Voice of America Digest, 12 December 1995

From: "Ioannis V. Bousnakis" <[email protected]>

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] !!! VOA DIGEST - DECEMBER 12, 1995

BOSNIA / PILOTS -- THE TWO FRENCH PILOTS, CAPTURED BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS LAST AUGUST, HAVE BEEN FREED. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS THE PILOTS WILL BE FLOWN FROM BELGRADE TO FRANCE LATE TUESDAY. (12/12)

BOSNIA / FRANCE -- FRENCH DIPLOMATS AND OTHERS HAVE ENGAGED IN INTENSIVE EFFORTS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS TO WIN RELEASE OF THE TWO PILOTS HELD BY BOSNIAN SERBS. STRINGER JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS. (12/12)

NATO / BOSNIA -- THE COMMANDER OF THE NATO FORCES THAT ARE GOING TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA SAYS THEY WILL INSIST ON THE RIGHT OF FREE MOVEMENT. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS THE COMMANDER ALSO SAYS ANY SNIPER, WHO THREATENS HIS TROOPS' SAFETY, WILL BE SHOT. (12/12)

FORMER YUGOSLAVIA / CHILDREN'S EXPRESS -- LAST MONTH, ONE DAY AFTER THE LEADERS OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA REACHED A PEACE AGREEMENT IN DAYTON, TWO REPORTERS AND ONE EDITOR FROM CHILDREN'S EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE SET OUT ON A 10-DAY MISSION TO BOSNIA AND CROATIA. CURRENT AFFAIRS' SUSAN LOGUE SPOKE WITH THE YOUNG REPORTERS ABOUT THEIR MISSION. (12/12)

PALESTINIAN AUTONOMY -- ISRAEL WITHDREW FROM THE LARGE WEST BANK CITY OF NABLUS OVERNIGHT, IN KEEPING WITH THE LATEST PEACE ACCORD. CORRESPONDENT AL PESSIN IN NABLUS REPORTS THE ISRAELI MOVE LEFT LOCAL RESIDENTS TO CELEBRATE AND PLAN FOR A FUTURE UNDER SELF RULE. (12/12)

ALGERIA / PRESS -- ALGERIA'S INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS CLOSED TUESDAY FOR AT LEAST THREE-DAYS TO PROTEST THE SUSPENSION OF THE FRENCH-LANGUAGE 'LIBERTE' NEWSPAPER AND THE ARREST OF ITS DIRECTOR AND EDITOR. THE EDITOR WAS LATER RELEASED, BUT THE DIRECTOR, OUTOUDERT ABROUS, REMAINS IN CUSTODY. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS THAT SEVERAL INTERNATIONAL JOURNALISTS' ASSOCIATIONS HAVE PROTESTED TO ALGERIA'S LEADER. (12/12)

NORTHERN IRELAND / PEACE -- PRESIDENT CLINTON'S RECENT VISIT TO NORTHERN IRELAND GAVE NEW STRENGTH TO BRITISH-IRISH RESOLVE TO FINALLY PUT INTO PLACE A PEACE PLAN FOR THE LONG TROUBLED PROVINCE. CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA SPENT A WEEK IN ULSTER TALKING TO GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL LEADERS AND INTERESTED OBSERVERS FOR THIS DETAILED LOOK AT NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE PROSPECTS. (12/12)

BUDDHISM IN CHINA'S TIBET -- CHINA HAS JUST ENTHRONED A SIX YEAR OLD BOY AS THE REINCARNATION OF THE PANCHEN LAMA, THE SECOND HIGHEST RANKING RELIGIOUS FIGURE IN TIBETAN BUDDHISM, AFTER REJECTING THE SELECTION MADE BY THE DALAI LAMA. WHY A DECLARED ATHEIST GOVERNMENT IS SO INVOLVED IN A DEEPLY RELIGIOUS DECISION? CURRENT AFFAIRS' STEPHANIE MANN INTERVIEWED AN AMERICAN EXPERT ON TIBETAN BUDDHISM ABOUT THIS. (12/12)

RWANDA / TRIBUNAL -- THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL SET UP TO PROSECUTE RWANDAN GENOCIDE SUSPECTS HAS ISSUED ITS FIRST INDICTMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH LAST YEAR'S ETHNIC AND POLITICAL BLOODBATH IN RWANDA. EAST AFRICA CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA HAS THE STORY. (12/12)

LIBERIA / EBOLA -- FOREIGN MEDICAL EXPERTS ARE CONTINUING THEIR SEARCH FOR CASES OF THE EBOLA FEVER IN THE LIBERIA-IVORY COAST BORDER AREA, FOLLOWING THE DIAGNOSIS LAST WEEK OF A LIBERIAN MAN WITH THE DISEASE. CORRESPONDENT PURNELL MURDOCK REPORTS FROM THE IVORIAN COMMERCIAL CAPITAL, ABIDJAN. (12/12)

NIGERIA / OGONI VISIT -- NIGERIA'S OIL RICH OGONILAND HAS COME INTO FOCUS AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE POLITICAL CONFLICT IN NIGERIA. IN NOVEMBER NIGERIA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT EXECUTED NINE OGONI HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS AFTER THEY WERE CONVICTED BY A MILITARY TRIBUNAL. THE ACTIVISTS WERE ACCUSED THE MURDERS OF FOUR OGONI POLITICAL RIVALS IN A CONFLICT STEMMING FROM COMPETITION FOR SHARES OF OIL REVENUES AND FOR COMPENSATION FOR ALLEGED ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE CAUSED BY ROYAL-DUTCH SHELL PETROLEUM COMPANY. CORRESPONDENT WILLIAM EAGLE SPOKE TO ONE OF THE FEW REPORTERS WHO HAS BEEN IN OGONILAND SINCE THE EXECUTIONS. (12/12)

LIBYA / BRITAIN -- IN A DIPLOMATIC TIT FOR TAT, BRITAIN EXPELLED A LIBYAN DIPLOMAT AND LIBYA TOLD A BRITISH ENVOY TO GO HOME. THE DISPUTE COMES TWO-WEEKS BEFORE THE SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BOMBING OF A US AIRLINER OVER LOCKERBIE, SCOTLAND WHICH KILLED 270 PEOPLE. AS MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM CAIRO, BRITAIN IS DEMANDING LIBYA HAND OVER TWO SUSPECTS IN THE TERRORISM CASE. (12/12)

ANGOLA / PROSPECTS -- ANGOLA SPENT 1995 WONDERING WHETHER PEACE HAD FINALLY COME AFTER SO MANY YEARS OF WAR BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND REBELS KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL UNION FOR THE TOTAL INDEPENDENCE OF ANGOLA, UNITA. SOUTHERN AFRICA CORRESPONDENT MALLORY SALESON REPORTS THE PROSPECTS FOR ANGOLA IN 1996 REMAIN UNCERTAIN. (12/12)

