Voice of America Digest, 7 December 1995

From: [email protected] (Ioannis Bousnakis)

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] !!! VOA DIGEST - 12/7/95 !!!

CONGRESS / BOSNIA -- US CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS ARE STRUGGLING WITH THE QUESTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE USE OF AMERICAN TROOPS IN THE NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. CORRESPONDENT DAVID SWAN REPORTS A DEBATE THAT WAS SCHEDULED WEDNESDAY HAS BEEN DELAYED UNTIL NEXT WEEK AND COULD BRING A MESSAGE OF REJECTION FOR THE WHITE HOUSE. (12/6)

SENATE / BOSNIA HEARINGS -- TOP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS WERE IN CONGRESS AGAIN WEDNESDAY, SEEKING TO BUILD SUPPORT FOR THE US TROOP COMMITMENT IN BOSNIA. THEY REASSURED SENATORS THE ADMINISTRATION WILL STAND BY ITS PLEDGE TO HELP REDRESS THE ARMS IMBALANCE IN BOSNIA FAVORING THE SERBS. CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS. (12/6)

BOSNIA / WAR CRIMES -- WHEN MEMBERS OF THE US CONGRESS TALK ABOUT BOSNIA, THEY USUALLY LIMIT THEIR CONVERSATION TO DISCUSSIONS OF TROOPS, RISKS, AND AGREEMENTS ON PAPER. BUT FOR ONE GROUP OF LAWMAKERS, THE FOCUS IS ON THE VICTIMS OF THE WAR. THEY ARE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE, A US GOVERNMENT PANEL THAT MONITORS COMPLIANCE WITH THE HELSINKI ACCORDS ON HUMAN RIGHTS. CORRESPONDENT PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS WITH VOTES EXPECTED SOON IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE ON BOSNIA, THEY ARE URGING THEIR COLLEAGUES TO REMEMBER THE MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO HAVE KNOWN NO PEACE. (12/6)

CLINTON / BUDGET -- PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS VETOED REPUBLICAN LEGISLATION THAT WOULD BALANCE THE BUDGET IN SEVEN YEARS, SAYING IT WOULD HAVE CUT TOO DEEPLY INTO SOCIAL PROGRAMS. MR CLINTON ANNOUNCED THAT ON THURSDAY HE WOULD OFFER HIS OWN SEVEN-YEAR BALANCED BUDGET PLAN, ONE THAT WOULD PROTECT FUNDING FOR SUCH PROGRAMS. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS. (12/6)

CONGRESS / BUDGET -- REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS SAY THEY ARE DISAPPOINTED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON'S VETO OF THEIR PLAN TO BALANCE THE BUDGET, AND ARE STILL WAITING FOR HIS PLAN. CORRESPONDENT DAVID SWAN REPORTS, THE TWO SIDES ARE SCHEDULED TO RESUME BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS THURSDAY. (12/6)

US / ANGOLA -- ANGOLAN PRESIDENT JOSE EDUARDO DOS SANTOS ARRIVES IN WASHINGTON THURSDAY FOR A FIVE DAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES. HE WILL MEET WITH PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON AT THE WHITE HOUSE FRIDAY. A HIGH-RANKING ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL SAYS THE TWO PRESIDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO DISCUSS ANGOLA'S ECONOMIC REFORMS, HUMAN RIGHTS AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE SHAKY PEACE PROCESS IN THE AFRICAN NATION. STAFFER ANA GUEDES REPORTS. (12/6)

JAPAN'S BANKS -- A PROMINENT US BANKER SAYS THAT JAPAN'S BANKING CRISIS IS LINKED TO ENORMOUS STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS BETWEEN THE WORLD'S TWO LARGEST ECONOMIES, JAPAN AND THE UNITED STATES. CORRESPONDENT ANDREW BAIRD REPORTS. (12/6)

LATAM TRADE -- FOUR SOUTH AMERICAN PRESIDENTS ARE IN PUNTA DEL ESTE, URUGUAY, TO REVIEW PROGRESS OF THE COMMON MARKET OF THE SOUTH, MERCOSUR, ESTABLISHED IN JANUARY. EFFORTS TO ADD CHILE TO THE GROUP HAVE BEEN DELAYED. CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK REPORTS. (12/6)

CARIBBEAN / BANANAS -- CARIBBEAN PARTICIPANTS AT A TRADE CONFERENCE IN MIAMI ARE CRITICIZING THE US GOVERNMENT FOR FILING A COMPLAINT AGAINST PREFERENTIAL ACCESS FOR CARIBBEAN BANANAS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION. UNDER LONG-STANDING TRADE AGREEMENTS, THE EUROPEAN UNION GIVES BANANAS PRODUCED BY COUNTRIES IN THE CARIBBEAN AND AFRICA PREFERENTIAL ACCESS TO ITS MARKETS. CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE HAS MORE. (12/6)

NY / STOCKS -- STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP WEDNESDAY WITH MAJOR INDEXES AT RECORD HIGHS FOR THE THIRD DAY IN A ROW. CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS. (12/6)

CHICAGO / ECONOMIC FORECAST -- A PANEL OF BUSINESS EXPERTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, AN INSTITUTION WHICH HAS EARNED A NUMBER OF NOBEL PRIZES IN ECONOMICS, SUBMITTED ITS ECONOMIC FORECAST FOR 1996. CORRESPONDENT PAUL FRANCUCH REPORTS THAT FOR THE MOST PART, THE PANEL'S OUTLOOK IS OPTIMISTIC. (12/6)

GINGRICH / ETHICS -- THE US CONGRESS WILL HIRE AN OUTSIDE INVESTIGATOR TO LOOK INTO A COMPLAINT OF UNETHICAL CONDUCT FILED AGAINST THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, NEWT GINGRICH. CORRESPONDENT PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS THE INQUIRY WILL FOCUS ON ALLEGATIONS REGARDING A COLLEGE COURSE MR GINGRICH TAUGHT UNTIL RECENTLY IN HIS HOME STATE OF GEORGIA. (12/6)

CLINTON / AIDS -- PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS CONVENED THE FIRST WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON AIDS TO DISCUSS THE PROGRESS MADE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE DEADLY DISEASE, AND TO OUTLINE NEW STEPS TO SPEED UP PROGRESS TOWARD FINDING A VACCINE AND A CURE. THE DAY-LONG CONFERENCE BROUGHT TOGETHER DOCTORS, TEACHERS, RESEARCHERS, AND AIDS PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS. (12/6)

CLINTON / CHRISTMAS TREE -- PRESIDENT CLINTON IS CALLING ON AMERICANS THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON TO PRAY FOR US TROOPS HEADING TO BOSNIA TO HELP ENFORCE A PEACE AGREEMENT. MR. CLINTON MADE HIS REMARKS AS HE LIT THE NATIONAL CHRISTMAS TREE, DISPLAYED NEAR THE WHITE HOUSE. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS. (12/6)

