Voice of America Digest, 12 October 1995

From: [email protected] (Ioannis Bousnakis)

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] !!! VOA DIGEST - 10/12/95 !!!

BOSNIA / CEASE-FIRE -- UN OFFICIALS SAY FIGHTING HAS DIMINISHED DRMATICALY ACROSS BOSNIA SINCE A CEASE-FIRE WENT INTO EFFECT EARLY THURSDAY. BUT THE BOSNIA ARMY CLAIMS ITS FORCES ARE STILL UNDER ATTACK AROUND A RECENTLY CAPTURED TOWN IN NORTHERN BOSNIA. DAVID FOLEY REPORTED FROM SARAJEVO. (10/12)

CAMBODIA / POL -- A MAIN CRITIC OF THE CAMBODIAN GOVERNMENT HAS GIVEN A NAME TO A NEW POLITICAL PARTY HE SAYS WILL BE CREATED SOON TO OPPOSE THE RULING COALITION GOVERNMENT. CORRESPONDENT DAN ROBINSON REPORTED FROM PHNOM PENH. (10/12)

RUSSIA / RAID -- AFTER A SERIES OF HOSTAGE TAKINGS IN RUSSIA -- AND WITH VIOLENT CRIME IN GENERAL ON THE RISE -- RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES ARE TRYING TO STEP UP THEIR READINESS TO HANDLE TERRORISM. CORRESPONDENT ELIZABETH ARROTT IN MOSCOW REPORTED ON ONE EFFORT THAT WENT SOMEWHAT AWRY. (10/12)

TURKEY / TRIAL -- THE TRIAL OF AN AMERICAN JOURNALIST ACCUSED OF VIOLATING TURKISH LAWS AGAINST PROVOKING RACIAL HATRED BEGAN THURSDAY IN ISTANBUL. AS STRINGER AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTED FROM ISTANBUL, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME A FOREIGN JOURNALIST IS BEING PROSECUTED IN TURKEY BECAUSE OF WHAT SHE WROTE. (10/12)

INDONESIA / SPRATLEY -- IN INDONESIA RIVAL CLAIMANTS TO ISLANDS, REEFS, AND ATOLLS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA, AGREED TODAY (THURSDAY) ON CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES TO DEFUSE THE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS REGIONAL DISPUTE. FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU IN BANGKOK, STRINGER DAVID BUTLER REPORTED ABOUT THE CONCLUSION OF THREE-DAYS OF TALKS ABOUT THE DISPUTED SPRATLEY ISLANDS. (10/12)

EU / BOSNIA -- THE EUROPEAN UNION'S PEACE NEGOTIATOR IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, CARL BILDT, SAYS HE HOPES THE CEASEFIRE WHICH STARTED EARLY THURSDAY MEANS THE END OF THE WAR. STRINGER JOHN FRASER IN BRUSSELS REPORTED MR. BILDT SPOKE AFTER TALKS WITH BOSNIAN PRIME MINISTER HARIS SILADJIC. (10/12)

US ECONOMY -- THE FIRST OF TWO MAJOR REPORTS ON U-S INFLATION THIS WEEK SHOWS THE LARGEST INCREASE IN WHOLESALE PRICES THIS YEAR. HOWEVER, AS ECONOMICS EDITOR JOE SUMMERS REPORTED, THE RISING PRODUCER PRICE INDEX IS NOT EXPECTED TO HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THE LEVEL OF U-S INTEREST RATES. (10/12)

CHINA / PIRACY -- THE US GOVERNMENT IS PRESSING CHINA TO STEP UP ITS ENFORCEMENT OF AN AGREEMENT REACHED THIS YEAR ON THE PROTECTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS. AS WE HEARD FROM HONG KONG CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON THE PRESSURE FOLLOWS COMPLAINTS FROM MAJOR U-S SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS THAT MILLIONS OF COPIES OF THEIR PRODUCTS ARE STILL BEING ILLEGALLY MANUFACTURED AND SOLD IN CHINA. (10/12)

LIBERIA / WEST AFRICA -- SIX WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES HAVE AGREED TO SEND TROOPS OR MILITARY SUPPORT UNITS TO STRENGTHEN THE REGIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN LIBERIA. CORRESPONDENT PURNELL MURDOCK REPORTED FROM V-O-A'S WEST AFRICA BUREAU. (10/12)

HURRICANE ROXANNE THURSDAY -- AFTER STALLING EARLY THURSDAY, HURRICANE ROXANNE HAS RESUMED ITS SLOW WESTWARD TRACK. THE STORM IS NOW ABOUT 95-KILOMETERS NORTH-NORTHEAST OF THE MEXICAN CITY OF CARMEN, WITH MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS OF 120-KILOMETERS AN HOUR. CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE REPORTED FROM OUR MIAMI BUREAU. (10/12)

AUSTRIA / POLITICS -- THE RULING TWO-PARTY COALITION IN AUSTRIA HAS COLLAPSED. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY IN VIENNA REPORTS THE COALITION'S FAILURE TO AGREE ON A NEW BUDGET FOR THE COUNTRY MEANS EARLY PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS ARE LIKELY BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. (10/12)

ECUADOR / RESIGNATION -- THE ARCHITECT OF ECUADOR'S ECONOMIC REFORM PROGRAM, VICE-PRESIDENT ALBERTO DAHIK, HAS RESIGNED AND GONE INTO HIDING AFTER THE SUPREME COURT ORDERED HIS ARREST ON CHARGES OF MISUSE OF HIS OFFICIAL DISCRETIONARY FUNDS. WE HAVE DETAILS FROM SOUTH AMERICA CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK. (10/12)

FRANCE / ALGERIA -- THE BANNED ALGERIAN ISLAMIC SALVATION FRONT HAS TOLD FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC IT VIEWS A PLANNED MEETING WITH THE ALGERIAN PRESIDENT AS A PROVOCATION. JULIAN NUNDY IN PARIS REPORTS THE STATEMENT COMES AFTER A SERIES OF BOMB ATTACKS IN FRANCE BLAMED ON ALGERIAN ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS. (10/12)

BOSNIA / FRANCE -- FRANCE SAYS IT IS WILLING TO SEND MORE TROOPS TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA TO ENFORCE FORTHCOMING PEACE ACCORDS. STRINGER JULIAN NUNDY IN PARIS REPORTED DEFENSE MINISTER CHARLES MILLON ALSO SAYS FRANCE WANTS PEACEKEEPING TROOPS IN BOSNIA TO BE UNDER THE COMMAND OF A SENIOR U-N REPRESENTATIVE. (10/12)

KENYA CORRUPTION -- KENYAN AUTHORITIES ARE REJECTING CHARGES THAT A NEW REPORT BY THE COUNTRY'S AUDITOR-GENERAL HAS EXPOSED A PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN SERIES OF MYSTERIOUS AND IRREGULAR MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR PAYMENTS. BUT NAIROBI CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTED MEMBERS OF KENYA'S OPPOSITION AND FOREIGN DIPLOMATS ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S EXPLANATION. (10/12)

AIDS AND AFRICAN YOUTH -- SINCE AIDS WAS FIRST DIAGNOSED IN THE EARLY 1980'S THE DISEASE HAS BECOME A WORLDWIDE PROBLEM. NOWHERE IS THE EPIDEMIC MORE OF A CONCERN THAN AFRICA WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE, IN PARTICULAR, ARE AT RISK. REPORTER YEHEYES WUHIB REPORTED THE U-N ECONOMIC SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION HAS JOINED FORCES WITH THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY IN AN EFFORT TO BRING ATTENTION TO AIDS AND OTHER NEEDS OF AFRICA'S YOUTH. (10/12)

BOSNIA / SITREP -- FIGHTING HAS STOPPED IN MOST OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. ASSUMING THE CEASEFIRE GRADUALLY TAKES HOLD EVERYWHERE, THE UNITED NATIONS FACES ENORMOUS CHALLENGES IN TRYING TO ENSURE PEACE IS REALLY AT HAND IN BOSNIA. CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTED. (10/12)