KENYA / MOI -- TUESDAY WAS JAMHURI DAY IN KENYA, MARKING THE COUNTRY'S INDEPENDENCE FROM BRITAIN THIRTY TWO YEARS AGO. CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS PRESIDENT DANIEL ARAP MOI USED THE OCCASION TO SPEAK OUT ON THE ISSUE OF FOREIGN AID. (12/12)

ASEAN / OVERNIGHTER -- LEADERS OF THE SEVEN-MEMBER ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS (ASEAN) ARRIVE WEDNESDAY IN BANGKOK FOR THEIR FIFTH SUMMIT. CORRESPONDENT DAN ROBINSON REPORTS THE REGIONAL ORGANIZATION BORN IN 1967 AMID COLD WAR RIVALS WILL SIGN A NUCLEAR-WEAPONS-FREE ZONE TREATY AND PLEDGE TO SPEED UP THE ENTRY OF THREE NON-MEMBERS, CAMBODIA, LAOS, AND BURMA. (12/12)

TURKEY / HUMAN RIGHTS -- THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT IS EXPECTED TO ENDORSE A CUSTOMS UNION BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND TURKEY. CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM LONDON, ONE HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION BELIEVES THE EUROPEAN UNION IS ACTING TOO HASTILY, GIVEN TURKEY'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD. (12/12)

US PRODUCER PRICES -- THE US GOVERNMENT HAS ISSUED THE FIRST OF TWO MAJOR REPORTS ON INFLATION. ECONOMICS EDITOR JOE SUMMERS REPORTS A BIG JUMP IN WHOLESALE PRICES MAY LESSEN CHANCES THE CENTRAL BANK WILL LOWER INTEREST RATES LATER THIS MONTH. (12/12)

SPOTLIGHT / WISCONSIN / WRIGHT'S MONONA TERRACE PROJECT -- MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS AFTER THE LEGENDARY FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT DREW THE FIRST SKETCHES FOR THE MONONA TERRACE CONVENTION CENTER, IT IS FINALLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN THE CAPITAL CITY OF MADISON, WISCONSIN. CURRENT AFFAIRS' KEMING KUO INTERVIEWED ARCHITECT TONY PUTTNAM, WHO HAS BEEN HIRED TO CARRY OUT WRIGHT'S GRAND PLAN. MR. PUTTNAM SAYS BEING A FORMER WRIGHT APPRENTICE HAS HELPED HIM UNDERSTAND HOW THE GREAT ARCHITECT INCORPORATED THE BUILDING HARMONIOUSLY IN ITS URBAN SETTING. (12/12)

VOLUNTEERS -- TWENTY-ONE AMERICANS RANGING IN AGE FROM 11 TO 83 - ARE THE 1995 WINNERS OF ANNUAL AWARDS FOR SERVICE TO SOCIETY GIVEN BY THE CARING INSTITUTE, A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION BASED IN WASHINGTON, DC. CURRENT AFFAIRS' MARILYN SILVEY REPORTS. (12/12)

CIGARS COME BACK -- A GOOD CIGAR, SAID RUDYARD KIPLING, IS A SMOKE, RELAXING, PLEASURABLE, AND TERRIBLY INCORRECT AND UNWELCOME IN MUCH OF TODAY'S SOCIETY. BUT CURRENT AFFAIRS' TED LANDPHAIR REPORTS THAT CIGAR SALES ARE WAY UP, AND CIGAR BARS, CIGAR CLUBS, AND BLACK-TIE DINNERS FEATURING FINE IMPORTED CIGARS ARE ALL THE RAGE. HE VISITS A NEW "MARTINI AND CIGAR LOUNGE." (12/12)

NEW YORK THEATER -- CORRESPONDENT MARTIN BUSH REPORTS ON THE THEATER SCENE IN NEW YORK IN 1995. (12/12)

THE MEDITERRANEAN -- CORRESPONDENT LARRY FREUND REPORTS ON WRITER PAUL THEROUX'S NEW LOOK AT THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION. (12/12)

RESCUING FOOD TO FEED THE HUNGRY -- ABOUT ONE FIFTH OF FOOD PRODUCED IN THE UNITED STATES GOES TO WASTE WHILE AT THE SAME TIME A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE GO HUNGRY. CURRENT AFFAIRS' ZLATICA HOKE REPORTS ON US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE EFFORTS TO FIND BETTER WAYS TO RESCUE FOOD AND HELP FEED THE HUNGRY. (12/12)

US / AFRICAN-AMERICANS -- A COALITION OF MORE THAN 50 AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS IS LAUNCHING A YEAR-LONG CRUSADE TO GET MORE AFRICAN-AMERICANS TO VOTE. CURRENT AFFAIRS' MARILYN SILVEY REPORTS ON WHAT IT SAID TO BE THE BIGGEST EFFORT OF ITS KIND EVER ATTEMPTED. (12/12)

COMPUTER SERIES -- A NEW CALIFORNIA-BASED COMPANY IS COMING OUT WITH HIGH-TECH CURRICULUM MATERIALS FOR USE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. CURRENT AFFAIRS' DAN NOBLE REPORTS. (12/12)

INSIDE USA:

CHILDREN'S BROADCASTING -- DECEMBER TEN WAS DESIGNATED AS THE INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S BROADCASTING DAY BY THE UNICEF. STRINGER AMBALIKA MISRA REPORTS ON THE OBSERVATIONS AT THE UNICEF HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK IN WHICH DOZENS OF COUNTRIES INCLUDING INDIA WERE REPRESENTED. (HINDI 12/10)

GALILEO PROBE -- STAFFER MANSOUR FRACYON INTERVIEWS DR KAZEM OMIDVAR OF NASA ABOUT THE GALILEO JUPITER PROBE. (FARSI 12/10)

IRANIAN MEDIA -- STAFFER HESHMAT MOBASHER LOOKS AT THE MEDIA IN IRAN TODAY BASED ON AN INTERVIEW WITH DR MAJID TEHRANIAN OF HARVARD, WHO PARTICIPATED IN AN IRAN MEDIA PANEL AT MESA. (FARSI 12/11)

US BUDGET -- REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS AND WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS EXPRESSED OPTIMISM OVER THE POSSIBILITY OF REACHING AGREEMENT ON PROPOSALS FOR A BALANCED BUDGET. STAFFER USAMA FARAG INTERVIEWS ALAMULHUDA HAMMAD, CHAIRMAN FOR ADVANCEMENT OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN VIRGINIA ON THE SUBJECT. (ARABIC 12/11)