KAZAKHSTAN / ELECTIONS -- PRESIDENT NURSULTAN NAZARBAYEV OF KAZAKHSTAN HAS BEEN RULING HIS COUNTRY BY DECREE SINCE HE DISBANDED PARLIAMENT IN APRIL. OPPOSITION PARTIES ARE BOYCOTTING NEW PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS SATURDAY, CLAIMING THAT THE NEW PARLIAMENT WILL BE POWERLESS AGAINST THE PRESIDENT, WHO HAS BEEN GRANTED EXTENSIVE NEW POWERS. REPORTER JOAN BEECHER TALKS WITH JAMES CRITCHLOW, OF HARVARD'S RUSSIAN RESEARCH CENTER, ABOUT THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY IN KAZAKHSTAN. (12/7)

SCHOLARS ASK: WHO WAS JESUS? -- DID THE HISTORICAL PERSON JESUS CONSIDER HIMSELF THE SON OF GOD? WAS THE BIRTH OF JESUS HISTORY OR MYTH? HOW DOES THE NEW TESTAMENT STAND UP UNDER HISTORICAL SCRUTINY? CURRENT AFFAIRS' VALERIE GARTSEFF DISCUSSES WITH MAJOR SCHOLARS THESE QUESTIONS AND OTHERS RAISED BY THE LATEST CONTROVERSIES CONCERNING THE QUEST FOR THE HISTORICAL JESUS. (12/7)

US / CHANUKAH -- ON SUNDAY NIGHT, DECEMBER 17TH, JEWISH AMERICANS WILL BEGIN CELEBRATING CHANUKAH. IT'S AN EIGHT-DAY FESTIVAL THAT COMMEMORATES AN ANCIENT VICTORY BY THE JEWISH PEOPLE OVER THEIR WOULD-BE OPPRESSORS. IN THE UNITED STATES, CHANUKAH IS ONE OF THE BEST-KNOWN AND MOST WIDELY-OBSERVED JEWISH HOLIDAYS. TRADITIONALLY, IT WAS A RELATIVELY MINOR RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE BUT CURRENT AFFAIRS' CHUCK RICH EXPLAINS THAT IN THE US, AT LEAST, CHANUKAH BENEFITS FROM ITS PROXIMITY TO CHRISTMAS. (12/7)

BRITISH SUPERSTAR DAVID BOWIE / HIS NEW ALBUM -- BOWIE RECENTLY RELEASED A NEW COMPACT DISC. CRITICS SAY THE DARKLY FORBODING MUSIC OF "OUTSIDE" RESEMBLES BOWIE'S WORK FROM THE EARLY 70'S. CURRENT AFFAIRS' PIA SALMRE REPORTS. (12/7)

YEARENDER / WOMEN -- THE FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN MADE POWERFUL STATEMENTS ABOUT WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND EQUALITY. BUT WILL THE RHETORIC BE TRANSLATED INTO CONCRETE ACTION? THE US GOVERNMENT THINKS SO. CURRENT AFFAIRS' JANE HUGHES REPORTS ON A NEW INTER AGENCY COUNCIL THAT IS COORDINATING INITIATIVES THAT NATIONAL DEPARTMENTS ARE ALREADY MAKING TO ADVANCE THE STATUS AND WELLBEING OF US WOMEN. (12/6)

US / OCEANOGRAPHER ROBERT BALLARD -- AS THE EARTH BECOMES MORE AND MORE CROWDED, SOME PEOPLE PREDICT WE'LL BE ABLE TO EXTEND OUR LIVING CAPABILITIES TO OUTER SPACE OR UNDER THE SEAS. BUT CURRENT AFFAIRS' MARILYN SILVEY REPORTS THAT OCEANOGRAPHER ROBERT BALLARD, BEST KNOWN FOR FINDING THE TITANIC SAYS COLONIZING THE OCEANS IS NOT THE ANSWER TO EARTH'S POPULATION PROBLEMS. (12/6)

US / STRESS -- A NEW POLL CONDUCTED BY US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT AND BOZELL WORLDWIDE ADVERTISING SHOWS THAT AMERICANS ARE SUFFERING FROM SUCH OVERWHELMING STRESS THAT THEY ARE QUITTING HIGH-STRESS JOBS, MOVING TO SMALLER COMMUNITIES, REFUSING JOB PROMOTIONS AND TRANSFERS ALL IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE THEIR STRESS. CAROL PEARSON REPORTS. ( 12/6)

PARTNERSHIP FOR THE HOMELESS -- JESSYE NORMAN, AN INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN OPERA SINGER, IS NOW USING HER VOICE ON BEHALF OF THE HOMELESS AS THE NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON FOR THE PARTNERSHIP FOR THE HOMELESS, THE LARGEST CHARITY IN THE US DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THIS CAUSE. CURRENT AFFAIRS' CAROL PEARSON REPORTS. (12/6)

PUCKERING UP BENEATH THE MISTLETOE -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' CAROL PEARSON TELLS US HOW MISTLETOE CAME TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH ROMANCE AND WHY MOMMY WAS KISSING SANTA CLAUS BENEATH IT THAT NIGHT. (12/6)

INSIDE USA:

VIET / FILM-MAKING OVERSEAS -- IN ORANGE COUNTY, CA, STRINGER NAM ANH INTERVIEWED CALVIN NGUYEN, OWNER OF A FILM COMPANY IN HOLLYWOOD AND PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION OF OVERSEAS VIETNAMESE FILM-MAKERS. (VIETNAMESE 12/7)

US / COMPUTERS IN THE SCHOOLROOM -- A NATIONAL STUDY SHOWS THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN FLORIDA ESTATE USE MORE COMPUTERS PER STUDENT THAN ANY OTHER PLACE IN THE COUNTRY. CORRESPONDENT JORGE WEHBY REPORTED FROM MIAMI. (SPANISH 12/6)

SMITHSONIAN EXHIBIT / WEST COAST -- THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION ANNOUNCED THAT NEXT FEBRUARY IT WILL OPEN IN LOS ANGELES ITS BIGGEST ITINERANT EXHIBIT. CORRESPONDENT HECTOR VELAZQUEZ MEJIA REPORTS. (SPANISH 12/6)

WORLD MAPS / CARTOGRAPHY / TALK TO AMERICA -- DRAMATIC POLITICAL CHANGES IN RECENT YEARS HAVE SENT THE MAP MAKERS BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S CHIEF CARTOGRAPHER, JOHN SHUPE, JOINS 'TALK TO AMERICA' TO DISCUSS THE CHALLENGES OF CARTOGRAPHY IN AN EVER-CHANGING WORLD. (ENGLISH 12/7)

INSIDE AFRICA:

US / ANGOLA PRESIDENT -- THE PRESIDENT OF ANGOLA, JOSE EDUARDO DOS SANTOS, ARRIVES IN WASHINGTON FOR A SIX-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES. REPORTER LUISA PIETTE SAYS PRESIDENT DOS SANTOS FACES A FULL AGENDA OF MEETINGS WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, AND THE US BUSINESS COMMUNITY. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 12/7)

US / ANGOLA -- PRESIDENT DOS SANTOS PAYS HIS FIRST VISIT TO WASHINGTON JUST DAYS AFTER ANGOLAN TROOPS CAPTURED SEVERAL UNITA REBEL-HELD TOWNS IN NORTHERN ANGOLA. STAFFER ANA GUEDES INTERVIEWED SHAWN MCCORMICK, DIRECTOR OF AFRICAN AFFAIRS OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL. HE SAYS THE OFFENSIVE BY GOVERNMENT TROOPS VIOLATED THE PEACE ACCORD. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 12/7)

