Voice of America Digest, 31 October 1995

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] !!! VOA DIGEST - OCTOBER 31, 1995

CANADA / VOTE POST-MORTEM -- IN CANADA'S PREDOMINANTLY FRENCH-SPEAKING PROVINCE OF QUEBEC, VOTERS BY A VERY NARROW MARGIN SAID "NO" TO A REFERENDUM QUESTION ON DECLARING SOVEREIGNTY. CORRESPONDENT PAUL FRANCUCH REPORTS FROM THE CANADIAN CAPITAL OF OTTAWA THE VOTE HAS CANADIANS PONDERING, MORE THAN EVER, THE FATE OF QUEBEC AND THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE. (10/31)

FRANCE / QUEBEC -- THE REACTION IN FRANCE TO THE RESULT OF QUEBEC'S REFERENDUM HAS SO FAR BEEN MUTED, REFLECTING A DECLARED DESIRE NOT TO INTERFERE IN THE CANADIAN PROVINCE'S AFFAIRS. STRINGER JULIAN NUNDY REPORTED FROM PARIS. (10/31)

RUSSIA / POLITICS -- THE WIFE OF RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN SAYS THE AILING LEADER IS FEELING BETTER BUT NEEDS TIME TO RECOVER FROM HIS RECENT BOUT OF HEART TROUBLE. CORRESPONDENT ELIZABETH ARROTT REPORTS THE NEWS COMES AMID A POLITICAL STORM OVER DECEMBER'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. (10/31)

AZERBAIJAN / FIRE -- AN INVESTIGATION CONTINUES INTO THE CAUSE OF SATURDAY'S DISASTROUS SUBWAY FIRE IN AZERBAIJAN. AS CORRESPONDENT PETER COLLINS REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, AZERI OFFICIALS ARE URGING CAUTION IN ANALYZING THE DISASTER THAT KILLED ABOUT 300 PEOPLE. (10/31)

ISRAEL / SYRIA -- ISRAEL'S PRIME MINISTER WAS TO HEAR A REPORT FROM THE US MIDDLE EAST MEDIATOR TUESDAY, FOLLOWING THE MEETING IN DAMASCUS BETWEEN SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER AND SYRIAN PRESIDENT HAFEZ AL-ASSAD. CORRESPONDENT AL PESSIN REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE HIGH HOPES OF A YEAR AGO THAT SYRIA WOULD SOON ADD ITSELF TO THE LIST OF ARAB COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE MADE PEACE WITH ISRAEL. (10/31)

ISRAEL / QATAR -- ISRAEL AND QATAR ENRON GAS COMPANY HAVE SIGNED A MEMO OF INTENT TO PROVIDE NATURAL GAS TO ISRAEL. THE SALE STILL NEEDS TO BE FINALIZED, BUT THE PRINCIPAL OF A SALES DEAL MARKS THE FIRST CONTRACT BETWEEN A GULF STATE AND ISRAEL, TWO COUNTRIES NOT OFFICIALLY AT PEACE. MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (10/31)

AFGHAN PEACE PLAN -- AFGHANISTAN'S GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO FIND A BROADLY ACCEPTABLE REPLACEMENT FOR PRESIDENT BURHANUDDIN RABBANI. STRINGER TIM JOHNSTON REPORTS FROM THE AFGHAN CAPITAL KABUL. (10/31)

TALBOTT / NATO -- A SENIOR MEMBER OF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS RUSSIA AND THE OTHER COUNTRIES OF THE FORMER SOVIET UNION HAVE NO NEED TO FEAR THE EXPANSION OF NATO IN CENTRAL EUROPE. CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS THE OFFICIAL ALSO EXPRESSED HIS BELIEF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL SUPPORT US PARTICIPATION IN THE PEACEKEEPING FORCE FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. (10/31)

NATO / LUBBERS -- FORMER DUTCH PRIME MINISTER RUUD LUBBERS HAS EMERGED AS THE FAVORITE IN THE RACE FOR THE NEXT SECRETARY GENERAL OF NATO. STRINGER JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS, MR LUBBERS NOW HAS THE SUPPORT OF BRITAIN, FRANCE, AND GERMANY. (10/31)

CAMBODIA PRESS -- AFTER A WEEK OF VIOLENCE AND THREATS AGAINST CAMBODIA'S OPPOSITION NEWSPAPERS, CAMBODIA'S SECOND PRIME MINISTER HAS APPEARED ON NATIONAL TELEVISION APPEARING TO CONDONE THE VIOLENCE. STRINGER TRICIA FITZGERALD REPORTS FROM PHNOM PENH. (10/31)

SAF VOTE -- SOUTH AFRICANS VOTE WEDNESDAY TO ELECT ABOUT 700 LOCAL COUNCILS ACROSS MOST OF THE NATION, EXCEPT IN KWA-ZULU NATAL AND A FEW OTHER SMALL AREAS. FROM JOHANNESBURG, STRINGER DELIA ROBERTSON REPORTS THE ELECTION WILL BRING DEMOCRACY TO THE LOWEST LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT. (10/31)

ZANZIBAR / ECONOMY -- ZANZIBAR'S CONTROVERSIAL MULTI-PARTY ELECTIONS FOR A NEW PRESIDENT AND PARLIAMENT ARE OVER. BUT, THE FUTURE OF THE SEMI-AUTONOMOUS ISLANDS REMAINS AN OPEN QUESTION. EAST AFRICA CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA VISITED ZANZIBAR AND REPORTS THE RIVAL PARTIES AGREE ABOUT THE URGENT NEED TO ECONOMICALLY REVIVE THE ONCE FABLED SPICE ISLANDS. (10/31)

CZECH RAIL -- THE CZECH REPUBLIC IS IN THE MIDST OF AN AMBITIOUS PROJECT TO QUICKLY UPGRADE ITS TRANSPORT LINKS WITH GERMANY AND AUSTRIA. CORRESPONDENT BARRY WOOD REPORTS THE TOP PRIORITY IS THE NORTH-SOUTH RAIL CORRIDOR THAT LINKS VIENNA WITH BERLIN. (10/31)

YANGTZE TIGHTROPE WALKER -- A 51-YEAR-OLD CANADIAN STUNTMAN SET A NEW RECORD LAST SATURDAY BY CROSSING CHINA'S YANGTZE RIVER ON A 628-METER WIRE. JAY COCHRANE STOPPED OFF IN BEIJING AFTER HIS FEAT AND TALKED WITH BEIJING CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER. (10/31)