IRAN / AZERBAIJAN / ANNIVERSARY -- STAFFER AKBAR NAZEMI REPORTS ON A WASHINGTON IRANIAN COMMUNITY PROGRAM TO MARK THE 49TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RESTORATION OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT CONTROL OVER IRANIAN AZERBAIJAN. SPEAKERS INCLUDED ONE OF THE IRANIAN COMMANDERS AT THE TIME, GENERAL VARAHRAM, AND REZA PAHLAVI, SON OF THE LATE SHAH WHO RULED IRAN AT THE TIME. GENERAL VARAHRAM TALKED ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMAN'S SUPPORT OF THE IRANIAN ACTIONS. (FARSI 12/11)

YOGA IN US -- YOGA IS ONE OF THE SEVERAL FORMS OF EXERCIZES PEOPLE IN AMERICA ARE TURNING TO FOR HEALTH AND FITNESS. STAFFER KEDAR SHARMA INTERVIEWS RAMESH PANDEY, AN INDIAN TELEVISION ACTOR WHO RUNS YOGA CLASSES IN LOS ANGELES. AND, STAFFER PUSHPA AGNIHOTRI INTERVIEWS MANISH SINGH, A MEMBER OF A GROUP TEACHING YOGA TECHNIQUES IN SEVERAL CITIES IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. (HINDI 12/9)

POLISH YELLOW PAGES / CHICAGO -- CEZARY LAPA REPORTED THAT POLISH "YELLOW PAGES" WILL BE PUBLISHED IN 1996, IN CHICAGO. THE PUBLICATION WILL CONTAIN THE NAMES AND PHONE NUMBERS OF POLISH BUSINESSES IN AMERICA AND AMERICAN BUSINESSES IN POLAND. INTERVIEW BY STAFFER WOJTEK ZORNIAK. (POLISH 12/11)

COMPUTERS / WHAT AND WHY -- COMPUTER EXPERT DR SAID BOZORGUI NESBAT TALKS WITH STRINGER SETAREH SIEG ABOUT HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE, AND GIVES SOME TIPS ON WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A COMPUTER. (FARSI 12/12)

COMMUNICATIONS / INET -- STAFFER JEAN-CLAUDE ANDRE INTERVIEWS FRANCIS BENVENISTE, OF INET CHESEAPEAKE, A SMALL TELECOMMUNICATIONS FIRM WHICH SPECIALIZES IN LONG DISTANCE SERVICE AT VERY LOW RATES. MR. BENVENISTE EXPLAINED HOW INET CHEASEAPEAKE WAS STARTED BY A GROUP OF FRENCH ENTREPRENEURS AND IS ONE EXAMPLE OF SUCCESSFUL SMALL BUSINESS VENTURES. (FRENCH 12/12)

CALIFORNIA / DOUBLE NATIONALITY -- A FORUM OF INDEPENDENT GROUPS HELD IN CALIFORNIA DISCUSSED A DOUBLE NATIONALITY BILL CURRENTLY DEBATED BY THE MEXICAN CONGRESS. CORRESPONDENT HECTOR VELAZQUEZ MEJIA REPORTS FROM LOS ANGELES. (SPANISH 12/11)

MIAMI / HUMAN RIGHTS CONGRESS -- THE 7TH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON HUMAN RIGHTS FOCUSED ITS DELIBERATIONS ON THE ISSUE OF CIVIL RIGHTS IN THE UNITED STATES AND DISCUSSED THE RECENT LAUNCHING OF A CUBAN OPPOSITION COALITION. CORRESPONDENT JORGE WEHBY REPORTS FROM MIAMI. (SPANISH 12/11)

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS -- SCIENTISTS FROM A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES SAID AT A UN MEETING THAT THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT IS DETERIORATING AND WILL HAVE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE FUTURE OF THE PLANET. CORRESPONDENT LUIS TAMAYO REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (SPANISH 12/11)

WINTER IS HERE -- AN EARLY WINTER STORM IN THE NORTHEAST OF THE UNITED STATES CAUSED UNEXPECTED HEAVY SNOW ACCUMULATIONS IN A NUMBER OF CITIES IN NEW YORK STATE. CORRESPONDENT LUIS TAMAYO REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (SPANISH 12/11)

US / 1996 ELECTIONS -- STAFFER YURI ZORIN REPORTS ON A CONFERENCE AT THE AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE, A PREVIEW OF THE 1996 ELECTIONS. AMONG THOSE WHO LECTURED AT THE CONFERENCE WERE: AEI SCHOLAR CARLENE BOWMAN, WHO NOTED THAT THE LATEST POLLS INDICATE THAT NEWT GINGRICH IS BECOMING LESS POPULAR AND THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS THE SUPPORT OF 25 PERCENT OF THE VOTERS; BEN WATTENBERG, WHO NOTED THAT 41 PERCENT OF THOSE POLLED SAID THEY WOULD NOT VOTE FOR CLINTON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES; AND BILL SCHNEIDER, WHO NOTED THAT CLINTON HAS GOT TO WIN THE PRIMARY IN CALIFORNIA IF HE IS TO WIN IN THE NEXT ELECTIONS. (RUSSIAN 12/11)

ORGANIST / GREG HATZA -- SELF-TAUGHT JAZZ ORGANIST GREG HATZA CURRENTLY PLAYS REGULARLY WITH HIS CONTEMPORARY GROUP, 'MOON AUGUST.' ADDITIONAL DUTIES INCLUDE SERVING AS PROFESSOR OF JAZZ IMPROVISATION AND PIANO COMPOSITION AT TOWSON STATE UNIVERSITY IN BALTIMORE. REPORTER RITA ROCHELLE INTERVIEWS HIM LIVE IABOUT HIS NEW CD, ORGANIZATION. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/6)

MUSIC FEATURE / WHITE MAN'S BURDEN -- THE SOUNDTRACK OF THE MOVIE, 'WHITE MAN'S BURDEN' FEATURES SOME OF THE HOTTEST RECORDING STARS AROUND. REPORTER VERLA WILEY PRESENTS A BACKGROUND ON THE ARTISTS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/11)

INSIDE AFRICA:

NIGERIA / MILITARY'S SINCERITY QUESTIONED -- AS THE NIGERIAN MILITARY INAUGURATED AN ELECTORAL COMMISSION, SOME POLITICIANS ARE QUESTIONING THE MILITARY'S ELECTION TIMETABLE. FORMER CONGRESSMAN ISA MATORI AND A BUSINESSMAN-POLITICIAN, LAWAL SHITTU, SAID THE MILITARY'S PRESENT TIMETABLE WAS THE SAME USED BY THE FORMER REGIME OF GENERAL BABANGIDA, WHICH LED TO CONFUSION AND CRISES. THEY WERE OF THE OPINION THAT IF THE MILITARY IS SINCERE, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, STATE AND FEDERAL ELECTIONS CAN BE CONDUCTED IN ONE MONTH. STAFFER IBRAHIM AHMED INTERVIEWS ISA MATORI, WHILE AHMED YERIMA INTERVIEWED LAWAL SHITTU. (HAUSA 12/12)

NIGERIA / HUMAN RIGHTS -- STRINGER AHMED MOHAMMAD KWALLAM REPORTS THAT THE NIGERIAN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP CIVIL LIBERTIES ORGANIZATION OR CLO, HAS CALLED ON TRADITIONAL AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN THE COUNTRY TO ENSURE EARLY TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN RULE. IN A STATEMENT ISSUED IN LAGOS, THE ORGANIZATION EXPRESSED DISSATISFACTION WITH THE MILITARY'S THREE-YEAR POLITICAL PROGRAM AND DESCRIBED IT AS AN ATTEMPT TO PROLONG THEIR STAY. (HAUSA 12/12)

NIGERIA / ELECTORAL COMMISSION -- THE HEAD OF NIGERIA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT, GENERAL SANI ABACHA, INAUGURATED THE FEDERAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION IN ABUJA. THE COMMISSION IS TO ORGANIZE AND SUPERVISE ELECTIONS DURING THE THREE YEAR TRANSITIONAL PERIOD TO CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATION. STRINGER BABANGIDA JIBRIL REPORTS FROM ABUJA. (HAUSA 12/12)

NIGERIA / CRITICISM --- STAFFER AHMED YERIMA INTERVIEWS LAWAL SHITTU, A BUSINESSMAN AND POLITICAL ACTIVIST. HE SAID ABACHA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT IS DECEIVING THE PUBLIC BECAUSE THERE ARE NO FUNDAMENTAL PILLARS OF POLITICAL PARTIES AND STRUCTURES IN PLACE TO ORGANIZE A DEMOCRATIC ELECTION. THE ONLY SOLUTION HE SAYS IS TO RETURN TO THE 1993 ELECTORAL RESULT. (HAUSA 12/12)

NIGERIA / OAU -- OAU SECRETARY-GENERAL SALIM AHMED SALIM IS EXPECTED TO MEET THIS WEEK WITH SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA. THEY'RE EXPECTED TO DISCUSS THE NIGERIAN POLITICAL SITUATION. REPORTER LAEKE MARIAM DEMESSIE SPOKE TO MR SALIM IN ADDIS ABABA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/12)

NIGERIA / OGONI -- A BRITISH JOURNALIST JUST BACK FROM NIGERIA SAYS MEMBERS OF THE OGONI MINORITY ARE FEARFUL AFTER THE RECENT EXECUTIONS OF OGONI ACTIVISTS BY THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT. REPORTER WILLIAM EAGLE SPOKE WITH THE CORRESPONDENT FOR THE LONDON INDEPENDENT, DAVID ORR. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/10)

NIGERIA / EUROPEAN BOYCOTT -- THE EUROPEAN UNION'S SPORTING BOYCOTT OF NIGERIA OVER THE OGONI EXECUTIONS MAY BECOME MANIFEST TOMORROW. A DELEGATION OF THE NIGERIAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION MAY BE DENIED VISAS FOR TOMORROW'S WORLD CUP DRAW IN PARIS. REPORTER BARRY MAUGHAN DISCUSSES THIS AND OTHER ASPECTS OF THE DISPUTE WITH LONDON STRINGER OSASU BAYRUWANA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/11)

NIGERIA / FIFA -- FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS YEAR, FIFA HAS TAKEN AWAY THE WORLD YOUTH SOCCER TOURNAMENT FROM NIGERIA. STRINGER AHMED MOHAMMED KWALAM, OF HAUSA SPORTS NEWS REPORTED THE STORY HOURS AFTER FIFA REACHED THE DECISION TO GIVE THE 1997 EDITION TO MALAYSIA. (HAUSA 12/12)

NIGERIA / SOUTH AFRICA SPORTS -- FOLLOWING RECENT INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE AND SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON IT AFTER THE EXECUTION OF ACTIVISTS, NIGERIA IS CONTEMPLATING WHETHER OR NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN NEXT YEAR'S AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA. STRINGER AHMED MOHAMMED KWALAM SAYS MEETINGS ARE BEING HELD AROUND THE COUNTRY TO DETERMINE NIGERIA'S POSITION ON THE MATTER. UNDER FIFA RULES NIGERIA, WHICH IS THE DEFENDING CHAMPION, COULD BE EXPELLED IF IT FAILS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE UPCOMING GAMES. (HAUSA 12/12)

NIGERIA / KENYA REACT -- PRESIDENTS MOI OF KENYA AND BEN MKAPA OF TANZANIA SAID TODAY IN A FEW MONTHS THEY WILL ANNOUNCE A DETAILED PLAN TO REVIVE THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY. THE TWO PRESIDENTS WERE SPEAKING AT A PUBLIC RALLY CELEBRATING KENYA'S INDEPENDENCE DAY IN NAIROBI. STRINGER MG JOEL REPORTS. (SWAHILI 12/12)

NIGERIA / SADC -- THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, SADC, HELD A ONE-DAY SUMMIT ON NIGERIA. WHILE ALL TWELVE MEMBER STATES WERE REPRESENTED, ONLY FIVE HEADS OF STATE ATTENDED THE MEETING IN SOUTH AFRICA. REPORTER JOE DECAPUA DISCUSSED THE SUMMIT WITH SADC ECONOMIST CHUNGU MWILA IN GABORONE. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/12)

ANGOLA / GOVERNMENT REACT -- THE ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT REACTED TO UN SECRETARY GENERAL BOUTROS GHALI'S REPORT ABOUT THE DELAYS IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT UNAVEM III RADIO STATION WHICH HAS BEEN DISCUSSED WITH ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT. ALTHOUGH UNAVEM III HAS BEEN OFFERED MORE TIME ON NATIONAL RADIO AND TELEVISION, BOUTROS GHALI SAID THAT NO ADEQUATE RESPONSE HAS BEEN RECEIVED SO FAR FROM THE GOVERNMENT REGARDING THE UNITED NATIONS OWN RADIO STATION. HENDRICK VAAL NETO, ANGOLAN MINISTER OF SOCIAL COMMUNICATION SAID THAT ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT LAWS DO NOT PROVIDE A LEGAL BASIS FOR OPENING OF A UNAVEM RADIO STATION. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 12/12)

