Voice of America Digest, 4 December 1995

From: [email protected] (Ioannis Bousnakis)

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] !!! VOA DIGEST - DECEMBER 4, 1995

BOSNIA / TROOPS -- THE FIRST CONTINGENT OF NATO TROOPS HAS ARRIVED IN BOSNIA TO BEGIN LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE FULL DEPLOYMENT OF THE NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE. CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING SAYS THE MISSION WILL BE THE MOST COMPLEX UNDERTAKEN BY NATO SINCE THE GULF WAR FIVE YEARS AGO. (12/4)

BOSNIA NATO -- ADVANCE ELEMENTS OF THE NATO FORCE TO BE DEPLOYED TO THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA HAVE ARRIVED IN SARAJEVO AND IN CROATIA. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS FROM VIENNA. (12/4)

BOSNIA / CROATIA -- UN OFFICIALS SAY BOSNIAN CROATS ARE CONTINUING TO LOOT AND BURN HOMES AND FACTORIES IN AREAS THEY ARE REQUIRED TO TURN OVER TO THE BOSNIAN SERBS UNDER THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT. STRINGER DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (12/4)

BOSNIA / MLADIC SAYS NO -- AS AMERICAN AND OTHER NATO FORCES PREPARE TO GO TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, THE SERB ARMY COMMANDER, GENERAL RATKO MLADIC, SAYS THE NEW BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT IS UNACCEPTABLE. HE SAYS IT MUST BE RENEGOTIATED, ESPECIALLY ITS PROVISIONS FOR A UNITED SARAJEVO UNDER BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT CONTROL. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS. (12/2)

US / BOSNIA / MUJAHEDIN -- THE CHAIRMAN OF THE US JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF SAYS HE IS CONCERNED ABOUT SEVERAL HUNDRED MUJAHEDIN FIGHTERS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA WHO FOUGHT FOR THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT. CORRESPONDENT VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS GENERAL JOHN SHALIKASHVILI SAYS HE HAS RECEIVED ASSURANCES THE MUJAHEDIN FIGHTERS WILL LEAVE THE COUNTRY AS PART OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE ACCORD. (12/3)

CLINTON / RETURNS -- PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS RETURNED TO THE WHITE HOUSE FOLLOWING A FIVE-DAY TRIP TO EUROPE THAT FOCUSED ON THE PEACE PROCESS IN NORTHERN IRELAND AND IN BOSNIA. THE PRESIDENT NOW TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO WINNING AMERICAN SUPPORT FOR HIS BOSNIA POLICY, AND MAKING PEACE WITH THE REPUBLICAN-LED CONGRESS IN THE BATTLE OVER THE FEDERAL BUDGET. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS. (12/3)

CLINTON / BOSNIA -- PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS TOLD US TROOPS GOING TO BOSNIA AS PART OF THE NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE THEY ARE ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING "'VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE NATION AND FOR THE WORLD.' SPEAKING TO THOUSANDS OF TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES AT A US ARMY BASE IN BAUMHOLDER, GERMANY, THE PRESIDENT ASSURED THEM THEY ARE GOING TO BOSNIA WELL-ARMED AND READY FOR THEIR MISSION. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA WAS THERE. (12/2)

CLINTON SPAIN ARRIVAL -- PRESIDENT CLINTON, ON ARRIVAL IN MADRID FOR A EUROPEAN UNION MEETING, HAS THANKED SPAIN FOR ITS COOPERATION IN THE SEARCH FOR PEACE IN BOSNIA. THE 60,000-STRONG NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE FOR BOSNIA WILL BE HIGH ON THE PRESIDENT'S AGENDA HERE WHEN HE MEETS WITH SPANISH PRIME MINISTER FELIPE GONZALEZ AND EU OFFICIALS. THE PRESIDENT ARRIVED IN SPAIN FROM GERMANY, WHERE HE SPOKE TO US TROOPS THAT WILL BE PART OF THE PEACEKEEPING FORCE. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS FROM MADRID. (12/2)

CLINTON / GERMANY ARRIVAL -- PRESIDENT CLINTON IS IN GERMANY TO MEET WITH US SOLDIERS PREPARING TO GO TO BOSNIA AS PART OF THE NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE THERE. HE PLANS TO PERSONALLY EXPLAIN TO THE SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHY HE BELIEVES THE US ROLE IS SO IMPORTANT. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS FROM THE US ARMY BASE IN BAUMHOLDER, GERMANY. (12/2)

REPUBLICANS / BOSNIA -- A LEADING REPUBLICAN SENATOR SAYS CONGRESS SHOULD SUPPORT THE USE OF AMERICAN TROOPS IN A NATO PEACE FORCE FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, BUT THE BOSNIANS MUST ALSO BE ABLE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES. CORRESPONDENT DAVID SWAN HAS DETAILS. (12/2)

PERRY / BOSNIA REARM -- THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION ASSURED CONGRESS IT WILL SEE TO IT THAT THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT ARMY IS REARMED, IF THE ARMS CONTROL PROVISIONS OF THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORD DO NOT PRODUCE A MILITARY BALANCE WITH THE BOSNIAN SERBS. DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY SAYS DIPLOMATIC CONTACTS ON THE ISSUE ARE ALREADY UNDERWAY. CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS. (12/1)

TROOPS FOR BOSNIA -- PRESIDENT CLINTON'S INITIATIVE TO COMMIT THOUSANDS OF US TROOPS TO NATO PEACE-IMPLEMENTATION EFFORTS IN BOSNIA HAS SPARKED A RANGE OF MEDIA AND PUBLIC REACTION AROUND THE COUNTRY. CURRENT AFFAIRS' TOM MAHONEY ANCHORS A DISCUSSION WITH CORRESPONDENTS IN WASHINGTON, NEW YORK, CHICAGO AND LOS ANGELES ABOUT THE ATTITUDE OF THE PEOPLE TOWARD INVOLVING US TROOPS IN BOSNIA. (12/4)

NATO / BOSNIA MISSION / DEFINED -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' ERICA BENIS LOOKS AT THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT, DANGERS AND THE ROLE OF THE NATO MISSION. (12/4)

NATO / BOSNIA MISSION / THE COST OF THE OPERATION -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' ERICA BENIS LOOKS MOSTLY BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY AT THE COST TO US TAXPAYERS. IT ALSO LOOKS AT OTHER COUNTRIES' CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES. (12/4)

CHRISTOPHER / SPAIN / NATO -- PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS ARRIVED IN MADRID TO SIGN A TRANS-ATLANTIC AGREEMENT AT THE UNITED STATES-EUROPEAN UNION SUMMIT MEETING. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM MADRID THE MEETING COMPLETES SPAIN'S TERM AS EUROPEAN UNION PRESIDENT BUT ALSO MARKS A NEW ROLE FOR SPAIN WITHIN NATO. (12/2)

GULF / SUMMIT -- LEADERS OF THE GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL, GCC GATHERED IN MUSCAT, OMAN FOR THEIR ANNUAL THREE-DAY MEETING. THE AGENDA INCLUDES REGIONAL SECURITY, COMBATTING TERRORISM, STRENGTHENING POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC TIES, AND THE SITUATION IN IRAQ, WHICH HAS BEEN ISOLATED BY UN SANCTIONS FOR FIVE YEARS. MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS THAT AN AILING KING FAHD OF SAUDI ARABIA IS NOT ATTENDING THE SUMMIT. (12/4)

CAMEROON / CRASH -- A PASSENGER JETLINER HAS CRASHED IN THE WEST AFRICAN NATION OF CAMEROON, KILLING AT LEAST 60 OF THE 77 PEOPLE ON BOARD. CORRESPONDENT PURNELL MURDOCK REPORTED AT LEAST FIVE PEOPLE, INCLUDING THREE CREW MEMBERS, ARE REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN RESCUED. (12/4)

FRANCOPHONE SUMMIT -- DELEGATES AT THIS YEAR'S FRANCOPHONE SUMMIT IN BENIN HAVE CALLED FOR NIGERIA TO RESTORE DEMOCRACY AND ESTABLISH A RULE OF LAW IN THE WEST AFRICAN COUNTRY. CORRESPONDENT PURNELL MURDOCK REPORTS A RESOLUTION ADOPTED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE SUMMIT STOPPED SHORT OF CONDEMNING THE MILITARY REGIME FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. (12/4)

FRANCOPHONE SUMMIT / NIGERIA -- DELEGATES AT THIS YEAR'S FRANCOPHONE SUMMIT IN COTONOU, BENIN HAVE AGREED TO ISSUE A STATEMENT ABOUT THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN NIGERIA. CORRESPONDENT PURNELL MURDOCK REPORTS THE STATEMENT STOPS SHORT OF CONDEMNING THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. (12/3)

CHIRAC / FRANCOPHONE SUMMIT -- FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC HAS URGED FRENCH SPEAKING NATIONS TO TAKE A LEADING ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS. IN A SPEECH TO THIS YEAR'S FRANCOPHONE SUMMIT IN COTONOU, BENIN, THE FRENCH PRESIDENT ALSO CALLED ON THE LEADERS TO ENCOURAGE GREATER USE OF THE FRENCH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE ON THE SO-CALLED INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY. CORRESPONDENT PURNELL MURDOCK REPORTS. (12/2)