SCIENCE TODAY: SCHIZOPHRENIA GENE -- RESEARCHERS SAY THEY ARE CLOSING IN ON THE FIRST OF SEVERAL GENES BELIEVED TO BE A CAUSE OF THE DEVASTATING MENTAL ILLNESS SCHIZOPHRENIA. REPORTER KATE PORTEUS TELLS US THIS DISCOVERY WAS AN INTERNATIONAL EFFORT INVOLVING SCIENTISTS AND PATIENTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. (10/31)

INSIDE USA AND CANADA:

QUEBEC REFERENDUM -- REPORTER JOHN PITMAN SPEAKS TO ROBERT YOUNG, A PROFESSOR OF GOVERNMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN ONTARIO AND AUTHOR OF "SECESSION OF QUEBEC AND THE FUTURE OF CANADA," ABOUT THE REFERENDUM, ABOUT THE POLITICAL FUTURES OF THE MEN WHO LED THE SECESSIONIST MOVEMENT AND CANADIAN PM JEAN CHRETIEN. PROFESSOR YOUNG SAYS THIS IS NOT A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN THE LABOR PARTY OR MR CHRETIEN. (ENP 10/30)

QUEBEC / BOUCHARD -- REPORTER ANDREW BAIRD PRESENTS SEGMENTS OF A SPEECH BY BLOC QUEBECOIS CHIEF LUCIEN BOUCHARD REPLYING TO THURSDAY'S SPEECH OF PM JEAN CHRETIEN TO KEEP CANADA WHOLE. (ENP 10/30)

QUEBEC/ ECONOMY -- REPORTER ANDREW BAIRD SPEAKS WITH CARL WEINBERG, AN ECONOMIST WITH HIGH FREQUENCY ECONOMICS IN VALHALLA, NY ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF A QUEBEC SECESSION. (ENP 10/30)

QUEBEC / ELECTIONS -- STAFFER ASKER SULAYMANI INTERVIEWS MASU'D ALIYEV, AN AZERBAIJANI TV JOURNALIST WHO PRODUCES AN AZERI TV PROGRAM IN MONTREAL. MR VALIYEV TALKS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF MONDAY'S ELECTIONS ON CANADIAN SOCIETY, AND COMPARED THE RIGHTS OF THE MINORITIES IN CANADA WITH THE RIGHTS OF THE AZERIS IN IRAN AND WITH THOSE OF THE KURDS IN TURKEY. (AZERI 10/31)

QUEBEC VOTE -- PROF. TOZUN BAHCHELI, POLITICAL SCIENTIST AT WEST ONTARIO UNIVERSITY, SAYS UNLESS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF CANADA DELIVERS PROMISED CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS TO FRENCH SPEAKING CANADIANS IN QUEBEC, THE SEPARATISTS WILL KEEP TRYING FOR AN INDEPENDENT QUEBEC. STAFFER TACLAN SUERDEM INTERVIEWS PROFESSOR BAHCHELI. (TURKISH 10/31)

QUEBEC REFERENDUM -- STAFFERS JARMILA CECH AND EVA LIMAN INTERVIEW TWO CANADIAN CITIZENS OF CZECH ORIGIN ABOUT THE REFERENDUM IN QUEBEC. VIKTOR LABSKY OF MONTREAL TALKED ABOUT THE HISTORY OF NATIONALISM IN QUEBEC, AND HOW THE PRESENT POLITICAL SITUATION MIGHT AFFECT BOTH CANADA AND QUEBEC. UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR STANISLAV REINISH LOOKED AT THE QUEBEC REFERENDUM FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF ANGLOPHONE SOCIETY IN ONTARIO AND OTHER CANADIAN PROVINCES. (CZECH 10/30)

QUEBEC REFERENDUM / KOVALIK'S REACT -- WELL-KNOWN CANADIAN ARTIST OF SLOVAK ORIGIN, TIBOR KOVALIK, WHO IS A RESIDENT OF QUEBEC CITY, IS INTERVIEWED BY STAFFER MIROSLAV ORAVEC. MR KOVALIK SAID THAT THE QUEBEC ECONOMY IS HIGHLY DIVERSIFIED, AND DEMOCRACY IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE QUEBEC SOCIETY. (SLOVAK 10/30)

QUEBEC VOTE -- HISTORIAN-JOURNALIST ZBIGNIEW MALECKI TALKS WITH STAFFER JAROSLAW ANDERS ABOUT THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE QUEBEC SEPARATIST MOVEMENT, AND THE CULTURAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN QUEBEC AND THE REST OF CANADA. MR, MALECKI NOTED THAT DESPITE THE CLEARLY MORE EUROPEAN FLAVOR OF LIFE IN FRANCOPHONE CANADA, AND LONG TRADITION OF CULTURAL TIES BETWEEN POLAND AND FRANCE, POLISH IMMIGRANTS USUALLY PREFER TO SETTLE AMONG ANGLO-SAXON CANADIANS. (POLISH 10/30)

QUEBEC REFERENDUM / MOOD -- LITHUANIAN STAFFER KRISTINA NAKAS SPOKE WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE LITHUANIAN-CANADIAN COMMUNITY IN MONTREAL ABOUT THE ISSUES AND MOOD OF CANADIANS AND THE RESULTS OF MONDAY'S REFERENDUM. (LITHUANIAN 10/30)

QUEBEC REFERENDUM / INDIANS -- DR HARSH DAHEJA, PROFESSOR OF INDIAN RELIGION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA, SAYS THE VOTE AGAINST THE INDEPENDENCE OF QUEBEC PROVINCE OF CANADA HAS LEFT A DEEP DIVISION BETWEEN FRENCH SPEAKING AND NON FRENCH SPEAKING CITIZENS OF THE PROVINCE. STAFFER ASHOK SARIN INTERVIEWS DR DAHEJA. (HINDI 10/31)

QUEBEC VOTES NO -- STAFFER HAI VAN CHU INTERVIEWS MONTREAL STRINGER TRUONG KY ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF QUEBEC'S NARROW VOTE AGAINST SEPARATION FROM CANADA. (VIETNAMESE 10/31)

QUEBEC / REFERENDUM -- STAFFER FERDINAND FERELLA REPORTS FROM MONTREAL ON THE REFERENDUM ON QUEBEC'S INDEPENDENCE. (FRENCH 10/31)

QUEBEC / REFERENDUM -- QUEBEC VOTERS DECIDE BY A VERY NARROW MARGIN TO STAY PART OF CANADA. STAFFER PAULO FARIA TALKS TO CORRESPONDENT ROGER WILKISON IN MONTREAL, FOCUSING ON THE VOTE OUTCOME AND WHAT IT LIKELY TO HAPPEN NOW. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 10/31)