UGANDA / AIDS CONFERENCE -- THE AIDS CONFERENCE ENTERED ITS SECOND DAY IN KAMPALA, UGANDA WITH PARTICIPANTS SHARING NEW INFORMATION ABOUT THE DISEASE. STRINGER MIKE ARERENG REPORTS FROM KAMPALA. (SWAHILI 12/12)

UNICEF / ANNUAL REPORT -- UNICEF'S JUST RELEASED ANNUAL REPORT ON THE STATUS OF CHILDREN IN THE WORLD SHOWS TOO MANY OF THEM ARE STILL THE VICTIMS OF WAR, POVERTY AND DISEASE. STAFFER IDRISSA FALL ASKED MONCEF BOUHAFA, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR UNICEF WESTERN AND CENTRAL AFRICA DEPARTMENT TO ELABORATE ON THE REPORT'S FINDINGS FOR CHILDREN IN AFRICA. (FRENCH 12/11)

CAMEROON / BUSINESS -- STAFFER ELIZABETH MONNAC INTERVIEWS CAMEROONIAN BUSINESSMAN JAMES ONOBIONO WHO IS SAID TO BE ONE OF THE RICHEST MEN IN AFRICA. MR. ONOBIONO RECENTLY OPENED A NEW CENTER FOR TOBACCO RESEARCH AND PRODUCTION AND SPOKE OF THE DIFFERENT FACTORS THAT MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL IN AFRICA. (FRENCH 12/12)

MALAWI / RAPES -- IN MALAWI, WOMEN ARE ASKING THE GOVERNMENT FOR PROTECTION AGAINST THE THREAT OF RAPE AND ABDUCTION BY MOZAMBIQUE-BASED BANDITS. REPORTER JULIUS KALIYA REPORTS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/12)

SIERRA LEONE / BO -- INTERNATIONAL RELIEF AGENCIES, AND US AMBASSADOR TO SIERRA LEONE JOHN HIRSH NOTE THE HIGH CHILD MORTALITY RATE IN THE COUNTRY'S WAR-TORN SOUTHERN REGION. REPORTER KELVIN LEWIS REPORTS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/13)

ZAMBIA / CHILUBA -- IN ZAMBIA, THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPOINTED ITS OWN INVESTIGATORS TO LOOK INTO ALLEGATIONS THAT PRESIDENT CHILUBA WAS NOT BORN IN ZAMBIA AND CAN NOT RUN FOR OFFICE AGAIN NEXT YEAR. REPORTER KELLYS KAUNDA REPORTS FROM LUSAKA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/12)

GHANA / NEW WORLD CHAMPION -- GHANA'S ALFRED 'COBRA' KOTEY IS THE NEW WBC SUPER-BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPION AFTER A TWELVE ROUND VICTORY OVER FREDDY CRUZ OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC IN LONDON. REPORTER BARRY MAUGHAN SPOKE TO KOTEY ABOUT HIS VICTORY. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/11)

NIGER / SPORTS -- AFTER FIFA BANNED IT FROM ALL ITS COMPETITIONS FOR OFFICIAL INTERFERENCE IN SPORTING MATTERS, NIGER HAS DECIDED TO CANCEL ITS OWN LEAGUE TOURNAMENT AS WELL. IN PLACE OF NORMAL SPORTING ACTIVITIES, THE GOVERNMENT HAS CREATED A NEW TOURNAMENT TO WIN THE PRESIDENT'S CUP. STRINGER LAWAL BOUCAR REPORTS FROM NIAMEY. (HAUSA 12/12)

INSIDE MIDEAST:

EGYPT / NEW ASSEMBLY -- AS PREPARATIONS BEGAN FOR CONVENING THE NEWLY ELECTED EGYPTIAN PARLIAMENT, LOSING CANDIDATES CONTINUED TO SUE THE GOVERNMENT AGAINST FRAUD AND RIGGING THE ELECTIONS. STRINGER IBRAHIM ABDIN REPORTS FROM CAIRO WHERE HE INTERVIEWED THE HEAD OF THE INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS. (ARABIC 12/11)

EGYPTIAN ELECTIONS / MAHFOUZ -- STRINGER IMAN RAFI INTERVIEWS NOBLE PRIZE LAUREATE EGYPTIAN WRITER NAGUIB MAHFOUZ ON THE OCCASION OF HIS 84TH BIRTHDAY. THE AUTHOR CALLED FOR MORE AWARENESS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, ESPECIALLY ELECTIONS. (ARABIC 12/11)

YEMEN / SAUDI CLASHES -- YEMENI OFFICIALS SAY THAT ARMED CLASHES TOOK PLACE ON THE BORDERS WITH SAUDI ARABIA. REPORTER MAHMOUD ZAWAWI IN AMMAN SAYS NO DETAILS OR CASUALTIES WERE GIVEN. (ARABIC 12/11)

IRAQ / CABINET RESHUFFLE -- STRINGER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS THAT A CABINET RESHUFFLE ORDERED BY IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN IS BEING INTERPRETED AS INDICATION OF THE DETERIORATING ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY. (ARABIC 12/11)

TUNIS / EGYPT TRADE -- TUNISIA AND EGYPT HAVE AGREED IN A MEETING OF THEIR CHAMBERS OF TRADE AND COMMERCE IN TUNIS TO CARRY OUT JOINT PROJECTS AND WORK TOWARD A LARGE MARKET COMPRISING MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES. STRINGER RASHID MABROUK REPORTS FROM TUNIS. (ARABIC 12/11)

CLINTON / PERES -- STAFFERS HAYAT ALKHATEEB AND USAMA FARAG VOICED OVER SPONTANEOUS INTERPRETATION OF MORE THAN TEN MINUTES OF REMARKS EXCHANGED BETWEEN PRESIDENT CLINTON AND ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER PERES AT THE WHITE HOUSE, OF THEIR PLEDGE TO WORK AS PARTNERS TO ACHIEVE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND BRING SYRIA TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE. THEY ALSO HIGHLIGHTED THE PRESIDENT'S REMARKS ABOUT AMERICAN ROLE IN BOSNIA. (ARABIC 12/11)

ISRAELI / PALESTINIAN TRACK -- AS ISRAELI FORCES BEGAN PULLING OUT FROM NABLUS TO HAND IT OVER TO THE PALESTINIAN SELF-RULE AUTHORITY, WORK BEGAN AT THE WHITE HOUSE TO ACTIVATE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE SYRIAN TRACK. STAFFER HAYAT ALKHATEEB INTERVIEWS FORMER HARVARD PROFESSOR MOHAMED AL HALLAJ ON PROGRESS ON THE PALESTINIAN TRACK. (ARABIC 12/11)