BOSNIA / REFUGEES -- THE CEASEFIRE IN BOSNIA CAME TOO LATE FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE -- BOTH SERBS AND MUSLIMS -- FORCED TO FLEE THEIR HOMES, IN SOME CASES, JUST HOURS BEFORE THE TRUCE WENT INTO EFFECT. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN GENEVA REPORTS THESE NEW REFUGEES ARE VICTIMS BOTH OF THE LATEST GROUND FIGHTING AND ANOTHER WAVE OF ETHNIC CLEANSING BY BOSNIAN SERB FORCES. (10/12)

RUSSIA / SPACE -- THREE ASTRONAUTS ABOARD THE RUSSIAN MIR SPACE STATION WILL HAVE TO SPEND SIX MORE WEEKS IN ORBIT THAN ORIGINALLY PLANNED. FROM VOA'S MOSCOW BUREAU, STRINGER PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS OFFICIALS SAY THE EXTENSION WAS FORCED BY A SHORTAGE OF CASH THAT DELAYED ROCKET PRODUCTION. (10/12)

ROXANNE / DOWNGRADED -- HURRICANE ROXANNE HAS BEEN DOWNGRADED TO TROPICAL STORM STATUS. CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE REPORTED FROM OUR MIAMI BUREAU, ROXANNE NOW HAS MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS OF JUST MORE THAN 90-KILOMETERS PER HOUR AND IS EXPECTED TO BRING HEAVY RAINS TO SOUTHEASTERN MEXICO. (10/12)

RUSSIA COMMUNISTS --AUTHORITIES IN THE CENTRAL RUSSIAN CITY TAMBOV RAISED THE SOVIET FLAG OVER THE CITY COUNCIL BUILDING THIS WEEK, PART OF PREPARATIONS TO RESTORE THE CITY'S COMMUNIST-ERA POWER STRUCTURE. VOA CORRESPONDENT ELIZABETH ARROTT IN MOSCOW REPORTED THE GROWING NOSTALGIA IN RUSSIA ABOUT ITS COMMUNIST PAST, AND HOW THAT TREND MIGHT PLAY OUT DURING ELECTIONS COME DECEMBER. (10/12)

BOSNIA / US CONCERN -- THE UNITED STATES IS EXPRESSING HOPE FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE BOSNIA CEASE-FIRE BUT THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS WARNING THE SERBS AGAINST CARRYING OUT MORE ETHNIC CLEANSING AROUND BANJA LUKA IN NORTHERN BOSNIA. STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS. (10/11)

BOSNIA / CEASE-FIRE -- AFTER TWO DAYS OF DELAYS A 60-DAY CEASE-FIRE IN BOSNIA HAS NOW GONE INTO EFFECT, ALTHOUGH IT IS STILL TOO EARLY TO SAY IF FIGHTING HAS STOPPED AROUND THE COUNTRY. BOSNIA HAS SEEN DOZENS OF CEASE-FIRE AGREEMENTS COME AND GO DURING THE WAR, BUT THERE ARE HIGH HOPES THIS LATEST TRUCE MAY BECOME PERMANENT. STRINGER DAVID FOLEY REPORTED FROM SARAJEVO. (10/11)

CLINTON / BOSNIA -- PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS WELCOMED THE AGREEMENT REACHED BY THE WARRING PARTIES TO THE CONFLICT IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA TO IMPLEMENT A COUNTRY-WIDE CEASE-FIRE, BEGINNING AT ONE MINUTE PAST MIDNIGHT THURSDAY MORNING BOSNIAN TIME. THE PRESIDENT IS CALLING ON ALL PARTIES TO ABIDE BY THE TERMS OF THE CEASE-FIRE, AND SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK OUT THEIR DIFFERENCES AT THE BARGAINING TABLE. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS. (10/11)

NATO / BOSNIA -- NATO AMBASSADORS HAVE GIVEN THEIR APPROVAL TO A BLUEPRINT FOR POLICING THE PEACE IN BOSNIA, ASSUMING THE LATEST CEASE-FIRE WILL BE OBSERVED. ALLIANCE MILITARY COMMANDERS NOW HAVE THE TASK OF DRAWING UP MORE DETAILED PLANS FOR WHAT WILL BE NATO'S MOST AMBITIOUS OPERATION. STRINGER JOHN FRASER REPORTED FROM BRUSSELS. (10/11)

EU / FRANCE / NUCLEAR TEST -- THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS GIVEN FRANCE UNTIL MONDAY, OCTOBER 23RD, TO PROVIDE FULL INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR NUCLEAR TEST PROGRAM IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. IF FRANCE FAILS TO SATISFY EU OFFICIALS THAT ALL THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN, FRANCE BE TAKEN BEFORE THE EUROPEAN COURT. BRUSSELS STRINGER JOHN FRASER REPORTS. (10/11)

IRAQ / WEAPONS -- A NEW UNITED NATIONS REPORT SAYS IRAQ'S PAST WEAPONS PROGRAMS WERE MORE DANGEROUS THAN BAGHDAD HAD PREVIOUSLY ADMITTED TO UN INSPECTORS. THE REPORT, NOT OFFICIALLY RELEASED YET, WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL FRIDAY. UN CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS. (10/11)

NORTH KOREA / UN -- NORTH KOREA SAYS JAPAN HAS NOT APOLOGIZED ENOUGH FOR WORLD WAR TWO AND DOES NOT DESERVE A MORE HONORED PLACE AT THE UNITED NATIONS. VICE-MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS CHOI SU HON ADDRESSED THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WEDNESDAY. UN CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS. (10/11)

CHINA / COPYRIGHT -- INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS GROUPS HAVE PRAISED CHINA FOR TAKING STEPS AGAINST MUSIC, VIDEO AND COMPUTER SOFTWARE PIRATES, BUT THEY SAY MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE. CORRESPONDENT STEPHANIE HO REPORTS THAT REPRESENTATIVES FROM THESE GROUPS HELD A NEWS CONFERENCE IN BEIJING, WHERE US AND CHINESE NEGOTIATORS ARE REVIEWING CHINA'S EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT AN AGREEMENT PROTECTING US COPYRIGHTS, TRADEMARKS, AND PATENTS. (10/12)

CHINA / BREWERY -- ANOTHER BRAND OF BEER HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE LIST OF MANY BRANDS BREWED IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA. CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER SAYS THIS BRAND COMES FROM A NEW BREWERY THAT HAS SOME UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS. (10/12)

HONG KONG / VIETNAMESE UNREST -- VIOLENCE BROKE OUT TODAY IN ONE OF HONG KONG'S SPECIAL DETENTION CENTER FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM VIETNAM, KNOWN AS BOAT PEOPLE. CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON IN HONG KONG REPORTS THAT ABOUT 200 BOAT PEOPLE CLASHED WITH POLICE BEFORE BEING TRANSFERRED TO A LOCAL PRISON. (10/12)

UN DEBATE / WORLD VIEW -- MORE THAN 170 GOVERNMENTS HAVE ADDRESSED THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY SINCE SEPTEMBER 25TH, MOST AT MINISTERIAL LEVEL. IT'S A TRADITIONAL EVENT TO MARK THE OPENING OF A NEW SESSION. UN CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS THIS YEAR'S REMARKS INDICATE UNCERTAINTY OVER THE FATE OF THE WORLD AND OF THE UNITED NATIONS ITSELF. (10/11)

ECUADOR / VICE PRESIDENT RESIGNS -- ECUADOR'S VICE PRESIDENT ALBERTO DAHIK HAS RESIGNED AFTER AUTHORITIES ISSUED A PREVENTIVE ARREST WARRANT AGAINST HIM. THE VICE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN IMPLICATED IN A WIDENING CORRUPTION SCANDAL. STRINGER RAYMOND COLLITT REPORTS FROM QUITO, ECUADOR. (10/12)

CHILE / GENERAL -- CHILE'S SUPREME COURT HAS ORDERED THE GENERAL CONVICTED OF THE ASSASSINATION OF FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER ORLANDO LETELIER TO REPORT TO PRISON BY OCTOBER 23RD. CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK REPORTS THAT THERE ARE INDICATIONS GENERAL MANUEL CONTRERAS WILL SEEK A FURTHER DELAY. (10/11)