SAF / ANGOLA REACT -- THE FOREIGN MINISTRY OF SOUTH AFRICA REACTED TO THE TENSIONS IN ANGOLA BETWEEN UNITA AND ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT, APPEALING TO BOTH PARTIES TO ABIDE BY THE LUSAKA PEACE ACCORD. CORRESPONDENT JOSE GONCALVES REPORTS FROM CAPE TOWN. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 12/7)

BRAZIL / AMBASSADOR REACT -- BECAUSE OF THE LAST MINUTE DISPUTE BETWEEN THE UNITA AND THE ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT, THE ANGOLAN PEACE PROCESS IN JEOPARDY. UNITA HAS SUSPENDED THE QUARTERING OF ITS TROOPS AND IS NOW CONFINING SOME 200 BRAZILIAN PEACEKEEPERS TO THEIR CAMPS AFTER ALLEGATIONS OF A SEXUAL ASSAULT ON A LOCAL WOMAN BY ONE OF THE BRAZILIANS. STAFFER LUIS COSTA INTERVIEWS THE BRAZILIAN AMBASSADOR TO ANGOLA, ALEXANDRE ADORO, WHO CONFIRMED THAT NONE OF THE BRAZILIANS WAS HARMED BY UNITA TROOPS. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 12/7)

ANGOLA / UNITA -- ANGOLAN PRESIDENT DOS SANTOS ARRIVES IN THE US THURSDAY, AS FIGHTING CONTINUES IN THE NORTH OF THE COUNTRY. REPORTER JOE DECAPUA SPOKE TO JARDO MUEKALIA, THE UNITA OPPOSITION'S CHIEF REPRESENTATIVE IN THE US, WHO DISPUTES THE ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT'S DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGHTING. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/6)

ANGOLA / FINANCE -- ANGOLAN ECONOMIST JOS?E CERQUEIRA, IN A INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER JOAO SANTARITA, SAID THAT THE COUNTRY'S MAIN ECONOMIC PROBLEM IS THE HUGE DEBT. HE SAYS IT IS WELL ABOVE THIRTEEN BILLION DOLLARS AND RISING. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 12/7)

RWANDA / AID GROUPS -- THE RWANDAN GOVERNMENT IS REPORTED TO HAVE TOLD 40 PRIVATE WESTERN AID GROUPS, INCLUDING MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES, MSF, TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY. FOR REACTION, REPORTER JOE DE CAPUA SPOKE WITH DR PHILIP BIBERSON, PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH SECTION OF MSF IN PARIS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/7)

NIGERIA / WIWA -- THE BROTHER OF EXECUTED HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST KEN SARO-WIWA RECENTLY FLED NIGERIA FOR GREAT BRITAIN. REPORTER WILLIAM EAGLE SPOKE WITH DR OWENS WIWA ABOUT HIS NARROW ESCAPE FROM MILITARY AUTHORITIES. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/7)

NIGERIA / OAU -- OAU SECRETARY-GENERAL SALIM AHMED SALIM, HELD TALKS IN ABUJA WITH NIGERIA'S MILITARY RULER SANI ABACHA ON THE CURRENT POLITICAL AND DIPLOMATIC CRISIS IN NIGERIA. MR SALIM SAID THAT THE OAU WOULD NOT SUPPORT ANY INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS AGAINST NIGERIA. HE SUGGESTED DIPLOMACY SHOULD BE GIVEN A CHANCE SO THAT NIGERIA CAN PRESENT ITS CASE TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. HE WELCOMED THE FORMATION OF THREE NATIONAL COMMITTEES BY THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT. THESE COMMITTEES WILL FOCUS ON ISSUES OF HUMAN RIGHTS, ELECTORAL COMMISSION AND ON CREATION OF NEW STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. STRINGER BABANGIDA JIBRIL REPORTS FROM ABUJA. (HAUSA 12/6)

NIGERIA / HUMAN RIGHTS -- STAFFER AHMED YERIMA INTERVIEWS ABDULKARIM DAIYABU, A PROMINENT NIGERIAN BUSINESSMAN. HE SAID THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT HAS NO RESPECT FOR THE FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS OF ITS CITIZENS. HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT ONLY CORRUPT BUT HAS NO MORAL GROUND TO TALK ON HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES. HE CITED AS EXAMPLES LAST MONTH'S EXECUTION OF NINE OGONI LEADERS AND PERSISTENT PERSECUTION OF LABOR AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS. (HAUSA 12/6)

NIGERIA / SOYINKA -- STRINGER AHMED MOHAMMED KWALAM REPORTS THAT SEVEN PEOPLE IN ARMY UNIFORMS RANSACKED THE HOUSE OF EXILED HUMAN RIGHT ACTIVIST WOLE SOYINKA IN ABEOKUTA. FILES AND COMPUTERS WERE REMOVED. THOUGH THE STATE POLICE COMMISSIONER DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE, OBSERVERS SAID IT WAS THE WORK OF THE MILITARY. (HAUSA 12/6)

SOYINKA / RAID -- A GANG OF ARMED MEN HAS RANSACKED THE HOME OF NIGERIAN OPPOSITION ACTIVIST WOLE SOYINKA. REPORTER DEBORAH BLOCK REACHED MR SOYINKA IN MILAN, ITALY. HE TOLD HER NOTHING OF REAL VALUE WAS LOST. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/6)

RWANDA / GENOCIDE -- REPORTER TERRY WING INTERVIEWS GERARD PRUNIER, AUTHOR OF "THE RWANDA CRISIS: HISTORY OF A GENOCIDE." THE NEW BOOK SERVES AS AN OUTLINE TO LOOK AT THE ROOT CAUSES OF THIS FOURTH GENOCIDE IN MODERN TIMES, ANSWERING THE QUESTION OF WHO AND WHAT WAS RESPONSIBLE, WHY HE BELIEVES GENOCIDE WILL BECOME A MORE FREQUENT TREND, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ALLOWING JUSTICE TO BRING CLOSURE TO THIS DARK CHAPTER IN AFRICAN HISTORY. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 12/6)

RWANDA / SITREP -- STAFFER IDRISSA FALL INTERVIEWS GERARD PRUNIER, RESEARCHER AT THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN PARIS AND AUTHOR OF THE FIRST BOOK PUBLISHED IN ENGLISH ON THE RWANDAN GENOCIDE. MR. PRUNIER WAS ASKED WHY, AFTER MAKING STATEMENTS TO THE CONTRARY, THE RWANDAN GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED SUDDENLY IT HAS AGREED TO A THREE-MONTH EXTENSION FOR THE UN MISSION TO RWANDA. (FRENCH 12/6)

ZANZIBAR / POLITICS -- A MAJOR ZANZIBAR OPPOSITION POLITICAL FIGURE WANTS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO HELP CONDUCT NEW ELECTIONS. THE FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FOR THE OPPOSITION CIVIC UNITED FRONT, SEIF SHARIFF HAMAD, IS VISITING THE UNITED STATES AND SPOKE WITH REPORTER SHAKA SSALI IN WASHINGTON. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/7)