MONEY LAUNDERING -- REPORTER TOM CROSBY TALKS WITH MICHAEL MASSING OF THE NY INSTITUTE FOR THE HUMANITIES WHO WRITES ABOUT DRUG POLICY AND DRUG ISSUES. HE SAYS A NY TIMES INTERVIEW BY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE ROBERT GELBARD THAT NUMBERS OF US COMPANIES WITTINGLY AND UNWITTINGLY TAKE PART IN EFFORTS BY THE CARTELS TO LAUNDER DRUG MONEY MAY BE MORE OF A POLITICAL MOVE AS AN ELECTION YEAR APPROACHES TO APPEAR STRONG ON THE DRUG ISSUE. (ENP 10/30)

INDIAN FEMINIST WRITER -- MS CHITRA DIVAKARUNI, TEACHER OF ENGLISH AT THE FOOTHILLS COLLEGE IN CALIFORNIA, AND AUTHOR OF THE POPULAR BOOK, 'ARRANGED MARRIAGES,' TALKS ON WOMEN'S ISSUES AFFECTING INDIAN IMMIGRANT WOMEN. SHE IS INTERVIEWED BY STAFFER SUMAN GUPTA. (HINDI 10/31)

IRANIAN WOMEN IN EXILE -- STAFFER FARAH JAHANGIRI INTERVIEWS MS PARI ABASALTI, CO-PUBLISHER AND EDITOR WITH HER HUSBAND OF THE LOS ANGELES FARSI WEEKLY MAGAZINE, RAH-I ZENDEGI (ROAD OF LIFE). MS ABASALTI, EDITOR OF ONE OF IRAN'S LEADING MAGAZINES BEFORE THE REVOLUTION, TALKS ABOUT HER JOURNEY TO LOS ANGELES AFTER THE IRANIAN REVOLUTION, AND HOW SHE AND HER HUSBAND STARTED THIS NOW VERY SUCCESSFUL MAGAZINE. (FARSI 10/31)

INSIDE AFRICA:

ZAIRE / LAND MINES -- ALTHOUGH AT LEAST TWO WESTERN RELIEF AGENCIES HAVE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED OPERATIONS NEAR GOMA, ZAIRE, DUE TO LAND MINES, THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE RED CROSS-RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES IS CONTINUING WORK BUT TAKING PRECAUTIONS. SPOKESMAN JOHN WATT, IN GOMA, SPOKE TO REPORTER JOE DECAPUA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/31)

ZAIRE / RELIEF -- AT LEAST TWO WESTERN RELIEF AGENCIES HAVE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED OPERATIONS IN AND AROUND GOMA, ZAIRE, DUE TO AN INCREASED RISK OF LAND MINES. REPORTER JOE DECAPUA SPOKE TO MICK KIELY, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE RELIEF AGENCY, GOAL, BASED IN DUBLIN, ABOUT WHY HIS GROUP HAS SUSPENDED WORK. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/31)

SUDAN / REBEL OFFENSIVE -- THE REBEL SPLA SAYS IT CAPTURED FIVE GARRISON TOWNS IN SOUTHERN SUDAN. REPORTER SHAKA SSALI SPOKE WITH SPLA SPOKESMAN STEVEN WONDU FROM NAIROBI. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/31)

SIERRA LEONE / MOMOH -- THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF SIERRA LEONE, JOSEPH MOMOH DISCUSSES THE COUNTRY'S CIVIL WAR AND THE NEW MILITARY GOVERNMENT'S USE OF CONSTITUTION. INTERVIEW BY STAFFER ALIYU MUSTAPHA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/31)

SIERRA LEONE / WORLD FOOD PROGRAM -- A WORLD FOOD PROGRAM OFFICIAL SAYS MORE ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED TO COPE WITH WIDENING HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION IN SIERRA LEONE. REPORTER WILLIAM EAGLE SPOKE WITH FRANCIS MWANZA, AN INFORMATION OFFICER FOR THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM IN ROME. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/31)

TANZANIA / ELECTIONS -- TANZANIA'S FIRST MULTI-PARTY ELECTIONS WERE MARRED BY VOTING IRREGULARITIES IN THE DAR ES SALAAM REGION. REPORTER WILLIAM EAGLE SPOKE WITH THE EDITOR OF THE DAR ES SALAAM PAPER WAKATINIHUU AND WITH UN ELECTION MONITOR FINN FLENSTED NIELSEN IN ARUSHA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/31)

ZAMBIA / RIOTS -- IN ZAMBIA, WEEKEND RIOTS BROKE OUT IN THE RESORT TOWN OF LIVINGSTONE OVER THE ALLEGED INVOLVEMENT OF AN ASIAN BUSINESSMAN IN THE ABDUCTION OF SEVERAL SMALL CHILDREN. REPORTER KELLYS KAUNDA REPORTS FROM LUSAKA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/30)

NIGERIA / OGONI -- IN NIGERIA, HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST KEN SARO-WIWA HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING. REPORTER CHINEDU OFFOR REPORTS FROM LAGOS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/31)

NIGERIA / LABOR UNION MERGER -- THE COMMITTEE SET UP BY THE NIGERIA MILITARY GOVERNMENT TO CUT THE NUMBER OF TRADE UNIONS FROM FORTY-ONE TO HALF THAT NUMBER, HAS SUBMITTED ITS REPORT TO THE SOLE ADMINISTRATOR OF NIGERIA LABOR CONGRESS, SENATOR UBA AHMED. THE STEP IS WIDELY VIEWED AS A MEANS OF EXERTING MORE CONTROL OVER THE OFTEN UNRULY NIGERIAN LABOR UNIONS. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH HAUSA REPORTER AHMED MOHAMMED KWALAM IN LAGOS, THE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE NIGERIAN UNION OF JOURNALISTS, ABDULADIR AHMED YAKASAI PROTESTS THE MERGER OF HIS UNION WITH THAT OF THE RADIO, TELEVISION AND THEATER WORKERS UNION. (HAUSA 10/30)

NIGERIA / JOURNALIST TRIAL -- HAUSA CORRESPONDENT AHMED MOHAMMED KWALAM, SPOKE WITH OSA DIRECTOR, HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND EDITOR OF THE LAGOS 'TELL MAGAZINE, 'ABOUT HIS ARREST AUGUST 31. HE WAS INTERROGATED BY POLICE FOR ALLEGEDLY PUBLISHING FALSE AND DAMAGING REPORTS THAT COULD TARNISH THE IMAGE OF SANI ABACHA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT. HE WAS ARRAIGNED MONDAY BEFORE A MAGISTRATE'S COURT AND CHARGED WITH INCITING VIOLENCE. (HAUSA 10/30)

