Voice of America, 14 May 1996 (1 of 2)

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From: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>

CONTENTS

[01] !!! VOA DIGEST - MAY 14, 1996

[02] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] !!! VOA DIGEST - MAY 14, 1996

US / LEBANON -- FIVE WAY TALKS RESUME IN WASHINGTON TUESDAY AIMED AT SETTING UP A MONITORING GROUP AS PART OF A CEASE-FIRE ENDING CROSS BORDER ATTACKS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND LEBANON-BASED HEZBOLLAH GUERRILLAS. STAFFER VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS THE TALKS, WHICH BEGAN FRIDAY, FOLLOW A HEZBOLLAH ATTACK ON ISRAELI FORCES THAT A US SPOKESMAN CALLED A VIOLATION OF THE SPIRIT THOUGH NOT THE LETTER OF THE AGREEMENT. (5/14)

LEBANON / REBUILDING -- LEBANON'S GOVERNMENT HAS BEGUN WORKING TO REBUILD IN THE WAKE OF ISRAEL'S ATTACKS IN SOUTHERN LEBANON AGAINST HEZBOLLAH GUERRILLAS. STRINGER EDWARD YERANIAN IN BEIRUT REPORTED LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER RAFIK AL HARIRI IS IN BRUSSELS THIS WEEK TO SEEK ASSISTANCE FROM EUROPEAN NATIONS IN THE REBUILDING EFFORT. (5/14)

INDIA / ELECTIONS -- INDIA'S VETERAN COMMUNIST LEADER, JYOTI BASU, HAS BOWED OUT OF THE RUNNING FOR PRIME MINISTER, LEAVING THE CENTER LEFT PARTIES LEADERLESS AND SETTING THE STAGE FOR HINDU NATIONALISTS TO TAKE OVER THE PARLIAMENT. CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE REPORTS FROM NEW DELHI. (5/14)

ASSESSING INDIA'S ELECTIONS -- THE NATIONAL ELECTIONS IN INDIA HAVE SET THE STAGE FOR A MAJOR GOVERNMENT SHAKEUP AND THE LIKELY RESIGNATION OF PRIME MINISTER NARASIMHA RAO. CORRESPONDENT RAVI KHANNA IN NEW DELHI RECAPS THE ELECTION RESULTS AND DISCUSSES THE EXPECTED IMPACT WITH A PANEL OF INDIAN POLITICAL ANALYSTS AND JOURNALISTS. (5/14)

CHINA / US TRADE -- THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT SAYS THERE HAS BEEN NO PROGRESS IN TALKS WITH US TRADE NEGOTIATOR LEE SANDS ON CHINA'S PROTECTION OF THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS OF AMERICAN PRODUCTS. CORRESPONDENT STEPHANIE HO REPORTS MR SANDS TUESDAY ENDED TWO DAYS OF MEETINGS WITH HIS CHINESE COUNTERPARTS IN BEIJING. (5/14)

HONG KONG / VIETNAMESE DEPORTATIONS -- THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS BEGUN ONE OF ITS LARGEST EVER DEPORTATION PROGRAMS FOR VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS, KNOWN AS BOAT PEOPLE. CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS THE FIRST STAGE OF THE PROGRAM WAS COMPLETED TUESDAY, LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER HUNDREDS OF BOAT PEOPLE RIOTED TO PREVENT THEIR REPATRIATION. (5/14)

JAPAN / BUSINESS ROUNDUP -- THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT REPORTS THE REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF MANUFACTURING FIRMS IS WORSENING THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION. AS STRINGER JACK RUSSELL REPORTS FROM TOKYO, A JAPANESE COMPANY PLANS TO TEST THE MARKETING OF SALAD DRESSING IN CHINA. (5/14)

BANGLA / TORNADO -- AUTHORITIES IN BANGLADESH SAY SCORES OF PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND HUNDREDS OF OTHERS INJURED WHEN A TORNADO RIPPED THROUGH FARMING VILLAGES NORTHWEST OF DHAKA LATE MONDAY. CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE REPORTS. (5/14)

VALUJET CRASH -- INVESTIGATORS AT THE CRASH SITE OF THE 'VALUJET' AIRLINER IN THE FLORIDA EVERGLADES HAVE DISCOVERED ONE OF TWO FLIGHT DATA RECORDERS ON BOARD THE PLANE. MIAMI CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE REPORT THE DISCOVERY IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN DETERMINING WHAT CAUSED THE CRASH. (5/14)

VALUJET / AIR SAFETY -- TWO HIGH-RANKING FEDERAL AVIATION OFFICIALS ARE IN SHARP DISAGREEMENT ABOUT THE SAFETY RECORD OF 'VALUJET' THE LOW COST AIR CARRIER WHOSE DC-NINE CRASHED SATURDAY NEAR MIAMI FLORIDA, KILLING ONE HUNDRED NINE ABOARD. STAFFER PAUL WESTPHELING REPORTS BOTH OFFICIALS APPEARED ON A NATIONALLY BROADCAST TELEVISION PROGRAM MONDAY (ABC'S NIGHTLINE) TO AIR THEIR CONCERNS. (5/14)

US / NUKE WASTE -- THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS ANNOUNCED A DECISION TO TAKE BACK SPENT BOMB GRADE NUCLEAR MATERIAL FROM RESEARCH REACTORS IT SUPPLIED TO MORE THAN FORTY COUNTRIES. STAFFER VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS A WASHINGTON-BASED ARMS CONTROL GROUP IS PLEASED WITH THE DECISION SAYING IT LESSENS THE POSSIBILITY OF THE MATERIAL FALLING INTO THE WRONG HANDS. (5/14)

ECONOMICS / EMERGING MARKET INVESTMENTS -- THE INVESTMENT FUNDS THAT WERE WITHDRAWN FROM THE WORLD'S EMERGING MARKETS AFTER THE CRASH OF THE MEXICAN PESO IN 1994 HAVE BEGUN FLOWING BACK, LURED BY HUGE PROFIT OPPORTUNITIES. IS ANOTHER CURRENCY CRISIS ON THE HORIZON? CURRENT AFFAIRS' LINDA CASHDAN LOOKS AT SOME CURRENCIES EXPERTS FEEL MAY BE AT RISK. (5/14)

TWISTER MAN -- OKLAHOMA METEOROLOGIST GARY ENGLAND HAS FOLLOWED TORNADOES FOR TWENTY THREE YEARS AS A TELEVISION WEATHERMAN AND NOW HAS A NEW BOOK OUT CALLED 'WEATHERING THE STORM: TORNADOES, TELEVISION AND TURMOIL.' CORRESPONDENT GREG FLAKUS SPOKE WITH HIM IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND REPORTS. (5/14)

OKLAHOMA / ECON -- THE BOMBING OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY FEDERAL BUILDING LAST YEAR BROUGHT UNWANTED TRAGEDY TO THAT CITY, BUT THE RESPONSE OF THE PEOPLE BROUGHT THE CITY AND THE STATE PRAISE AND NEW ATTENTION FROM BUSINESS LEADERS. CORRESPONDENT GREG FLAKUS SPOKE WITH GOVERNOR FRANK KEATING AND OK DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE LEO PRESLEY IN PREPARING THIS REPORT ABOUT THE OKLAHOMA ECONOMY, . (5/14)

LOW-BUDGET MOVIES -- RICK SCHMIDT IS AN INDEPENDENT FILMMAKER WHO HAS MADE SEVERAL FEATURE FILMS FOR ONLY A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS EACH. HE TELLS HOW IT CAN BE DONE AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHY IT SHOULD BE DONE IN THIS REPORT BY CORRESPONDENT GREG FLAKUS IN LOS ANGELES. (5/14)

US / POLYESTER IS BACK -- A HALF-CENTURY OLD MAN-MADE FABRIC SUFFERED A TEMPORARY SETBACK DURING THE LATE SEVENTIES AND EARLY EIGHTIES. BUT POLYESTER IS BACK WITH A VENGEANCE. BIG DESIGNER NAMES LIKE DONNA KARAN, ANNE KLEIN II, PRADA, EMANUEL AND ADRIENNE VITTADINI ARE JUST A FEW THAT HAVE EMBRACED THE PETROLEUM BASED FABRIC WHICH IS NOW BETTER AND MORE VERSATILE THAN EVER. CURRENT AFFAIRS' ZLATICA HOKE DISCUSSES POLYESTER WITH THE INDUSTRY AND FASHION REPRESENTATIVES. (5/14)