HAITI ELECT / OBSERVERS -- DAYS BEFORE HAITI CELEBRATES THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE RETURN OF ITS FIRST FREELY-ELECTED PRESIDENT FROM EXILE, US ELECTION MONITORS CRITICIZED THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT JEAN-BERTRAND ARISTIDE FOR NOT DOING ENOUGH TO DEVELOP DEMOCRACY. STAFFER ERIN BRUMMETT REPORTS. (10/11)

ARIAS / ARMS -- FORMER COSTA RICAN PRESIDENT OSCAR ARIAS SANCHEZ HAS CALLED FOR A GLOBAL DEMILITARIZATION FUND TO HELP ALLEVIATE WORLD POVERTY. MR ARIAS, WHO WON THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE IN 1987 FOR HIS EFFORTS IN THE CENTRAL AMERICAN PEACE PROCESS, SAYS THE FUND WOULD BE SUPPORTED BY SAVINGS BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE END OF THE COLD WAR. NEW YORK REPORTER BARBARA SCHOETZAU GIVES DETAILS OF THE PROPOSAL. (10/11)

BRAZIL / DEFLATION -- BRAZIL HAS RECORDED ITS BIGGEST MONTHLY DROP IN CONSUMER PRICES IN FORTY FOUR YEARS, DUE MAINLY TO THE SHARP DROP IN PRICE OF A SINGLE PRODUCT. CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK REPORTS. (10/11)

BRAZIL / CHILD ABUSE -- BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT FERNANDO HENRIQUE CARDOSO HAS LAUNCHED A NATIONWIDE CAMPAIGN AGAINST CHILD LABOR AND CHILD PROSTITUTION. THE CAMPAIGN FEATURES TELEVISION AND RADIO APPEALS TO CALL A SPECIAL TELEPHONE NUMBER TO REPORT JUVENILE EXPLOITATION. CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK REPORTS FROM RIO DE JANIERO. (10/11)

HURRICANE ROXANNE -- HURRICANE ROXANNE WITH MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS OF 120-KILOMETERS AN HOUR PASSED OVER THE YUCATAN PENINSULA WEDNESDAY. MIAMI CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE REPORTS ROXANNE IS EXPECTED TO STRENGTHEN AS IT MOVES OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO, BEFORE STRIKING THE STATES OF TABASCO AND CAMPECHE IN EASTERN MEXICO. (10/11)

SENATE / CUBA -- THE US SENATE OPENED DEBATE ON A BILL WHICH WOULD TIGHTEN THE ECONOMIC EMBARGO AGAINST CUBA. SENATE CORRESPONDENT JIM MALONE REPORTS THAT SUPPORTERS OF THE MEASURE HOPE IT WILL HELP DRIVE FIDEL CASTRO FROM POWER, WHILE OPPONENTS FEAR IT COULD SPARK A POLITICAL EXPLOSION INSIDE CUBA. (10/11)

CLINTON / BUDGET TALKS -- PRESIDENT CLINTON AND CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS ARE AT AN IMPASSE OVER HOW TO BALANCE THE NEXT FEDERAL BUDGET. AS OFTEN HAPPENS, EACH SIDE IS HURLING ACCUSATIONS AT THE OTHER, WITH LITTLE PROGRESS REPORTED. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS IT COULD GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER. (10/11)

ALI / DC FIGHT NIGHT -- LEGENDARY HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING GREAT MUHAMMAD ALI WILL BE THE HONORARY CHAIRMAN THURSDAY AT THE SIXTH ANNUAL WASHINGTON, DC "FIGHT NIGHT." SPORTS EDITOR PARKE BREWER REPORTS THE POPULAR EVENT IS HELD FOR CHARITY AND INCLUDES ITEMS FOR AUCTION AS WELL AS BOXING MATCHES. (10/11)

HAMM / SOCCER AWARD -- FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR, THE US SOCCER FEDERATION HAS SELECTED MIA HAMM AS THE FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR. STAFFER JIM STEVENSON REPORTS ABOUT THE AMERICAN CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE BEST FEMALE SOCCER (FOOTBALL) PLAYERS IN THE WORLD. (10/11) VOA REPORTS IN INDIVIDUAL LANGUAGES:

INSIDE USA:

PEACE CORPS ANNIVERSARY -- TO MARK THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE PEACE CORPS, REPORTER RUSSELL WOODGATES TALKS WITH JACK HOGAN, THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS. (10/14)

ARMS CONTRONL / SOUTH ASIA -- WEAPONS EXPERTS HAVE CAUTIONED FOR YEARS THAT TENSIONS BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN COULD EXPLODE WITH AN EXCHANGE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS. IN ADDITION, THE SUSPICION THAT PAKISTAN HAS INDEED CONSTRUCTED NUCLEAR WEAPONS HAS BEEN THE CAUSE OF A FIVE YEAR OLD DIPLOMATIC DISPUTE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND PAKISTAN. THURSDAY'S TALK TO AMERICA GUESTS ARE MICHAEL KREPON AND MARK FITZPATRICK. (ENGLISH 10/12)

US / CHINA / AMBASSADOR -- THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE HELD A HEARING TODAY ON JAMES SASSER'S CONFIRMATION AS THE AMBASSADOR TO CHINA. IN HIS SPEECH, MR. SASSER PRAISED CHINA'S ECONOMIC ACHIEVEMENTS, BUT CRITICIZED IT'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD. HE SAID A CONSTRUCTIVE US-CHINA RELATIONSHIP WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT IN THE POST-DENG ERA, AND HE WOULD TRY TO BUILD SUCH A RELATIONSHIP. HE LISTED REDUCING AMERICA'S TRADE DEFICIT AS A PRIORITY FOR HIS WORK IN CHINA. STAFFERS TIEN YE AND DING LI REPORT. (MANDARIN 10/12)

UNGA / DEBATE -- THE GENERAL SESSION DEBATE OF THE UN ASSEMBLY HAS ENDED. STAFFER FANG BIN IN NEW YORK INTERVIEWS GRENADA PRIME MINISTER KEITH MITCHELL, SAINT LUCIA DEP. PM WILLIAM MALLET, SAINT VINCENT MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ALPIAN ALLEN, AND FIJI FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER FILIPE NADERA BOLE. (MANDARIN 10/12)

NOBEL / US SCIENTISTS -- THREE SCIENTISTS FROM TWO CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITIES WON NOBEL PRIZES THIS YEAR. CORRESPONDENT HECTOR VELAZQUEZ MEJIA REPORTS FROM LOS ANGELES. (SPANISH 10/11)

OJ SIMPSON / INTERVIEW -- SAYING IT MAY RESULT IN ANOTHER TRIAL FOR HIM, OJ SIMPSON ABRUPTLY CANCELLED A PROJECTED INTERVIEW WITH NBC TV NETWORK. CORRESPONDENT HECTOR VELAZQUEZ MEJIA REPORTS FROM LOS ANGELES. (SPANISH 10/11)

GORBACHEV / KENNEDY CENTER -- FORMER SOVIET PRESIDENT MIKHAIL GORBACHEV LECTURED AT THE KENNEDY CENTER ON INSIGHTS ON GLOBAL LEADERSHIP. STAFFER VLADIMIR MATLIN ATTENDED THE LECTURE PRESENTED AS PART OF THE NATION'S CAPITAL DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS SERIES SPONSORED BY THE GREATER WASHINGTON SOCIETY OF ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES. AFTER HIS LECTURE, FORMER PRESIDENT GORBACHEV SPOKE OF THE REASONS FOR THE CURRENT COOLING OF RUSSIAN-AMERICAN RELATIONS, AND EXPRESSED HIS HOPE THAT THE TWO COUNTRIES WOULD WORK OUT A NEW APPROACH IN THEIR RELATIONS. (RUSSIAN 10/11)

INSIDE AFRICA:

UGANDA / BURUNDI -- BURUNDI HAS CALLED FOR THE REPATRIATION OF FORMER SOLDIERS WHO WERE INVOLVED IN AN ATTEMPTED COUP IN 1993. NINE OF THE ACCUSED SOLDIERS ARE LIVING IN UGANDA. STRINGER MIKE ARERENG REPORTS FROM KAMPALA. (SWAHILI 10/12)

KENYA / OUKO MURDER -- ATTEMPTS BY THE OPPOSITION TO INTRODUCE A MOTION IN KENYA'S PARLIAMENT TO DISCUSS THE UNSOLVED MURDER OF THE LATE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, ROBERT OUKO WERE UNSUCCESFUL. THE RULING PARTY WHICH HAS THE MAJORITY VOTE IN THE PARLIAMENT VOTED AGAINST THE MOTION. STRINGER M G JOEL REPORTS FROM NAIROBI. (SWAHILI 10/12)

KENYA / WORLD BANK -- STAFFER ABDUSHAKUR ABOUD SPOKE WITH KENYA'S MINISTER FOR FINANCE, MUSALIA MUDAVADI. MR MUDAVADI SAID REPRESENTATIVES FROM AFRICA AT A WORLD BANK AND IMF MEETING APPEALED TO THE UNITED STATES NOT TO REDUCE FUNDING TO THE IMF AND THE WORLD BANK. (SWAHILI 10/12)

NIGERIA / SENTENCING REACT -- THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO FOMER NIGERIAN LEADER OLUSEGUN OBASANJO HAS CRITICIZED THE ABACHA REGIME FOR PRETENDING TO SHOW MAGNANIMITY TOWARDS THOSE ACCUSED OF PLOTTING TO OVERTHROW THE CURRENT MILITARY REGIME. STAFFER ALIYU MUSTAPHA INTERVIEWS ALHAJI MUHAMMADU ARZIKA WHO SAYS THE PLOT HAS NOT BEEN SUFFICIENTLY ESTABLISHED. (HAUSA 10/12)

OBANSANJO / REACT -- THERE HAS BEEN OPPOSITION REACTION TO THE 15 YEAR JAIL TERM OF FORMER NIGERIAN PRESIDENT OLUSEGUN OBANSANJO. REPORTER CHINEDU OFFOR HAS DETAILS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/11)

GUINEA / FOREIGN MINISTER -- STAFFER PIERRE POUILLON INTERVIEWS GUINEA'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER KOZO ZOUMANIGUI, WHO VISITED WASHINGTON AFTER ADDRESSING THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY. MR. ZOUMANIGUI SPOKE OF HIS COUNTRY'S FOREIGN RELATIONS AND NOTED THE EXCELLENT TIES BETWEEN GUINEA AND THE UNITED STATES. HE EXPLAINED WHY GUINEA PROVIDES MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO THE GOVERNMENT OF SIERRA LEONE IN ITS FIGHT WITH THE REBELS. MR. ZOUMANIGUI SPOKE ALSO OF HIS COUNTRY'S EFFORTS TOWARD ACHIEVING DEMOCRACY AND A FREE MARKET ECONOMY. (FRENCH 10/11)

IVORY COAST / ELECTIONS -- IN IVORY COAST, AS THE OCTOBER 22ND ELECTION DATE NEARS, THE OPPOSITION IS CALLING FOR NEW DEMONSTRATIONS DESPITE A GOVERNMENT BAN AND A BOYCOTT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. OBSERVERS SAY FEARS OF A VIOLENT CONFRONTATION ARE GROWING. STRINGER JULIUS BARTHSON INTERVIEWS ABOU DRAMANE SANGARE OF THE IVORIAN POPULAR FRONT OPPOSITION PARTY. (FRENCH 10/11)

SAVIMBI / MUGABE -- UNITA'S LEADER JONAS SAVIMBI IS IN HARARE FOR TALKS WITH ZIMBABWEAN PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE, ON WAYS TO CONSOLIDATE THE ANGOLAN PEACE PROCESS. MR. SAVIMBI SAID AFTER THE MEETING THAT THERE WOULD BE A GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY IN LUANDA IN JANUARY. STAFFER OVIDIO PEQUENO REPORTS. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 10/11)

LANDMINES / ANGOLA -- AS US ANTI-LANDMINE ACTIVISTS PREPARE TO OBSERVE MINE AWARENESS DAY, OCTOBER 12, THE UN HAS GATHERED INTERNATIONAL DELEGATES IN VIENNA TO DISCUSS RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF THE DEADLY WEAPONS. REPORTER BARRY MAUGHAN SPOKE WITH ERIC FILLIPPINO, MINE AWARENESS CO-ORDINATOR FOR THE NORWEGIAN PEOPLE'S AID, ABOUT THE PROCESS OF MINE CLEARING IN ANGOLA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/12)

ANGOLA / LANDMINES -- ANGOLA HAS BEEN CHARACTERIZED AS ONE BIG MINEFIELD. ESTIMATES FOR THE NUMBER OF THESE DEADLY WEAPONS RANGE FROM 10 TO 20 MILLION SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. THE UN COORDINATES A PROGRAM OF MINE CLEARING WITH A FEW NGOS, ONE OF THEM THE NORWEGIAN PEOPLE'S AID. THIS NGO IS ENVOLVED IN A NATIONAL MINE SURVEY AND AWARENESS PROGRAM AND MINE CLEARING. STAFFER ANA GUEDES INTERVIEWS ERIC FILIPPINO FROM THE NORWEGIAN NGO. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 10/11)

ANGOLA / CABINDA -- DUE TO THE WELTER OF CONFLICTING GUERRILLA MOVEMENTS IN CABINDA, THE ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT HAS NOT YET BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY A POSSIBLE NEGOTIATING PARTNER TO DISCUSS THE CABINDA SITUATION. STAFFER OVIDIO PEQUENO REPORTS. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 10/11)

GUINEA BISSAU / PRIME MINISTER -- THE PRIME MINISTER OF GUINEA BISSAU DELIVERED A SPEECH TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WEDNESDAY. STAFFER NELSON HERBERT REPORTS. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 10/11)

SOUTH AFRICA / SERIAL KILLER -- SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE HAVE RELEASED THE NAME AND PHOTO OF A SUSPECTED SERIAL KILLER. THE NATIONAL CRIME INVESTIGATIONS SERVICE IS INVESTIGATING THE DEATHS OF 40-BLACK WOMEN. REPORTER JOE DECAPUA SPOKE WITH REG CREWE, THE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE NATIONAL CRIME INVESTIGATION SERVICE IN PRETORIA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/12)

TANZANIA / BALLOTS -- THE ELECTORAL COMISSION OF TANZANIA RECEIVED TWENTY TONS OF BALLOT PAPERS FROM BRITAIN THAT WILL BE USED IN THE OCTOBER 29 GENERAL ELECTIONS. STRINGER EVEREST MWITUMBA REPORT FROM DAR ES SALAAM. (SWAHILI 10/12)

TANZANIA / ELECTIONS -- STAFFER TOM ATANDI SPOKE WITH JUDGE LUISE MAKAME, CHAIRMAN OF THE ELECTORAL COMISSION IN TANZANIA ABOUT ACCUSATIONS MADE BY THE OPPOSITION THAT THE COMMISSION WAS AN ARM OF THE RULING PARTY -- CHAMA CHA MAPENDUZI. ALSO DISCUSSED WAS THE ISSUE OF FORMER PRESIDENT JULIAS NYERERE CAMPAIGNING FOR THE RULING PARTY CANDIDATE AND PROBLEMS FACING THE COMMISSION IN PREPARATION FOR THE ELECTIONS. (SWAHILI 10/12)

TANZANIA / ELECTIONS -- TANZANIA'S OPPOSITION NCCR MAGEUZI ACCUSES THE RULING CHAMA CHA MAPINDUZI OF PRE-ELECTION IRREGULARITIES. REPORTER RICHARD KOTEY SPOKE WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF TANZANIA'S NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION, JUDGE LOUIS MAKAME FROM ZANZIBAR. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/12)