NIGER / UNIVERSITY UNREST -- A WOMAN PROFESSOR OF ABDULMUMINI UNIVERSITY IN NIAMEY WAS ATTACKED BY STUDENTS AND BADLY BEATEN. HAUSA STRINGER LAWAN BOUCAR SPOKE WITH STUDENTS AND FACULTY ABOUT WHAT LED TO THE ATTACK. (HAUSA 10/31)

IVORY COAST / EXODUS -- STRINGER MOHAMED ELBOU REPORTS ON WHAT IS DESCRIBED AS A MASSIVE EXODUS OF THE BAOULE POPULATION OF IVORY COAST FROM ITS TRADITIONAL REGION TOWARD GAGNOA. (FRENCH 10/30)

ANGOLA / AID -- ALLEGATIONS AND DENIALS ARE BEING AIRED OVER POOR AID DISTRIBUTION IN ANGOLA. UNITA ALLEGES DISCRIMINATION IN AID DISTRIBUTION IN SOME PARTS OF ANGOLA, ESPECIALLY TO UNITA AREAS IN THE SOUTH OF THE COUNTRY. THE UN DENIES THE CHARGES. REPORTER LUIS COSTA TALKS WITH WFP OFFICIALS IN LUANDA ABOUT THE SITUATION. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 10/31)

MOZAMBIQUE / COUP PLOT -- THERE HAVE BEEN ALLEGATIONS OF A COUP PLOT IN MOZAMBIQUE WITH THE GOVERNMENT IN MAPUTO DENYING THE REPORTS. REPORTER TERESA LIMA SUMS UP THE SITUATION FROM THE MOZAMBICAN CAPITAL. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 10/31)

CHAD / PRESIDENT -- CHADIAN PRESIDENT IDRISS DEBY STOPPED IN WASHINGTON AFTER ADDRESSING THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE OCCASION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WORLD BODY. PRESIDENT DEBY WAS INTERVIEWED BY STAFFER GEORGE COLLINET. (FRENCH 10/30)

WHO / RIVER BLINDNESS -- THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION SAYS IT IS TRYING TO ELIMINATE ONE OF WEST AFRICA'S MOST DANGEROUS DISEASES. REPORTER RODRICK MURRAY TALKS WITH THE MANAGER OF A WHO TASK FORCE ON ONCHOCERCIASIS, DR. HANS REMME. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/27)

AFRICA / CINEMA -- STAFFER SAMUEL KIENDREBEOGO REVIEWS THE SOUTH AFRICAN MOVIE, CRY THE BELOVED COUNTRY, WHICH PREMIERED FOR THE MEDIA IN NEW YORK AND JOHANNESBURG LAST WEDNESDAY AND WAS RELEASED OVER THE WEEKEND IN SOUTH AFRICA. THE REPORT INCLUDED VOICED-OVER ACTUALITIES OF SOUTH AFRICAN INTERIOR MINISTER PENUEL MADUNA, ACTOR VUSI KUNENE, AND JONATHAN PATON, THE SON OF THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK ON WHICH THE MOVIE WAS BASED. PROFESSOR MANTHIA DIAWARRA SPOKE FROM NEW YORK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS MOVIE THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE RECONCILIATION BETWEEN SOUTH AFRICA'S BLACK AND WHITE COMMUNITIES. (FRENCH 10/30)

NIGERIA / DEATH -- FOR THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN SIX YEARS, A NIGERIAN FOOTBALLER HAS DIED ON THE PITCH OF LAGOS STADIUM. MID-FIELDER AMIR ANGWE COLLAPSED DURING A MATCH ON SUNDAY. REPORTER BARRY MAUGHAN TALKED TO ONE OF NIGERIA'S LEADING FOOTBALL COMMENTATORS, RICHARD ASIEGBU. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/31)

AFRICA FOOTBALL / FINALISTS -- REPORTERBARRY MAUGHAN TALKS ABOUT THE SIX FINALISTS IN ALL THREE OF AFRICA'S MAJOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH FOOTBALL ANALYST MARK GLEESON. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/31)

ACID JAZZ / INCOGNITO -- THE GROUP INCOGNITO WAS FOUNDED BY MAURITIUS-BORN, LONDON-RAISED JEAN PAUL MAUNICK, AKA BLUEY. IN A LIVE IN-STUDIO INTERVIEW WITH ENGLISH TO AFRICA REPORTER RITA ROCHELLE, HE DESCRIBED THE SOUNDS OF THE UNIQUE HYBRID OF POP KNOWN AS ACID JAZZ. RITA'S PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDED THE MUSIC OF INCOGNITO'S LATEST CD, 100% AND RISING. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/30)

JAZZ SINGER / TRUDY DESMOND -- SONGSTRESS TRUDY DESMOND HAS WORKED IN SMALL GROUPS, BIG BANDS, THEATERS AND CABARETS, SHOWCASING HER ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH BOTH AUDIENCES AND THE FINEST MUSICIANS. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH REPORTER RITA ROCHELLE, TRUDY DISCUSSED HER JAZZ CAREER AND HER LATEST CD, 'MAKE ME RAINBOWS.' (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/31)

MUSIC / ONE HIT WONDERS -- THE ROAD TO MUSIC STARDOM IS CROWDED WITH ARTISTS KNOWN AS "ONE HIT WONDER," WHO HAD ONE BRIEF MOMENT OF FAME ON THE POP CHARTS AND THEN DISAPPEARED. REPORTER VERLA WILEY REPORTS ON A BOOK AND AN EXHIBIT ON THE SUBJECT AT THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME IN CLEVELAND, OHIO. SHE INTERVIEWED STEVE JANCIK, THE CURATOR OF THE EXHIBIT. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/31)

AGRICULTURE / WHEAT -- STAFFER ELIZABETH MONNAC INTERVIEWS MICHEL PETIT, DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AT THE WORLD BANK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT WHEAT VARIETIES AND THEIR BENEFITS FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. WHEAT AS THE MIRACLE CROP OF THE CENTURY IS THE THEME OF A MEETING HELD THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTON BY THE CONSULTATIVE GROUP FOR INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH. (FRENCH 10/30)

INSIDE MIDEAST:

CHRISTOPHER / SYRIA -- US SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER SAID IN DAMASCUS HIS TALKS WITH SYRIAN PRESIDENT HAFEZ AL-ASSAD WERE USEFUL. MR CHRISTOPHER SAID SYRIA AND ISRAEL CONFIRMED THAT BOTH SIDES REMAIN SERIOUS ABOUT SEEKING PEACE. CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS. (ARABIC 10/30)

LEBANON / ISRAEL -- THE PRO-ISRAELI MILITIA IN SOUTHERN LEBANON CLASHED WITH HEZBOLLAH FORCES. THREE HEZBOLLAH FIGHTERS WERE KILLED AND MANY OTHERS WOUNDED. CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS. (ARABIC 10/30)

ISRAEL / JIHAD -- ISRAEL HAS PLACED MORE RESTRICTIONS ON PALESTINIANS IN THE WEST BANK AND GAZA IN AN ATTEMPT TO PREVENT RETALIATION FOR THE MURDER OF JIHAD LEADER FATHI SHAQAQI. STRINGER KHALIL ASSALI REPORTED FROM JERUSALEM. (ARABIC 10/30)

ISRAEL / ECONOMIC SUMMIT -- ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER SHIMON PERES SAID IN AMMAN THE ECONOMIC SUMMIT PROVES TO THE PEOPLES OF THE MIDDLE EAST THE GREAT ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF THE PEACE PROCESS. STAFFER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 10/30)

AMMAN SUMMIT / BROWN -- AT A PRESS CONFERENCE IN AMMAN, US SECRETARY OF COMMERCE RON BROWN FOCUSED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF TRADE AND COMMERCE IN THE PEACE OPERATION. CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS. (ARABIC 10/30)

GCC / SUMMIT -- DR ABDALLAH QUAZE, GCC ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL SAID THE GULF COUNTRIES REFUSE TO ACCEPT THE IDEA OF A REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT BANK. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SUCH A BANK IS EXPECTED TO BE ANNOUNCED ON THE THIRD AND LAST DAY OF AMMAN'S SUMMIT. STAFFER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS. (ARABIC 10/30)

TWO CLASSICAL IRANIAN POETS -- LOS ANGELES STAFFER MOHAMMAD RAZAVI REPORTS ON A LECTURE BY WRITER IRAJ PEZESHKZAD ABOUT THE WORK OF MEDIEVAL IRANIAN POETS HAFEZ AND OBAID-I ZAKANI. PEZESHKZAD, A NOVELIST AND RETIRED DIPLOMAT, RECENTLY PUBLISHED A BOOK ON THE TWO POETS. (FARSI 10/30)

AFGHAN / US -- BEFORE RETURNING TO ISLAMABAD, THE US ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBIN RAPHEL MET WITH A NUMBER OF AFGHANIS IN PESHAWAR. QUOTING DIPLOMATIC SOURCES IN PESHAWAR, DARI STRINGER ABDUL HAI WARSHAN REPORTS THAT ROBIN RAPHEL ALSO MET WITH TWO REPRESENTATIVES OF TALEBAN, MULLAH MOHAMMED GHAUS AND MAWLANA BASHIR, AND TALKED ABOUT THE ISSUES OF A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE AFGHAN CRISIS. (PASHTO, DARI 10/31)

AFGHAN / ASSASSINATION -- A COMMANDER OF HEKMATYAR'S HEZB-E-ISLAMI, MAMUR GHUYOR, AND FIFTEEN OF HIS COMPANIONS WERE REPORTED ASSASSINATED IN BAGHLAN PROVINCE OVER THE WEEKEND. QUOTING HEZB-E-ISLAMI SOURCES, PASHTO STRINGER EKRAM SHINWARAI REPORTS THAT WHILE ON HIS WAY TO A COMMANDERS MEETING, MAMUR GHUYOR WAS ATTACKED BY AN ARMED GROUP. HEZB-E-ISLAMI HAS NOT BLAMED ANYONE FOR THE ASSASSINATION, BUT CALLED IT THE WORK OF THE ENEMIES OF JIHAD. (PASHTO, DARI 10/31)

INSIDE CENTRAL ASIA:

XINJIANG-UIGHUR AUTONOMOUS REGION / CHINA -- QAHRAMAN KHOJAMBERDI, CHAIRMAN OF THE INTER-REPUBLIC UIGHUR ASSOCIATION IN THE CENTRAL ASIAN REPUBLICS AND A MEMBER OF THE UNREPRESENTED NATIONS AND PEOPLES ORGANIZATION (UNPO) TOLD UZBEK STAFFER THAT A THREE-DAY MEETING OF UNPO WAS HELD IN THE CITY OF TARTU, ESTONIA. ACCORDING TO HIM, THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE CONFERENCE REAFFIRMED A RESOLUTION PASSED BY UNPO IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR CONDEMNING CHINESE ATROCITIES IN THE REGION. (UZBEK 10/31)

INSIDE SOUTH ASIA:

INDIA / AMMAN SUMMIT -- INDIAN MINISTER OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS RAGHUNANDAN LAL BHATIA, WHO IS IN AMMAN ATTENDING THE ECONOMIC SUMMIT, HAS MET WITH ARAB LEADERS IN AN EFFORT TO ATTRACT FOREIGN INVESTMENT TO INDIA. COMMENTING ON MIDDLE EAST PEACE, MR BHATIA SAID A COMPREHENSIVE PEACE CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED IF SYRIA AND LEBANON ALSO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS. INTERVIEW BY STAFFER BHAGWAN PRAKASH. (HINDI 10/31)

INSIDE EAST ASIA:

CHINA / CRIME -- CHINA'S MINISTER OF PUBLIC SECURITY HAS ADMITTED THAT VIOLENT CRIME IS ON THE RISE. COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR, SERIOUS CRIMES IN CHINA INCREASED 13%. A SHEN ZHEN COURT RECENTLY GAVE STERN SENTENCES TO A CRIME RING OF YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO KILLED SIXTEEN DRIVERS IN A SERIES OF HIGHWAY ROBBERIES. STAFFER QI FENG INTERVIEWS PROF. DING XUELIANG, OF AUSTRALIA NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, ON SOCIETAL AND CULTURAL IMPLICATIONS OF RISING CRIME RATES. (MANDARIN 10/31)