ASIAN FARMING ON DISPLAY AT EPCOT CENTER -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' ROB SIVAK PROFILES THE YOUNG SCIENTISTS-TURNED-COMMUNICATORS WHO ARE STOPPING CROWDS AT THE NEW DISNEY/WORLD BANK EXHIBIT ON SMALL-SCALE FARMING IN ASIA. ACTS OF INTERNATIONAL CROP RESEARCHERS AFIF NEKRAMANJ (SYRIA), SUDI RHAGAVENDRA RAO (INDIA), AND GINA ZARSADIAS (PHILIPPINES). (5/14)

BOOK WORLD -- FOR ASIAN PACIFIC HERITAGE MONTH, NANCY BEARDSLEY REPORTS ON 'THE MIDDLE HEART' A NEW NOVEL ABOUT THE CHINESE REVOLUTION BY BETTE BAO LORD. (5/14)

INSIDE USA:

EVERGLADES / BLACK BOX FOUND -- RESCUE WORKERS FOUND THE PLANE'S RECORDING 'BLACK BOX' IN THE AREA WHERE A VALU-JET DC-9 AIRLINER WITH 109 OCCUPANTS CRASHED IN THE EVERGLADES LAST SATURDAY. CORRESPONDENT JORGE WEHBY REPORTS FROM MIAMI THE BOX WAS SENT TO WASHINGTON FOR ANALYSIS TO DETERMINATE THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH. (SPANISH 5/13)

RUSSIA / ELECTION / TALK TO AMERICA -- DIMITRY MIKHEYEV OF THE HUDSON INSTITUTE JOINS 'TALK TO AMERICA' TO ASSESS THE FIRST-EVER TV ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN RUSSIA. MR MIKHEYEV IS THE AUTHOR OF 'RUSSIA IN TRANSITION' AND HE DISCUSSES THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AND THEIR CHANCES. (ENGLISH 5/14)

PROFILE IN EXCELLENCE -- STAFFER VINH NGUYEN INTERVIEWED THE NOTED SPACE SCIENTIST DR NGUYEN XUAN VINH OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, HERE TO RECEIVE THE ANNUAL EXCELLENCE 2000 AWARD OF THE PAN-ASIAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. PROFESSOR VINH WAS HONORED SEVERAL YEARS AGO BY SELECTION AS THE NASA MAN OF THE YEAR. (VIETNAMESE 5/13)

US / KURDISH SET DESIGNER -- STAFFER SERBEST MIRAN INTERVIEWED SERDAR ZUHDI, FORMERLY OF IRAQ, A SET DESIGNER FOR NBC, ABOUT HIS LIFE AND WORK IN AMERICA. HE WORKED 17 YEARS FOR ABC. HE WORKED ON THE "BARNEY MILLER SHOW" FOR FIVE YEARS. ZUHDI SETS THE BACKGROUND FOR THE 'TONIGHT SHOW' AND FOR AWARDS CEREMONIES ON MBC. (KURDISH 5/14)

INSIDE AFRICA:

LIBERIA / REFUGEES -- THOUSANDS OF LIBERIAN WAR REFUGEES DISEMBARK IN GHANA'S PORT OF TAKORADI. REPORTER RICHARD KOTEY SPOKE WITH THE RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNHCR IN GHANA, CHRIS ACHE, FROM ACCRA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 5/14)

LIBERIA / BOAT -- THE ESTIMATED THREE THOUSAND LIBERIAN REFUGEES ARE STILL ON THE NIGERIAN SHIP 'BULK CHALLENGE' IN WHAT IS DESCRIBED BY HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES AS VERY POOR SANITARY CONDITIONS. THE FREIGHTER, WHICH NEEDS MAJOR REPAIRS, WAS ALLOWED TO MAKE A BRIEF STOP AT A GHANAIAN PORT WHERE FOOD AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES WERE TAKEN ON BOARD BUT NO REFUGEES WERE ALLOWED TO DISEMBARK FOR FEAR REBELS MIGHT BE AMONG THEM. STAFFER IDRISSA FALL ASKED ANNE DENNIEL, COORDINATOR FOR MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES (DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS) IN ABIDJAN, TO DESCRIBE THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION FOR THE LIBERIAN REFUGEES ON BOARD THE 'BULK CHALLENGE.' (FRENCH 5/13)

GHANA / UNHCR -- A UNHCR OFFICIAL SAYS HIS GROUP IS READY TO ACCEPT A BOATLOAD OF LIBERIAN REFUGEES ATTEMPTING TO DOCK IN ACCRA. REPORTER WILLIAM EAGLE SPOKE WITH UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE FOR GHANA, CHRIS ACHE. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 5/13)

UGANDA / REBELS -- A MAJOR REBEL GROUP, THE LORD'S RESISTANCE ARMY, HAS RESUMED OPERATIONS IN THE NORTHERN REGION DISTRICT OF GULU. IT SAYS IT'S FIGHTING TO TOPPLE THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT YOWERI MUSEVENI TO INTRODUCE POLITICAL PLURALISM. REPORTER SHAKA SSALI DISCUSSED THE LATEST REBEL ACTIVITIES WITH A UGANDAN INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST, ABDI HASSAN, FROM KAMPALA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 5/14)

MALAWI / REFUGEES -- THERE'S DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND TRADITIONAL LEADERS ABOUT USING LAND FOR REFUGEES RATHER THAN FARMING. REPORTER JULIUS KALIYA REPORTS FROM BLANTYRE. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 5/14)

NIGERIA / WORLD BANK REPORT -- A WORLD BANK REPORT ON NIGERIA HAS EXPRESSED CONCERNED WITH THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN NIGERIA WHICH HAVE BEEN DETERIORATING RATHER THAN IMPROVING OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. IT CALLS FOR MEASURES TO ALLEVIATE POVERTY AND REDUCE INFLATION BY ELIMINATING EXTRA-BUDGETARY EXPENSES AS WELL AS DEFICIT SPENDING. STRINGER AHMED MOHAMMED KWALAM REPORTS. (HAUSA 3/13)

NIGERIA / FAILED BANKS -- OUT OF MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED DETAINEES BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER THE FAILED BANKS RECOVERY OF DEBTS AND FINANCIAL DECREE OF 1995, ONLY EIGHT WERE CHARGED AND CONVICTED, THE REMAINDER ARE STILL LANGUISHING IN PRISON. STAFFER AHMED YERIMA INTERVIEWED SOME OF THE PRISONERS WHO SAID THEY WERE DETAINED WITHOUT COMMITTING ANY CRIME, AND HAVE YET TO BE BROUGHT TO TRIAL EVEN THOUGH THE DECREE SPECIFIES A TWENTY-ONE-DAY MAXIMUM DETAINMENT PERIOD. AUWALU YADUDU, GOVERNMENT ADVISER ON LEGAL MATTERS DISMISSED THE ALLEGATIONS AND SAID THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT PROMULGATED A DECREE AND A TRIBUNAL SET UP TO DEAL WITH THOSE WHO HID BEHIND CORPORATE MASKS TO PERPETRATE CRIMINAL ACTS AND DESTROY BANKING INSTITUTIONS. (HAUSA 5/13)

NIGERIA / EDUCATION SYSTEM -- THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN NIGERIA IS GRINDING TO A HALT. WITH LECTURERS UNABLE TO DEVOTE THEIR EFFORTS TO TEACHING AND WITH PRICES OF BOOKS SO HIGH, STUDENTS ARE SUFFERING, THE SYSTEM IS SUFFERING AND THE COUNTRY IS BOUND TO SUFFER. STAFFER KABIRU FAGGE INTERVIEWED THE DIRECTOR OF THE KANO STATE ISLAMIC FOUNDATION, ALHAJI IBRAHIM BELLO RINGIM AND A PROPRIETOR OF PRIVATE ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOLS IN KANO WHO SUGGESTED THE TRANSFER OF ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS FOR GOOD MANAGEMENT. (HAUSA 5/13)

NIGER / REFERENDUM -- STAFFER IDRISSA FALL TALKED TO RADIO ANFANI DIRECTOR BOUCAR GREMAH ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THE REFERENDUM ON THE CONSTITUTION IN NIGER. VOTER TURNOUT WAS REPORTEDLY LOW BUT THE YES VOTE TO THE REFERENDUM IS SEEN AS THE FIRST STEP TOWARD A RETURN TO DEMOCRACY. (FRENCH 5/13)