FAO / 50TH ANNIVERSARY -- THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION IS CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS CREATION IN QUEBEC, CANADA WHERE IT WAS FOUNDED HALF A CENTURY AGO. FAO'S JOURNALIST LILIANNE CAMBILIGUI REPORTS ON THE ORGANIZATION'S GOAL OF FOOD SECURITY FOR ALL. (FRENCH 10/11)

RADIO 100TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL -- STAFFER FERDINAND FERELLA REPORTS ON THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INVENTION OF THE RADIO. THE REPORT EXAMINED HOW NEW TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS SATELLITE AND DIGITAL BROADCASTS WILL SHAPE THE FUTURE OF THE RADIO WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS OF THEIR IMPACT ON LISTENERS IN AFRICA. MICHEL GIRAUD, OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS UNION WHO RECENTLY TOOK PART IN A SYMPOSIUM ON THE FUTURE OF RADIO SPOKE OF THE DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE TODAY. (FRENCH 10/11)

RWANDA PRISONS / TRIBUNAL UPDATE -- REPORTER JOHN PITMAN SPEAKS TO ALLISON DES FORGES, A CONSULTANT WITH HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH-AFRICA, ABOUT CONDITIONS FOR CHILDREN IN RWANDA'S PRISONS. SHE SAYS CONDITIONS HAVE IMPROVED SLIGHTLY; THE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN SEGREGATED INTO A UNICEF CAMP. SHE ALSO TALKS ABOUT HOW JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 10/11)

INSIDE MIDEAST:

MUBARAK / ASSAD / BAZ -- FOLLOWING SYRIAN PRESIDENT HAFEZ ASSAD'S VISIT TO EGYPT, DR. USAMA BAZ, THE DIRECTOR OF PRESIDENT MUBARAK'S BUREAU FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS, SAID IT IS NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE PROGRESS IN THE SYRIAN-ISRAELI AND THE LEBANESE-ISRAELI PEACE TALKS. CORRESPONDENT IBRAHIM ABDIN REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 10/11)

SOUTH LEBANON / CLASHES -- IN SOUTHERN LEBANON, A HEZBOLLAH FIGHTER HAS BEEN KILLED AND AN ISRAELI SOLDIER WOUNDED OUTSIDE THE ISRAELI-HELD BORDER ZONE. STAFFER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 10/11)

SYRIA / LEBANON -- SYRIAN PRESIDENT HAFEZ ASSAD TOLD EGYPT'S AL-AHRAM DAILY THAT LEBANON'S POLITICAL LEADERS HAVE AGREED TO EXTEND THE TERM OF PRESIDENT ELIAS HRAWI. THE SYRIAN PRESIDENT'S REMARKS ANGERED LEBANESE CHRISTIAN LEADERS IN EXILE. STAFFER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 10/11)

LEBANESE PRESIDENT / HRAWI -- FORMER LEBANESE PRESIDENT AMIN AL GEMAYEL, TALKED TO STAFFER HAFEZ OSMAN. MR. GEMAYEL TALKED ABOUT HIS REACTION TO A STATEMENT BY SYRIAN PRESIDENT HAFEZ ASSAD THAT ALL LEBANESE POLITICAL LEADERS HAVE AGREED TO EXTEND THE TERM OF CURRENT LEBANESE PRESIDENT ELIAS HRAWI. (ARABIC 10/11)

LIBYA / PALESTINIANS -- SOME OF THE TENTS HOUSING PALESTINIANS ON THE LIBYAN-EGYPTIAN BORDERS CAUGHT FIRE. STAFFER ZEINAB ABDELRAHMAN REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 10/11)

ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS -- PLO LEADER YASSER ARAFAT'S POLITICAL ADVISOR, AHMED EL-TIBI, TALKED TO STAFFER MOHAMED SETOUHI ABOUT THREE OCCUPATION OFFICES IN THE WEST BANK WHICH WERE CLOSED BY ISRAEL. THE BUILDINGS HOUSING THEM WERE HANDED OVER TO PALESTINIAN CONTROL. (ARABIC 10/11)

ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS -- STRINGER DOMINIQUE NOGANESSE REPORTS ON ISRAEL'S CLOSING OF THREE OCCUPATION AUTHORITY OFFICES IN THE WEST BANK AS PART OF ITS WITHDRAWAL FROM THE AREA UNDER THE NEW PEACE AGREEMENT. (FRENCH 10/11)

EGYPT / WORLD BANK -- EGYPTIAN PRIME MINISTER, ATEF SEDKY, SAID HIS COUNTRY'S NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE WORLD BANK ARE POSITIVE. STAFFER ZEINAB ABDELRAHMAN REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 10/11)

BOSNIA / CEASE-FIRE -- MUSLIM-LED BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT TROOPS CONTINUED THEIR ADVANCE IN NORTHWEST BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHEN A PLANNED CEASE-FIRE CAN GO INTO EFFECT. STAFFER MOHAMED SETOUHI REPORTS. (ARABIC 10/11)

TERRORISM / ALGERIA -- THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SUBCOMMITTEE ON AFRICA, DISCUSSED TERRORISM IN ALGERIA. STAFFER MOHAMED CHERKAOUI REPORTS ON THE OPEN SESSION. (ARABIC 10/11)

UN / WESTERN SAHARA -- THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN WESTERN SAHARA. STAFFER MOHAMED ATTIA SAAD REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (ARABIC 10/11)

IRAN / US -- IRAN HAS DENIED WHAT IT CALLED US ALLEGATIONS THAT THE NORTHERN PART OF THE GULF IS NOT SAFE FOR MERCANTILE SHIPPING DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF VESSELS CARRYING THE IRANIAN FLAG. STAFFER MOHAMED ATTIA SAAD REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (ARABIC 10/11)

IRAN / POLITICAL FUTURE -- STAFFER MOHAMMAD RAZAVI REPORTS ON A DISCUSSION SPONSORED BY THE LA BASED SOKHAN ASSOCIATION. SPEAKERS INCLUDED DR. HOSSEIN LAJEVARDI OF THE PARIS-BASED IRANIAN RESEARCHERS' ASSOCIATION AND IRANIAN WRITER MS. SHAHRNOUSH PARSIPOUR, WHO WAS VISITING FROM TEHRAN. MS. PARSIPOUR SAYS THAT IRANIANS OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION THERE AND CAN'T CONTRIBUTE TO ANY DEBATE ON THE COUNTRY'S POLITICAL FUTURE. DR. LAJEVARDI CHALLENGED HER ARGUMENT. (FARSI 10/11)

IRAQ / DEFECTOR -- REPORTER JOHN PITMAN SPEAKS TO REND RAHIM FRENKE, THE DIRECTOR OF THE IRAQ FOUNDATION -- A WASHINGTON RESEARCH GROUP STAFFED BY IRAQI EXILES. MS. FRENKE TALKED ABOUT THE DEFECTION OF SADDAM HUSSEIN'S CHIEF OF PALACE PROTOCOL. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 10/11)

AMERICAN SPORTS / SPECIAL -- STAFFER AHMAD BAHARLOO REPORTS ABOUT THE COMING BASEBALL WORLD SERIES. HE TALKED ABOUT THE FOUR REMAINING TEAMS AND THE EFFECT OF LAST YEAR'S STRIKE ON THIS YEAR'S GAMES. (FARSI 10/11)

AFGHAN FIGHTING -- AFGHAN GOVERNMENT FORCES HAVE STARTED THEIR COUNTER-OFFENSIVE TO DISLODGE TALEBAN FIGHTERS FROM CHARASIYAB, 25 KILOMETERS SOUTH OF KABUL. THE TALEBAN FORCES LAUNCHED THEIR ATTACK ON KABUL ON WEDNESDAY. DARI STRINGER ABDUL HAY WARSHAN REPORTS FROM PESHAWAR, THAT FIGHTING CONTINUES IN THE SOUTHERN SUBURB OF THE AFGHAN CAPITAL. (DARI 10/12)