IRAQ / HUMAN RIGHTS -- THE MEETING OF THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL BOUTROS GHALI WITH IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TAREK AZIS IN NEW YORK TRIGGERED SPECULATIONS THAT IRAQ MAY ACCEPT A UN OFFER TO SELL A LIMITED QUANTITY OF OIL TO FINANCE FOOD PURCHASES. IT ALSO RAISED FEARS THAT THE SITUATION OF FOOD AND HUMAN RIGHTS IS WORSENING IN IRAQ. STAFFER USAMA FARAG INTERVIEWS ABDELHAMID FADL OF THE CONCERNED CITIZENS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN IRAQ. (ARABIC 12/11)

IRANIAN WRITER / WOMAN IN EXILE -- STAFFER FARAH JAHANGIRI INTERVIEWS PARIS-BASED IRANIAN IRANIAN NOVELIST, SHORT-STORY AND SCREENPLAY WRITER, GOLI TARAGHI. MS TARAGHI, WHO WAS A WELL-KNOWN WRITER IN IRAN BEFORE THE REVOLUTION, IS CONTINUING HER CAREER AS A WRITER IN EXILE. (FARSI 12/12)

GERMAN INVESTIGATION / IRANIAN MINISTER -- STAFFER BEHRUZ NIKZAT INTERVIEWS GERMANY-BASED IRANIAN JOURNALIST HOSSEIN FARAJI ABOUT REPORTS THAT THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT IS INVESTIGATING THE ROLE OF THE IRANIAN INTELLIGENCE MINISTER IN CONNECTION WITH THE ASSASSINATION OF IRANIAN KURDISH LEADERS IN MUNICH IN 1992. (FARSI 12/12)

SCULPTOR REMEMBERED -- FROM TEHRAN COMES NEWS OF THE DEATH, OF ABOL HASSAN KHAN SADIGHI, A PIONEER IRANIAN SCULPTOR. HE WAS 96. STAFFER FARAH JAHANGIRI INTERVIEWS SCULPTORS GHOLAM HOSSEIN NAMI, IN TEHRAN, AND PARVIZ TANAVOLI IN VANCOUVER, ABOUT SADIGHI'S LIFE AND WORK. AND BEHRUZ NIKZAT INTERVIEWS ARCHITECT HOUSHANG SEIHOUN IN LOS ANGELES. HE TALKED ABOUT HIS FIFTY YEAR COLLABORATION WITH SADIGHI IN A SERIES OF NATIONAL MONUMENTS. (FARSI 12/11)

BOOKSELLER REMEMBERED -- STAFFER HOSSEIN N KANGORLOO REMEMBERS PIONEER IRANIAN BOOKSELLER, ABD AL-GHAFOUR TAHOURI, WHO DIED LAST WEEK. TAHURI, WHO RAN A BOOKSTORE NEAR TEHRAN UNIVERSITY FOR MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS, WAS AN IMPORTANT CULTURAL PERSONALITY IN TEHRAN. (FARSI 12/10)

INSIDE CENTRAL ASIA:

KAZAKHSTAN / UIGHUR ORGANIZATIONS -- YUSUFBEK MUKHLISIY, CHAIRMAN OF THE EASTERN TURKISTAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT IN ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN, AND YEVGENIY ZHELAVITS, HEAD OF THE KAZAKH-AMERICAN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP, TOLD STAFFER RANO HABIB THAT, AFTER KAZAKH PRESIDENT NURSULTAN NAZARBAYEV'S TRIP TO THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA, ACTIVITIES OF THE UIGHUR ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN CURTAILED BY THE KAZAKH AUTHORITIES AND THE LEADERS OF THESE GROUPS HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF STRAINING RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES. (UZBEK 12/12)

AZERBAIJAN / HISTORY -- TODAY IS THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED FOR ONE YEAR IN IRANIAN AZERBAIJAN IN 1945. STRINGER RAFAEL HUSAINOV INTERVIEWS THREE AZERBAIJANIS FROM THE SOUTH WHO WERE PART OF THE MOVEMENT AND REPORTS ON THE ANNIVERSARY FESTIVITIES IN BAKU. (AZERI 12/12)

INSIDE SOUTH ASIA:

PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN / IRAN -- IRAN'S DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER, ALA-UD-DIN BORUJERDI MET WITH PAKISTAN PRIME MINISTER BENAZIR BHUTTO TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN AND RELATED REGIONAL ISSUES. STRINGER ABDUL HAI WARSHAN REPORTS THAT NO DETAILS HAVE BEEN RELEASED BUT THE TALKS FOLLOW MR BORUJERDI'S RECENT TRIP TO AFGHANISTAN AND HIS MEETINGS WITH PRESIDENT RABBANI AND OTHER FACTIONAL LEADERS. (DARI, PASHRO 12/12)

INDIA / MISSILES -- DR ABDUL KALAAM, CHIEF ADVISOR TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ON DEFENSE SAYS THAT THE COUNTRY'S MISSILE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS PROCEEDING ON SCHEDULE. HE ALSO SAID THAT ALL TESTS AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS ON THE SURFACE-TO-SURFACE "PRITHVI" MISSILE HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. STRINGER REPORT. (HINDI 12/11)

TUTU / INDIA -- NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER, ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU OF SOUTH AFRICA PAID A FIVE DAY VISIT TO INDIA WHERE HE MET PRIME MINISTER RAO AND SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE JUDGING PANEL FOR THE INDIRA GANDHI PEACE PRIZE. STRINGER KL NANDAN REPORTS THAT MR TUTU CALLED FOR STRICTER SANCTIONS AGAINST NIGERIA TO PRESS FOR RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY IN THAT COUNTRY. (HINDI 12/11)

BANGLA STRIKE -- THREE DAY ANTI-GOVERNMENT STRIKE ENDED MONDAY IN BANGLADESH, BUT POLITICAL TENSIONS CONTINUE AHEAD OF PLANNED PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN JANUARY. THE LATEST STRIKE HAS LEFT SCORES OF PEOPLE INJURED AND DOZENS ARRESTED, AS THE OPPOSITION INTENSIFIES ITS CAMPAIGN TO FORCE THE RESIGNATION OF PRIME MINISTER KHALIDA ZIA. THE OPPOSITION CLAIMS FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS CANNOT BE GUARANTEED UNLESS MRS ZIA HANDS OVER POWER TO A NEUTRAL CARETAKER GOVERNMENT. STRINGER ZAHURUL ALAM REPORTS FROM DHAKA. (BANGLA 12/11)