GAMBIA / ELECTORAL CALENDAR -- GAMBIA'S MILITARY RULER YAYA JAMMEH HAS ANNOUNCED AN ELECTORAL CALENDAR THAT SHOULD REVERT THE COUNTRY TO CIVILIAN RULE. STAFFER MAIMOUNA MILLS ASKED BANJUL STRINGER PAPE SENE TO REPORT ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE CURRENT SITUATION IN GAMBIA. (FRENCH 5/13)

CHADWICK INTERNATIONAL / IVORY COAST -- STAFFER JEAN-CLAUDE ANDRE INTERVIEWS DJAFFA ABDELHOUAHAB, SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT AND INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR OF CHADWICK INTERNATIONAL/ALGERIA, ABOUT A PROJECT SIGNED WITH IVORY COAST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF LOW INCOME HOUSING. (FRENCH 5/14)

MOZAMBIQUE / PRIVATIZATION -- CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS OF THE RULING PARTY, FRELIMO MET IN MAPUTO TO DISCUSS THE GOVERNMENT'S PRIVATIZATION PROGRAM. IN A INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER OVIDIO PEQUENO, THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF FRELIMO SAID MEMBERS OF THE RULING PARTY ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE PROCESS OF PRIVATIZATION. HE ADDED THAT NEW OWNERS ARE NOT FULFILLING THEIR PROMISES. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 5/14)

ANGOLA / MOZAMBIQUE -- ANGOLAN MILITARY CHIEF OF STAFF, JOAO DE MATOS, IS IN MOZAMBIQUE FOR MEETINGS WITH HIS MOZAMBICAN COUNTERPART. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 5/14)

BOTSWANA / MOZAMBIQUE -- THE PRESIDENT OF BOTSWANA, KETUMILE MAZIRE IS IN MAPUTO FOR TALKS WITH HIS COUNTERPART JOAQUIM CHISSANO. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 5/14)

CAPE VERDE / PORTUGAL -- PORTUGUESE PRESIDENT JORGE SAMPAIO ENDED HIS FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT ABROAD. DURING HIS STAY IN CAPE VERDE HE ANNOUNCED THAT THE SUMMIT MEETING BETWEEN THE HEADS OF STATES OF THE FIVE LUSOPHONE AFRICAN COUNTRIES PLUS PORTUGAL AND BRAZIL WILL TAKE PLACE JULY 17TH IN LISBON. STRINGER ALVARO LUDGERO REPORTS. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 5/13)

SAO TOME / MAYOR TRIAL -- FORMER MAYOR OF SAO TOME CITY, FERNANDA MARGATO HAS BEEN ACQUITTED OF CHARGES OF MISMANAGEMENT AND CORRUPTION. THE JUDGE AT THE PROCEEDING HAS ISSUED AN ORDER FOR HER IMMEDIATE REINSTATEMENT. SHE HAD BEEN ACCUSED BY SOME COUNCILMEN OF MISUSING THE CITY'S MONEY AND PROPERTIES. STAFFER OVIDIO PEQUENO REPORTS. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 5/14)

SOUTH AFRICA / WOMEN -- THE CONGRESS OF SOUTH AFRICAN TRADE UNIONS, COSATU, IS SPONSORING A WOMEN'S CONFERENCE FROM MAY 16TH TO THE 19TH IN JOHANNESBURG. COSATU SPOKESWOMAN DOROTHY MOKGALO TOLD REPORTER JOE DECAPUA THE FEDERATION IS CALLING FOR AFFIRMATIVE ACTION FOR WOMEN. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 5/13)

AFRICA / BANK -- ON MAY 22ND, OMAR KABBAJ WILL PRESIDE OVER HIS FIRST ANNUAL MEETING AS PRESIDENT OF THE AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK. FROM ABIDJAN, HE SPOKE TO REPORTER JOE DECAPUA ABOUT INTERNATIONAL REPLENISHMENT OF ITS SOFT LOAN ARM, THE AFRICA DEVELOPMENT FUND. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 5/14)

HUMAN RIGHTS / NGOS / AFRICA -- EYA NTCHAMA, VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS TALKED TO STAFFER JEAN-CLAUDE ANDRE ABOUT THE ROLE OF NGOS IN MITIGATING SHORTFALLS OF FREE MARKET ECONOMY. MR NTCHAMA IS THE AUTHOR OF A BOOK ON DEVELOPMENT AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFRICA. (FRENCH 5/14)

ETHIOPIA / CHINESE PRESIDENT -- THE PRESIDENT OF CHINA, JIANG ZEMIN CONCLUDED A THREE DAYS VISIT TO ETHIOPIA. ETHIOPIAN PRIME MINISTER MELES ZENAWI AND THE CHINESE PRESIDENT HAVE AGREED TO FOSTER TRADE AND CULTURAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THEIR TWO COUNTRIES. MR JIANG ZEMIN HAS ALSO MET THE OAU GENERAL SECRETARY, SALIM AHMED SALIM BEFORE HE FLEW TO CAIRO FOR A FOUR-DAY VISIT. STRINGER TAFESSE KIFLE REPORTS FROM ADDIS ABABA. (AMHARIC 5/13)

INSIDE MIDEAST:

AFGHAN / POL -- AFGHAN DEFENSE OFFICIALS SAY HEKMATYAR'S HEZBE-ISLAMI HAS FORMED AN ALLIANCE WITH THE GOVERNMENT AGAINST THE TALEBAN AND FIVE HUNDRED TROOPS FROM HEZBE ISLAMI HAVE ARRIVED IN KABUL. BUT GHAIRAT BAHIR, FOREIGN RELATIONS CHIEF FOR HEKMATYAR'S HEZBE-ISLAMI, IMMEDIATELY DENIED THE STATEMENT. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER ZEBA ZAHER, BAHIR SAID THE TALKS ARE GOING ON AND BOTH SIDES HAVE MADE GOOD PROGRESS BUT THE PURPOSE IS NOT TO FORM AN ALLIANCE AGAINST TALEBAN, BUT TO BRING PEACE TO AFGHANISTAN. (PASHTO, DARI 5/13)

AFGHAN / REFUGEES -- AN AFGHAN REFUGEE DOCTOR IN PESHAWAR, SHAIMA SULAIMAN WHO HEADS A REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS THE MAJOR PROBLEM THAT AFGHAN REFUGEE WOMEN AND CHILDREN FACE IS TB AND MALARIA. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER ZEBA ZAHER, SHAIMA WHO WAS ON A VISIT TO THE US AT THE INVITATION OF THE VIRGINIA-BASED REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH FOR REFUGEES (RHR) CONSORTIUM, SAID THE VACCINATION PROGRAM HAS TO AN EXTENT IMPROVED THE SITUATION. (PASHTO 5/12)

KURDISTAN SOCIALIST PARTY -- STAFFER HAIDER KARIM TALKED WITH MUHAMMAD HAJI MAHMUD, SECRETARY OF THE KURDISTAN SOCIALIST PARTY IN IRAQ. SPEAKING FROM DENMARK, MAHMUD SAID THE ECONOMIC SITUATION IN KURDISTAN IS VERY BAD DUE TO THE GULF WAR, ECONOMIC EMBARGO AND FIGHTING BETWEEN THE TWO KURDISH FACTIONS IN IRAQI KURDISTAN. HIS PARTY PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN RESOLVING THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES. IN EUROPE, MAHMUD IS MEETING WITH VARIOUS EUROPEAN GROUPS WHICH PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN AID TO KURDISTAN. (KURDISH 5/10)

IRAQI OIL TALKS CONTINUE -- US SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER MET WITH UN SECRETARY GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI, WHILE DIPLOMATIC TALKS FOR SALE OF IRAQI OIL AT INTERNATIONAL MARKETS CONTINUE, CORRESPONDENT LUIS TAMAYO REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (SPANISH 5/13)

INSIDE CENTRAL ASIA:

US EX-IM BANK / UZBEKISTAN -- STAFFER ABDUL MANNAN KAISKEN INTERVIEWS RITA RODRIGUEZ, A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, EXPORT-IMPORT BANK, ABOUT BANK PROJECTS IN CENTRAL ASIA, PARTICULARLY, IN THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN. SHE SAYS THE BANK IS LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVE A LARGER AMERICAN PRESENCE IN THAT COUNTRY AND AT THE MOMENT THE BANK IS READY FOR FINAL DISBURSEMENT OF ONE HUNDRED FORTY MILLION DOLLARS. (UZBEK 5/14)