UN ANNIVERSARY / AFGHANISTAN -- FORMER AFGHAN DIPLOMAT DR ABDUL HAKIM TABIBI, WHO HAS BEEN REPRESENTING AFGHANISTAN IN DIFFERENT UN BODIES FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES, SAYS THAT AFGHANISTAN HAS BENEFITED MUCH FROM UN ASSISTANCE IN THE PAST, BUT UNFORTUNATELY FIGHTING BETWEEN THE AFGHAN WAR LORDS IN RECENT YEARS HAS DEPRIVED AFGHANISTAN FROM THIS ASSISTANCE. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH DARI STAFFER WAHAB HADI, IN REFERENCE TO THE 50TH. YEAR OF THE UN, THE FORMER AFGHAN DIPLOMAT SAYS THAT AFGHANISTAN, SWEDEN AND ICELAND WERE THE FIRST NEUTRAL COUNTRIES REQUESTING MEMBERSHIP OF THE UN. (DARI 10/12)

INSIDE CENTRAL ASIA:

POLITICAL OPPOSITION SPEAKS -- STAFFER KEN VARTANYAN INTERVIEWS LEADING MEMBERS OF FOUR ARMENIAN POLITICAL PARTIES VISITING THE UNITED STATES, HAIK BABOUKHANIAN, PHILARET BEYRIKIAN, NERSES ZEYNAVANDIAN AND SOUREN ZOLIAN. THEY DISCUSSED THE PLATFORMS OF THEIR PARTIES AND TALKED ABOUT THEIR MEETINGS HERE IN WASHINGTON. THEY ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE CURRENT POLITICAL SITUATION IN ARMENIA, THE ARMENIAN ECONOMY AND THE STANDARD OF LIVING. (ARMENIAN 10/9,10/10 & 10/11)

INSIDE SOUTH ASIA:

CHAKMA REFUGEES -- BANGLADESH AMBASSADOR TO INDIA C M SHAFI SAMI CALLED ON THE GOVERNOR OF THE INDIAN STATE OF TRIPURA S PRASAD. THE GOVERNOR HAS URGED BANGLADESH TO CREATE A CONDUCIVE SITUATION IN THAT COUNTRY FOR THE REPATRIATION OF 50,000 CHAKMA REFUGEES NOW STAYING IN CAMPS IN TRIPURA STATE. AMBASSADOR SAMI SAID THAT BANGLADESH WAS READY TO RECEIVE REFUGEES. STRINGER ZAHURUL ALAM REPORTS FROM DHAKA. (BANGLA 10/11)

BANGLA / IRAN -- IRANIAN PRESIDENT RAFSANJANI WHO IS ON A FOUR DAY TRIP TO BANGLADESH HELD TALKS WITH PRIME MINISTER KHALIDA ZIA IN DHAKA. THE TWO LEADERS DISCUSSED BILATERAL, REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ISSUES. PRESIDENT RAFSANJANI ASSURED THE BANGLADESH LEADER THAT HE WILL TRY TO MEDIATE THE GANGES WATER SHARING PROBLEM WITH INDIA. MR. RAFSANJANI ALSO PAID A VISIT TO THE PORT CITY OF CHITTAGONG AND INAUGURATED A BANGLADESH-IRAN JOINT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. FROM DHAKA, MATIUR RAHMAN CHOUDHURY AND ZAHURUL ALAM REPORT. (BANGLA 10/11, 10/12)

WORLD BANK / BANGLADESH -- IN WASHINGTON, THE WORLD BANK SPONSORED A SPECIAL SEMINAR ON BANGLADESH ENTITLED "A NEW HORIZON IN INVESTMENT." FORMER US AMBASSADOR TO BANGLADESH, JANE A COON MODERATORED. BANGLADESH FINANCE MINISTER SAIFUR RAHMAN ADDRESSED THE SEMINAR AND WELCOMED WESTERN INVESTMENTS IN HIS COUNTRY. MR.SALMAN RAHMAN, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERATION OF BANGLADESH CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES AND FORMER BANGLADESH COMMERCE AND PLANNING MINISTER ZAHIRUDDIN KHAN NARRATED THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOREIGN INVESTMENTS AND ALSO SPOKE ON THE SUPPORT AND COOPERATION OF THE BANGLADESHI BUSINESS COMMUNITY. STAFFER SARKAR KABIRUDIN REPORTS. (BANGLA 10/11)

WEST BENGAL FLOODS -- STRINGER GAUTAM GUPTA REPORTS ON THE FLOOD SITUATION IN WEST BENGAL. SEVERAL DISTRICTS IN THIS INDIAN STATE ARE AFFECTED BY THE FLOODS. (BANGLA 10/11)

O J SIMPSON / BANGLA REACT -- BANGLADESHI AMERICANS IN CALIFORNIA, HAVE MIXED FEELINGS REGARDING THE TRIAL AND THE JUDGEMENT IN THE CASE OF O J SIMPSON. STRINGER SAIFUR RAHMAN OSMANI TALKED TO BANGLADESHI AMERICANS IN LOS ANGELES. (BANGLA 10/11)

INSIDE EAST ASIA:

NORTH KOREA / UN ADDRESS -- STAFFER SUCK TAE KO REPORTS ON A SPEECH BY A NORTH KOREAN DELEGATE BEFORE THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY. DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER, CHOI SU HON URGED THE UN TO DO ALL IT CAN TO ESTABLISH A NEW PEACE APPARATUS ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA. HE SAID JAPAN HAS NOT APOLOGIZED ENOUGH FOR WORLD WAR II AND DOES NOT DESERVE A PERMANENT SEAT ON THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL. (KOREAN 10/11)

NORTH KOREA / ECONOMY -- DIRECTOR OF THE SOUTH KOREAN SECURITY AND PLANNING BOARD, KWON YOUNG HAE REPORTEDLY TOLD A NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HEARING THAT NORTH KOREA'S WORSENING ECONOMY IS IRREVERSIBLE -- RECORDING MINUS GROWTH DURING THE PAST SEVEN YEARS. MR. KWON WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT THE INCREASING NUMBER OF NORTH KOREANS ENVY PROSPERITY IN THE SOUTH AND RESIST PYONGYANG'S EXECUTION OF POWER. CORRESPONDENT YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 10/12)

NORTH KOREAN / DEFECTOR -- THE SEOUL AUTHORITIES DISCLOSED THAT A NORTH KOREAN ARMY COLONEL DEFECTED TO THE SOUTH THROUGH AN UNSPECIFIED SOUTHEAST ASIAN COUNTRY. CORRESPONDENT YONG KYUN LIM NOTED THAT COL. CHOI JU WOL IS THE HIGHEST-RANKING ACTIVE MILITARY OFFICER WHO EVER DEFECTED TO THE SOUTH. (KOREAN 10/12)

SOUTH KOREA / US / KEDO -- SOUTH KOREA EXPRESSED ITS CONCERN OVER US WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT A NORTH KOREAN PROPOSAL THAT A PROGRAM COORDINATOR POSITION BE SET UP IN THE KOREAN ENERGY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION. SEOUL SAID AN AMERICAN PROGRAM COORDINATOR WOULD HAMPER SOUTH KOREA FROM PLAYING A LEADING ROLE IN DESIGNING AND SUPPLYING TWO LIGHT-WATER REACTORS TO NORTH KOREA. STAFFER YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 10/12)

CHINA / US / INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY -- TRADE OFFICIALS FROM WASHINGTON AND BEIJING ARE REVIEWING THE PROGRESS MADE BY CHINA IN PROTECTING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, BUT DIFFERENCES STILL EXIST BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES. JOHN BLISS, PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL ANTI COUNTERFEITING COALITION, TOLD STAFFER CHEN JIAN THAT THERE HAVE BEEN "BOTH IMPROVEMENTS AND DECLINES IN PROGRESS AT ONCE" ON THE ISSUE. (MANDARIN 10/12)