BANGLADESHI EXPATRIATES / VOTING RIGHTS -- BANGLADESHI CITIZENS LIVING OUTSIDE BANGLADESH DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN THEIR ELECTIONS. BUT DR FAKHRUDDIN AHMED OF THE WORLD BANK, JHARNA CHOUDHURY FOUNDER OF BANGLADESH THEATRE OF AMERICA, AND SYED MUHAMMADULLAH, EDITOR OF NEW YORK BANGLA WEEKLY 'PROBASHI' INSIST THAT THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO VOTE IN BANGLADESH ELECTIONS. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER IQBAL BAHAR CHOUDHURY, THEY SAID VOTING IS THEIR BASIC HUMAN RIGHT AND ALSO THEIR BIRTH RIGHT. (BANGLA 12/12)

AMBASSADOR CLARK / SOUTH ASIA -- FORMER US AMBASSADOR TO INDIA WILLIAM CLARK OF THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES SAID THAT THE UNITED STATES WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT DEMOCRACY AND MARKET ECONOMY FLOURISH, IN THE SOUTH ASIA REGION. STAFFER SARKAR KABIRUDDIN REPORTS ON THE COMMENTS OF THE AMBASSADOR AT A SEMINAR IN WASHINGTON. (BANGLA 12/10)

ASIA / WOMEN & FOOD PRODUCTION -- REPORTER T SUSAN YACKEE SPEAKS WITH AGNES QUISUMBING, A RESEARCH FELLOW AT THE INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE IN WASHINGTON, ABOUT HER REPORT ON WOMEN AND FOOD PRODUCTION. SHE SAYS WOMEN OFFER AN UNTAPPED POTENTIAL FOR BOOSTING PRODUCTION IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 12/11)

INSIDE EAST ASIA:

CHINA / FOREIGN TRADE -- CHINA'S EXPORTS HAVE INCREASED GREATLY IN 1995. IN THE FIRST TEN MONTHS OF THE YEAR, TOTAL EXPORTS REACHED $1.07 BILLION. HOWEVER, SOME ANALYSTS BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL BE PROBLEMS AHEAD, AS BEIJING IS CHANGING ITS POLICY ON FOREIGN TRADE. STAFFER HE PING IN HONG KONG INTERVIEWS DR. HUAN GUOCANG, MANAGING DIRECTOR AT BARCLAYS BANK, AND PROF. ZHOU HANMIN, SHANGHAI FOREIGN TRADE UNIV. (MANDARIN 12/12)

TAIWAN / INTERVIEW WITH ZHANG YIMOU -- FAMOUS CHINESE MOVIE DIRECTOR ZHANG YIMOU IS VISITING TAIWAN FOR THE FIRST TIME. STRINGER CHANG YUNG-TAI IN TAIPEI INTERVIEWS ZHANG YIMOU. (MANDARIN 12/11)

TAIWAN / FOREIGN WORKERS -- FOREIGN WORKERS HAVE CAUSED SOME SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN TAIWAN. SOME HAVE SAID THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO COME TO TAIWAN IN THE FIRST PLACE, BUT TAIWAN'S SMALL AND MEDIUM COMPANIES DO NEED THEM TO ALLEVIATE THE LABOR SHORTAGE. STRINGER FAN DAOZHUANG IN TAIPEI INTERVIEWS ZHAN HUOSHENG, DEPUTY DIR OF LABOR COMMITTEE OF TAIWAN, MA KAI, ECONOMY INSTITUTE OF CHINA. (MANDARIN 12/11)

KOREA SCANDAL / KIM -- PRESIDENT KIM YOUNG SAM SAYS THE CORRECTION OF TWISTED HISTORY IS AN HONORABLE REVOLUTION FOR RESTORING THE NATION'S SELF-ESTEEM AND BRIGHT FUTURE, AND THUS, THERE CANNOT BE A COMPROMISE IN ERADICATING LEGACIES OF THE PAST MILITARY DICTATORSHIP. IN HIS FIRST OFFICIAL STATEMENT SINCE HIS TWO PREDECESSORS HAVE BEEN PUT BEHIND THE BAR, KIM SAYS HE IS ENRAGED BY THE LACK OF REMORSE ON THE PART OF FORMER PRESIDENT CHUN DOO HWAN WHO IS SUSPECTED OF LEADING A MILITARY COUP IN 1979 AND BRUTAL SUPPRESSION OF KWANGJU DEMOCRACY DEMONSTRATIONS IN 1980. CORRESPONDENT YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 12/12)

KOREA / MILITARY COUP / FORMER PRESIDENT CHOI -- SOUTH KOREAN AUTHORITIES DECIDED TO SEND A PROSECUTOR TO THE RESIDENCE OF FORMER PRESIDENT CHOI KYU HA FOR QUESTIONING HIM ABOUT HIS ROLE IN THE 1979 MILITARY COUP LED BY THEN-GENERAL CHUN DOO HWAN. CHOI HAS REFUSED TO APPEAR AT THE PROSECUTORS' OFFICE. HE BECAME PRESIDENT AFTER THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT PARK CHUNG HEE IN 1979, BUT WAS TOPPLED BY CHUN DOO HWAN IN 1980. STAFFER YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 12/12)

NORTH KOREA / DEFECTORS -- A NORTH KOREAN BUSINESSMAN BASED IN EUROPE ARRIVED IN SEOUL TUESDAY WITH HIS WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN. THE KOREAN AGENCY FOR NATIONAL SECURITY AND PLANNING SAID THAT MR. CHOI'S FAMILY DECIDED TO DEFECT TO THE SOUTH BECAUSE THEY YEARNED FOR FREEDOM. HIS WIFE WAS A PROFESSIONAL DANCER, WHO VISITED SOUTH KOREA IN 1985 AS A MEMBER OF NORTH KOREAN PERFORMING ARTS EXCHANGE GROUP. STAFFER YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 12/12)

PANCHEN LAMA -- REPORTER TERRY WING TALKS WITH HARRY HARDING, A CHINESE EXPERT AND DEAN OF GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY'S ELLIOT SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, ABOUT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE CHOOSING OF THE NEXT PANCHEN LAMA. HE SAYS THE GOVERNMENT'S CLAIM OF A HISTORICAL PRECEDENCE IN THE CHOOSING OF BUDDHISM'S NUMBER TWO LEADER SHOWS BEIJING'S LINGERING RESPECT FOR THE POWER OF THE DALAI LAMA. IT'S TOO BAD, HE SAYS, THAT BEIJING ISN'T WILLING TO NEGOTIATION WITH A MORE MODERATE POSITION TAKEN LATELY BY THE LEADER OF THE TIBETAN BUDDHISTS. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 12/11)