UGANDA / SUDAN -- UGANDA'S PRESIDENT IS THREATENING TO LAUNCH COMMANDO RAIDS INTO SUDAN. REPORTER DEBORAH BLOCK TALKS WITH TED DAGNE, AFRICA SPECIALIST FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/7)

MALAWI / AIDS -- MALAWI'S PRESIDENT BAKILI MULUZI SAYS HIS COUNTRY IS GOING TO PUNISH RAPISTS WITH THE DEATH PENALTY. REPORTER RODRICK MURRAY SPOKE WITH THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS, KAMUDONI NYASULU. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/7)

SOUTH AFRICA / LAND MINES -- ONE OF THE MAIN TOPICS OF THE ONGOING INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE RED CROSS IS LAND MINES. REPORTER RODRICK MURRAY SPOKE WITH THE NATIONAL INFORMATION OFFICER TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN RED CROSS SOCIETY. JOHANS COETZER DISCUSSED HOW THE RED CROSS FEELS ABOUT THE MANUFACTURING OF LAND MINES IN SOUTH AFRICA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/7)

ETHIOPIA / JOURNALISTS FREED -- ELEVEN JOURNALISTS, JAILED IN ADDIS ABABA FOR ALLEGED VIOLATION OF THE ETHIOPIAN PRESS LAW, HAVE BEEN RELEASED ON BAIL. AMONG THOSE RELEASED IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE ETHIOPIAN FREE PRESS JOURNALIST ASSOCIATION, MULUGETTA LULE. FOURTEEN OF THE JOURNALISTS ARE STILL IN JAIL. STRINGER TAFESSE KIFLE REPORTS FROM ADDIS ABABA. (AMHARIC 12/7)

ZANZIBAR / POL -- OPPOSITION LEADER SEIF SHARIF HAMAD IS TOURING WORLD CAPITALS TO RAISE ALARM OVER THE SITUATION IN ZANZIBAR AFTER THE OCTOBER ELECTIONS WHICH HE CLAIMS HIS CIVIC UNITED FRONT PARTY WON. HE CALLED FOR AN INTERIM GOVERNMENT TO BE HEADED BY AN INDEPENDENT FIGURE IN ZANZIBAR, AND ASKED FOR HELP FROM THE NEW TANZANIAN PRESIDENT BENJAMIN MKAPA. SEIF SHARIF HAMAD IS INTERVIEWED BY STAFFER EMMANUEL MUGANDA. (SWAHILI 12/7)

ZANZIBAR / YOUTH -- IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE CONTROVERSIAL ELECTIONS OF OCTOBER, ZANZIBARI YOUTHS HAVE BEEN FLEEING TO LONDON, TEARING UP THEIR PASSPORTS AND CLAIMING TO BE POLITICAL REFUGEES. THE ZANZIBAR GOVERNMENT IS TAKING STEPS TO STEM THE FLOW. STRINGER PASCAL SHIJA REPORTS FROM DAR-ES-SALAAM. (SWAHILI 12/7)

SAO TOME / PRIME MINISTER -- THE PRIME MINISTER OF SAO TOME, CARLOS DA GRACA, WHO IS VISITING PORTUGAL, TOLD STAFFER OVIDIO PEQUENO THAT HE WILL SOON RESIGN AS PRIME MINISTER TO CONCENTRATE ON THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 12/7)

KENYA AIRWAYS / KLM -- KLM HAS BOUGHT A 26% SHARE IN THE KENYAN NATIONAL CARRIER KENYA AIRWAYS FOLLOWING KENYA'S DECISION TO PRIVATIZE THE AIRLINE. STRINGER M G JOEL REPORTS FROM NAIROBI. (SWAHILI 12/7)

INSIDE MIDEAST:

EGYPTIAN ELECTIONS -- EGYPTIANS WENT TO THE POLLS WEDNESDAY TO ELECT IN RUN-OFFS THE REMAINING MEMBERS OF THE 444-MEMBER PARLIAMENT AMID A NEW WAVE OF OPPOSITION COMPLAINTS OF FRAUD AND RIGGING OF THE ELECTIONS. STRINGER IBRAHIM ABDIN HAS A A SPECIAL REPORT INCLUDING AN INTERVIEW WITH EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN NABIL OSMAN. (ARABIC 12/6)

GULF SUMMIT / TERRORISM -- CONCLUDING THEIR THREE-DAY SUMMIT CONFERENCE IN MUSCAT, THE GULF LEADERS HAVE AGREED TO WORK COLLECTIVELY TO COMBAT TERRORISM. STRINGER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS THAT THE EMIR OF QATAR DID NOT ATTEND THE CLOSING SESSION, AN INDICATION THAT QATAR MAY BE PROTESTING ITS GCC PARTNERS' STAND CONCERNING TERRITORIAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN QATAR AND ITS NEIGHBOR BAHRAIN. (ARABIC 12/6)

GCC SUMMIT / QATAR -- THE GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL SUMMIT CONCLUDED MEETINGS IN MUSCAT WITH QATAR ABSENT FROM THE FINAL SESSION. STAFFER HAYHAT ALKHATEEB INTERVIEWS THE BAHRAIN AMBASSADOR IN WASHINGTON ON THE SUBJECT. (ARABIC 12/6)

LEBANON / ISRAEL / TENSION -- STRINGER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS THAT TENSION IS BUILDING UP AGAIN IN SOUTH LEBANON FOLLOWING A SERIES OF CLASHES BETWEEN ISRAELI FORCES AND LEBANESE FIGHTERS. AT LEAST NINE PERSONS WERE KILLED OR WOUNDED ON BOTH SIDES. (ARABIC 12/6)

UNGA / PALESTINIANS -- THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY ASKED THE COMMITTEE ON INVESTIGATING ISRAELI PRACTICES IN OCCUPIED TERRITORIES TO CONTINUE ITS WORK IN MONITORING THE STATUS OF PRISONERS UNTIL THE OCCUPATION HAS ENDED. STAFFER MOHAMED ATTIA REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (ARABIC 12/6)

IAEA / IRAQ -- MOHAMED ATTIA REPORTS THAT THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, IAEA, SAYS THERE ARE NO INDICATIONS THAT IRAQ HAS ACQUIRED ABILITY TO PRODUCE LOCALLY COMPONENTS FOR NUCLEAR WEAPONS. (ARABIC 12/6)

CAIRO CINEMA FESTIVAL -- REPORTER MAHMOUD ZAWAWI INTERVIEWS EGYPTIAN MOVIE DIRECTOR MOHAMED KHAN, AND FILM CRITIC TAREK SHINNAWI ON THE CAIRO FESTIVAL AND PARTICIPATING FILMS. (ARABIC 12/6)

INSIDE SOUTH ASIA:

INDIA / POVERTY ERADICATION -- INDIA HAS LAUNCHED A PROGRAM TO ERADICATE POVERTY, FOCUSSED ON THE POOR IN THE URBAN AND SUBURBAN AREAS OF THE COUNTRY. STAFFER BHAGWAN PRAKASH INTERVIEWS SS AHLUWALIA, MINISTER FOR HOUSING WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR RUNNING THE POVERTY ERADICATION PROGRAM. THE ISSUE IS EXPECTED TO DOMINATE THE UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTIONS IN INDIA. (HINDI 12/6)