GORE / AFRICA -- VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE HAS LEFT ON A THREE-DAY TRIP TO SOUTH AFRICA AIMED AT STRENGTHENING BILATERAL TIES IN THE POST-APARTHEID ERA. MR GORE IS ALSO TO MAKE BRIEF STOPS IN CONGO AND BOTSWANA. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE PREVIEWS THE TRIP. (12/4)

SAF / GORE -- VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE ARRIVED MONDAY IN SOUTH AFRICA FOR A VISIT AIMED AT FURTHERING BILATERAL RELATIONS. CORRESPONDENT MALLORY SALESON REPORTED FROM JOHANNESBURG OTHER ISSUES, INCLUDING NIGERIA, ARE ALSO LIKELY TO COME UP. (12/4)

RWANDA / MASSACRE -- UN HUMAN RIGHTS OBSERVERS UNCOVERED ANOTHER CIVILIAN MASSACRE IN RWANDA DURING THE WEEKEND. WITNESSES SAY UNIFORMED SOLDIERS KILLED AT LEAST 20 PEOPLE. STRINGER CHRIS TOMLINSON REPORTS FROM KIGALI. (12/4)

CHINA / TAIWAN -- CHINA HAS NOTED THE RESULTS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS IN TAIWAN, BUT HAS MADE VERY LITTLE PUBLIC COMMENT. CORRESPONDENT STEPHANIE HO IN BEIJING REPORTS, THE NEAR SILENCE FROM THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AFTER THE VOTING IS IN SHARP CONTRAST TO A SERIES OF THREATENING COMMENTS IT MADE BEFORE THE ELECTION. (12/4)

CHINA / TIBET -- THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND THE DALAI LAMA ENGAGED IN A HEATED, HIGH-PROFILE TUG-OF-WAR FOR THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THE TIBETAN PEOPLE THIS YEAR. AS CORRESPONDENT STEPHANIE HO REPORTED, EACH SIDE NAMED ITS OWN CHOICE FOR THE SECOND HIGHEST-RANKING TIBETAN SPIRITUAL LEADER, THE PANCHEN LAMA, A MOVE THAT THREATENS TO WIDEN A RIFT BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES. (12/4)

CHINA / ECON -- DURING THE PAST YEAR, THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN CHINA'S ECONOMY, STILL ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING IN THE WORLD. AS CORRESPONDENT STEPHANIE HO REPORTED, 1995 BROUGHT CHINA CLOSER TO MEMBERSHIP IN THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION AND A NEW FIVE-YEAR ECONOMIC PLAN TO TAKE THE COUNTRY INTO THE NEXT CENTURY. (12/4)

CHINA / ECONOMIC ROUNDUP -- CHINA'S SATELLITE-LAUNCHING BUSINESS IS BACK ON TRACK AFTER A FAILED LAUNCH LAST JANUARY SHOOK CONFIDENCE IN THE PROGRAM. CUBAN LEADER FIDEL CASTRO CAME TO CHINA TO LEARN, FIRST HAND, ABOUT WHAT THE CHINESE CALL A 'SOCIALIST MARKET ECONOMY.' WASHINGTON AND BEIJING DISPUTE HOW DILIGENTLY CHINA IS ENFORCING ITS AGREEMENT TO CRACK DOWN ON AUDIO AND VIDEO PIRATES. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE NEWS ITEMS IN THIS ECONOMIC ROUNDUP FROM CHINA. CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER REPORTS FROM BEIJING. (12/4)

"ASIA RISING" -- BY 1990, ONLY TEN PERCENT OF EAST ASIANS WERE LIVING IN WHAT IS CALLED "ABSOLUTE POVERTY," COMPARED WITH A QUARTER OF LATIN AMERICANS, HALF OF BLACK AFRICANS, AND HALF THE PEOPLE ON THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT. IN HIS NEW BOOK, "ASIA RISING," JIM ROHWER LOOKS AT THE TACTICS AND THE RESULTS OF THE EAST ASIAN MIRACLE THAT HAS OCCURRED OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS, PRODUCING THE FASTEST RISE IN INCOMES FOR THE BIGGEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE EVER SEEN ON THIS EARTH. CURRENT AFFAIRS' LINDA CASHDAN REPORTS. (12/4)

TAIWAN / ELECTION -- THE PEOPLE OF TAIWAN ARE VOTING IN ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTIONS OF THE ISLAND'S DEMOCRACY. STRINGER RUPERT HAYES REPORTS FROM TAIPEI THAT THE RULING KMT OR NATIONALIST PARTY IS FACING THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSING ITS PARLIAMENTARY MAJORITY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN 45 YEARS. (12/2)

TAIWAN ELECTION -- TAIWAN'S RULING NATIONALIST PARTY HAS RETAINED ITS MAJORITY IN THE NATION'S LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS. BUT STRINGER KENDALL BUHL REPORTS FROM TAIPEI THE BETTER THAN EXPECTED SHOWING OF A RENEGADE OPPOSITION PARTY HAS THE NATIONALISTS WORRIED ABOUT THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. (12/2)

KOREA CHUN QUESTIONING -- SOUTH KOREAN PROSECUTORS HAVE BEGUN QUESTIONING MILITARY LEADERS ALLEGED TO HAVE ASSISTED FORMER PRESIDENT CHUN DOO-HWAN IN A 1979 COUP D'ETAT. STRINGER SHIN NA REPORTED FROM SEOUL ON THE CONTINUING INVESTIGATION. (12/4)

KOREA / CHUN ARREST -- FORMER SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT CHUN DOO-HWAN WAS ARRESTED JUST AFTER DAWN SUNDAY ON CHARGES OF LEADING A MILITARY COUP IN 1979. STRINGER SHIN NA REPORTS FROM SEOUL ON THE SECOND EX-PRESIDENT TO BE ARRESTED THREE WEEKS. (12/3)

KOREA / POLITICS -- SOUTH KOREAN OPPOSITION LEADER KIM DAE-JUNG HAS ACCUSED PRESIDENT KIM YOUNG-SAM OF ACCEPTING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM A SECRET POLITICAL FUND AMASSED BY HIS PREDECESSOR ROH TAE-WOO SUNDAY. EARLIER ON SUNDAY, FORMER PRESIDENT CHUN DOO-HWAN WAS ARRESTED ON CHARGES OF MASTERMINDING A MILITARY COUP SIXTEEN YEARS AGO. STRINGER SHIN NA REPORTS FROM SEOUL ON THE CURRENT POLITICAL SITUATION AND THE INVESTIGATION INTO CRIMES AGAINST THE STATE ALLEGEDLY COMMITTED BY TWO FORMER PRESIDENTS. (12/3)

BURMA / THAILAND -- NEXT WEEK, THAILAND HOSTS THE FIFTH SUMMIT OF THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS (ASEAN). AMONG REGIONAL LEADERS EXPECTED IN BANGKOK IS THE CHAIRMAN OF BURMA'S RULING MILITARY GOVERNMENT. AS CORRESPONDENT DAN ROBINSON REPORTS, THE QUESTION OF ASEAN POLICY TOWARD BURMA IS BEING DISCUSSED MORE FREQUENTLY IN THE THAI PRESS, AS THE SUMMIT APPROACHES. (12/4)

BURMA / RALLY -- IN BURMA, OPPOSITION LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI HELD HER REGULAR WEEKLY AUDIENCE WITH HER FOLLOWERS ON THE GROUNDS OF HER HOME IN RANGOON SATURDAY. AS STRINGER DAVID BUTLER REPORTS, THERE HAD BEEN FEARS THAT BURMA'S MILITARY RULERS MIGHT MOVE TO CURTAIL THE WEEKEND RALLIES. (12/3)

US / BURMA -- THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS SIGNALED ITS CONCERN OVER THE BURMESE MILITARY GOVERNMENT'S REFUSAL TO OPEN A DIALOGUE WITH THE OPPOSITION. THE US EXPRESSION OF CONCERN COMES AS THE RANGOON GOVERNMENT IS DRAFTING A NEW CONSTITUTION, A PROCESS BOYCOTTED BY THE COUNTRY'S MAIN PRO-DEMOCRACY PARTY. (12/1)

LAOS ANNIVERSARY -- LAOS MARKED THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF COMMUNIST RULE SATURDAY WITH SPEECHES IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BUT NO STREET PARADES OR OTHER PUBLIC CELEBRATIONS. FROM BANGKOK, CORRESPONDENT DAVID BUTLER REPORTS ON THE LOW-KEY COMMEMORATION IN THE SMALL LANDLOCKED SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATION. (12/2)

INDOCHINA / MIA -- US OFFICIALS IN CAMBODIA AND LAOS HAVE ANNOUNCED THE RECOVERY OF REMAINS THOUGHT TO BE OF AMERICAN SERVICEMEN MISSING FROM THE INDOCHINA CONFLICT. CORRESPONDENT DAN ROBINSON REPORTS. (12/4)