INSIDE EUROPE:

GRANIC / BOSNIA -- A REPORT ON DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT THAT CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER M GRANIC SUBMITTED TO THE PARLIAMENT DREW SHARP CRITICISM FROM OPPOSITION PARTIES. BUT REPRESENTATIVES OF THE RULING CROATIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION FULLY ENDORSED THE ACCORD. STRINGER STEVICA SUSA REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (SERBIAN 12/11)

MILOSEVIC / BOSNIA -- THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT WAS THE MAIN TOPIC OF TALKS BETWEEN SERBIAN PRESIDENT S MILOSEVIC AND THE CO-CHAIRMAN OF CONFERENCE ON FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, T STOLTENBERG. THE SERBIAN LEADER ALSO MET WITH UN SPECIAL ENVOY K ANAN TO DISCUSS EASTERN SLAVONIA. STRINGER DUSAN MASIC REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (SERBIAN 12/11)

US / SERBIA -- ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE URGED SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO HELP RESOLVE THE ISSUE OF THE TWO CAPTURED FRENCH PILOTS IN BOSNIA. STRINGER JADRANKA KRONJA REPORTS THAT MR HOLBROOKE ALSO DISCUSSED PREPARATIONS FOR THE PEACE AGREEMENT SIGNING IN PARIS. (CROATIAN 12/9)

US / BOSNIA -- ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBOROOKE MET IN SARAJEVO WITH BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC AND PRIME MINISTER HARIS SILAJDZIC. STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTS THAT AFTER THE TALKS MR. HOLBROOKE SAID THE TWO BOSNIAN LEADERS ASSURED HIM ISLAMIC FIGHTERS WILL LEAVE THE COUNTRY WITHIN THIRTY DAYS, AS REQUIRED UNDER THE DAYTON AGREEMENT. (CROATIAN 12/9)

SARAJEVO / IFOR -- PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERS OF THE PEACE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE HELD ITS FIRST NEWS BRIEFING AT THE SARAJEVO AIRPORT. STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTS THAT JOURNALISTS WERE INFORMED ABOUT THE SCHEDULE OF ARRIVING OF THE IFOR TROOPS. (CROATIAN 12/9)

CROATIAN CHURCH / DAYTON AGREEMENT -- A COMMISSION OF THE CROATIAN BISHOP CONFERENCE HAS ISSUED A STATEMENT ON THE DAYTON AGREEMENT. STRINGER ZELJKO MATIC REPORTS THAT THE COMMISSION REPUDIATED THE AGREEMENT, SAYING IT WAS NOT BENEFICIAL TO THE CROATIAN PEOPLE. (CROATIAN 12/9)

HUMAN RIGHTS DAY / CROATIA -- MARKING THE HUMAN RIGHTS DAY, THE CROATIAN HELSINKI COMMISSION HELD A NEWS CONFERENCE IN ZAGREB. PRESIDENT OF THE COMMISSION, IVAN ZVONIMIR CICAK SAID THAT MORE THEN 1500 SERBIAN SOLDIERS IN CROATIAN PRISONS ARE SUBJECTED TO ABUSE. (CROATIAN 12/9)

US / BULGARIA / BUSINESS -- STRINGER P SOFRONIEV REPORTS ON THE VISIT OF AMERICAN-JEWISH BUSINESSMEN TO SOFIA AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM ARTHUR ANDERSEN CONSULTING TO SOFIA TO DISCUSS FINANCING THE BOURGAS-ALEXANDROPOULIS HIGHWAY AND OTHER BLACK SEA PROJECTS. (BULGARIAN 12/11)

LITHUANIA / EU -- LITHUANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER POVILAS GYLYS HAS SUBMITTED FORMAL APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE EUROPEAN UNION TO OFFICIALS IN MADRID. LAST WEEK MR GYLYS PARTICIPATED IN A COMBINED NATO AND 'PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE' MEETING IN BRUSSELS. STAFFER LINAS RIMKUS SPOKE WITH THE LITHUANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ABOUT THE BID TO JOIN THE EU AND NATO. (LITHUANIAN 12/11)

POLAND / ELECTION RESULTS -- ERNEST SKALASKI, A COMMENTATOR WITH THE LARGEST DAILY IN POLAND LOOKS AT THE POLISH SUPREME COURT'S DECISION TO VALIDATE THE ELECTION RESULTS, DESPITE KWASNIEWSKI'S LIES ABOUT HIS EDUCATION. SKALASKI EXPRESSED THE OPINION THAT KWASNIEWSKI'S PRESIDENCY WILL BE HAUNTED BY THE MISTAKES MADE DURING THE CAMPAIGN. INTERVIEW BY STAFFER WOJTEK MINICZ IN WARSAW. (POLISH 12/11)

INSIDE EURASIA:

RUSSIA / ELECTIONS -- STAFFER MACIEJ WIERZYNSKI INTERVIEWS ROMAN SZPORLUK, A HISTORY PROFESSOR AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY, WHO RECENTLY VISITED RUSSIA. IN HIS COMMENTS ON THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS IN RUSSIA, SZPORLUK COMPARED THE CURRENT SITUATION TO THAT OF NOVEMBER 1917. (POLISH 12/11)

BELARUS / ELECTION RUNOFF -- ALEKSANDER MILNIKIEWICZ, THE DEPUTY MAYOR OF GRODNO DISCUSSED LAST SUNDAY'S ELECTIONS IN BELARUS. INTERVIEW BY STAFFER TADEUSZ WALENDOWSKI. (POLISH 12/11)

CLINTON / PRESS CONFERENCE -- STAFFERS BORIS GOLDBERG AND YURI ZORIN DISCUSS PRESIDENT CLINTON'S PRESS CONFERENCE, HELD WITH VISITING ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER SHIMON PERES. PRESIDENT CLINTON ANNOUNCED THAT HE IS SENDING SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER TO THE MIDDLE EAST. (RUSSIAN 12/11)

INSIDE LATIN AMERICA:

ARGENTINA / MENEM -- ZULEMA YOMA, THE ESTRANGED WIFE OF PRESIDENT CARLOS MENEM OF ARGENTINA, DENOUNCED THAT THE CRASH OF AN HELICOPTER IN WHICH THEIR SON CARLOS JR. DIED, WAS NOT ACCIDENTAL BUT CAUSED BY SHOTS AIMED TO THE AIRCRAFT. STRINGER GUSTAVO LEVENE REPORTS FROM BUENOS AIRES. (SPANISH 12/12) 12-Dec-95 4:57 PM EST (2157 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America