AZERBAIJAN OIL / IRAN -- AZERBAIJAN HAS SIGNED OVER 10 PERCENT OF ITS 20 PERCENT STAKE IN THE OFFSHORE SHAH DENIZ OIL AND GAS FIELD IN THE CASPIAN SEA TO AN IRANIAN SEMI-GOVERNMENTAL COMPANY (OIL INDUSTRY AND ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION CO.). STRINGER RAFAEL HUSAINOV HAS TALKED ABOUT THE DETAILS OF THIS DEAL TO YAQUB DAVUDOV, A HIGH RANKING OFFICIAL OF SOCAR (STATE OIL COMPANY OF AZERBAIJAN REPUBLIC.). (AZERI 5/14)

INSIDE SOUTH ASIA:

INDIA / ELECTIONS -- THE SHAPE OF THE NEW INDIAN GOVERNMENT IS FAR FROM CLEAR THOUGH MOST OF THE RESULTS FOR PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS ARE KNOWN. SINCE NO PARTY WON A CLEAR MAJORITY, THE THREE MAJOR PARTIES, BJP, NF-LF ALLIANCE, AND THE DEFEATED CONGRESS PARTY, ARE ENGAGED IN NEGOTIATING PARTNERSHIP DEALS WITH REGIONAL PARTIES AND INDEPENDENTS IN EFFORTS TO FORM THE NEXT GOVERNMENT. STRINGER NANDAN PROVIDES DETAILS. (HINDI 5/13)

INDIA ELECTIONS / SAMAJWADI -- FORMER CHIEF MINISTER OF UTTAR PRADESH, MULAYAM SINGH YADAV HAS BEEN ELECTED LEADER OF THE SAMAJWADI PARTY BY ITS NEWLY ELECTED MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. THOUGH THE PARTY HAS WON ONLY FIFTEEN SEATS, ITS SUPPORT IS CRUCIAL FOR THE NF-LF ALLIANCE IN ITS HOPES FOR FORMING THE NEXT GOVERNMENT. STRINGER KV RAO EXPLAINS. (HINDI 5/13)

INDIA / WHO FORMS THE NEXT GOVERNMENT -- STAFFER UMESH AGNIHOTRI INTERVIEWS INDIAN CONSTITUTIONAL EXPERT AND FORMER GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT (LOK SABHA) SUBHASH KASHYAP, AND HARVARD UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR PRATAP BHANU MEHTA ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS FOR FORMING A GOVERNMENT IN CASE OF A BADLY HUNG PARLIAMENT WHICH HAS EMERGED AFTER THE ELECTIONS. THEY EXPLAIN THAT UNDER ARTICLE SIXTY SIX, PRESIDENT SD SHARMA CAN INSTRUCT THE LOK SABHA TO ELECT ITS LEADER AND THEN INVITE HIM TO FORM THE GOVERNMENT. (HINDI 5/12)

INDIA / FRIENDS OF BJP -- STAFFER GULSHAN MADHUR INTERVIEWS DR MUKUND MODI, A LEADER OF A NEW YORK BASED ORGANIZATION, 'FRIENDS OF BJP.' MR MODI SAYS THAT PRESIDENT SHARMA SHOULD INVITE BJP TO FORM THE NEW GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT IS THE LARGEST PARTY IN THE PARLIAMENT. HE SAYS THAT THE ECONOMIC LIBERALIZATION IN INDIA WILL GENERALLY STAY IN TACT IF BJP COMES TO POWER. (HINDI 5/13)

MOUNT EVEREST / CLIMBERS -- THREE MEMBERS OF THE INDIA-TIBET BORDER POLICE ARE AMONG THOSE WHO DIED AS THEY WERE RETURNING AFTER SUCCESSFULLY CLIMBING WORLD'S HIGHEST MOUNTAIN PEAK, MOUNT EVEREST. AN AMERICAN CLIMBER AND A JAPANESE MOUNTAINEER ALSO DIED DUE TO EXTREME BAD WEATHER AFTER A SUCCESSFUL ASSAULT ON MOUNT EVEREST. STRINGER REPORT. (HINDI 5/13)

INDIA ELECTIONS / WEST BENGAL -- THE WEST BENGAL CHIEF MINISTER JYOTI BASU LEFT CALCUTTA FOR NEW DELHI WHERE HE GOING TO ATTEND HIS PARTY MEETING REGARDING THE FUTURE PROSPECT OF A COALITION GOVERNMENT. IN WEST BENGAL ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS, THE LEFT FRONT HAS AGAIN CAPTURED MAJORITY SEATS ALTHOUGH THE CONGRESS PARTY WON MORE SEATS IN THIS ELECTION THAN THE PREVIOUS ONE. STRINGER GAUTAM GUPTA REPORTS FROM CALCUTTA. (BANGLA 5/11)

BANGLA ELECTION -- POLITICAL PARTIES IN BANGLADESH HAVE ANNOUNCED THE LIST OF THEIR CANDIDATES FOR THE JUNE 12TH ELECTIONS. MAY 12TH IS THE LAST DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF NOMINATION PAPERS. SEVERAL PROMINENT POLITICIANS INCLUDING BNP LEADER KHALEDA ZIA, AWAMI LEAGUE LEADER SHEIKH HASINA, AND JAILED LEADER HM ERSHAD OF JATIYA PARTY ARE CONTESTING ELECTIONS FROM MORE THAN ONE SEAT. STRINGER MATIUR RAHMAN CHOUDHURY REPORTS FROM DHAKA. (BANGLA 5/11)

CONFERENCE OF MUSLIM WOMEN -- A TWO DAY GLOBAL CONFERENCE OF MUSLIM WOMEN LEADERS TO ADVANCE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP AND DECISION MAKING IN MUSLIM SOCIETIES WAS HELD IN WASHINGTON. PARTICIPANTS INCLUDED WOMEN LEADERS FROM VARIOUS REGIONS INCLUDING SOUTH ASIA. STAFFERS MASUMA FAHMI AND DILARA HASHEM INTERVIEWED SOME OF THE PARTICIPANTS. (BANGLA 5/11 & 6/12)

BANGLA UNIVERSITY TEACHER / BRITAIN -- MS TAZEEN MORSHED, SENIOR LECTURER, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH LONDON CAME TO WASHINGTON TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BENGAL STUDIES CONFERENCE. SHE SPOKE ON THE SITUATION OF SOUTH ASIAN IMMIGRANTS IN BRITAIN. STAFFER MASUMA FAHMI INTERVIEWED HER ON THE BENGALI IMMIGRANTS IN BRITAIN AND ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE AS A TEACHER IN LONDON. (BANGLA 5/13)

BANGLADESHI STUDENT / CANADA -- MUSTAFA ASIF A TALENTED BANGLADESHI HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT IN CANADA EARNED FAME BY SOLVING A DIFFICULT GEOMETRICAL PROBLEM. SEVERAL UNIVERSITIES HAVE OFFERED SCHOLARSHIPS TO MUSTAFA. STRINGER MAHMUDUL HASSAN INTERVIEWED HIM AND REPORTS FROM OTTAWA. (BANGLA 5/13)

INSIDE EAST ASIA:

CHINA / CULTURAL REVOLUTION -- MAY 16 IS THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF CHINA'S DECADE-LONG HORROR KNOWN AS THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION. ALTHOUGH IT ENDED 20 YEARS AGO, IT STILL HAS INFLUENCE ON CHINESE POLITICS, SOCIETY, PEOPLE'S WAY OF THINKING AND BEHAVIOR AS WELL AS PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, ACCORDING TO CHINA FORUM PANELISTS MS GAO GAO, FORMER RESEARCHER AT THE INSTITUTE OF SOCIOLOGY AT THE CHINESE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, AND MR. YI ZHENG, CHINESE WRITER. CHINA FORUM HOSTED BY STAFFERS BAO SHEN AND JACKIE LUO. (MANDARIN 5/13)

TAIWAN / LEE INTERVIEW / HONG KONG COMMENTS -- TAIWAN PRESIDENT LEE TENG-HUI'S INAUGURATION SPEECH ON MAY 20 WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS, BUT JUDGING FROM HIS RECENT INTERVIEW WITH NEWSWEEK IT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM TO PUT FORWARD ANY NEW INITIATIVES IN THE COMING ADDRESS, SAY SOME HONG KONG COMMENTATORS. HONG KONG STAFFER CHOU YOUKANG INTERVIEWED COMMENTATORS LIU SILU AND TAN ZHIQIANG. (MANDARIN 5/13)