BANGLADESH MINISTER / POLITICS -- JAMALUDDIN AHMED, FORMER DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF BANGLADESH TOLD INTERVIEWER SHARFUL ALAM THAT THE POLITICAL PARTIES IN BANGLADESH MUST COME TO A CONSENSUS TO SOLVE THE PRESENT POLITICAL CRISIS IN BANGLADESH. ELECTION WITHOUT THE PARTICIPATION OF OPPOSITION PARTIES, HE SAYS WILL NOT BE MEANINGFUL AND MAY ULTIMATELY BRING DISASTER FOR THE COUNTRY. HE URGED POLITICIANS TO FOLLOW THE CONSTITUTIONAL PATH. (BANGLA 12/7)

DIPLOMATS / BANGLA POLITICS -- WESTERN DIPLOMATS IN DHAKA EXPRESSED THEIR CONCERN ABOUT THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN BANGLADESH. THEY BELIEVE THE PROBLEM COULD BE SOLVED WITH DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE OPPOSITION PARTIES. STRINGER MATIUR RAHMAN CHOUDHURY REPORTS. (BANGLA 12/6)

INDIAN STAR / EGYPTIAN FESTIVAL -- INDIAN FILM ACTRESS AND SOCIAL WORKER, SHABANA AZAMI WAS HONORED AT THE FILM FESTIVAL HELD IN CAIRO. SHE ALSO CHAIRS THE JURY FOR SELECTING WINNERS AT THE FESTIVAL. REPORTER MAHMOUD ZAWAWI INTERVIEWED MS AZAMI. (HINDI 12/6)

INSIDE EAST ASIA:

TAIWAN ELECTION / PANEL DISCUSSION -- STAFFER QI FENG COVERS A PANEL DISCUSSION AT THE WOODROW WILSON INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR SCHOLARS TITLED, "TAIWAN ELECTION: ITS MEANING FOR TAIWAN, THE PRC AND THE US." (MANDARIN 12/7)

TAIWAN / INTERVIEW WITH LI AO -- IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW, LI AO, WELL-KNOWN WRITER, COMMENTATOR, SCHOLAR AND DISSIDENT IN TAIWAN, TOLD TAIPEI CORRESPONDENT TIEN KANGLIN THAT HE SUPPORTS REUNIFICATION OF TAIWAN AND MAINLAND CHINA UNDER THE PRINCIPLE OF "ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS." THE OUTSPOKEN, CONTROVERSIAL WRITER CRITICIZED ALL FOUR OF THE MAJOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES, BUT AMONG THEM, HE SAID MR. LIN YANGGANG IS BETTER THAN OTHERS. (MANDARIN 12/7)

JIANG / CASTRO / SHENZHEN -- MANY ANALYSTS, SUCH AS CAO JINGXING, ASSOCIATE EDITOR OF ASIAN WEEK MAGAZINE, BELIEVE THAT JIANG ZEMIN WENT TO SHENZHEN WITH CASTRO TO SHOW HIM THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF CHINA'S REFORMS. BUT ZHENG CHIYAN, A POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR AT HONG KONG CHINESE UNIVERSITY, SEES JIANG'S TRIP MAINLY AS APPEASING THE SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE, WHICH IS OFTEN AT ODDS WITH BEIJING. HONG KONG STAFFER SHI LEI INTERVIEWS LIU SHAORUI, COMMENTATOR, CAO JINGXING, AND ZHENG CHIYAN. (MANDARIN 12/7)

JIANG'S TRIP TO SHENZHEN / HONG KONG REACTION -- CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN ACCOMPANIED FIDEL CASTRO TO SHENZHEN, CHINA'S FIRST SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE. SOME HONG KONG ANALYSTS VIEW THE TRIP AS A GESTURE SIGNIFYING THE SUCCESS OF CHINA'S REFORM POLICY. SOME EVEN SAY JIANG'S TOUR OF SHENZHEN MAY HAVE THE SAME EFFECT AS DENG XIAOPING'S FAMOUS TRIP IN 1992, WHICH SPURRED ECONOMIC REFORM. HONG KONG STAFFER CHOU YOUKANG INTERVIEWS HONG KONG LEGISLATORS CHEN JIANLIN, DEMOCRATIC CONSTRUCTION ALLIANCE, SITU HUA, DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADER, LI JIAXING, AND LI PENGFEI, FREEDOM PARTY PRESIDENT. (MANDARIN 12/16)

US / FUTURE OF DEFENSE -- THE US MUST WATCH CLOSELY THE RISING TIDE OF NATIONALISM IN RUSSIA AND CHINA, AND THE POSSIBLE EMERGENCE OF LEADERS LIKE SADDAM HUSSEIN OF IRAQ IN AREAS IMPORTANT TO THE US, SAID US SENATOR JOSEPH LIEBERMAN AT AN AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE SEMINAR IN WASHINGTON. ADM. WILLIAM OWENS, VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT FURTHER CUTS IN MILITARY PROCUREMENT WOULD STRIKE A FATAL BLOW TO THE US DEFENSE INDUSTRY. STAFFER DAN HE COVERED THE SEMINAR. (CANTONESE 12/7)

HONG KONG / CHIEF EXECUTIVE -- CHINA'S TOP OFFICIAL FOR HONG KONG AFFAIRS LU PING CONCEDED THAT THE FUTURE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF HONG KONG, SHOULD, AMONG OTHER THINGS, BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. BUT HE ALSO DISCLOSED THAT THE NOMINEE FOR THE JOB MAY TURN OUT TO BE A "DARK HORSE." ACCORDING TO COMMENTATOR ANDY HO, THE INCUMBENT CHIEF SECRETARY OF THE COLONIAL GOVERNMENT, MRS. ANSON CHAN, IS THE MOST LIKELY CANDIDATE. OBSERVERS LEE PANG KWONG OF LINGNAN COLLEGE AND SUNG LAP KUNG OF HONG KONG MONITOR, BELIEVE CHINA WOULD GIVE THE JOB TO A PERSON WHO IS STRONG AND IS ABSOLUTELY TRUSTWORTHY TO CHINA. STRINGER LAWRENCE NG REPORTS. (CANTONESE 12/7)

KWANGJU MASSACRE / INVESTIGATION -- TWO RETIRED ARMY GENERALS, FORMER ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF CHUNG SEUNG HWA AND FORMER COMMANDER OF THE 20TH ARMY DIVISION PARK JOON BYUNG, WERE SUMMONED FOR QUESTIONING AS SOUTH KOREAN PROSECUTORS SOUGHT MORE EVIDENCE ON A 1979 MILITARY COUP LED BY JAILED FORMER PRESIDENT CHUN DOO HWAN AND THE SUBSEQUENT BLOODY SUPPRESSION OF PRO-DEMOCRACY UPRISINGS IN KWANGJU IN 1980. MEANWHILE, CHUN WAS ON THE FIFTH DAY OF A HUNGER STRIKE IN PRISON. CORRESPONDENT YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 12/7)

