LISTS THE ISSUES DISCUSSED AND AREAS OF COOPERATION BETWEEN US AND TURKEY. (TURKISH 10/13)

US / TURKEY / HUMAN RIGHTS -- THE HUMAN RIGHTS FOUNDATION OF TURKEY RECEIVES THE ANNUAL AWARD OF THE NEW YORK-BASED HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYERS' GROUP, FOR ITS WORK IN DOCUMENTING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN TURKEY. STAFFER TACLAN SUERDEM INTERVIEWS MR. YAVUZ ONEN, PRESIDENT OF THE FOUNDATION. (TURKISH 10/13)

GERMANY / TURKS / VERDICT -- A GERMAN COURT IN DUSSELDORF SENTENCED FOUR YOUNG GERMANS TO VARIOUS PRISON TERMS FOR KILLING FIVE TURKISH WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN AN ARSON ATTACK TWO YEARS AGO. SENTENCING BY A PANEL OF FIVE JUDGES MARKS THE END OF A LONG AND CONTROVERSIAL LEGAL PROCEDURE. STAFFER KEMAL AKAYDIN INTERVIEWS DR. FARUK SEN, DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR TURKISH STUDIES IN ESSEN, TO DISCUSS THE REACTIONS OF THE TURKISH COMMUNITY AND THE GERMANS, TO THE VERDICT. (TURKISH 10/13)

INSIDE EURASIA:

HUMAN RIGHTS -- STRINGER LYUDMILA ALEXEYEVA DISCUSSES THE HISTORY OF WOMEN IN THE HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENT, PAST AND PRESENT. (RUSSIAN 10/15)

NEW RUSSIA / CIS IN ASIA CONFERENCE -- FORMER US AMBASSADOR TO THE SOVIET UNION, NOW WITH COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY JACK MATLOCK SPOKE AT THE NEW RUSSIA/CIS IN ASIA CONFERENCE ON RUSSIAN NATIONALISM AND THE FUTURE OF RUSSIA. STAFFER GEORGE ZORIN, WHO COVERED THE CONFERENCE REPORTS THAT MATLOCK WAS QUITE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT RUSSIA'S FUTURE, IF RUSSIA WILL FORGET ABOUT ITS IMPERIALISTIC PAST. (RUSSIAN 10/15)

UKRAINE / TV -- STAFFER ADRIAN KARMAZYN INTERVIEWED EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF UKRAINIAN TELEVISION'S CHANNEL 2, VOLODYMYR HUTSUL. CHANNEL 1 AND CHANNEL 2 HAVE BEEN TRANSFORMED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY TO UKRAINIAN LANGUAGE PROGRAMMING. A LARGE PROPORTION OF THE NEWS PROGRAMMING IS PRODUCED BY INDEPENDENT, COMMERCIAL STUDIOS. AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN FILMS DUBBED INTO UKRAINIAN ARE SHOWN SEVERAL TIMES DAILY. MR HUTSUL EXPLAINED THAT THIS PROGRAMMING WILL SERVE AS AN IMPORTANT EDUCATIONAL TOOL FOR HELPING RUSSIAN SPEAKERS LEARNING UKRAINIAN. (UKRAINIAN 10/13)

INSIDE LATIN AMERICA:

GREAT BRITAIN / GUATEMALA -- GREAT BRITAIN LIFTED THE BAN ON ARMS TRADE WITH GUATEMALA, AT THE SAME TIME MEMBERS OF THE GUATEMALA ARMED FORCES ARE RECEIVING TRAINING IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. STRINGER HUMBERTO CASTELLANOS REPORTS FROM LONDON. (SPANISH 10/16)

LATAM / SUMMIT -- ARGENTINA IS HOLDING THE LARGEST MEETING EVER FOR THAT NATION. HEADS OF STATES FROM 18 COUNTRIES INCLUDING SPAIN, PORTUGAL AND LATIN AMERICA CAME TO THE SOUTHERN WINTER RESORT CITY OF BARILOCHE TO DISCUSS ISSUES OF COMMON CONCERN, AMONG THEM A CALL ON WASHINGTON TO LIFT THE US EMBARGO AGAINST CUBA. STAFFERS MARIA FRANCO AND CESAR CARDOZA REPORT. (SPANISH 10/16)

GORE / HAITI VISIT -- VICE PRESIDENT ALBERT GORE WAS IN HAITI THIS WEEKEND ATTENDING THE COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS FOR THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY ON THE CARIBBEAN ISLAND NATION. STRINGER LUIS FELIPE ARCE REPORTS. (SPANISH 10/16) 16-Oct-95 6:41 PM EDT (2241 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America