CHINA / POWER STRUGGLE -- STAFFER SUN CHENG INTERVIEWED SU SHAOZHI, FORMER DIRECTOR, THE INSTITUTE OF MARXISM AND LENINISM OF THE CHINESE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, AND CHEN KUIDE, PRINCETON CENTER FOR MODERN CHINA, ON THE POST-DENG XIAOPING POWER STRUGGLE ALREADY UNDERWAY IN CHINA. (MANDARIN 5/13)

CHINA / LU DINGYI DIES -- FORMER CHINESE VICE PREMIER AND LONG MARCH VETERAN LU DINGYI DIED LAST WEEK IN BEIJING AT THE AGE OF 90. LU SERVED IN SEVERAL HIGH-RANKING POSTS IN THE PARTY'S PROPAGANDA DEPARTMENT BEFORE BECOMING VICE PREMIER IN 1959 AND MINISTER OF CULTURE IN 1965. STAFFER HAI TAO INTERVIEWED GE YANG, VETERAN JOURNALIST AND WRITER, AND LI HONGLIN, CHINESE SCHOLAR AND FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF THEORY OF THE PROPAGANDA DEPT OF THE CCP. (MANDARIN 5/13)

HONG KONG / CIGARETTES ADS BANNED -- THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT PLANS TO COMPLETELY BAN CIGARETTE ADVERTISING IN NEWSPAPERS AND OUTDOORS IN TWO YEARS. THE 800 OR SO ADVERTISING FIRMS DOING OUTDOOR DISPLAYS WILL BE AFFECTED MORE THAN THE TOBACCO COMPANIES. MANY ADVERTISING INDUSTRY EMPLOYEES WILL LOOSE THEIR JOBS. LAST YEAR, TOBACCO COMPANIES SPENT CLOSE TO HK$150 MILLION BUYING OUTDOOR AND NEWSPAPER ADS. STRINGER MICHELLE YEUNG REPORTS. (CANTONESE 5/14)

HONG KONG / GUNFIGHT / SMUGGLERS -- HONG KONG POLICE FOUGHT WITH ARMED SMUGGLERS IN THE WESTERN DISTRICT CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN, CAPTURING A LARGE QUANTITY OF ARMS AND AMMUNITION INCLUDING SUBMACHINE GUNS AND ENOUGH EXPLOSIVES TO MAKE AT LEAST 30 HAND GRENADES. THE MACHINE GUNS ARE SIMILAR TO THE TYPE USED BY PUBLIC SECURITY POLICE ON THE MAINLAND. CONCERN AROSE ABOUT A REVIVAL OF ARMED BANDITRY THAT TOOK PLACE A FEW YEARS AGO AND ABOUT THE NEED TO STRENGTHEN PATROLLING ALONG THE MAINLAND BORDER. STRINGER LAWRENCE NG INTERVIEWED YUEN BUN KEUNG (BOARD CHAIRMAN, WESTERN DIST.), LEUNG HONG WAI (POLICE CAPTAIN), AND OTHERS. (CANTONESE 5/14)

KOREA / US / JAPAN TALKS -- POLICYMAKERS FROM SOUTH KOREA, US AND JAPAN AGREED THAT THE RECENT PROPOSAL FOR FOUR-WAY PEACE TALKS IN THE BEST PRACTICAL WAY TO BRING A PERMANENT PEACE TO THE KOREAN PENINSULA. AT A JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE TUESDAY ON THE SOUTH KOREAN ISLAND OF CHEJU FOLLOWING A TWO-DAY DISCUSSION, THE THREE-SIDES SAID THEY WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO PERSUADE NORTH KOREA TO ACCEPT THE PROPOSAL. US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE WINSTON LORD WHO LED THE US DELEGATION SAID THAT THE US HAS NO PLANS TO EASE SANCTIONS (AGAINST NORTH KOREA) AT THIS JUNCTURE AND WOULD CONSIDER FURTHER EASING OF SANCTIONS IN RESPONSE TO EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREED FRAMEWORK AND PROGRESS IN OTHER AREAS OF CONCERN. CORRESPONDENT NOH SI CHANG REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 5/14)

VIETNAM / GOVERNMENT MATCH-MAKING -- STAFFER TRUC BUI LOOKED AT THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT IN HANOI THAT AN OFFICIAL AGENCY HAS OPENED A FACILITY FOR BRINGING TOGETHER MATRIMONIAL CANDIDATES WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO BRIDES FOR FOREIGN MALES. (VIETNAMESE 5/12)

SURVIVOR OF VIETNAM'S SECRET WAR WANTS BACK PAY -- SYDNEY STRINGER NGOC HAN INTERVIEWED ONE OF THE US-TRAINED COMMANDOS DROPPED INTO NORTH VIETNAM DURING THE WAR. MEMBERS OF THIS CLANDESTINE FORCE BELIEVED LOST HAVE TURNED UP ALIVE AND WANT BACK WAGES THAT WERE CUT OFF TO FAMILIES WHEN THEY WERE DECLARED DEAD. (VIETNAMESE 5/13)

US / JAPAN RELATIONS -- REPORTER TERRY WING TALKS WITH FORMER US AMBASSADOR TO JAPAN MICHAEL ARMACOST ABOUT A VARIETY OF BI-LATERAL ISSUES STEMMING FROM THE DISCUSSION IN HIS NEW BOOK 'FRIENDS OR RIVALS.' THERE'S THE OBLIGATORY DISCUSSION OF TRADE RELATIONS AND DEFENSE ISSUES, BUT ALSO ABOUT, RACISM, A UN SECURITY COUNCIL SEAT AND MORE. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 5/13)

VIETNAM / IMMIGRANTS -- REPORTER SUSAN YACKEE SPEAKS WITH DINA POKEMPNER OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH-ASIA, IN NEW YORK, ABOUT THE PLIGHT OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG. SHE SAYS THE SITUATION IS MUCH WORSE IN THAT NATION FOR THE MIGRANTS, THAN IN OTHER ASIAN NATIONS. SHE FEELS CHINA IS PLAYING A GAME WITH BRITAIN OVER THE SITUATION. CONCERN ABOUT THE REFUGEES FOLLOWS TWO DAYS OF UNREST IN A HONG KONG DETENTION CAMP. (ENP 5/13)

INSIDE EUROPE:

BELGRADE / STRIKE -- ON THE EVE OF A CRUCIAL DEBATE ON ECONOMY IN THE YUGOSLAV FEDERAL ASSEMBLY, SEVERAL THOUSAND ANGRY INDUSTRIAL WORKERS BLOCKED ONE OF BELGRADE'S BUSIEST INTERSECTIONS DEMANDING MORE WORK AND BACK PAY. THE EMBATTLED GOVERNOR OF THE YUGOSLAV CENTRAL BANK VISITED THE STRIKING WORKERS TO OFFER HIS SUPPORT. STRINGER MILICA KUBUROVIC REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (SERBIAN 5/13)

SERBIA / DEMONSTRATIONS -- THOUSANDS OF WORKERS DEMONSTRATED IN TWO SERBIAN CITIES. BELGRADE STRINGER BRANKA VUJNOVIC REPORTS AMONG THE WORKERS GATHERED OUTSIDE THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT BUILDING WAS THE CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR DRAGOSLAV AVRAMOVIC. (CROATIAN 5/14)

YUGO / ECONOMY -- THE YUGOSLAV FEDERAL ASSEMBLY HOLDS A MAJOR DEBATE ON CONCEPTS OF PRIVATIZATION, ONE SUPPORTED BY THE GOVERNMENT, AND OTHER BY THE DISSIDENT GOVERNOR OF THE YUGOSLAV CENTRAL BANK. THE OPPOSITION IN SERBIA ASKED THE DEMONSTRATING WORKERS TO SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR. STRINGER DRAGAN BISENIC REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (SERBIAN 5/13)

SERBIA / DEMONSTRATIONS -- STRIKING WORKERS FROM ONE OF KEY FACTORIES IN BELGRADE SHARE THEIR ANGER AND FRUSTRATION WITH STRINGER DRAGAN BISENIC. HE TALKED WITH THREE WORKERS WHO TOLD HIM THAT THEY HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN THE LEADERS OF THEIR FACTORY, AND THAT THEY FEAR A NEW SURGE OF INFLATION. (SERBIAN 5/13)