APEC / FREE TRADE AGENDA -- APEC HAS FAILED TO REACH AGREEMENT ON FINALIZING ITS FREE-TRADE AGENDA. THE FAILURE TO NARROW DIFFERENCES, NOTABLY ON AGRICULTURE, COMES LESS THAN A MONTH BEFORE THE APEC SUMMIT IN OSAKA. STAFFER CHIEN WEI INTERVIEWS DR. WEN GUANZHONG, TRINITY COLLEGE, WHO SAID JAPAN WAS NOT ALONE IN ITS RELUCTANCE TO OPEN ITS RICE MARKET. TAIWAN, CHINA AND SOUTH KOREA ALL SHARE JAPAN'S POSITION. (MANDARIN 10/12)

CHINESE WOMEN LEAVE US FOR ECUADOR -- 9 CHINESE WOMEN WHO ENTERED THE US ILLEGALLY BY THE CARGO SHIP GOLDEN VENTURE IN JUNE 1993 LEFT SAN FRANCISCO FOR ECUADOR LAST FRIDAY AFTER THEIR APPLICATION FOR POLITICAL ASYLUM WAS APPROVED. AMONG THE 286 CHINESE NATIONALS ABOARD THE SHIP, 47 HAVE BEEN DEPORTED TO CHINA, 85 RELEASED, AND 138 REMAIN IN CUSTODY. INS OFFICIALS SAY ALL OF THEM WILL BE REPATRIATED TO CHINA. STAFFER KUO-FU SHU IN LA INTERVIEWS INS SPOKESPERSON RON ROGER, WESTERN REGION OFFICE, AND INS SPOKESPERSON ELAINE COMAS IN WASHINGTON. (MANDARIN 10/12)

HONG KONG / LEGISLATORS SWEAR IN -- HONG KONG LEGISLATORS WERE SWORN IN ON OCTOBER 11TH. AT THIS SWEARING-IN CEREMONY, THEY DID NOT SWEAR TO BE LOYAL TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT BUT TO THE HONG KONG PEOPLE. STAFFER CHOU YOUKANG INTERVIEWED LEGISLATORS LU GONGHUI AND HUANG ZHENXIA, WHO SAID THEY PLEDGED TO BE LOYAL TO THE HONG KONG PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY FEEL CLOSER TO THEM THAN TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. (MANDARIN 10/12)

TAIWAN / DEFENSE BUDGET / REACT -- ACCORDING TO TAIWAN MILITARY SOURCES, TAIWAN'S NEW FISCAL YEAR DEFENSE BUDGET WILL BE GREATLY INCREASED TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT, FINANCE THE TRAINING OF PERSONNEL, ESTABLISH A RAPID RESPONSE TROOPS, AND TO PREVENT THE THREAT AND PROVOCATION FROM MAINLAND CHINA. STAFFER FAN DAOZHUANG IN TAIPEI INTERVIEWS FOUR TAIWAN LEGISLATORS. (MANDARIN 10/12)

DISSIDENT / COALITION -- TWO OVERSEAS CHINESE PRO-DEMOCRACY GROUPS ANNOUNCED THAT THEY HAD MERGED FORMALLY AND THE NEW COALITION'S LEADER VOWED SOLIDARITY AND WARNED AGAINST OVERSEAS DISSIDENT GROUPS' ALIENATION FROM MAINLAND CHINA. STAFFER KUO-FU SHU IN LA INTERVIEWS DISSIDENTS XU BANGTAI AND WANG RUOWANG. (MANDARIN 10/12)

US / JAMES SASSER NOMINATION -- THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE WILL HOLD A HEARING ON JAMES SASSER'S NOMINATION AS AMBASSADOR TO CHINA ON OCTOBER 12. STAFFER BAO SHEN INTERVIEWS FORMER AMBASSADOR TO CHINA JAMES LILLEY, WHO SAYS SASSER'S DIRECT ACCESS TO THE WHITE HOUSE WILL HELP HIM DEAL WITH THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP. MR. LILLEY BELIEVES SENATOR SASSER HAS GOOD LINKS TO BOTH THE WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESS, WHICH WILL HELP IMPROVE THE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO AND HELP THEM WORK OUT A SMOOTHER CHINA POLICY. (MANDARIN 10/12)

HONG KONG /GOVERNOR'S REPORT -- HONG KONG GOVERNOR CHRIS PATTEN'S ANNUAL STATE-OF-THE-ADMINISTRATION REPORT IS CRITICIZED BY LEGISLATORS. LAWRENCE NG INTERVIEWS LAU CHIN SEK, HK CONFEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS CHAIR, MARTIN LEE, DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR, AND LEE CHEK YAN, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE CONFEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS. ALL CRITICIZE PATTEN'S STATEMENT THAT HE WOULD VETO ANY LEGCO BILLS BANNING FOREIGN LABORERS. (CANTONESE 10/11)

INSIDE EUROPE:

BOSNIA / CEASE-FIRE -- SARAJEVO STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTS THAT AFTER THE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE CEASE-FIRE, BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC ORDERED THE CHIEF COMMANDER OF THE BOSNIAN ARMY TO HALT ALL MILITARY ACTIVITIES EXCEPT THOSE OF SELF-DEFENSE. (CROATIAN 10/11)

GERMANY / BOSNIA -- GERMANY IS PREPARED TO PROVIDE UP TO 5000 TROOPS FOR PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. STRINGER IVICA LOVRIC REPORTS THAT MOST OF THE UNITS WILL BE FOR LOGISTICAL AND TRANSPORTATION PURPOSES. THERE WILL BE NO COMBAT FORCES. TROOPS WILL BE STATIONED IN CROATIA. (CROATIAN 10/11)

BOSNIA / LATEST MILITARY DEVELOPMENT -- THE LATEST MILITARY SUCCESS OF BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AND CROAT FORCES IN BOSNIA COULD BE CONSIDERED AS A FINAL BREAK OF THE RECENT SERBIAN COUNTEROFFENSIVE, SAYS CROATIAN ANALYST FRAN VISNAR. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STRINGER ZELJKO MATIC, MR VISNAR SAYS IT IS OBVIOUS THAT LATEST MILITARY GAINS WERE ACCOMPLISHED ONLY WHEN CROATIAN REGULAR ARMY REENTERED THE BOSNIAN BATTLEFIELD. (CROATIAN 10/11)

STATE DEPARTMENT / BOSNIA -- SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS THE WARRING PARTIES IN BOSNIA HAVE NO MORE EXCUSES BUT TO CEASE ALL MILITARY ACTIVITIES BY MIDNIGHT LOCAL TIME. HE NOTED THAT THE US IS EXTREMELY DISTURBED AT REPORTS OF NEW SERBIAN ATROCITIES IN NORTHERN BOSNIA, ESPECIALLY AROUND BANJA LUKA. MR BURNS SAYS THE US WILL DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE THAT WAR CRIMES PERPETRATORS BE MADE TO ANSWER FOR THEIR DEEDS. STAFFER IVANA KUHAR REPORTS ON THE STATE DEPARTMENT BRIEFING. (CROATIAN 10/11)

CEASE-FIRE / BOSNIA -- UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED THE BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA CEASE-FIRE IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN AT MIDNIGHT. CORRESPONDENT LUIS TAMAYO REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (SPANISH 10/11)

CEASE-FIRE / SERBIAN OPPOSITION -- SEVERAL OPPOSITION PARTIES IN SERBIA APPEALED TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOR HELP TO STOP BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AND CROATIAN FORCES IN THE NORTHWESTERN PART OF BOSNIA. HOPING THAT THE CEASE-FIRE WILL TAKE HOLD, BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE DECLARED A CURFEW FOR THE CITY OF BANJALUKA. STRINGER DUSAN MASIC REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (SERBIAN 10/11)

BOSNIAN FM / BOSNIAN PEACE -- BOSNIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MUHAMED SACIRBEY SAYS THAT NOT THE MAPS BUT THE CONSTITUTION POSE THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE PEACE TALKS. HE SAYS THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTION FOR BOSNIA IS BEING DICTATED BY IDEALS OF BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC INSTEAD OF THOSE OF THOMAS JEFFERSON. STAFFER DZEILANA PECANIN REPORTS FROM NPC PRESS CONFERENCE (CROATIAN 10/11)