TAIWAN REVIEWS MAINLAND TRAVEL RISKS -- A RECENT SURVEY BY THE TAIWAN TOURIST AGENCY SHOWS THAT THE BEST-KNOWN RESORTS IN MAINLAND CHINA TEND TO BE THE MOST UNSAFE. THE SURVEY ALSO SHOWS THAT MOST TAIWANESE DISREGARD SECURITY ISSUES WHEN SELECTING A VACATION SPOT, EVEN AFTER PUBLICITY ON THE THOUSAND ISLAND MURDERS, INVOLVING DOZENS OF TAIWANESE TOURISTS KILLED AT THE FAMOUS TOURIST ATTRACTION. STRINGER ZHANG YONGTAI INTERVIEWS LI MINGHUI, DIR. OF TOURIST SECTION, CONSUMERS' CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, AND CHEN ZAIXIANG, PRES., TAIPEI TOURIST BUSINESS ASSOCIATION. (MANDARIN 10/31)

SOUTH KOREA / FUNDS SCANDAL -- FORMER PRESIDENT ROH TAE WOO HAS BEEN SUMMONED TO APPEAR BEFORE PROSECUTORS ON WEDNESDAY TO PROVIDE DETAILS OF A SLUSH FUND HE ALLEGEDLY ACCUMULATED DURING HIS PRESIDENCY. CORRESPONDENT YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS THAT PROSECUTORS ARE EXPECTED TO ASK MR ROH HOW THE MONEY WAS RAISED AND USED. OPPOSITION PARTIES CALLED FOR A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION INTO WHETHER PRESIDENT KIM YOUNG SAM HAD RECEIVED MONEY FROM MR ROH. (KOREAN 10/31)

SOUTH KOREA WORLD CUP -- A FIVE-MEN DELEGATION FROM THE FEDERATION OF INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL ASSOCIATIONS (FIFA) IS IN KOREA TO MEASURE THE CAPABILITY OF SOUTH KOREA TO HOST 2002 WORLD CUP. THEY WILL CHECK WITH FACILITIES AND THE SAFETY LEVEL. THE FIFA DELEGATION WILL ALSO VISIT JAPAN WHICH IS COMPETING WITH SOUTH KOREA FOR HOSTING THE WORLD FOOTBALLL CHAMPIONSHIP. CORRESPONDENT YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 10/31)

AMERICAN GI / GOOD BEHAVIOR -- US ARMY SERGEANT RENDAL FRENCH OF THE 728TH MILITARY POLICE SQUAD STATIONED NEAR TAEGU, SOUTH KOREA, WILL BE CITED BY THE SOUTH KOREAN MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENSE WEDNESDAY FOR HIS BRAVE AND SACRIFICING ACT TO SAVE THREE KOREAN PEOPLE FROM A HOTEL AT BLAZE. STAFFER YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 10/31)

US JAPAN / MILITARY BASE AT OKINAWA -- REPORTER SUSAN YACKEE DISCUSSES THE OKINAWA US MILITARY BASE WITH EZRA VOGEL, DIRECTOR OF THE FAIRBANKS CENTER AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY AND A PROFESSOR OF SOCIAL SCIENCES. MR. VOGEL SAYS HE HAS JUST RETURNED FROM A WEEK LONG TRIP TO JAPAN FOR DISCUSSIONS ON SECURITY ISSUES. HE FEELS THE US BASE AT OKINAWA CAN BE MOVED BUT IT WILL TAKE TIME, MONEY AND COOPERATION. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 10/30)

VIETNAM / NEW CIVIL CODE -- STRINGER LE LAI INTERVIEWS LAWYER LE KIM CHEUNG ON KEY PROVISIONS OF THE NEW NATIONAL CIVIL CODE PASSED BY THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IN HANOI. MR.CHUENG IS HEAD OF THE VIETNAM LAWYERS ASSOCIATION AND FORMER UN AMBASSADOR. (VIETNAMESE 10/31)

INSIDE EUROPE:

CLINTON / BOSNIA -- PRESIDENT CLINTON CALLED ON THE WARRING PARTIES IN BOSNIA NOT TO WASTE THIS, AS HE CALLED IT, BEST CHANCE YET FOR PEACE. ON THE EVE OF THE DAYTON PEACE TALKS, PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID ONLY THE THREE PARTIES COULD END THE HORRIBLE WAR. AND THE NATO PEACE MISSION IN BOSNIA CAN SUCCEED ONLY WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF US TROOPS, SAID THE PRESIDENT. STAFFER IVANA KUHAR REPORTS. (CROATIAN 10/31)

HOLBROOKE / BOSNIA -- CHIEF US NEGOTIATOR FOR THE BALKANS, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE SAYS BOSNIAN PROXIMITY PEACE TALKS IN DAYTON, OHIO WILL BE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT THAN THE CAMP DAVID NEGOTIATIONS. SANCTIONS ON YUGOSLAVIA WOULD NOT BE LIFTED AT THE TIME OF SIGNING A PEACE ACCORD, BUT WHEN THERE ARE SIGNS OF THE ACCORD BEING IMPLEMENTED ON THE GROUND. STAFFER IVANA KUHAR REPORTS. (CROATIAN 10/30)

OHIO PEACE TALKS / SERBIA -- NORMAN CIGAR, PROFESSOR AT THE USMC SCHOOL OF ADVANCED WAR FIGHTING, ANALYZED SERBIAN LEADERSHIP DECISION MAKING PROCESS REGARDING THEIR WILLINGNESS TO HALT FIGHTING AND START PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SLAVIC STUDIES, NORMAN CIGAR SAID THAT SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC DOES NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO GAIN BY CONTINUING THE WAR IN BOSNIA. (CROATIAN 10/30)

OHIO PEACE TALKS / SCENESETTER -- IN HIS REPORT FROM DAYTON, OHIO, STAFFER ZDENKO NOVACKI DESCRIBES THE US AIR FORCE BASE WRIGHT-PATTERSON, THE SITE OF THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS FOR BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, AND THE LARGEST AIR FORCE FACILITY IN THE UNITED STATES. (CROATIAN 10/31)

EUROPEAN UNION / BOSNIA PEACE PROCESS -- STRINGER LADA STIPIC NISETEO REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS THAT FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION DISCUSSED THE PROSPECTS FOR PEACE IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. THEY SAID THAT ONLY 20 PERCENT OF THE PROBLEMS ARE SOLVED AND THAT THE REST HAS TO BE SETTLED DURING PEACE TALKS IN OHIO. (CROATIAN 10/31)

SERBIA / DAYTON -- WHILE ALL THE PARTICIPANTS AND SPONSORS OF PEACE TALKS ON BOSNIA EXPLAIN THEIR POSITIONS BEFORE THE COMING NEGOTIATIONS IN DAYTON, SERBIAN PRESIDENT S MILOSEVIC AVOIDED ANY PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING FUTURE TALKS WITH THE PRESIDENT OF CROATIA F TUDJMAN AND PRESIDENT OF BOSNIA A IZETBEGOVIC. HOWEVER, POLITICAL PARTIES IN SERBIA HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR OPTIMISM REGARDING THE DAYTON PEACE TALKS ON BOSNIA. STRINGER MILICA KUBUROVIC REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (SERBIAN 10/30)