EU / YUGOSLAVIA -- AT THEIR MEETING IN BRUSSELS, EU FOREIGN MINISTERS SAY THEY ARE READY TO NORMALIZE RELATIONS WITH YUGOSLAVIA BUT ONLY IF THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT MEETS CERTAIN CONDITIONS. GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER KINKEL SAID HE WILL SOON TRAVEL TO BELGRADE TO PRESS FOR THE EXTRADITION OF KARADZIC AND MLADIC TO THE HAGUE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. STRINGER DRAGAN BLAGOJEVIC REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS. (SERBIAN 5/13)

BOSNIA / BILDT -- KARL BILDT, INTERNATIONAL CIVIL ADMINISTRATOR FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, SAYS THAT BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS STICK TO A RIGID, NATIONALISTIC RULE IN THEIR PART OF BOSNIA FOR THEIR OWN PERSONAL ENDS. MR BILDT SAYS AS LONG AS THOSE LEADERS ARE IN POWER THE CHANCES OF A UNIFIED BOSNIA ARE REMOTE. STRINGER BORO KONTIC REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO. (SERBIAN 5/13)

SARAJEVO / DIVISION -- IFOR SPOKESMAN MAX REINER SAYS THAT IFOR COMMANDER LEIGHTON SMITH AND THE TOP INTERNATIONAL OFFICIAL IN BOSNIA KARL BILDT MAY HAVE TO DECIDE ON THE DIVISION LINE IN ONE OF THE SARAJEVO'S SUBURBS. THE SUBURB OF DOBRINJA IS IN DISPUTE BECAUSE THE DIVISION LINE CUTS SOME APARTMENTS LITERALLY IN HALF. STRINGER IGOR CRNADAK REPORTS FROM BANJALUKA. (SERBIAN 5/13)

MOSTAR / MAYOR -- THE MAYOR OF THE CROAT-HELD PART OF THE BOSNIAN CITY OF MOSTAR MIJO BRAJKOVIC SAYS IF THE EU CHANGES THE PREVIOUSLY SET RULES FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA, BOSNIAN CROATS WILL NO LONGER FEEL COMPELLED TO ADHERE TO THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS. STRINGER STEVICA SUSA REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (SERBIAN 5/13)

BRUSSELS / MOSTAR -- STRINGER LADA STIPIC NISETEO REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS THAT EU MINISTERS ARE CONSIDERING WHETHER TO APPROVE CROATIAN MEMBERSHIP IN THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL. THEY ALSO DISCUSSED LOCAL ELECTIONS IN MOSTAR. THE ELECTIONS ARE SCHEDULED FOR MAY 31, BUT THE LAST WORD ON THE TERMS OF ELECTIONS WILL BE RESERVED FOR EU ADMINISTRATOR PERES CASADO. (CROATIAN 5/13)

MOSTAR / SDA -- VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE BOSNIAN RULING PARTY OF DEMOCRATIC ACTION, EDHEM BICAKCIC TOLD STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC THAT HIS PARTY WILL NOT APPROVE NOR PARTICIPATE IN THE MOSTAR ELECTIONS UNLESS ALL THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN MOSTAR IN 1990 ARE GIVEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE. (CROATIAN 5/13)

US / BOSNIA DELEGATION -- SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER BEGINS TALKS IN WASHINGTON WITH HIGHEST OFFICIALS OF THE BOSNIAN MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION, THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AND THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER IVICA PULJIC, BOSNIAN PRIME MINISTER HASAN MURATOVIC SAID HE BELIEVES THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL ANNOUNCE THE CONTINUATION OF THE TRADE MISSION WHICH WAS STARTED BY THE LATE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE RON BROWN. (CROATIAN 5/14)

BOSNIA / UNION -- A US ECONOMIC MISSION VISITING BOSNIA, DISCUSSED THE QUESTION OF EMPLOYMENT FOR DEMOBILIZED BOSNIAN VETERANS. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC, THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOSNIAN UNIONS, SULEJMAN HRLE SAID THE DELEGATION PROMISED AN ADDITIONAL TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS FOR CREATING JOBS FOR THE FORMER SOLDIERS. (CROATIAN 5/13)

BOSNIAN CROAT FEDERATION / FORUM -- BOSNIAN CROAT FEDERATION PRIME MINISTER IZUDIN KAPETANOVIC AND BOSNIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE US SVEN ALKALAI SET THE SCENE FOR THE COMING FORUM ON THE BOSNIAN FEDERATION. SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER WILL LEAD THE US DELEGATION TO THE TALKS. (CROATIAN 5/13)

CROATIA / YUGOSLAVIA -- STRINGER JADRANKA KRONJA REPORTS ON A MEETING BETWEEN ASSISTANT FOREIGN MINISTERS OF CROATIA AND YUGOSLAVIA, IVAN SIMONOVIC AND ZIVORAD JOVANOVIC, ON THE NORMALIZATION OF CROATIAN-YUGOSLAV RELATIONS. (CROATIAN 5/13)

MILOSEVIC / KLEIN -- THE INTERIM ADMINISTRATOR FOR EASTERN SLAVONIA, US GENERAL JACQUES KLEIN MET WITH SERBIAN PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IN BELGRADE. STRINGER JADRANKA KRONJA SAYS MR MILOSEVIC ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROCESS OF REINTEGRATION GOING ON IN CROATIA. (CROATIAN 5/13)

POLAND / ETHICS AND POLITICS -- ADAM SZOSTKIEWICZ, SPEAKING AT A USIA SPONSORED SYMPOSIUM ON ETHICS IN JOURNALISM, CRITICIZED THE STANDARDS OF POLISH MEDIA, AND COMPLAINED ABOUT POLITICALLY BIASED REPORTING. INTERVIEW BY CORRESPONDENT TADEUSZ WALENDOWSKI IN WARSAW. (POLISH 5/14)

FIFTY YEARS OF POLISH-AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION -- THE POLISH-AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION IN CHICAGO CELEBRATED ITS FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY. CORRESPONDENT WOJTEK MINICZ IN CHICAGO INTERVIEWED PARTICIPANTS FROM POLAND WHO PRAISED THE ASSOCIATION FOR DEVELOPING GOOD WORKING RELATIONS WITH THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY IN POLAND. (POLISH 5/14)

POLAND / POLISH AMERICAN CONGRESS -- POLISH PRESIDENT ALEKSANDER KWASNIEWSKI RESPONDED TO A LETTER FROM POLISH AMERICAN CONGRESS PRESIDENT EDWARD MOSKAL ON POLISH-JEWISH RELATIONS. MR KWASNIEWSKI CONFIRMED HIS GOVERNMENT POSITION SAYING THAT POLISH-JEWISH RECONCILIATION IS HIGH PRIORITY OF POLAND'S POLITICAL AGENDA. STRINGER MARIA BNINSKA REPORTS FROM WARSAW. (POLISH 5/14)

TURKEY / TEXTILE TRADE -- MORE THAN FORTY COUNTRIES WERE REPRESENTED IN THE ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF APPAREL INDUSTRIES, HELD L IN ISTANBUL, TURKEY. STAFFER HALE EBIRI INTERVIEWS MS. NUR GER, THE OUTGOING PRESIDENT OF THE TURKISH ASSOCIATION OF READY WEAR MAKERS, HOST OF THE INTERNATIONAL EVENT. MS GER DISCUSSES THE CONVENTION AND THE PROJECTIONS FOR FUTURE PERFORMANCE OF TURKISH TEXTILE AND APPAREL INDUSTRIES. (TURKISH 5/14)

TURKEY / HABITAT II -- TURKEY AND THE CITY OF ISTANBUL ARE PREPARING TO HOST THE UN HABITAT-II CONFERENCE, NEXT MONTH. STAFFER MELEK CAGLAR INTERVIEWS MS SULE AYTAC, A NON-GOVERNMENTAL PROJECT DIRECTOR FOR THE CONFERENCE. MS AYTAC IS HOPEFUL THAT THE CONFERENCE WILL BE SUCCESSFUL DESPITE LACK OF A STRONG TRADITION OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITY IN TURKEY IN THE AREA OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND SHORTAGE OF U.N. FUNDS. (TURKISH 5/14)