SOUTH KOREA / ARMS PROJECT SCANDALS -- FORMER SOUTH KOREAN MILITARY LEADERS WERE QUESTIONED ON ALLEGED CORRUPTION IN MASSIVE ARMS DEALS. PROSECUTORS THURSDAY FOCUSED THEIR PROBE ON A CONTROVERSIAL 1991 DECISION TO BUY US F-16 JET FIGHTERS. JAILED EX-PRESIDENT ROH TAE WOO ALLEGEDLY FORCED THE KOREAN AIR FORCE TO CHANGE ITS EARLIER CHOICE OF F-18S TO THE F-16S AND RECEIVED COMMISSIONS FROM ARMS SUPPLIERS. PROSECUTORS INVESTIGATED FORMER DEFENSE MINISTER LEE JONG-KOO'S BANK ACCOUNTS, SUSPECTING HIM OF HOLDING A PART OF COMMISSIONS. STAFFER YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 12/7)

CAMBODIA / ANTI-HANOI ARMED GROUPS -- STAFFER LE LAI TALKED WITH TWO OF THE VIETNAMESE-AMERICAN LEADERS OF A WOULD-BE INSURGENT GROUP WHICH HAS BECAME AN IRRITANT TO US-SRV RELATIONS. (VIETNAMESE 12/7)

POLAND / AFTER THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS -- STRINGER VAN TRANG DESCRIBED THE MOOD IN WARSAW IN THE WAKE OF LECH WALESA'S DOWNFALL IN THE RECENT VOTING THERE. (VIETNAMESE 12/7)

US / LAO AMBASSADOR -- THE LAO SERVICE INTERVIEWED MR. HIEM PHOMMACHANH, LAO AMBASSADOR TO THE US, ON THE OCCASION OF THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LAO PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC. THE AMBASSADOR SAID THAT THE CURRENT REGIME HAS MADE MUCH PROGRESS IN IMPROVING THE LIVING STANDARD OF THE LAO PEOPLE, CREATING CONDITIONS FOR POLITICAL STABILITY IN THE COUNTRY. THE AMBASSADOR SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE CONGRESS LIFT THE BAN ON DIRECT AID TO LAOS. ON TRADE, HE SAID US COMPANIES HAVE INVESTED IN ABOUT 40 PROJECTS TOTALLING OVER $1.5 BILLION. HE WANTS THE US TO REDUCE THE TARIFF ON LAO GOODS, WHICH WILL HELP LAOS TO MOVE QUICKLY TOWARD A MARKET ECONOMY. (LAO 12/6)

INDONESIA / TIMOR -- THURSDAY MARKED THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDONESIAN ANNEXATION OF EAST TIMOR. RUSMAN YATIM AND ZULKARNAIN TAJIBNAPIS DISCUSS THE EAST TIMOR ISSUE. THEY SPOKE WITH EAST TIMOR ACTIVISTS AND A SPOKESMAN OF THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT. (12/7)

TIMOR PROTESTS -- IN JAKARTA, MORE THAN 100 DEMONSTRATORS ENTERED THE EMBASSY COMPOUNDS OF RUSSIA AND THE NETHERLANDS. AT A PRESS CONFERENCE, INDONESIAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER ALI ALATAS AND UNITED NATIONS COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS JOSE AYALA LASSO COMMENTED ON THE INCIDENT. REPORTER YENNI DJAHIDIN SAYS THE UN OFFICIAL PRAISED INDONESIA'S ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, BUT SAID THE COUNTRY NEEDS TO IMPROVE ITS HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD. (12/7)

INSIDE EUROPE:

CROATIAN AMERICANS / DAYTON AGREEMENT -- ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE MET WITH A CROATIAN DELEGATION. STAFFER BOJAN KLIMA INTERVIEWED STEVE RUKAVINA, PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF CROATIAN AMERICANS, THE LARGEST UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION OF CROATIAN AMERICANS. HE QUOTED MR. HOLBROOKE AS SAYING THAT CROATIAN PRESIDENT HAS PLAYED A KEY ROLE ON THE FINAL DAY OF DAYTON PEACE TALKS. (CROATIAN 12/7)

WAR CRIMES / CSCE HEARING -- STAFFER MIRJANA DEDAIC REPORTS ON CSCE CONGRESSIONAL HEARING ON WAR CRIMES COMMITTED IN BOSNIA. COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN REP. SMITH SAID THAT ALL THE COMPILED EVIDENCE WILL BE HANDED OVER TO THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN HAGUE. (CROATIAN 12/6)

UN / BOSNIA -- UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNED BURNING OF HOMES IN BOSNIA CONDUCTED BY BOSNIAN CROATS AND BOSNIAN SERBS. STRINGER IVICA PULJIC REPORTS THAT SECURITY COUNCIL WARNED THAT THESE ACTIVITIES COULD UNDERMINE THE DAYTON AGREEMENT. (CROATIAN 12/7)

BOSNIA / SITREP -- SERBS EXPELLED OVER 200 MUSLIMS FROM THE ARE OF BANJA LUKA. STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTS THAT UN OFFICIALS SAY THIS IS A CLEAR SIGN THAT SERBS ARE DISREGARDING THE DAYTON AGREEMENT. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT BOSNIAN CROAT FORCES LEFT THE AREA THEY WILL SOON TURN OVER TO BOSNIAN SERBS, BUT LOOTING AND BURNING OF HOMES CONTINUES. (CROATIAN 12/7)

MUJAHEDIN / BOSNIA -- ASSISTANT DEFENSE SECRETARY IN REAGAN ADMINISTRATION ZALMAY KHALILZAD ANALYZED THE POSSIBILITY OF US TROOPS CONFRONTING FOREIGN MUJAHEDIN TROOPS IN BOSNIA. HE TOLD STAFFER DZEILANA PECANIN VOLUNTEERS FROM IRAN POSE A POTENTIAL THREAT TO US TROOPS BECAUSE OF THEIR OWN AGENDA. A TOP PRIORITY OF THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT IS TO MAKE SURE THEY LEAVE BOSNIA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE EVEN IF THEY DO REPORT TO BOSNIAN ARMY COMMANDERS. (CROATIAN 12/6)

BOSNIA / GERMANY / POLAND -- THE POLISH STRINGER IN GERMANY, MAREK ORZECHOWSK, DISCUSSED THE SYMBOLISM OF PARTICIPATION BY POLISH AND GERMAN TROOPS IN THE BOSNIA MILITARY OPERATION, WITH EDMUND WNUK-LIPINSKI . THE DISCUSSION WAS HOSTED BY POLISH SERVICE BROADCASTER MARK K PARKER. (POLISH 12/6)

US PRESIDENT / BOSNIAN REFUGEES -- PRESIDENT CLINTON MET IN THE WHITE HOUSE WITH BOSNIAN REFUGEE FAMILIES. STAFFER ZDENKO NOVACKI INTERVIEWS EMIR KAPETANOVIC, WHOSE FAMILY WAS AMONG THEM. DR KAPETANOVIC SAYS THAT THE PRESIDENT IS DEEPLY CONCERNED WITH THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN BOSNIA. (CROATIAN 12/5)

HOLBROOKE / MISSION -- US NEGOTIATOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE IS LEAVING FOR BOSNIA, CROATIA, AND SERBIA TO CONDUCT MORE TALKS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT. STAFFER IVANA KUHAR REPORTS. (CROATIAN 12/5)