LUXEMBOURG / EU MINISTERS -- EU MINISTERS ARE MEETING IN LUXEMBOURG, IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH THE LIST OF RULES AND CONDITIONS FOR GRANTING FINANCIAL AID TO BOSNIA AND CROATIA. STRINGER LADA STIPIC NISETEO REPORTS. (CROATIAN 10/30)

EU / BOSNIA -- EU FOREIGN MINISTERS ADOPTED POLITICAL GUIDELINES FOR THE AID TO THE COUNTRIES OF FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. THE MAIN CONDITION FOR SUCH AID IS THE RETURN OF ALL REFUGEES TO THEIR HOMES. EUROPEAN PEACE NEGOTIATOR K BILDT PREDICTED THAT ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO WOULD BE SUSPENDED AS SOON AS THE PEACE AGREEMENT ON BOSNIA IS SIGNED. STRINGER DRAGAN BLAGOJEVIC REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS. (SERBIAN 10/30)

BOSNIA / ROADS -- SARAJEVO STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTS THAT THE NEWLY REOPENED ROADS TO SARAJEVO AND TO GORAZDE ARE FOR THE TIME BEING FUNCTIONING WELL. HOWEVER HEAVILY ARMED UN TANKS ARE ESCORTING CIVILIAN TRAFFIC. THE CEASE-FIRE IS HOLDING, AND NO DELAYS AND HARASSMENTS OF THE CIVILIAN TRAFFIC WAS REPORTED. (CROATIAN 10/30)

UN / BOSNIA -- UNPROFOR OFFICIALS IN SARAJEVO SAY FIVE TRUCKS WITH HUMANITARIAN AID LEFT SARAJEVO FOR GORAZDE, THE LATEST STEP IN EFFORTS TO PROVIDE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AROUND THE CAPITAL. AT THE SAME TIME, THE SPOKESMAN FOR UNCHR, CHRIS JANOWSKI DISCLOSED NEWS OF ABUSE OF NON-SERBIAN INHABITANTS OF BANJALUKA. STRINGER BORO KONTIC REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO. (SERBIAN 10/30)

CROATIA / ELECTIONS -- THE RULING CROATIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION PARTY WON THE MAJORITY OF SEATS IN CROATIAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, BUT NOT AS MANY AS WAS EXPECTED. IN ZAGREB, THE RULING PARTY SURPRISINGLY, DID NOT WIN THE MAJORITY IN CITY GOVERNMENT. STRINGER ZELJKO MATIC REPORTS. (CROATIAN 10/30)

CROATIAN LEADERS / COMMENT ON ELECTIONS -- THE RULING PARTY WON THE MAJORITY OF SEATS IN CROATIAN PARLIAMENT, BUT THERE WERE MANY SURPRISES. STRINGER ZELJKO MATIC INTERVIEWS SEVERAL PARTY LEADERS, INCLUDING OPPOSITION AND RULING PARTIES, AND ASKED TO EXPRESS THEIR REACTIONS TO THE ELECTION RESULTS. (CROATIAN 10/30)

CROATIA / ELECTIONS -- ACCORDING TO EARLY ELECTIONS RESULTS IN CROATIA, THE RULING PARTY OF PRESIDENT F TUDJMAN, THE CROATIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION (HDZ) GATHERED MORE THAT 50% OF SEATS IN THE NEW PARLIAMENT. THE BIGGEST TURNOUT FAVORING THE HDZ WAS IN SMALL CROATIAN CITIES, WHILE THE OPPOSITION PARTIES HAD MORE SUCCESS IN LARGER CITIES, INCLUDING ZAGREB AND RIJEKA. STRINGER STEVICA SUSA REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (SERBIAN 10/30)

LADJEVIC / CROATIA ELECTIONS -- PETAR LADJEVIC, SPOKESMAN FOR THE SERBIAN DEMOCRATIC FORUM, DISCUSSED THE EARLY RESULTS OF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN CROATIA IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STRINGER RIALDA SEBEK IN LONDON. (SERBIAN 10/30)

CROATIA / ELECTIONS -- THE PRESIDENT OF THE CROATIAN PARLIAMENT, NEDJELJKO MIHANOVIC, THE DEPUTY LEADER OF THE CROATIAN SOCIAL-LIBERAL PARTY JOZO RADOS, AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE INDEPENDENT SERBIAN PARTY, MILORAD PUPOVAC EXAMINE THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN CROATIA IN SEPARATE INTERVIEWS WITH ZAGREB STRINGER STEVICA SUSA. (SERBIAN 10/28)

AAASS / RECONSTRUCTING CROATIA -- A PANEL OF EXPERTS AT THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR ADVANCEMENT OF SLAVIC STUDIES DISCUSSED MANY ISSUES REGARDING RECONSTRUCTION OF CROATIA. CROATIA IS ON A GOOD ECONOMIC TRAIL, THEY SAID, BUT IT WOULD STILL NEEDS INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL AID. AT ANOTHER PANEL, EXPERTS DISCUSSED THE RECOVERY OF CROATIAN CULTURE, INCLUDING LIBRARIES, MONUMENTS, AND STOLEN OR DAMAGED ART WORK. STAFFER MIRJANA DEDAIC REPORTS. (CROATIAN 10/27)

PUBLIC OPINION CANDIDATES -- DO PUBLIC OPINION POLLS INFLUENCE PUBLIC OPINION? HOW DO WE ACCOUNT FOR THE SURPRISING RETURN OF POLAND'S PRESIDENT LECH WALESA, WHO HAS BEEN TRAILING MOST POLISH PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IN POLITICAL RANKINGS, AND NOW SEEMS TO BE IN GOOD POSITION TO DEFEAT THE POST-COMMUNIST CHALLENGER MR. ALEXANDER KWASNIEWSKI? CORRESPONDENT WOJCIECH MINICZ EXPLORED THESE ISSUES IN AN INTERVIEW WITH DR RADOSLAW MARKOWSKI OF THE POLISH CENTER FOR PUBLIC OPINION STUDIES. (POLISH 10/30)