SINGAPORE / LEESON -- BRITISH FINANCIAL TRADER NICHOLAS LEESON WAS SENTENCED TO SIX AND A HALF YEARS IN A SINGAPORE PRISON FOR FRAUD LEADING TO THE COLLAPSE OF BARINGS BANK. THE 28-YEAR OLD LEESON PLEADED GUILTY FRIDAY TO TWO COUNTS OF FRAUD, CARRYING A MAXIMUM POSSIBLE SENTENCE OF EIGHT YEARS. STRINGER ANITA JAIN HAS THE DETAILS FROM SINGAPORE. (12/2)

ISRAEL / SYRIA / US -- THE US MEDIATOR IN THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE TALKS HAS BEGUN A SHUTTLE MISSION BETWEEN JERUSALEM AND DAMASCUS. CORRESPONDENT AL PESSIN IN JERUSALEM REPORTS ONE SENIOR ISRAELI OFFICIAL CALLS IT THE LAST CHANCE TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF SETTLING DISPUTES ABOUT TROOP WITHDRAWALS, SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS, AND THE SUBSTANCE OF PEACEFUL RELATIONS FOR AT LEAST A YEAR. (12/4)

US / IRAQ -- AMERICAN DIPLOMATS TO THE UNITED NATIONS CHARGE THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUFFERING OF THE COUNTRY'S CHILDREN DESPITE AN EASING OF SOME SANCTIONS. STAFFER VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS THE US OFFICIALS HAVE REACTED TO A UN SURVEY OF IRAQI CHILDREN AND HOW THEY ARE FARING AFTER FIVE YEARS OF INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS. (12/2)

LANKA WAR -- THE SRI LANKAN ARMY SAYS TROOPS HAVE SEALED OFF THE NORTHERN CITY OF JAFFNA, TRAPPING HUNDREDS OF TAMIL SEPARATIST GUERRILLAS INSIDE. CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE HAS MORE FROM COLOMBO. (12/2)

BANGLA / OPPOSITION -- IN BANGLADESH, THE MAIN OPPOSITION PARTIES CALLED A THREE-DAY GENERAL STRIKE BEGINNING NEXT SATURDAY AIMED AT STOPPING A GOVERNMENT PLAN TO HOLD A NEW PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION ON JANUARY 18. STRINGER ATIQUL ALAM REPORTS FROM DHAKA. (12/4)

RUSSIA / CHECHNYA -- A BOMB HAS EXPLODED IN THE CENTER OF THE CHECHEN CAPITAL, GROZNY, KILLING AT LEAST FOUR PEOPLE AND INJURING 15. STRINGER PETER HEINLEIN IN MOSCOW REPORTS THE BLAST COMES DAYS BEFORE THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF RUSSIA'S MILITARY INTERVENTION IN CHECHNYA. (12/4)

RUSSIA POL / MILITARY -- RUSSIA'S ARMED FORCES ARE EXPECTED TO MAKE A SHOW OF STRENGTH THIS MONTH IN THE COUNTRY'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. STRINGER PETER HEINLEIN IN MOSCOW REPORTS SEVERAL LEADING CANDIDATES ARE FORMER GENERALS AND WAR HEROES, OR IN MANY CASES, ACTIVE-DUTY SERVICEMEN. (12/4)

PRAGUE CULTURE -- THE CAPITAL OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC, PRAGUE HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION, ALONG WITH EIGHT OTHER CITIES, AS A EUROPEAN CITY OF CULTURE FOR THE YEAR 2000. PRAGUE CORRESPONDENT BARRY WOOD REPORTS THE COVETED DISTINCTION IS LIKELY TO BOOST AN ALREADY THRIVING TOURIST INDUSTRY. (12/4)

MIAMI CONF / THE CARIBBEAN -- THE 19TH ANNUAL MIAMI CONFERENCE ON THE CARIBBEAN AND LATIN AMERICA GETS UNDERWAY IN MIAMI, FLORIDA. CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE REPORTS PARTICIPANTS AT THIS YEAR'S CONFERENCE WILL FOCUS ON PROMOTING AGRICULTURE, TOURISM, AND HEALTH CARE IN THE REGION. (12/3)

LATAM DRUGS -- THE HEAD OF THE US SOUTHERN COMMAND WARNS DRUG TRAFFICKING IN LATIN AMERICA IS A GROWING THREAT TO DEMOCRACY IN THE AMERICAS. GENERAL BARRY MCCAFFREY MADE THE COMMENT SATURDAY AT THE END OF A TWO-DAY VISIT TO COSTA RICA TO DISCUSS JOINT EFFORTS TO CURB DRUG SMUGGLING. CORRESPONDENT BILL RODGERS REPORTS FROM SAN JOSE. (12/2)

US / EURO / SPACE -- A ONE-BILLION DOLLAR JOINT AMERICAN-EUROPEAN SOLAR OBSERVATORY IS HURTLING TOWARDS THE SUN AFTER BEING LAUNCHED INTO SPACE SATURDAY FROM CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA. STAFFER VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS SCIENTISTS HOPE THE SOLAR AND HELIOSPHERIC OBSERVATORY, OR SOHO, WILL UNLOCK SOME OF THE MYSTERIES SURROUNDING THE SUN. (12/2)

US / POLITICS / REPUBLICANS -- SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ROBERT DOLE HAS GAINED MOMENTUM IN HIS QUEST FOR THE 1996 REPUBLICAN PARTY PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION. STAFFER VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTED AS SENATOR DOLE PICKED UP A KEY ENDORSEMENT, NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION BECAME MORE WIDE OPEN WITH ANOTHER SENATOR ANNOUNCING HIS RETIREMENT. (12/3)

US / POLITICS / SIMPSON -- REPUBLICAN SENATOR ALAN SIMPSON OF WYOMING HAS MADE IT OFFICIAL, HE DOES NOT PLAN TO SEEK RE-ELECTION NEXT YEAR MAKING HIM THE TWELFTH SENATOR TO MAKE THAT DECISION, THE MOST SINCE 1896. WASHINGTON STAFFER VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTED MR SIMPSON MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT IN HIS HOMETOWN. (12/3)

CATEPILLAR STRIKE ENDS -- A SEVENTEEN-MONTH STRIKE BY UNION WORKERS AGAINST THE WORLD'S BIGGEST MANUFACTURER OF EARTH MOVING EQUIPMENT, CATERPILLAR INCORPORATED, ENDED SUNDAY. THE UNITED AUTOWORKERS UNION SAYS THE STRIKE IS FINISHED EVEN THOUGH ITS MEMBERS AT CATERPILLAR REJECTED A NEW CONTRACT OFFERED BY THE COMPANY. WE HAVE MORE FROM CORRESPONDENT PAUL FRANCUCH IN CHICAGO. (12/4)

GUINEA WORM / ERADICATION -- US HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THE CRIPPLING AND SCARRING TROPICAL DISEASE DRACUNCULIASIS, OR GUINEA WORM DISEASE, IS ON THE VERGE OF BEING ERADICATED. IT WOULD BE ONLY THE SECOND ILLNESS AFTER SMALLPOX TO BE WIPED FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH. CORRESPONDENT DAVID MCALARY REPORTS. (12/1)

US / PRISONS -- ACCORDING TO GOVERNMENT FIGURES, THE STATE AND FEDERAL PRISON INMATE POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES GREW AT A RECORD PACE IN THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDING JUNE 30TH. CORRESPONDENT VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS THE UNITED STATES NOW LOCKS UP A GREATER PERCENTAGE OF ITS CITIZENS THAN ANY OTHER NATION. (12/3)

RUSSIA DAVIS DOUBLES -- THE UNITED STATES HAS TAKEN A TWO-TO-ONE LEAD OVER RUSSIA IN THE DAVIS CUP TENNIS FINALS WITH AN EASY WIN IN THE DOUBLES COMPETITION. STRINGER PETER HEINLEIN HAS THE DETAILS FROM MOSCOW. (12/2)

WORLD SWIM -- TWO WORLD RECORDS WERE SET AT THE 2ND WORLD SHORT COURSE SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIP IN RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL. THE COMPETITION TOOK PLACE IN A 25-METER POOL ON RIO'S FAMED COPACABANA BEACH. CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK REPORTS. (12/1)

INSIDE USA:

ATOM AND ENVIRONMENT -- STAFFER BEN ABBASSI INTERVIEWS GREGORY HARTL, GENEVA BASED UN HUMANITARIAN AID COORDINATOR FOR CHERNOBYL VICTIMS. HE TALKED ABOUT THE CHERNOBYL-RELATED DAMAGE REPORTED TO THE UN BY REPRESENTATIVES OF UKRAINE, BELORUS, AND RUSSIA. (FARSI 12/3)

LA PUBLISHER / D'AMATO -- STAFFER MOHAMMAD RAZAVI REPORTS ON A LOS ANGELES GATHERING TO HONOR THE PUBLISHER OF THE POPULAR WEEKLY, RAH-I ZENDEGI. THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER WAS SENATOR ALPHONSE D'AMATO OF NEW YORK WHO CALLED FOR STRONG MEASURES TO FORCE IRAN TO MODIFY ITS BEHAVIOR. THE REPORT INCLUDED COMMENTS BY CONGRESSMAN HOWARD BERMAN AND FORMER IRANIAN AMBASSADOR, HUSHANG ANSARI. SEN. D'AMATO SAID HE SUPPORTS LEGISLATION FOR A RADIO FREE IRAN WHICH WOULD CARRY THE MESSAGE OF FREEDOM SO THAT IRANIANS CAN FIND OUT WHAT IS TAKING PLACE IN THE WORLD. (FARSI 12/4)