SARINIC / NEGOTIATIONS / EASTERN SLAVONIA -- CROATIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL HRVOJE SARINIC SAYS NEGOTIATIONS WITH SERBS OF EASTERN SLAVONIA WOULD SOON RESUME. IN THE MEANTIME, UNPROFOR REPRESENTATIVES IN KNIN REVEALED NEW INFORMATION ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AGAINST SERBS IN KRAJINA. STRINGER STEVICA SUSA REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (SERBIAN 10/11)

BRITAIN / MONTENEGRO -- BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY NICOLAS BONSOUR MET IN A WITH MONTENEGRIN PRESIDENT MOMIR BULATOVIC AND PRIME MINISTER MILO DJUKANOVIC. THE MAIN TOPIC OF THEIR DISCUSSION WAS THE PEACE PROCESS IN BOSNIA. STRINGER BOSKO DJUKIC REPORTS FROM PODGORICA. (SERBIAN 10/11)

ALBANIA / IMF MEETING -- ALBANIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER DYLBER VRIONI SAYS HIS COUNTRY HAS ACHIEVED IMPRESSIVE RESULTS AIMED AT CREATING A MARKET ECONOMY AFTER DECADES OF CENTRALIZED, COMMUNIST RULE. VRIONI, WHO HEADED A HIGH LEVEL DELEGATION TO THE ANNUAL MEETINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AND THE WORLD BANK, SAID THE PRIVATE SECTOR NOW ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT 75 PERCENT OF ALBANIA'S GNP. VRIONI WAS INTERVIEWED BY STAFFER ELEZ BIBERAJ. (ALBANIAN 10/12)

ALBANIA / SHALIKASHVILI -- THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, GENERAL JOHN SHALIKASHVILI, PRAISED ALBANIA'S MILITARY COOPERATION WITH UNITED STATES AND OTHER WESTERN NATIONS. AFTER A MEETING IN TIRANA WITH DEFENSE MINISTER ALFRED ZHULALI, THE TOP COMMANDER OF US ARMED FORCES THANKED ALBANIA FOR LETTING NATO USE ALBANIAN FACILITIES. MEANWHILE, DEFENSE MINISTER ZHULALI WILL MEET WITH US DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY IN WASHINGTON NEXT WEEK. STRINGER MERO BAZE REPORTS. (ALBANIAN 10/12)

NATO / TURKISH SCIENTIST -- TURKISH SCIENTIST DENIZ YUKSEL BETEN HAS RECENTLY BEEN APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF THE NATO COMMITTEE FOR PROBLEMS OF THE MODERN SOCIETY. STRINGER NUSRET OZGUL INTERVIEWS DR. BETEN AT NATO HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS. DR. BETEN SAYS HER WORK WILL CONCENTRATE ON DEALING WITH DEFENSE-RELATED ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. (TURKISH 10/12)

US EDUCATION / TURKISH STUDENT -- A LARGE NUMBER OF TURKISH STUDENTS PURSUE POST GRADUATE DEGREES IN AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES. IN HER WEEKLY FEATURE ON EDUCATION, STAFFER HULYA POLAT INTERVIEWS ELIF YALIN, WHO HAS JUST COMPLETED HER STUDIES IN THE MBA PROGRAM AT GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY. MS. YALIN SHARES HER EXPERIENCES AS A FOREIGN STUDENT IN THE US (TURKISH 10/11)

CSIS EXPERT / CASPIAN SEA PIPELINES -- DR. BULENT ALIRIZA, SENIOR FELLOW AT THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES AND THE CO-CHAIRMAN OF THE CASPIAN SEA OIL GROUP, SAYS BOTH RUSSIA AND TURKEY ARE THE WINNERS IN THE LATEST DECISION BY THE AZERBAIJAN INTERNATIONAL OIL CONSORTIUM. THE EXPERT RESPONDS TO QUESTIONS BY TURKISH STAFFER TACLAN SUERDEM, ON THE AIOC'S DECISION TO RELY ON TWO PIPELINES, ONE RUSSIAN AND ONE GEORGIAN-TURKISH, TO TRANSFER THE CASPIAN SEA OIL TO INTERNATIONAL MARKETS. (TURKISH 10/11)

EU / FINANCIAL AID FOR REFUGEES -- THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS APPROVED FIVE MILLION DOLLARS FOR ASSISTANCE TO NEW REFUGEES. THAT MONEY WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AMONG TEN HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS IN FOUR COUNTRIES. STRINGER LADA STIPIC NIZETEO REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS. (CROATIAN 10/11)

INSIDE EURASIA:

GORBACHEV / ELECTION CHANCES -- REPORTER JOHN PITMAN SPEAKS TO PROFESSOR ERIK HOFFMAN OF SUNY-ALBANY ABOUT MIKHAIL GORBACHEV'S CHANCES SHOULD HE CHOOSE TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT NEXT YEAR. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 10/11)

WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP -- BORIS GULKO, CHESS GRANDMASTER SPOKE TO STAFFER ALEC BATCHAN ABOUT THE RECENTLY CONCLUDED WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP, AT WHICH THE REIGNING CHAMPION GARY KASPAROV RETAINED HIS CROWN AGAINST CHALLENGER VISHI ANAND FROM INDIA. (RUSSIAN 10/11)

CIS / ASIA CONFERENCE -- FORMER US AMBASSADOR TO THE SOVIET UNION JACK MATLOCK SPOKE AT THE CIS IN ASIA CONFERENCE SPONSORED BY IREX ON RUSSIA'S FUTURE. AT THIS CONFERENCE, COVERED BY STAFFER GEORGE ZORIN, MATLOCK SAID THAT RUSSIA CAN BECOME EITHER A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT OR AN EMPIRE, BUT CANNOT BE BOTH. JACK MATLOCK'S BOOK ON THE REASONS FOR THE FALL OF THE SOVIET UNION IS DUE OUT IN NOVEMBER. (RUSSIAN 10/11)

INSIDE LATIN AMERICA:

PRESIDENT CLINTON / WORLD BANK / IMF -- PRESIDENT CLINTON URGED US LAWMAKERS TO KEEP FULL FUNDING OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS, IN A SPEECH AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE WORLD BANK AND THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND. EDITOR CESAR CARDOZA REPORTS. (SPANISH 10/11)

CLINTON / ZEDILLO / OAS -- PRESIDENTS CLINTON AND ZEDILLO UNDERLINED IMPROVED RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES AND HAILED THE RECOVERY OF THE MEXICAN ECONOMY AT A LUNCHEON IN THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES. EDITOR DARIO ELIAS REPORTS. (SPANISH 10/11)

ZEDILLO / US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE -- PRESIDENT ZEDILLO SAID IN A SPEECH AT THE US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE THAT MEXICO'S FINANCIAL TROUBLES ARE BEHIND AND THE COUNTRY IS IN FULL RECOVERING PROCESS. STAFFER CARLOS ESPA REPORTS. (SPANISH 10/11)

ROXANNE / MEXICO -- HURRICANE ROXANNE HIT A BROADER AREA OF MEXICO IN THE YUCATAN PENINSULA, GATHERING STRENGTH WHILE REMAINED ALMOST STATIONARY OVER THE CAMPECHE BAY. CORRESPONDENT JORGE WEHBY REPORTED FROM MIAMI. (SPANISH 10/12)

HUMAN RIGHTS / GUATEMALA -- A UNITED NATIONS MISSION INVESTIGATING HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN GUATEMALA PREPARED A PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE RECENT KILLING OF SEVERAL PEASANT REFUGEES. STRINGER DIETER ERLANGER REPORTS FROM GUATEMALA CITY. (SPANISH 10/11)

CASTRO / NEW YORK -- CHURCH OFFICIALS SAID CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO MAY MEET CARDINAL JOHN O'CONNOR WHEN HE VISIT NEW YORK CITY LATER THIS MONT TO ATTEND A UN SPECIAL MEETING. CORRESPONDENT LUIS TAMAYO REPORTS. (SPANISH 10/11) 12-Oct-95 6:45 PM EDT (2245 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America