OGATA / MILOSEVIC -- THE UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, OGATA MET WITH SERBIAN PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC TO DISCUSS PROSPECTS FOR THE RETURN OF REFUGEES IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. AND A DELEGATION OF FRENCH PARLIAMENTARIANS APPEALED TO SERBIAN AUTHORITIES TO HELP SECURE THE RELEASE OF TWO FRENCH PILOTS BELIEVED TO BE IN SERB BOSNIAN HANDS. STRINGER MILICA KUBUROVIC REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (SERBIAN 12/6)

GERMANY / BOSNIA -- THE BUNDESTAG HAS APPROVED THE DISPATCH OF GERMAN TROOPS TO PARTICIPATE IN PEACEKEEPING OPERATION IN BOSNIA. AROUND FOUR THOUSAND GERMAN SOLDIERS ARE TO BE DEPLOYED IN CROATIA BY THE END OF THE YEAR. STRINGER DRAGAN BISENIC REPORTS FROM BON. (SERBIAN 12/6)

CROATIA / NATO SOLDIERS ARRIVE -- OVER FORTY NATO SOLDIERS ARRIVED IN ZAGREB, CROATIA, THE INITIAL SITE OF NATO HEADQUARTERS FOR THE PEACE ENFORCEMENT MISSION. STRINGER LINDA MILISA REPORTS. (CROATIAN 12/5)

SARAJEVO / FLIGHTS DELAYED -- HEAVY SNOW DELAYED THE ARRIVAL OF NATO PLANES IN SARAJEVO. STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC ALSO REPORTS THAT FEW HOUSES HAVE BEEN BURNED IN THE AREA NEAR GORAZDE, NOW UNDER SERBIAN CONTROL, BUT SOON TO BE TURNED OVER TO THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION. (CROATIAN 12/5)

USAID / BOSNIA -- US AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICIALS MET IN SARAJEVO WITH THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT'S EXPERT TEAM. STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTS THAT THE TALKS FOCUSED ON THE POST-WAR RECONSTRUCTION OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. (CROATIAN 12/5)

NATO MEETING / BOSNIA -- MEMBERS OF NATO AND GUEST COUNTRIES HELD MEETINGS IN BRUSSELS. STRINGER LADA STIPIC NIZETEO REPORTS THAT THE MEETING DISCUSSED TWO MAIN ISSUES, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT IN BOSNIA, AND ENHANCING NATO'S PROGRAM OF PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE. (CROATIAN 12/5)

HUNGARY / US PEACEKEEPERS -- STRINGER ATTILA PETER IN KAPOSVAR REPORTS ABOUT THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST GROUP OF AMERICAN SOLDIER AT THE AIRFIELD IN TASZAR. HE ALSO LOOKS AT THE POSSIBLE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE STATIONING OF PEACEKEEPERS IN KAPOSVAR. ACCORDING TO THE MAYOR OF THE CITY, THERE IS MIXED REACTION AMONG THE POPULATION, SOME ARE HOPING FOR JOBS, AND SOME ARE AFRAID OF THE POSSIBLE NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECTS. (HUNGARIAN 12/6)

BOSNIA / NATO / FIGHTERS -- AS THE FLOW OF SIXTY THOUSAND NATO TROOPS TO MONITOR THE PEACE IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA BEGINS, PRESSURE BUILDS TO EXPEL ALL FOREIGN MUSLIM FIGHTERS FROM BOSNIA. STAFFER HAYAT ALKHATEEB INTERVIEWS BOSNIA'S REPRESENTATIVE IN WASHINGTON, NAJEEB SACIRBEY ON THE SUBJECT. (ARABIC 12/6)

POLISH TROOPS TO BOSNIA -- POLISH PRIME MINISTER OLEKSY ANNOUNCED THAT SIX HUNDRED POLISH SOLDIERS WILL GO TO BOSNIA UNDER THE COMMAND OF THE NORDIC CONTINGENT. CORRESPONDENT WOJTEK MINICZ REPORTS FROM WARSAW. (POLISH 12/6)

BOSNIA / REFUGEES -- UNPROFOR SPOKESMAN CHRIS JANOWSKI DESCRIBED THE REFUGEE SITUATION IN BOSNIA TO REPORTER MARK K PARKER. JANOWSKI WAS VERY SKEPTICAL THAT MOST OF THE REFUGEES WILL BE ABLE RETURN HOME. HE FEELS THAT REFUGEES WILL RESETTLE ALONG ETHNIC LINES. (POLISH 12/6)

CROATIA / ZAGREB MAYOR -- CROATIAN OPPOSITION PARTIES PLAN TO ASK THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO ARBITRATE A GOVERNMENT DECISION TO BAN THE ELECTION OF THE OPPOSITION CANDIDATE AS A MAYOR OF ZAGREB. THE LEADER OF THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY BELIEVES THAT THE COURT WILL SIDE WITH THE OPPOSITION. STRINGER STEVICA SUSA REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (SERBIAN 12/6)

CZECH REPUBLIC / RULE OF LAW -- STAFFER OTA CERNOCH INTERVIEWED PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE, MICHAEL KRAUS. DR. KRAUS RECEIVED A ONE YEAR GRANT TO OBSERVE POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS AND TO CONDUCT RESEARCH IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC. DR. KRAUS POINTS OUT THAT THE MAJORITY OF CZECH CITIZENS DO NOT TRUST THEIR JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND SUGGESTS THAT IT MAY TAKE A GENERATION OR TWO TO DEVELOP A SOCIETY BASED ON THE RULE OF LAW AS WE KNOW IT. (CZECH 12/7)

CZECH REPUBLIC / ROMANIES -- CZECH ROMANI (GYPSY) ORGANIZATIONS ARE PREPARING TO DEMONSTRATE AGAINST RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION ON DECEMBER 10TH, "HUMAN RIGHTS DAY". PRAGUE STRINGER ALENA KENCLOVA INTERVIEWED AN AMERICAN OF ROMANI ORIGIN, JUD NIRENBERG, WHO HAS BEEN WORKING WITH A GROUP CALLED THE ROMA CIVIC INITIATIVE. MR. NIRNBERG SAID THAT THE ROMANIES WILL PROTEST AGAINST THE VIOLENCE THAT THEY ARE OFTEN SUBJECTED TO, AND ADDED THAT THE CZECH GOVERNMENT SPEAKS OUT AGAINST RACIST ATTACKS, BUT DOES NOTHING TO COUNTER THEM. (CZECH 12/7)

ESTONIAN ARMED FORCES CHIEF -- STAFFER NEEME RAUD INTERVIEWED PAUL GOBLE, A FORMER STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL AND ADVISER TO SENATOR ROBERT DOLE, ABOUT THE FORCED DEPARTURE OF THE CHIEF OF THE ESTONIAN ARMED FORCES, GENERAL ALEKSANDER EINSELN. EINSELN IS AN AMERICAN-ESTONIAN WHO RETIRED FROM THE US ARMY. (ESTONIAN 12/12)