INTERNET / SOFTWARE -- SAN JOSE STRINGER THANH PHUONG INTERVIEWED COMPUTER EXPERT HAI SA ON THE FUNCTION OF INTERNET AND THE SOFTWARE THAN CAN BE USED IN THIS NETWORK. (VIETNAMESE 12/3)

LABOR UNIONS -- TO RAISE OR NOT TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE IN THE US? LABOR EXPERT CONSTANTINE SIMIS DISCUSSES THIS ISSUE WITH STAFFER NATALIE CLARKSON. (RUSSIAN 12/2)

NEW YORK / BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC -- STAFFER ALEC BATCHAN TALKS ABOUT NEW PERFORMANCES BY THE BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC, INCLUDING A NEW PRODUCTION OF THE LEWIS CARROLL CLASSIC ALICE IN WONDERLAND, DIRECTED BY LEADING EXPERIMENTAL THEATER DIRECTOR ROBERT WILSON. (RUSSIAN 12/3)

INSIDE AFRICA:

FRANCOPHONE SUMMIT / SOGLO -- SPEAKING AT THE SIXTH ANNUAL FRANCOPHONE SUMMIT IN COTONOU, BENIN'S PRESIDENT NICEPHORE SOGLO SAID INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS SHOULD MOBILIZE THEIR EFFORTS TO HELP STABILIZE AND RESTART THE ECONOMY OF AFRICA AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO ITS SOCIAL PROGRAMS. STRINGER MOHAMED ELBOU REPORTS THAT PRESIDENT SOGLO CALLED FOR A MARSHALL PLAN FOR AFRICA. (FRENCH 12/4)

ETHIOPIA / ISRAEL -- THE PRESIDENT OF THE ALL ETHIOPIAN JEWISH ASSOCIATION IN ISRAEL, ADDISU MESELE DESCRIBED THE LIFE OF ETHIOPIAN JEWS IN THEIR NEW HOMELAND ISRAEL, IN AN INTERVIEW WITH REPORTER NEGUSSIE MENGESHA. A MEMBER OF THE RULING LABOR PARTY, MR ADDISU IS A CANDIDATE FOR THE KNESSET IN THE FORTHCOMING PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. (AMHARIC 12/3)

RWANDA / UNAMIR -- THERE IS SOME CONFUSION ON WHETHER THE MANDATE OF THE UN MISSION IN RWANDA WILL BE EXTENDED FOR THE NEXT THREE MONTHS. FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER HAD ANNOUNCED THE RWANDAN GOVERNMENT AGREED TO AN EXTENSION BUT STATEMENTS MADE LATER BY RWANDA'S INFORMATION MINISTER SEEMED TO INDICATE THAT AN EXTENSION IS ONLY BEING TAKEN UNDER CONSIDERATION. TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE RWANDAN GOVERNMENT'S POSITION, STAFFER FERDINAND FERELLA INTERVIEWS RWANDA'S AMBASSADOR TO THE UN, MANZI BAKURAMUTSA. (FRENCH 12/1)

NIGERIA / OIL SALES -- SOME ARE CALLING FOR AN OIL EMBARGO ON NIGERIAN OIL, AS PRESSURE MOUNTS AGAINST THAT COUNTRY'S MILITARY REGIME WHICH RECENTLY EXECUTED NINE OGONI ACTIVISTS, INCLUDING KEN SARO-WIWA; THE ACTIVISTS WERE PROTESTING AGAINST THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT AND SHELL OIL COMPANY PRESENCE IN THE OGONI REGION. STAFFER MAIMOUNA MILLS INTERVIEWS DUNCAN JAMES, BRITISH EXPERT IN INVESTMENTS IN WEST AFRICA WHO SAID AN OIL EMBARGO WOULD HAVE WORLDWIDE CONSEQUENCES. (FRENCH 12/1)

CAMEROON / POLITICS -- STRINGER JULIUS BARTHSON INTERVIEWS GREGOIRE OWONA, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE RDPC PARTY IN POWER. MR OWONA ANSWERED THE OPPOSITION'S CRITICISM OF CAMEROONIAN PRESIDENT PAUL BIYA'S CONSTITUTIONAL PROJECT. (FRENCH 12/2)

WORLD AIDS DAY -- STAFFERS JESSICA HARTMAN AND MAIMOUNAL MILLS PREPARED A SPECIAL REPORT ON THE 8TH WORLD AIDS DAY. MS HARTMAN REVIEWED THE LATEST STATISTICS RELEASED BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ON THE DISEASE. SHE INTERVIEWED DR. PETER PIOT, DIRECTOR OF THE UN-AIDS PROGRAM IN NEW YORK, ABOUT THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE IN AFRICA AND WHETHER PROGRESS IS BEING MADE IN SLOWING THE RATE OF INFECTION. MS. MILLS INTERVIEWED DR JUSTINE AGNES SOUMAORO, WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE AMBULATORY CARE AND COUNSELING UNIT AT THE INFECTIOUS AND TROPICAL DISEASES CENTER AT THE TREICHVILLE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER, IN IVORY COAST. (FRENCH 12/1)

AIDS / HUMAN RIGHTS -- DR DEBRE WORK ZEWDIE IS AIDS COORDINATOR AT THE WORLD BANK. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH REPORTER TIZITA BELACHEW SHE SAID PEOPLE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO RESPECT THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF AIDS PATIENTS WHILE HIV INFECTED PEOPLE HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES TO SOCIETY. (AMHARIC 12/2)

IVORY COAST / AIDS -- THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION SAYS SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA IS THE MOST AIDS-AFFECTED REGION ON EARTH AND IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE. REPORTER COLE MALLARD INTERVIEWS DR ALAN GREENBERG, THE DIRECTOR OF A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA AND THE IVORY COAST MINISTRY OF HEALTH. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/1)

AFRICA / WOMEN AND AIDS -- A GROUP OF PANELISTS DISCUSS AIDS AND ITS EFFECTS, ESPECIALLY IN AFRICA. THE DIRECTOR OF THE AIDS CONTROL AND PREVENTION PROJECT, DR PETER LAMPTI, AND USAID MANAGER DENISE ROUSE TALKED ABOUT AIDS AWARENESS AND PREVENTION. STRINGER RODRICK MURRAY REPORTS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/30)

BURKINA FASO / BEIJING WOMEN CONFERENCE -- STAFFER SAMUEL KIENDREBEOGO INTERVIEWED FATIMA LEGMA, A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT IN BURKINA FASO. MS. LEGMA WHO ATTENDED THE BEIJING CONFERENCE ON WOMEN SPOKE OF THE FOLLOW-UP EFFORTS TO THE CONFERENCE AND HOW SHE IS PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN FURTHERING WOMEN'S RIGHTS. (FRENCH 12/1)

NIGERIA / HUMAN RIGHTS -- THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE NIGERIAN CIVIL LIBERTIES ORGANIZATION, INNOCENT CHUKWUMA, IS IN THE UNITED STATES. HE TOLD STAFFER RICHARD KOTEY HE'S HERE TO GAIN SUPPORT FOR THE EFFORT TO PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS IN NIGERIA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/4)

LIBERIA / FIRST 90 DAYS -- VICTORIA REFELL, LIBERIA'S MINISTER OF INFORMATION, TALKS TO REPORTER TED ROBERTS ABOUT THE FIRST NINETY DAYS OF THE LIBERIAN NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT. SHE EXPLAINS THE RECENT ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATIONS IN MONROVIA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/3)

OAU / ARREARS -- FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ITS HISTORY, THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY HAS TAKEN AWAY THE VOTING RIGHTS OF NINE MEMBER STATES. REPORTER CATHERINE MADDUX INTERVIEWS OAU SPOKESMAN IBRAHIM DAGASH, WHO SAID THEIR MEMBERSHIP DUES WERE SERIOUSLY IN ARREARS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/4)

UNHCR / REPATRIATING LIBERIANS -- STRINGER BARBARA FRANCIS, IN HER REPORT ABOUT THE WORK OF THE UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, DISCUSSES THE UNHCR'S PLAN TO REPATRIATE LIBERIANS, AND ADVISES ON WHAT TO EXPECT ONCE REPATRIATED. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/2)

NIGERIA / HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS -- PRO-DEMOCRACY GROUPS IN NIGERIA DISCOUNT RUMORS THAT THE GOVERNMENT MAY RELEASE SOME HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS FROM DETENTION BEFORE CHRISTMAS. STRINGER CHINEDU OFFOR REPORTS FROM LAGOS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/4)

SIERRA LEONE / DONORS -- WESTERN DONORS HAVE CONTRIBUTED ABOUT ONE THIRD OF THE AMOUNT NEEDED TO FUND SIERRA LEONE'S NATIONAL ELECTIONS NEXT FEBRUARY. STRINGER KELVIN LEWIS REPORTS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/4)