POLISH POLITICS / MONEY -- POLISH DAILY "ZYCIE WARSZAWY" PUBLISHED INFORMATION ABOUT LARGE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS HELD BY THE WIVES OF TOP POLITICIANS, INCLUDING PRIME MINISTER OLEKSY, AND POST-COMMUNIST PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER MR KWASNIEWSKI. THE NEWSPAPER SUGGESTS THAT THOSE INVESTMENTS CONSTITUTE CONFLICT OF INTEREST, AND THAT WIVES ACT SIMPLY AS FRONTS. STRINGER MARIA BNINSKA REPORTS THAT BOTH POLITICIANS REACTED WITH SERMONS ABOUT FAIR REPORTING. (POLISH 10/30)

LITHUANIAN BANK MERGER -- TWO OF THE LARGEST LITHUANIAN BANKS ARE PLANNING TO JOIN. STRINGER RITA MILIUTE REPORTS. (LITHUANIAN 10/31)

POST-COMMUNIST ECONOMIES -- PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO, VALDAS SAMONIS, A SPECIALIST IN POST-COMMUNIST ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION, COMPARED ECONOMIC REFORMS IN UKRAINE, BELARUS, LITHUANIA, POLAND, AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC. INTERVIEW BY STAFFER ROMAS KASPARAS. (LITHUANIAN 10/30)

INSIDE EURASIA:

RUSSIAN ELECTIONS -- RUSSIAN DUMA DEPUTY VLADIMIR AVERCHEV SAYS THE CENTRAL ELECTION COMMITTEE VIOLATED THE LAW IN EXCLUDING TWO PARTIES FROM THE DECEMBER ELECTIONS. HE CLAIMS THAT THE COMMITTEE WAS MOTIVATED BY POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS. INTERVIEW BY STAFFER VLADIMIR MATLIN. (RUSSIAN 10/30)

KRAVCHUK / UKRAINE'S CULTURE -- CORRESPONDENT ISRAEL KLEINER REPORTS FROM KIEV ON A NEWS CONFERENCE BY FORMER PRESIDENT LEONID KRAVCHUK, WHO INITIATED A FOUNDATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARTS AND CULTURE IN UKRAINE. MR. KRAVCHUK SAID THAT HE AND MANY UKRAINIANS ARE CONCERNED WITH THE PRESENT CULTURAL TRENDS. (UKRAINIAN 10/28)

AAAS / UKRAINIAN SECURITY ISSUES -- STAFFER ADRIAN KARMAZYN REPORTS ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE INVOLVING UKRAINE. PROGRAM ASSOCIATE MARIA DROHOBYCKY DESCRIBES TWO CONFERENCES HELD IN KIEV ON SECURITY ISSUES AND AN AAAS-SPONSORED EXCHANGE PROGRAM WHICH BRINGS UKRAINIAN SPECIALISTS TO THE US TO LEARN HOW US NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY IS FORMULATED. (UKRAINIAN 10/29)

PRESIDENT KUCHMA VISITS LATIN AMERICA -- SPECIAL COVERAGE ON PRESIDENT KUCHMA'S VISIT TO BRAZIL, ARGENTINA, AND CHILE. STRINGERS IN BRASILIA AND CURITIBA FEATURED BACKGROUNDERS ON UKRAINIAN LIFE IN BRAZIL, AS WELL AS REPORTS ON THE OFFICIAL EVENTS OF THE VISIT. INCLUDED ARE PRESIDENT KUCHMA'S NEWS CONFERENCE IN BUENOS AIRES, AND A SPEECH BY MR KUCHMA AT THE ARGENTINIAN COUNCIL FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS. (UKRAINIAN 10/29, 10/30)

CUBA AND RUSSIA -- MOSCOW STRINGER HA GIANG REVIEWS THE STATE OF RELATIONS BETWEEN CUBA AND RUSSIA. CUBA IS ONE OF VIETNAM'S FEW REMAINING FRIENDS FROM THE OLD DAYS, AND WAS RECENTLY VISITED BY PRESIDENT LE DUC ANH. (VIETNAMESE 10/31)

INSIDE LATIN AMERICA:

QUEBEC REFERENDUM AFTERMATH -- REACTION TO THE RESULTS OF QUEBEC REFERENDUM WAS DIVERSE, AND NATIONALISTIC FEELINGS REMAIN STRONG DESPITE DEFEAT OF SEPARATIST VOTE, CORRESPONDENT ROGER WILKISON REPORTS FROM MONTREAL. (SPANISH 10/31)

HEMISPHERIC ENERGY CONFERENCE -- ENERGY MINISTERS, BUSINESS LEADERS, AND ENERGY EXPERTS PARTICIPATE IN THE HEMISPHERIC ENERGY SYMPOSIUM ORGANIZED IN WASHINGTON BY THE UNITED STATES AND VENEZUELA ON THE ROLE OF ENERGY IN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT. STAFFER BETTY ENDARA REPORTS. (SPANISH 10/30)

ANTI-DRUG EFFORTS -- ROBERT GELBARD, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AFFAIRS, SAYS THE UPCOMING CONFERENCE ON MONEY LAUNDERING IN BUENOS AIRES WILL BE AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUG TRAFFIC. STAFFER ALEJANDRO ESCALONA REPORTS. (SPANISH 10/30)

U.S. IMMIGRATION PLAN -- THE US IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE ANNOUNCED A NEW PROGRAM TO EXPEDITE THE PAPERWORK FOR IMMIGRANTS WHO APPLY FOR US CITIZENSHIP IN LOS ANGELES AREA. CORRESPONDENT HECTOR VELAZQUEZ MEJIA REPORTS. (SPANISH 10/30)

CENTRAL AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT -- SPAIN SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED NATIONS TO COOPERATE IN DEVELOPMENT OF CENTRAL AMERICA. CORRESPONDENT FELIPE TAMAYO REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (SPANISH 10/30)

MORE PROTESTS AGAINST GIULIANI -- PROTESTS FROM DIVERSE QUARTERS IN NEW YORK AND THE UNITED NATIONS CONTINUED AGAINST NEW YORK CITY MAYOR RUDOLPH GIULIANI FOR THE WAY HE TREATED PALESTINIAN LEADER YASSER ARAFAT. CORRESPONDENT FELIPE TAMAYO REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (SPANISH 10/30)

JOURNALIST ARRESTED IN CUBA -- THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION COMPLAINED FOR ARREST OF JOURNALIST NOGUERA ROSEN IN CUBA, CHARGED BY THE GOVERNMENT WITH DISTRIBUTION OF ENEMY PROPAGANDA. CORRESPONDENT JORGE WEHBY REPORTS FROM MIAMI. (SPANISH 10/30) 31-Oct-95 5:52 PM EST (2252 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America