CHAIRMAN OF THE ESTONIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL -- STAFFER MARKUS LARSSON INTERVIEWED THE CHAIRMAN OF THE "ESTONIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL IN AMERICA", JUHAN SIMONSON, WHO WAS IN WASHINGTON TO PRESENT A BOOK ABOUT ESTONIANS IN AMERICA TO CONGRESSMAN CHRISTOPHER SMITH (R-NJ). MR. SIMONSON ALSO DISCUSSED THE BOOKS THAT THE ENC PRESENTED TO THE USIS LIBRARY IN TALLINN AND THE 2 MILLION DOLLAR DEMOCRACY PROJECT THAT THE US BALTIC FOUNDATION WILL IMPLEMENT IN THE BALTICS IN THE COMING YEARS. (ESTONIAN 12/7)

TASZAR / MAYOR -- STRINGER JOZSEF BALLAI INTERVIEWED THE MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF TASZAR, WHICH IS HOME TO THE MAIN AIR BASE WHERE AMERICAN TROOPS WILL BE LANDING. THE MAYOR SAID HE CONSIDERED IT AN HONOR TO BE HOSTING AMERICAN TROOPS, AND EXPRESSED HOPE THAT EVERY ONE OF THEM TRAVELING THROUGH TASZAR WILL RETURN SAFELY. (HUNGARIAN 12/6)

POLAND / ELECTION PROTESTS -- PROTESTERS ARE PICKETING THE POLISH SUPREME COURT BUILDING WHILE AWAITING THE DECEMBER 9TH VERDICT ABOUT THE POLISH ELECTIONS. PROTESTERS ARE CALLING FOR A NULLIFICATION OF THE ELECTIONS, CLAIMING THAT PRESIDENT-ELECT ALEKSANDER KWASNIEWSKI, LIED ABOUT HIS UNIVERSITY EDUCATION. WOJTEK MINICZ REPORTS FROM WARSAW. (POLISH 12/6)

FRANCE / STRIKE -- STAFFER TADEUSZ WALENDOWSKI INTERVIEWS NINA SMOLAR FROM THE "CENTER FOR SOCIAL STUDIES" IN PARIS ABOUT THE STRIKE OF GOVERNMENT WORKERS. SHE SAID THAT THE STRIKE JEOPARDIZES EUROPEAN UNITY AND THE MAASTRICHT AGREEMENT ON A SINGLE EUROPEAN CURRENCY. (POLISH 12/6)

ALBANIA / MONTENEGRO -- IN A SURPRISE MOVE, ALBANIA'S MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND ENERGY VISITED MONTENEGRO AND SIGNED AN AGREEMENT FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION. STRINGER ALI SALAJ REPORTS FROM ULQIN THAT THE MONTENEGRIN GOVERNMENT HAS INDICATED IT WILL SOON REOPEN THE PODGORICA-SHKODER RAILWAY, ALBANIA'S ONLY RAIL LINK WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD. (ALBANIAN 12/6)

MACEDONIA / EDUCATION -- ETHNIC ALBANIAN MEMBERS OF THE MACEDONIAN PARLIAMENT HAVE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO OPEN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN THE ALBANIAN-LANGUAGE. LAST YEAR, ALBANIANS IN TETOVA ESTABLISHED A PRIVATE UNIVERSITY, BUT THE AUTHORITIES TERMED THE ACTION ILLEGAL. ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL FIGURES, ALBANIANS MAKE UP 23 PERCENT OF MACEDONIA'S POPULATION. STRINGER F MUSTAFA REPORTS FROM TETOVA, MACEDONIA. (ALBANIAN 12/6)

KOSOVO / EDUCATION -- ETHNIC ALBANIAN ACTIVISTS SAY SERBIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE RECENTLY INTENSIFIED THEIR PRESSURES AGAINST THE PARALLEL ALBANIAN-LANGUAGE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. BELGRADE INSISTS THAT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS MUST BE IN CONFORMITY WITH THOSE IN SERBIA. STRINGER AFERDITA SARACINI KELMENDI REPORTS FROM PRISHTINA. (ALBANIAN 12/6)

ALBANIA / ELECTIONS -- ALBANIA'S PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA CONFERRED WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THIRTEEN POLITICAL PARTIES ON CHANGES IN THE CURRENT ELECTION LAW. AN AGREEMENT WAS REACHED ON MAKING MINOR CHANGES IN THE CURRENT LAW, BUT KEEPING THE FOUR PERCENT THRESHOLD. STRINGER MERO BAZE REPORTS. (ALBANIAN 12/6)

ALBANIA / ELECTION UNREST -- ALBANIAN POLITICIANS OF THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT HAVE DENOUNCED A SPEECH BY THE SOCIALIST (FORMERLY COMMUNIST) PARTY DEPUTY CHAIRMAN ILIR META WHO SAID THE RULING DEMOCRATIC PARTY CAN ONLY WIN THE NEXT ELECTIONS 'WITH A CIVIL WAR.' STRINGER ILIRIAN AGOLLI REPORTS FROM TIRANA. (ALBANIAN 12/5)

LATVIAN DEPUTIES / OUTSIDE INCOME -- SHOULD PARLIAMENTARY DEPUTIES BE ALLOWED TO HOLD OTHER JOBS? THE ANTI-CORRUPTION LAW FORBIDS IT, BUT THE RULES OF THE SAEIMA ALLOW IT. STRINGER AIDIS TOMSONS REPORTS FROM RIGA. (LATVIAN 12/6)

POLAND / STOCK MARKET / ELECTION -- PIOTR SZELIGA, THE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE POLISH SECURITY COMMISSION DISCUSSED THE POLISH STOCK MARKET'S REACTION TO THE POLISH ELECTIONS RESULTS. CANDIDATE KWASNIWSKI'S VICTORY HAS LEFT NO LASTING IMPACT ON INVESTOR BEHAVIOR. (POLISH 12/6)

INSIDE EURASIA:

USAID / HIRING LOCAL EXPERTS IN RUSSIA -- STRINGER VAL SIBIRSKY TALKS ABOUT HOW USAID HELPS FORMER SOVIET REPUBLICS. HE DISCUSSES HOW LOCAL EXPERTS ARE HIRED, THE CRITERIA FOR HIRING THEM AND THEIR WORK SCHEDULES. (RUSSIAN 12/6)

INSIDE LATIN AMERICA:

GLOBAL IMPACT OF MERCOSUR -- IN A TWO-DAY SEMINAR IN MIAMI OVER INVESTMENT AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN MERCOSUR COUNTRIES, SPEAKERS EXPLAINED THE WORLD IMPACT OF THIS GROUP OF ECONOMIC INTEGRATION FORMED BY ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, PARAGUAY AND URUGUAY. CORRESPONDENT JORGE WEHBY REPORTS. (SPANISH 12/7)

GUATEMALAN JOURNALIST AWARDED -- GUATEMALAN JOURNALIST JOSE RUBEN ZAMORA, EDITOR OF THE SIGLO 21 NEWSPAPER, WAS ONE OF FIVE WHO RECEIVED THE ANNUAL AWARD OF THE COMMITTEE FOR PROTECTION OF JOURNALISTS. CORRESPONDENT LUIS TAMAYO REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (SPANISH 12/6) 07-Dec-95 7:47 PM EST (0047 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America