KAUNDA / NIGERIA / COMMONWEALTH -- FORMER ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT KENNETH KAUNDA HAS CONDEMNED THE EXECUTIONS OF NINE MINORITY HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS IN NIGERIA. SPEAKING TO STAFFER SHAKA SSALI, THE FORMER PRESIDENT SAYS HE HOPES THE SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON NIGERIA BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITIES AND THE SUSPENSION OF THE COUNTRY FROM COMMONWEALTH ORGANIZATION WILL TEACH NIGERIAN LEADERS A LESSON TO SPEED THE RETURN OF DEMOCRACY IN THE COUNTRY. STAFFER MOHAMMED USMAN HAS THE INTERVIEW. (HAUSA 11/30)

NIGERIA / SECURITY -- STAFFER KABIRU FAGGE ASKED NIGERIA'S DEMOCRAT NEWSPAPER CORRESPONDENT IN ABUJA, SULAIMAN IBN MOHAMMED ABOUT NIGERIA MILITARY CHIEFS' CLOSED DOOR MEETING IN RESPONSE TO NIGERIA'S GROWING ISOLATION BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. (HAUSA 12/1)

NIGERIA / EMIR CONTROVERSY -- A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT SITTING IN KADUNA, NIGERIA HAS RULED THAT AWWAL IBRAHIM, THE FORMER CIVILIAN GOVERNOR OF NIGER STATE IS THE RIGHTFUL EMIR OF SULEJA, AND NOT SULAIMAN BARAU WHO WAS INSTALLED RECENTLY BY THE MILITARY ADMINISTRATOR OF NIGER STATE. STRINGER SANI ABDULLAHI TSAFE REPORTS FROM KADUNA. (HAUSA 12/1)

INSIDE MIDEAST:

SAUDI ARABIA / FAHD -- MAMOUD FANDY OF GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY EXAMINES THE CONFLICTING REPORTS ABOUT THE HEALTH OF SAUDI ARABIA'S KING FAHD. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH REPORTER LAURI NEFF, MR FANDY DISCUSSES THE KING'S IMPORTANCE IN THE GULF STATE, HE ALSO SPEAKS TO THE ISSUE OF SUCCESSION IN THE KINGDOM AND HOW A SERIOUS ILLNESS OF THE KING COULD AFFECT THE COUNTRY'S STABILITY. (ENP 12/3)

INSIDE CENTRAL ASIA:

TURKEY / CENTRAL ASIA -- THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT HOSTED A CONFERENCE OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND EXPERTS FROM THE TURKIC SPEAKING COUNTRIES OF CENTRAL ASIA AND THE CAUCASUS TO DISCUSS SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS OF THOSE COUNTRIES AND THE TURKISH EXPERIENCE. PARTICIPANTS IN THE ISTANBUL CONFERENCE FOCUSED ON THE TRANSITION OF FORMER SOVIET REPUBLICS TO DEMOCRACY AND MARKET ECONOMY. TURKISH STAFFER KEMAL AKAYDIN INTERVIEWS ALI DINCER, TURKISH MINISTER OF STATE WHO REPRESENTED HIS GOVERNMENT AT THE CONFERENCE. (TURKISH 12/3)

UZBEKISTAN / NATIONAL IDENTITY -- THE CALL FOR "GREAT TURKISTAN" BY THE UZBEK PRESIDENT ISLAM KARIMOV, IS LOOKED UPON WITH SUSPICION BY OTHER CENTRAL ASIAN COUNTRIES, ESPECIALLY TAJIKISTAN, SAYS THE HARVARD UNIVERSITY, CENTRAL ASIAN STUDIES PROGRAM DIRECTOR DR. JOHN SCHOEBERLEIN-ENGEL, IN THE SIXTH ANNUAL NAVA'I LECTURE THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE INTERCULTURAL CENTER AUDITORIUM OF GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29. STAFFER ABDUL MANNAN KAISKEN REPORTS. (UZBEK 12/2)

INSIDE SOUTH ASIA:

LITERARY FIGURES HONORED -- TWO OF INDIA'S MOST PROMINENT LITERARY FIGURES, DR DHARAMVIR BHARATI AND KUNWAR NARAYAN WERE HONORED WITH THE PRESTIGIOUS VYAS AWARD FOR THEIR LIFELONG CONTRIBUTIONS. STRINGER NANDAN REPORTS. (HINDI 12/2)

CRICKET SERIES -- INDIA WON THE SERIES OF CRICKET TEST MATCHES AGAINST NEW ZEALAND BY DEFEATING THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM IN THE FINAL AND DECIDING ONE-DAY MATCH IN BOMBAY. OF THE SIX MATCHES NEW ZEALAND WON TWO. STRINGER JASDEV SINGH REPORTS. (HINDI 12/2)

INSIDE EAST ASIA:

TAIWAN LEGISLATIVE ELECTION / DISCUSSION -- DR. HO-I WU, KMT CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBER, WINSTON DANG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF US EAST COAST DIVISION OF THE DPP, AND JIANXUAN WANG, MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE YUAN AND NEW PARTY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, WERE GUESTS ON THE CHINA FORUM CALL-IN SHOW. THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM TAIWAN'S THREE MAJOR PARTIES DISCUSSED THE DECEMBER 2 ELECTION RESULTS, THE MESSAGES VOTERS SENT TO THE PARTIES AND THE CHALLENGES AHEAD FOR THE POLITICAL PARTIES. ( MANDARIN 12/4)

TAIWAN ELECTION / WRAP-UP -- TAIWAN'S RULING NATIONALIST PARTY (KMT) HAS RETAINED ITS MAJORITY IN LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS, BUT ONLY BY A NARROW MARGIN. WHILE THE POSITION OF THE NATIONALIST PARTY HAS WEAKENED, THE OPPOSITION DEMOCRATIC PROGRESSIVE PARTY HAS STRENGTHENED. BUT THE REAL WINNER IS THE NEW PARTY, WHOSE NUMBER OF SEATS INCREASED FROM 6 TO 21. THE NATIONALIST PARTY SUPPORT CAME PREDOMINANTLY FROM THE COUNTRYSIDE. CORRESPONDENT TIEN KANGLIN INTERVIEWS A NEWLY ELECTED NEW PARTY MEMBER. (MANDARIN 12/3)

TAIWAN / PARLIAMENTARY POLITICS AFTER ELECTIONS -- SOME ANALYSTS IN TAIWAN BELIEVE THAT THE BIGGEST THREAT TO THE NATIONALIST PARTY IS NOT FROM THE OPPOSITION DEMOCRATIC PROGRESSIVE PARTY, BUT FROM THE NEW PARTY. TAIPEI STRINGER FAN DAOZHUANG GETS REACTIONS FROM ANALYSTS LU YALI, PROFESSOR AT TAIWAN, XIE FUSHENG, PROFESSOR AT CHENGCHU UNIVERSITY, AND ZHENG DUANREN, PROFESSOR AT UNIV. OF MICHIGAN. (MANDARIN 12/3)

CHINA / VAT REBATE POLICY ON EXPORTATION -- CHINA WILL CUT ITS VAT (VALUE ADDED TAX) REBATE ON EXPORTATION. HONG KONG STAFFER HE PING INTERVIEWS SU QUAN-YUAN, MANAGER AT FUJIAN IMPORT AND EXPORT COMPANY, PROF. ZHAO HAIYING, HONG KONG UNIVERSITY, AND ZHOU BA-JUN, A HK BASED CHINESE ECONOMIST, WHO COMMENT ON THE MOVE. (MANDARIN 12/3)

TAIWAN ELECTIONS / CHINA -- SCHOLARS AND BUSINESSMEN IN LA INTERESTED IN THE CHINESE POLITICAL SITUATION THOUGHT THAT TAIWAN'S LEGISLATURE ELECTIONS SHOULD BE A KIND OF MODEL FOR MAINLAND CHINA. LOS ANGELES STAFFER KUO-FU SHU INTERVIEWS PROF. LI CHENGXIN, SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIV., PROF. NORMAN MATLOFF, UC-DAVIS, GU PINGSHAN, SILICON VALLEY BUSINESSMAN, LI XINPEI, PRESIDENT OF MOUNT JADE TECH ASSOCIATION, MOREY SCHAPIRA, SILICON VALLEY BUSINESSMAN, AND QIAN DA, NEWLY ELECTED NEW PARTY OVERSEAS LEGISLATOR. (MANDARIN 12/3)

CHINA / TIBETAN - CRUCIAL HISTORICAL QUESTIONS -- AMID THE ONGOING CONTROVERSY OF THE REINCARNATION OF THE PANCHEN LAMA, AMERICAN SCHOLARS AND A TIBETAN ANALYST COMMENT ON SOME CRITICAL HISTORICAL CLAIMS MADE BY THE BEIJING AUTHORITIES. STAFFER WANG ZE REPORTS WITH COMMENTS FROM PROF. ELLIOT SPERLING, UNIV. OF INDIANA, JIGME NAGPO, POLITICAL ANALYST, INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR TIBET, PROF. RICHARD SMITH, RICE UNIV. (MANDARIN 12/3)