TURKEY / HUMAN RIGHTS -- IN A RECENT BRIEFING HOSTED BY THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE, SEVERAL EXPERTS CRITICIZED THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT FOR ITS ALLEGED MISTREATMENT OF MEDICAL PERSONNEL WORKING AT THE CENTER FOR VICTIMS OF TORTURE. STAFFER MEHMET ILHAN INTERVIEWS YAVUZ ONEN, PRESIDENT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS FOUNDATION OF TURKEY, THE SPONSOR OF THE CENTER, AND AMBASSADOR NURETTIN NURKAN, SPOKESMAN FOR THE TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY. MR ONEN CHARGES THAT IN RESPONSE TO INTERNATIONAL CRITICISM, THE FOREIGN MINISTRY HAS PROMPTED OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO HARRASS THE CENTERS FOR TORTURE VICTIMS. AMBASSADOR NURKAN REJECTS THIS ALLEGATION AND SAYS THE CENTERS NEED TO BE STAFFED BY PERSONNEL WHO MEET LEGAL AND PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS IN TURKEY. (TURKISH 5/14)

FRANCE / BRITAIN -- STAFFER PIERRE POUILLON TALKS WITH LONDON CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA ABOUT THE VISIT TO BRITAIN OF FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC AND THE ISSUES HE MIGHT DISCUSS WITH HIS BRITISH HOSTS. (FRENCH 5/13)

UNCTAD / EMERGING MARKETS -- STAFFER JEAN-CLAUDE ANDRE INTERVIEWED PIERRE BULTEZ, OF INTERNATIONAL BANK, LUXEMBOURG. MR BULTEZ TALKED ABOUT THE PROPOSAL MADE BY HIS ORGANIZATION DURING UNCTAD-9 TO CREATE A SPECIAL FUND THAT WOULD INVEST IN SMALL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN EMERGING MARKETS. (FRENCH 5/14)

INSIDE EURASIA:

US / RUSSIA / BUSINESS -- REX HALLIS, GLOBALSTAR VICE PRESIDENT FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AND DAVID BENTON, HEAD OF THE GLOBALSTAR PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT TALK TO STAFFER IRENE KELNER ON THEIR FUTURE PLANS SINCE GLOBALSTAR HAS BEEN GRANTED ACCESS TO THE RUSSIAN MARKET. (RUSSIAN 5/13)

US / RUSSIA / EXCHANGE -- SERGEI SKOROKHODOV, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF ECONOMICS TODAY NEWSPAPER IN ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN, SERIK MEDITBEKOV, PRESIDENT OF THE RADIO-TV COMPANY RIK IN ALMATY AND MUKHTAR KULMUHAMEDOV, EDITOR OF THE CAPITAL OBSERVER-ATAMURA NEWSPAPER IN ALMATY ARE IN THE US ON A USIA SPONSORED PROGRAM FOR MEDIA IN THE CIS. THEY PARTICIPATED IN A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON THIS PROGRAM WITH STAFFER AVIVA LEKUCH. (RUSSIAN 5/14)

US / RUSSIA / EXCHANGE -- JIM PASQUELL, THE HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES AT THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT ALBANY TALKS TO STAFFER AVIVA LEKUCH ABOUT STUDENT EXCHANGES. (RUSSIAN 5/14)

SALVATION ARMY / RUSSIA -- MIKE SCHMICKRATH, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE ALASKA BRANCH OF THE SALVATION ARMY DISCUSSES FUTURE PLANS FOR THE SALVATION ARMY IN THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST WITH STAFFER GEORGE ZORIN. (RUSSIAN 5/13)

INSIDE LATIN AMERICA:

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC / MILITARY CHANGES -- JUST THREE DAYS BEFORE THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, PRESIDENT JOAQUIN BALAGUER UNEXPECTEDLY REPLACED THE MAIN MILITARY COMMANDERS IN THE COUNTRY, STRINGER MANUEL JIMENEZ REPORTED FROM SANTO DOMINGO. THE ELECTORAL BOARD ANNOUNCED IN TURN THAT PROVISIONAL RESULTS OF THE ELECTIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE THE FOLLOWING MORNING, TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY OF THE PROCESS. (SPANISH 5/14)

BRAZIL / HUMAN RIGHTS CODE -- PRESIDENT FERNANDO HENRIQUE CARDOZO, PRESSED BY INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC OPINION AFTER A MASSACRE OF 19 LANDLESS PEASANTS, ANNOUNCED A NEW FEDERAL CODE TO ENSURE HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE COUNTRY. STRINGER VALENTIN GALVAN REPORTS FROM RIO DE JANEIRO. (SPANISH 5/13)

BOLIVIA / HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES N -- HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH, A US BASED MONITORING GROUP, CHARGED THAT BOLIVIAN SPECIAL POLICE UNITS ASSIGNED TO FIGHT DRUG TRAFFICKERS IN THE COUNTRY ABUSED HUMAN RIGHTS BY USING EXCESSIVE FORCE, MAKING WHAT CALLS ARBITRARY ARRESTS AND SUPPRESSING PROTEST DEMONSTRATIONS, STAFFER ZULIMA PALACIO REPORTS. (SPANISH 5/13)

ARGENTINA / HUMAN RIGHTS VISITORS -- TWO MEMBERS OF ARGENTINA'S HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP "MOTHERS OF PLAZA DE MAYO" ARE VISITING SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, INVITED BY CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY'S CENTER FOR LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES IN RIVERSIDE, CORRESPONDENT HECTOR VELAZQUEZ MEJIA REPORTS. (SPANISH 5/13)

HAITI PARLIAMENT / BUDGET -- THE HAITIAN PARLIAMENT ADJOURNED WITHOUT VOTING ON THE NEW BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR. THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES (E.G., SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE) SAYS THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT KEEP SOME IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS THAT WOULD HAVE HELPED THE LEGISLATORS TO DECIDE ON A BUDGET. STRINGER YVES MONPREMIER REPORTS. (CREOLE 5/13)

ARISTIDE HAITI / DRUGS -- DRUGS CONTINUE TO ENTER INTO HAITI ACROSS THE DOMINICAN BORDER. MEANWHILE, 2 HAITIAN JUDGES ARE FIGHTING OVER THE DRUG PROBLEM. JEAN FRANNSO ARISTIDE REPORTS THAT THEY ARE ACCUSING EACH OTHER OF ACCEPTING BRIBES TO DROP THE INVESTIGATION INTO DRUG TRAFFICKING. (CREOLE 5/13)
14-May-96 5:40 PM EDT (2140 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE SAFETY OF BUDGET AIRLINES IN GENERAL, AND QUESTIONS ABOUT VALUJET IN PARTICULAR, ARE POPULAR TOPICS IN THE EDITORIALS COLUMNS OF TUESDAY'S U-S PAPERS, PARTICULARLY AFTER SATURDAY'S CRASH IN THE FLORIDA EVERGLADES.

OTHER SUBJECTS COMMENTED UPON INCLUDE A NEW "STARS WARS" TECHNOLOGY BEING CONSIDERED; THE INDIAN ELECTION AFTERMATH; THE NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY; MODIFYING THE IRAQI OIL EMBARGO; SOUTH AFRICA'S CONSTITUTION; AND THE PROBLEM OF HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS IN MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES.

NOW, HERE WITH SOME QUOTES IS ________________AND TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: SATURDAY'S (5/11/96) CRASH OF A VINTAGE DOUGLAS DC-9 JETLINER WITH 109 PASSENGERS AND CREW ABOARD IN A REMOTE SECTION OF THE FLORIDA EVERGLADES HAS CAST A PALL OVER THE BUDGET AIRLINE INDUSTRY. SEVERAL EDITORIALS QUESTION WHETHER THESE AIRLINES THAT TRADITIONALLY FLY OLDER JETLINERS, OFTEN WITH LOWER SALARIED CREWS, ARE AS SAFE AS THE NATION'S ESTABLISHED AIRLINES.

AS NEWSDAY ON LONG ISLAND PUTS IT:

VOICE: "THE CRASH ..... IS CERTAIN TO PUT THE AIRLINE ITSELF AND OTHER SMALL START-UP CARRIERS UNDER INCREASED SCRUTINY. AND IT SHOULD. ..... SAFETY FIGUTRES SHOW THE NATION'S NEWER AIRLINES HAVE AS GOOD A RECORD AS THE ESTABLISHED CARRIERS, SO NOBODY SHOULD RUSH TO JUDGMENT ABOUT THEM BASED ON THIS CALAMITY. STILL, WHERE SAFETY IS CONCERNED, THERE'S ALWAYS REASON FOR VIGILANCE. ..... THE FAA [FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION] MUST HAVE THE RESOURCES TO KEEP UP WITH GROWTH IN THE [AIRLINE] INDUSTRY."