TAIWAN ELECTION / DEMOCRATIC PROGRESSIVE PARTY -- THE DPP, WHICH ADVOCATES TAIWAN INDEPENDENCE, WARNS TAIWANESE OF BRIBERY AND OTHER IRREGULARITIES IN THE LEGISLATIVE ELECTION. TAIPEI STRINGER CHANG YUNG-TAI REPORTS WITH COMMENTS FROM PENG MING-MIN AND CHEN WEN-QIAN OF THE DPP. (MANDARIN 12/1)

TAIWAN / ELECTION / MINISTER OF JUSTICE -- TAIWAN'S MINISTER OF JUSTICE MA YINGJIU HAS REPEATEDLY SAID THAT AUTHORITIES WILL TRY THEIR BEST TO CRACK DOWN ON MALPRACTICE IN THE ELECTION, ESPECIALLY VOTE-BUYING ACTIVITIES, IN ORDER TO HAVE A CLEAN, LEGAL AND FAIR COMPETITION AND TO SHOW THE REAL ESSENCE OF DEMOCRACY IN TAIWAN. CORRESPONDENT TIEN KANG-LIN IN TAIPEI INTERVIEWED MR. MA, WHO HOPES THAT THE ELECTION IN TAIWAN WILL BE SEEN AS A MODEL IN MAINLAND CHINA. (MANDARIN 12/1)

TAIWAN / ELECTION -- IN TAIWAN'S THIRD LEGISLATIVE ELECTION, THE RULING KUOMINTANG (KMT) TOOK 85 SEATS AND CLAIMED A BIG VICTORY. AFTER THE UNOFFICIAL RESULT WAS ANNOUNCED, KMT GENERAL SECRETARY XU SHUIDE SAID THE RESULT SHOWS THE PEOPLE'S SUPPORT OF THE KMT. TAIPEI STRINGER FAN DAOZHUANG INTERVIEWS XU SHUIDE. (MANDARIN 12/2)

TAIWAN ELECTION / HONG KONG REACTION -- HONG KONG STAFFER CHOU YOUKANG INTERVIEWS JIANG SUHUI OF HONG KONG GUANGHUA NEWS AND CULTURAL CENTER, WHO DISCUSSES THE OUTCOME OF TAIWAN'S ELECTION. JIANG SAYS THE RESULT HAS SOOTHED THE WORRIES OF SOME PEOPLE THAT NONE OF THE PARTIES WILL BE THE MAJORITY. SHE SAYS THE ELECTION WILL HAVE A LONG TERM INFLUENCE ON THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IN TAIWAN, AND THINKS TAIWAN'S ELECTION CAN BE A MODEL FOR HONG KONG'S LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS IN THE FUTURE. (MANDARIN 12/2)

SINGAPORE / LEESON CASE -- BRITISH FINANCIAL TRADER NICHOLAS LEESON HAS BEEN SENTENCED SATURDAY TO 6.5 YEARS IN PRISON FOR FRAUD LEADING TO THE COLLAPSE OF BARINGS BANK. ANALYSTS BELIEVE HE IS UNLIKELY TO APPEAL THE RULING. SINGAPORE AUTHORITIES CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE OTHER PARTIES WHO MAY ALSO HAVE INVOLVED IN WRONG DOINGS IN THE CASE. SINGAPORE STRINGER LIN GUANG-HUI REPORTS. (MANDARIN 12/2)

CHINA / SHANGHAI DISSIDENT PERSECUTED -- THE WIFE OF SHANGHAI DISSIDENT ZHANG XIANLIANG, SAID SHANGHAI AUTHORITIES ESCALATED PERSECUTION OF ZHANG AND HIS FAMILY IN ORDER TO PUNISH THEM FOR APPEALING TO WESTERN MEDIA FOR HIS RELEASE. ZHANG'S WIFE PLANNED TO HOST A PRESS CONFERENCE BUT SHE WAS BEATEN UP BY HER NEIGHBORS. AUTHORITIES TRANSFERRED ZHANG TO A LABOR CAMP FAR AWAY FROM SHANGHAI. WANG RUOWANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE CHINESE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, SAID THIS PROVES THAT BEIJING IS NOT SINCERE IN ITS HUMAN RIGHTS PROMISES AND HE DEMANDED THAT ZHANG BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE CHINA. STAFFER CHIEN WEI INTERVIEWS YAN HUILI, ZHANG'S WIFE, AND WANG RUOWANG. (MANDARIN 12/2)

HONG KONG POP SINGER / UNICEF -- LEONE LAI, ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR SINGERS IN HONG KONG, HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AGAIN AS A UNICEF YOUTH AMBASSADOR. LAI FIRST RECEIVED THIS HONOR IN JULY 1994 AND WAS THE FIRST CHINESE TO BE A YOUTH AMBASSADOR. THIS YEAR LAI WILL VISIT SEVERAL AFRICAN NATIONS TO TRY TO HELP CHILDREN THERE. NEW YORK STRINGER FANG BING REPORTS WITH COMMENTS FROM LEONE LAI AND CAROL BELLANY, EXEC. DIRECTOR OF UNICEF. (MANDARIN 12/2)

FUTURE OF DEMOCRATS IN HONG KONG -- AT AN ALL-PARTY MEETING OF THE DEMOCRATS, MEMBERS DISCUSSED THE PARTY'S POLITICAL POSITION AFTER 1997. AS A WORST CASE SCENARIO, THEY MAY BE REJECTED BY THE SYSTEM AND FORCED TO GO BACK TO THE STREETS TO ORGANIZE POPULAR PROTESTS. HOWEVER, FOR NOW THEY WILL PURSUE A STRATEGY OF COOPERATION, CONSENSUS AND COMPROMISE WITH OTHER PARTIES. LAWRENCE NG INTERVIEWED ANTHONY CHEUNG, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN, DEMOCRATIC PARTY, KK FUNG, CHAIRMAN, ADPL PARTY, AND CHING CHEUNG, HONG KONG COMMENTATOR. (CANTONESE 12/4)

PARKING SPACE SALES BOOM -- A ONE-CAR PARKING SPACE IN DENSELY POPULATED HONG KONG CAN SELL FOR ONE MILLION HONG KONG DOLLARS (US$130,000). RATE OF RETURNS IS HIGHER THAN SALES OF HOUSES AND OTHER REAL ESTATE. BANKS ARE SCRAMBLING TO OFFER MORTGAGE LOANS TO PARKING-SPACE BUYERS AT AS MUCH AS 70 PERCENT OF PURCHASE PRICE. STAFFERS QIDE HE AND YEUNG WAI LING REPORT. (CANTONESE 12/4)

KOREA / CHUN ARREST / AFTERMATH -- CORRESPONDENT YONG KYUN LIM HAS DETAILS IN A TWO-WAY LIVE ABOUT THE AFTERMATH OF THE ARREST OF FORMER PRESIDENT CHUN DOO HWAN ON CHARGES OF MASTERMINDING 1979 COUP AND THE BLOODY SUPPRESSION OF PRO-DEMOCRACY REVOLTS IN KWANGJU IN 1980. LIM QUOTED PROSECUTORS AS SAYING THAT CHUN IS STILL DEFIANT AFTER BEING TAKEN SUNDAY TO A PRISON CELL JUST SOUTH OF SEOUL. PROSECUTORS MONDAY BEGAN QUESTIONING FORMER DEFENSE MINISTER ROH JAE-HYUN AND ANOTHER MILITARY LEADER, AND ARE EXPECTED TO SUMMON A DOZEN OF MORE WITHIN THIS WEEK IN CONNECTION WITH THE TWO INCIDENTS. SOUTH KOREANS GENERALLY THINK THAT IT IS INEVITABLE TO BRING THOSE RESPONSIBLE TO JUSTICE, WHILE EXPRESSING SHOCK ABOUT THE PACE OF DEVELOPMENT. (KOREAN 12/4)

VIETNAM / TEACHING THE ARTS -- AT A RECENT SYMPOSIUM AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY. ON THE STATE OF VIETNAMESE CULTURE, REPORTER HOAN N. DZUONG INTERVIEWED SEVERAL VISITING EDUCATORS FROM HANOI ON TEACHING OF THE ARTS IN SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES IN THE SRV. (VIETNAMESE 12/2)

RUSSIA / VISA PROBLEMS FOR ASIANS -- MOSCOW STRINGER HA GIANG REPORTS THAT VIET AND OTHER ASIAN RESIDENTS FIND IT DIFFICULT TO GET VISAS FOR TRAVEL TO OTHER FOREIGN COUNTRIES. (VIETNAMESE 12/2)

CANBERRA OFFICIALS ON VIETNAM ISSUES -- AT A SEMINAR IN SYDNEY, STRINGER NGOC HAN INTERVIEWED OFFICIALS OF AUSTRALIA'S MAJOR PARTIES ABOUT THEIR VIEWS REGARDING THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE SRV AND THE FUTURE OF BOAT PEOPLE IN CAMPS IN HONG KONG AND SOUTH EAST ASIA. (VIETNAMESE 12/4)

INSIDE EUROPE:

US CONGRESS / BOSNIA -- AN AMERICAN CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION VISITS SARAJEVO TO ASSES THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND. THE HEAD OF THE FIFTEEN MEMBER DELEGATION, REPUBLICAN CONGRESSWOMAN SUSAN MOLINARI SAYS THEY HAVE RECEIVED ASSURANCES FROM BALKAN LEADERS THAT THE TROOPS WILL BE SAFE, DESPITE THEIR CONCERN REGARDING BOSNIAN SERB REBELS. STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO. (CROATIAN 12/3)

CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION / BELGRADE -- A GROUP OF FIFTEEN AMERICAN CONGRESSMEN MET IN BELGRADE WITH SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. THE MEETING FOCUSED ON THE PROSPECTS FOR A LASTING PEACE IN BOSNIA, NORMALIZATION OF THE SITUATION IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AND THE RESUMPTION OF THE BILATERAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND YUGOSLAVIA. STRINGER JADRANKA KRONJA REPORTS. (CROATIAN 12/2)

US CONGRESS / CROATIA -- STRINGER LINDA MILISA REPORTS THAT THE FIFTEEN-MEMBER US CONGRESS DELEGATION MET WITH CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN. (CROATIAN 12/3)

CROATIA / BOSNIA PEACE PLAN -- STRINGER ZELJKO MATIC INTERVIEWS ZELJKO DOBRANOVIC, CROATIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY OFFICIAL, WHO DISCUSSED CROATIAN ROLE IN NATO PEACE IMPLEMENTATION MISSION IN BOSNIA. MR DOBRANOVIC SAID THAT NATO FORCES WILL USE CROATIAN TERRITORY FOR A LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FOR ITS TROOPS IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA. (CROATIAN 12/3)

UN HUMAN RIGHTS / BOSNIA -- UN SPECIAL ENVOY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, ELIZABETH REHN SAYS SHE WAS NOT PREVENTED FROM VISITING TOWNS IN WESTERN BOSNIA. MS REHN IS VISITING BOSNIAN AND CROATIAN TOWNS, AND TALKING TO HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIALS ABOUT THE RETURN OF REFUGEES. STRINGER JADRANKA KRONJA REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (CROATIAN 12/3)

EX YUGO / RECOGNITION -- STRINGER JADRANKA KRONJA REPORTS THAT SOME OPPOSITION LEADERS IN BELGRADE CONSIDER THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT TO BE THE REASON WHY SLOVENIA HAS RECOGNIZED YUGOSLAVIA. SHE ALSO NOTES THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF MEETINGS RECENTLY BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLICS, MOSTLY ABOUT TRADE. (CROATIAN 12/1)

UNPROFOR COMMANDER / REGRET -- THE COMMANDER OF UNPROFOR IN SARAJEVO, GENERAL JEAN-RENE BACHELET DISMISSED AS UNINTEDED HIS INADVERTENT CRITICISM OF THE PARTS THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT WHICH PROVIDE FOR THE TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY OVER THE SERB-HELD PARTS OF THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL TO THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT. STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO. (CROATIAN 12/2)

BOSNIAN CROATS PROTEST IN ZAGREB -- CROATS FROM THE BOSNIAN REGION OF POSAVINA PROTESTED IN THE CROATIAN CAPITAL AGAINST THE PROVISIONS OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT WHICH TRANSFER THE CONTROL OF THE REGION TO THE BOSNIAN SERBS. APPEALS FOR A DIFFERENT TERRITORIAL ARRANGEMENT WERE SENT TO THE GOVERNMENTS OF CROATIA AND BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. STRINGER SLAVICA LUKIC REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (CROATIAN 12/2)

CITY GOVERNMENT / ZAGREB -- DURING THE FIRST MEETING OF THE NEW CITY GOVERNMENT IN ZAGREB, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNIFIED CROATIAN OPPOSITION ELECTED THE NEW MAYOR AND THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE CITY ASSEMBLY. AS STRINGER ?ZELJKO MATIC REPORTS FROM ZAGREB, THE CROATIAN PRESIDENT IS EXPECTED TO BLOCK THE APPOINTMENT OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS. (CROATIAN 12/2)

CROATIA / DAYTON AGREEMENT -- STRINGER ZELJKO MATIC REPORTS ON THE NEWS CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENT TUDJMAN. THE CROATIAN PRESIDENT SAYS THAT SOMETHING IN DAYTON HAD TO BE GIVEN UP. HE ALSO REJECTED ANY ACCUSATION THAT HE PREVIOUSLY AGREED WITH THE SERBIAN PRESIDENT TO HAND THE POSAVINA REGION TO SERBS. (CROATIAN 12/1)

BOSNIA / MUSLIM-CROAT RELATIONS -- STRINGER LINDA MILISA VISITED THE CENTRAL-BOSNIAN TOWN OF GORNJI VAKUF AND REPORTS ON THE DIFFICULTIES REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT TO ESTABLISH THE FRAMEWORK FOR FEDERATION OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA. (CROATIAN 12/2)

US / CROATIAN SERBS -- STRINGER JADRANKA KRONJA REPORTS ON THE MEETING BETWEEN PETER GALBRAITH, UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO CROATIA AND LEADERS OF CROATIAN SERBS. MR GALBRAITH DISCUSSED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN TO REINTEGRATE SERB-HELD EASTERN SLAVONIA INTO CROATIA. (CROATIAN 12/2)

KOSOVO / REFUGEES -- LEADERS OF THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN COMMUNITY IN KOSOVO SAY THERE HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN ALBANIAN EMIGRATION FROM THE REGION SINCE THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT. ALBANIANS ARE CONCERNED THAT WITH THE END OF HOSTILITIES IN BOSNIA, SERBIA'S PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC MAY TURN HIS ATTENTION TO KOSOVO. ALBANIANS, WHO REPRESENT ABOUT 90 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION, HAVE DECLARED KOSOVO'S INDEPENDENCE FROM SERBIA AND HAVE RELIED ON A PEACEFUL APPROACH TO ACHIEVE THEIR OBJECTIVES. THE SERBS INSIST THAT KOSOVO REMAIN PART OF SERBIA. MANY OBSERVERS CONSIDER IT THE NEXT FLASHPOINT IN THE BALKANS. STRINGER IBRAHIM OSMANI REPORTS. (ALBANIAN 12/4)

ALBANIA / YUGOSLAVIA -- FOLLOWING THE SUSPENSION OF UN ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST RUMP-YUGOSLAVIA, A DRAMATIC INCREASE IS REPORTED IN THE TRAFFIC BETWEEN ALBANIA AND MONTENEGRO. STRINGER PELLUMB SULO REPORTS FROM SHKODER THAT DESPITE PUBLIC CRITICISM OF THE LIFTING OF THE SANCTIONS, THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT HOPES THAT TRADE AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION WITH MONTENEGRO WILL RISE RAPIDLY. THE SANCTIONS HAD A CRIPPLING EFFECT ON ALBANIA, PARTICULARLY THE ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED NORTHERN REGIONS. (ALBANIAN 12/4)

ALBANIA / BORDER KILLINGS -- AN ALBANIAN SOLDIER WAS INDICTED IN CONNECTION WITH INVESTIGATIONS REGARDING BORDER KILLINGS DURING THE LAST YEAR OF COMMUNIST RULE IN ALBANIA. AGIM VOJO, 25, IS ALLEGED TO HAVE KILLED THREE ALBANIAN YOUTHS WHO WERE ATTEMPTING TO ESCAPE TO GREECE. STRINGER MERO BAZE SAYS THE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE IN AUGUST 1990, AT THE TIME WHEN COMMUNIST PRESIDENT RAMIZ ALIA ANNOUNCED A PROCESS OF 'DEMOCRATIZATION.' (ALBANIAN 12/4)

ALBANIA REFUGEES -- ALBANIAN AUTHORITIES PROMISED TO TAKE STRONG MEASURES TO STOP THE CONTINUOUS FLOW OF ILLEGAL REFUGEES TO NEIGHBORING GREECE AND ITALY. ACCORDING TO UNOFFICIAL FIGURES THERE ARE BETWEEN TWO TO THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND ALBANIANS IN GREECE, AND SOME ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND IN ITALY. ATHENS AND ROME HAVE REFUSED TIRANA'S REQUESTS TO SIGN AGREEMENTS REGULATING THE TEMPORARY STAY OF ALBANIAN REFUGEES. MEANWHILE, GREECE ANNOUNCED THAT THE MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, INTERNAL AFFAIRS, AND DEFENSE WILL MEET IN YANNINA TO DISCUSS NEW MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN BORDER CONTROL WITH ALBANIA. STRINGER REPORTS FROM GJIROKASTER AND TIRANA. (ALBANIAN 12/4)

ALBANIA / POLITICS -- THE OPPOSITION ALBANIAN CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY HELD ITS CONVENTION IN TIRANA, AMID REPORTS THAT IT IS CONSIDERING ENTERING INTO A COALITION WITH THE RULING DEMOCRATIC PARTY. PARTY LEADERS SAID THEY WILL COOPERATE WITH WHAT THEY TERMED AS DEMOCRATIC AND RIGHT WING FORCES TO PREVENT THE COMMUNISTS FROM RETURNING TO POWER. NEXT ELECTIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE HELD IN MAY 1996. STRINGER MERO BAZE REPORTS. (ALBANIAN 12/2)

TUDJMAN / BOSNIA -- CROATIAN PRESIDENT F TUDJMAN HELD A NEWS CONFERENCE TO TALK ABOUT PROBLEMS RELATED TO BOSNIAN POSAVINA CORRIDOR AND THE EXTENSION OF UN MANDATE IN CROATIA. HE STRESSED THAT THERE WILL BE NO CHANGES TO THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT ON BOSNIA. STRINGER STEVICA SUSA REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (SERBIAN 12/1)

KARADZIC / PEACE AGREEMENT -- BOSNIAN SERB LEADER R KARADZIC URGED THAT A DIFFERENT SOLUTION BE FOUND FOR THE SERB-HELD PART OF SARAJEVO SCHEDULED TO REVERT TO GOVERNMENT CONTROL, BEFORE THE PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE. STRINGER BORO KONTIC REPORTS. (SERBIAN 12/1)

TOMAC / BOSNIA PEACE -- DEPUTY LEADER OF THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN CROATIA, ZDRAVKO TOMAC TALKED ABOUT PEACE ACCORD ON BOSNIA WITH STRINGER STEVICA SUSA. PROFESSOR TOMAC IS ONE OF THE HARSHEST CRITICS OF THE DAYTON AGREEMENT WHICH HE CALLED A 'ROTTEN COMPROMISE.' (SERBIAN 12/1)

TURKISH ELECTIONS / VOTERS IN EUROPE -- THE NEW TURKISH ELECTION LAW WILL ALLOW TURKISH VOTERS LIVING ABROAD TO CAST THEIR VOTES. THE NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE VOTERS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES IS ESTIMATED TO BE ONE AND A HALF MILLION. IN A SERIES OF INTERVIEWS WITH POLITICAL ACTIVISTS IN GERMANY, STAFFER MEHMET ILHAN DISCUSSED ISSUES OF CONCERN FOR TURKISH VOTERS IN THE DECEMBER 24 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS AND THE INCREASED POLITICAL ACTIVITY AMONG TURKISH EMIGRE GROUPS IN EUROPE. (TURKISH 11/30, 12/1, 12/2)

TURKISH ELECTIONS / KURDS -- THE PEOPLE'S DEMOCRACY PARTY (HADEP) HOPES TO RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM KURDISH VOTERS IN THE UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTIONS IN TURKEY. MR ISMAIL ARSLAN, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE PARTY IS INTERVIEWED BY STRINGER NUSRET OZGUL, DURING HIS VISIT TO BRUSSELS. HE SAYS HADEP WILL WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTIONS TO DISCUSS SPECIFIC PROPOSALS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF KURDS IN TURKEY. (TURKISH 12/4)

TURKEY / WORLD AIDS DAY -- THE NUMBER OF AIDS PATIENTS IN TURKEY IS 184, WHILE ABOUT FIVE HUNDRED PEOPLE ARE SAID TO BE HIV POSITIVE. ON THE WORLD AIDS DAY, STAFFER MELEK CAGLAR INTERVIEWED DR SELMA ERBAYDAR OF THE AIDS PREVENTION SOCIETY OF TURKEY. SHE SAYS THESE PATIENTS' AGES RANGE BETWEEN NEWBORN AND 60, AND ONE-FIFTH ARE FEMALES. (TURKISH 12/1)

TURKEY / AUTHOR ACQUITTED -- A TURKISH STATE SECURITY COURT ACQUITTED YASAR KEMAL, WELL-KNOWN TURKISH AUTHOR ON CHARGES OF SUPPORTING KURDISH SEPARATISM. TURKISH STRINGER IN ANKARA, ZEYNEP TINAZ, DISCUSSES THE ACQUITTAL AND ITS IMPLICATIONS ON TURKEY'S RELATIONS WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION AT A TIME WHEN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT IS GETTING READY TO DEBATE THE CUSTOMS UNION AGREEMENT WITH TURKEY. (TURKISH 12/1)

KURDS / EUROPE -- STAFFER BEKR REBWAR TALKED WITH AMIR GHAZI, GENERAL SECRETARY OF A NEW POLITICAL PARTY IN EUROPE, THE KURDISH INDEPENDENT PARTY, WITH MEMBERS IN EUROPE, AUSTRALIA, CANADA AND THE US. THEY CONSIDER KURDISTAN TO BE OCCUPIED BY IRAN, IRAQ, SYRIA AND TURKEY, AND THINK THAT THE KURDS SHOULD USE ANY MEANS TO ACHIEVE INDEPENDENCE. THE KIP BELIEVES IN NONVIOLENCE AND POLITICAL SETTLEMENT. GHAZI SAYS THE KDP AND PUK (MAIN KURDISH PARTIES IN NO. IRAQ) IN NORTHERN IRAQ WASTED A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY CREATED BY INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION ON THE KURDS BY THEIR INTERNAL FIGHTING. (KURDISH 12/3)

NEWS BRIEFS FROM PARIS -- STRINGER PHAN NGOC REPORTS ON A LOCAL VIETNAMESE FAIR, A SHOW OF PAINTINGS BY VIET ARTISTS IN FRANCE, AND PARIS PREPARATIONS FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON. (VIETNAMESE 12/2)

CLINTON VISIT / PRESS REACTION -- PRESIDENT CLINTON'S VISIT TO EUROPE, PARTICULARLY TO LONDON, ULSTER, AND IRELAND, HAD AMPLE REPERCUSSION IN EDITORIAL PAGES OF THE BRITISH PRESS. STRINGER HUMBERTO CASTELLANOS REPORTS FROM LONDON. (SPANISH 12/4)

INSIDE EURASIA:

RUSSIA / GRAIN HARVEST -- DUKE UNIVERSITY ECONOMICS PROFESSOR VLADIMIR TREML TALKS ABOUT THE MEAGER GRAIN HARVEST IN RUSSIA THIS YEAR, AND WHAT THIS PORTENDS FOR THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY. (RUSSIAN 12/3)

HUMAN RIGHTS -- STRINGER LYUDMILA ALEXEYEVA IN MOSCOW TALKS ABOUT A NEW RUSSIAN SUPREME COURT DECISION IMPACTING POSITIVELY ON FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. (RUSSIAN 12/3)

INSIDE LATIN AMERICA:

LATIN AMERICA TRADE CONFERENCE -- REPRESENTATIVES FROM GOVERNMENTS AND PRIVATE SECTOR ATTEND THE 19TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON INVESTMENT, TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN IN MIAMI. CORRESPONDENT JORGE WEHBY REPORTS. (SPANISH 12/4)

HEMISPHERIC FIGHT / MONEY LAUNDERING -- FINANCE MINISTERS OF THE AMERICAS DECIDED TO LAUNCH A COMMON EFFORT AGAINST MONEY LAUNDERING OF DRUG TRAFFICKING AND OTHER ILLICIT ACTIVITIES. STRINGER GUSTAVO LEVENE REPORTS FROM BUENOS AIRES. (SPANISH 2/4)

FORMER BOLIVIAN CHIEF CHARGED -- FORMER BOLIVIAN ANTI-DRUG CHIEF FAUSTINO RICO TORO CLAIMS HE IS INNOCENT BUT PLEDGED GUILTY TO CHARGES OF CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE COCAINE IN THE UNITED STATES. CORRESPONDENT JORGE WEHBY REPORTS. (SPANISH 12/1)

BOLIVIA / "CHE"GUEVARA REMAINS -- THE GOVERNMENT OF BOLIVIA ANNOUNCED THAT UPON A POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION, THE ALLEGED REMAINS OF CUBAN-ARGENTINIAN GUERRILLA LEADER ERNESTO "CHE" GUEVARA WILL BE DELIVERED TO HIS FAMILY FOR PROPER BURIAL. STRINGER JORGE GUZMAN REPORTS FROM LA PAZ. (SPANISH 12/1)

JEWISH TRIBUTE TO CALDERON SOL AND KISSINGER -- THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OF LOS ANGELES RENDERED TRIBUTE TO EL SALVADOR'S PRESIDENT ARMANDO CALDERON SOL AND FORMER US SECRETARY OF STATE HENRY KISSINGER. CORRESPONDENT HECTOR VELAZQUEZ REPORTS. (SPANISH 12/4)

ARGENTINA BOMB ARRESTS / REACT -- REPORTER TOM CROSBY TALKS WITH RABBI ABRAHAM COOPER, THE ASSOCIATE DEAN OF THE SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER IN LOS ANGELES ABOUT THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF 15 ARRESTS IN ARGENTINA IN CONNECTION WITH THE 1994 BOMBING OF BUENOS AIRES JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER. HE WORRIES THAT THE ARRESTS MAY NOT RESULT IN VIGOROUS EFFORT AT PROSECUTION AND HE WANTS AN INDEPENDENT PROSECUTOR APPOINTED. (ENP 12/1) 04-Dec-95 5:17 PM EST (2217 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America