TEXT: TODAY'S ATLANTA CONSTITUTION ASKS IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL HEADLINE, "ARE OLDER PLANES SAFE?"

VOICE: "..... THERE ARE NAGGING QUESTIONS ABOUT DISCOUNT CARRIERS, SUCH AS VALUJET, BECAUSE THESE AIRLINES USE OLDER PLANES. MANY TRAVELERS ARE ASKING: WHEN DOES AN OLD PLANE BECOME TOO OLD TO BE RELIABLE? ..... THE PLANE THAT CRASHED SATURDAY WAS 27 YEARS OLD AND HAD BEEN FORCED TO RETURN TO AIRPORTS SEVEN TIMES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF VARIOUS EQUIPMENT PROBLEMS. INVESTIGATORS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED SATURDAY'S CRASH - - IT'S POSSIBLE THE EQUIPMENT PLAYED NO ROLE AT ALL. NEVERTHELESS, THE AGE OF THE PLANE RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT OBSOLESCENCE."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON POST HAS MISGIVINGS ABOUT GOVERNMENT SAFETY PROCEDURES REGUARDING THE NEWER AIRLINES:

VOICE: "NEVER MIND HOW MANY TENS OF MILLIONS OF COMMERCIAL JET FLIGHTS THERE ARE WITHOUT ACCIDENTS EVERY YEAR; COMMERCIAL AIR TRAVEL HAS UNDERGONE SOME DRAMATIC CHANGES IN RECENT YEARS THAT PUT NEW STRAINS ON THE GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY TO OVERSEE OPERATIONS. THERE ARE REAL AND DISTURBING CONCERNS ABOUT THE THOROUGHNESS OF GOVERNMENT INSPECTIONS AND ABOUT CREW TRAINING, OLD AIRCRAFT AND NEW AIRLINES."

TEXT: HOWEVER, THE BALTIMORE SUN CAUTIONS READERS:

VOICE: "THE REACTION [TO THE CRASH] THAT A START-UP, LOW-FARE AIRLINE MAY BE LESS SAFE THAN AN ESTABLISHED CARRIER IS UNWARRANTED. RECALL THE FATAL CRASHES OF LONGTIME, MAJOR AIR CARRIERS, IN RECENT YEARS. REMEMBER THAT YOUNG SCHEDULED AIRLINES MUST MEET THE SAME (ALBEIT MINIMAL) FAA STANDARDS AS THE OLDER ONES."

TEXT: ONCE AGAIN, CONGRESS AND THE PENTAGON ARE DISCUSSING THE PROSPECTS FOR BUILDING A SCALED-DOWN VERSION OF THE "STAR WARS" MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM, THAT COULD SHOOT DOWN INCOMING ENEMY MISSILES. THE NEW YORK TIMES COMMENTS:

VOICE: "THE QUESTION NOW BEFORE CONGRESS IS WHETHER TO INTENSIFY EFFORTS TO DEVELOP AND BUILD A SYSTEM CAPABLE OF DEFENDING AGAINST THE LESSER BUT STILL DEADLY THREAT OF A LIMITED NUCLEAR MISSILE ATTACK FROM NORTH KOREA, IRAN, IRAQ, LIBYA OR SOME OTHER ROGUE STATE. THE IDEA ..... COULD COST AS MUCH AS 20-BILLION DOLLARS..... AS A POLITICAL MANEUVER, THE PLAN HAS GREAT APPEAL FOR ITS REPUBLICAN SPONSORS ..... BUT AS A MILITARY AND POLITICAL MATTER, THE PLAN IS FLAWED. ..... WASHINGTON ..... SHOULD NOT MAKE A COMMITMENT TO BUILD A SYSTEM UNTIL THE NEED AND TECHNOLOGY ARE CLEARER."

TEXT: ON A RELATED TOPIC, THE NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY BEING DEBATED AT THE RESUMED 37-NATION DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE IN GENEVA THIS WEEK, TODAY'S CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR SUGGESTS:

VOICE: "THE NUCLEAR-WEAPONS AGE TURNS 51 THIS SUMMER. THE QUEST TO BAN ALL NUCLEAR TESTS HAS BEEN UNDER WAY FOR 42 OF THOSE YEARS. THE FIRST STEP - BARRING TESTS IN AIR, IN SPACE, AND UNDER WATER - - WAS SIGNED 33 YEARS AGO. 'NOW' [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] IS THE TIME TO FINISH THAT WORK BY AGREEING TO A TOTAL BAN WITH TIGHT INSPECTION CONTROL."

TEXT: COMMENTING ON THE POLITICAL UPHEAVL FROM INDIA'S RECENT PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, IN WHICH THE LONG-RULING CONGRESS PARTY LOST ITS MAJORITY, THE BALTIMORE SUN SUGGESTS:

VOICE: "OUT OF THE CHAOS WILL COME A COALITION GOVERNMENT. IT WILL BE LED EITHER BY LEFTISTS REPRESENTING LOW-CASTE HINDUS, MUSLIMS AND MARXISTS; OR BY HIGH-CASTE HINDU EXTREMISTS WHO WOULD ABOLISH THE SECULAR LAWS AND PROTECTIONS FOR MINORITIES AND LAUNCH A NUCLEAR ARMS RACE. ..... EITHER WAY WOULD MEAN AN UNEASY COALITION OF OPPOSITES. THIS IS A SPECIALTY OF SUCH DEMOCRACIES BEGINNING WITH 'I' AS ICELAND, IRELAND, ISRAEL AND ITALY. INDONESIA AND IRAQ, BY CONTRAST, HAVE ALWAYS ENJOYED MONOLITHIC REGIMES."

TEXT: SPEAKING OF IRAQ, NEWSDAY SUGGESTS THAT YES, THE U-N SHOULD LIFT THE SANCTIONS ON OIL SALES BY IRAQ, BUT ADVISES PRESIDENT CLINTON SHOULD:

VOICE: "... CONTINUE TO INSIST ON STRICT CONDITIONS FOR IRAQI OIL SALES. THERE ARE GOOD HUMANITARIAN REASONS TO ALLOW THE OIL TO FLOW AGAIN, BUT ONLY UNDER FIRM INTERNATIONAL SUPERVISION. THE MONEY MUST GO TO FEED AND CARE FOR ORDINARY IRAQI CITIZENS VICTIMIZED BY SADDAM HUSSEIN'S BLOODY-MINDEDNESS, TO REVITALIZE HIS REGIME."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK POST IS SOMEWHAT SKEPTICAL OF THE NEW SOUTH AFRICAN CONSTITUTION, NOTING IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL, THE CHALLENGE IS TO MAKE THE RIGHTS GUARANTEED ON THE PAPER COME TO LIFE IN SOCIETY, OR.....

VOICE: "IF SOUTH AFRICA CONTINUES TO SUFFER FROM VIOLENT CRIME AND INTER-TRIBAL STRIFE, ITS CITIZENS WILL LIKELY DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDABLE CYNICISM REGARDING THEIR HIGH-MINDED CONSTITUTION - ADOCUMENT THAT PROMISES THE MOON, BUT IGNORES THE DAILY REALITIES OF SOUTH AFRICAN LIFE."

TEXT: AND FINALLY, IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, THE DENVER POST SAYS THE UNITED STAES AND MEXICO MUST DO A BETTER JOB OF PROTECTING PEOPLE FROM EXCESSES BY POLICE IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES.

VOICE: "POLICE BRUTALITY AND EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE ARE INTOLERABLE REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY OCCUR. AMERICANS AND MEXICANS ALIKE WERE APPALLED BY THE RECENTR VIDEOTAPE THAT SHOWED CALIFORNIA SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES BEATING SUSPECTS WHO LATER WERE DISCOVERED TO BE ILLEGAL MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS. ..... HOWEVER, MEXICO ALSO NEEDS TO SET ITS OWN HOUSE IN ORDER IN THE AREA OF POLICE BRUTALITY....THERE ARE REPORTS THAT PARAMILITARY VILENCE IS EITHER FOMENTED OR TOLERATED BY MEXICO'S FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ITSELF."

TEXT: AND WITH THAT, WE END THIS EDITION OF THE U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST FOR TUESDAY, MAY 14.
AG/NL
14-May-96 11:50 AM EDT (1550 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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