Voice of America, 22 August 1995

From: [email protected] (Ioannis Bousnakis)

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] !!! VOA DAILY BOSNIA REPORT !!!

KARADZIC / COUP DENIAL -- BOSNIA'S SERB LEADER, RADOVAN KARADZIC DENIES REPORTS OF A COUP ATTEMPT BY SERB MILITARY LEADERS. THE SERB POLITICAL LEADER HAS WITHDRAWN HIS PLANS TO DISMISS THE ARMY COMMANDER, RATKO MLADIC. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS FROM VIENNA THE ARMY COMMANDER SAYS THE CIVILIAN LEADER HAS LOST THE SUPPORT OF THE SERB PEOPLE AND THE ARMY. (8/22)

BOSNIA / SHELLING -- STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTED ON THE SERBIAN SHELLING OF SARAJEVO AND ON RECENT BOSNIAN ARMY ACTIONS AROUND THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL. HE ALSO REPORTS ON PEACE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN BOSNIAN AND EUROPEAN OFFICIALS. (CROATIAN 8/22)

BOSNIA / US / PEACE SEEKING -- THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS MOVING TO RECONSTITUTE ITS BALKANS PEACEMAKING TEAM FOLLOWING THE DEATHS OF THREE SENIOR OFFICIALS IN A ROAD ACCIDENT NEAR SARAJEVO OVER THE WEEKEND. STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS HOPE TO RESUME SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY IN THE REGION WITHIN A WEEK. CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT. (8/21)

BOSNIA / US DIPLOMATS -- A PLANE CARRYING THE BODIES OF THREE US DIPLOMATS KILLED IN BOSNIA LAST WEEK IS ON ITS WAY BACK TO THE UNITED STATES. CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING REPORTS SURVIVING MEMBERS OF THE US DELEGATION TO BOSNIA ARE ACCOMPANYING THE BODIES, WHICH WERE FLOWN TO GERMANY FROM THE CROATIAN PORT OF SPLIT. (8/21)

US INTEREST / BALKANS -- RICHARD PERLE, FORMER DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, SAYS THE US HAS MORE THEN ONE INTEREST IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. HE BELIEVES PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE TO LIFT THE ARMS EMBARGO ON BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT. INTERVIEW BY STAFFER DZEILANA PECANIN. (CROATIAN 8/21)

BRITAIN / BALKANS -- BRITISH JOURNALIST CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS ANALYZED BRITISH POLICY IN THE BALKANS AND ITS STRATEGIC INTERESTS IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER BOJAN KLIMA. MR HITCHENS MAINTAINS THAT BRITAIN SUPPORTS ETHNIC DIVISION OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA. (CROATIAN 8/22)

BOSNIA / SACIRBEY / US -- STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO ON BOSNIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MUHAMED SACIRBEY'S NEWS CONFERENCE. MR SACIRBEY DISCUSSED THE AMERICAN PEACE INITIATIVE AND SAID THAT NEW PEACE PLAN IS STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION. (CROATIAN 8/21)

CROATIA / KRAJINA / REINTEGRATION -- STAFFER ZDENKO NOVACKI REPORTS FROM KNIN ON GOVERNMENT EFFORTS TO REINTEGRATE RECENTLY LIBERATED AREAS IN KRAJINA REGION. MR. NOVACKI REPORTED ON THE RETURN TO KNIN OF CROATIAN REFUGEES WHO WERE EXPELLED FOUR YEARS AGO. (CROATIAN 8/22)

SERBIA / KRAJINA -- STRINGER JADRANKA KRONJA REPORTS FROM BELGRADE ON THE MEETING OF SERBIAN LEADERSHIP OF KRAJINA REGION. EX-LEADERS OF REBEL SERBS NOW REFUGEES IN BELGRADE TRIED TO ACCOUNT FOR RECENT LOSSES AND ANNOUNCED THAT THEY ARE GOING TO CONTINUE THEIR ACTIVITY FROM VUKOVAR, THE LAST SERB OCCUPIED CITY IN CROATIA. (CROATIAN 8/22)

CROATIA / RUSSIA -- STRINGER ZELJKO MATIC REPORTS ON RUSSIAN SPECIAL ENVOY ALEKSANDAR ZOTOV'S VISIT TO ZAGREB. HE MET WITH CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN WHO ASKED FOR RUSSIA'S HELP IN ENDING THE WAR IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. (CROATIAN 8/21)

TUDJMAN / ZOTOV -- CROATIAN PRESIDENT F TUDJMAN MET WITH RUSSIAN SPECIAL ENVOY A ZOTOV TO DISCUSS THE LATEST US PEACE PLAN FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. MR. ZOTOV DISCUSSED THE SAME SUBJECT IN SEPARATE MEETINGS WITH CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER M GRANIC AND BOSNIAN FOREIGN MINISTER M SACIRBEY. NO DETAILS EMERGED FROM THOSE TALKS. STRINGER S SUSA REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (SERBIAN 8/21)

BRITISH MEDIA / IGMAN ACCIDENT -- ALL BRITISH MEDIA ARE PAYING GREAT ATTENTION TO THE TRAGIC ACCIDENT ON IGMAN ROAD IN WHICH THREE US DIPLOMATS LOST THEIR LIVES. SOME ANALYSTS THINK THAT THE DEATH OF HALF OF US NEGOTIATING TEAM COULD BE INTERPRETED BY US CONGRESS AS A WARNING THAT UNITED STATES SHOULD NOT GET INVOLVED IN A EUROPEAN CONFLICT. STRINGER R SEBEK REPORTS FROM LONDON. (SERBIAN 8/21)

NATO / TUDJMAN -- NATO HAS DENIED CLAIMS BY CROATIAN PRESIDENT F TUDJMAN THAT THE ALLIANCE HAS DRAWN A MAP FOR THE DIVISION OF EUROPE INTO THE SPHERES OF INFLUENCE BETWEEN EAST AND WEST. NATO REPRESENTATIVE IN BRUSSELS EMPHASIZED THAT THE ALLIANCE WANTS SOMETHING TOTALLY OPPOSITE, NAMELY COOPERATION IN ALL OF EUROPE. STRINGER D BLAGOJEVIC REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS. (SERBIAN 8/21)

CROATIA / REFUGEE PROBLEMS -- STRINGER LINDA MILISA REPORTS ON THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN CROATIA IN THE LIGHT OF MASS EXPULSIONS OF BOSNIAN AND SERBIAN CROATS FROM THEIR HOMELANDS. MS MILISA DESCRIBES EUROPEAN EFFORTS TO HELP THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT TO DEAL WITH REFUGEE PROBLEMS. (CROATIAN 8/21)

CROATIA / REINTEGRATION -- STAFFER ZDENKO NOVACKI REPORTS FROM SPLIT, CROATIA, ON GOVERNMENT EFFORTS TO REINTEGRATE TRANSPORTATION IN THE RECENTLY LIBERATED REGIONS OF KRAJINA. (CROATIAN 8/21)

ALBANIA / MACEDONIA -- ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ALFRED SEREQI AND HIS MACEDONIAN COUNTERPART STEVO CRVENKOVSKI ACCUSED BELGRADE OF ATTEMPTING TO MODIFY BORDERS IN THE BALKANS BY FLOODING KOSOVO WITH SERB REFUGEES, WHICH THEY DESCRIBED AS ETHNIC CLEANSING. STRINGER FAIK MUSTAFA REPORTS. (ALBANIA 8/21)

ALBANIAN POLITICIAN / MONTENEGRO -- THE LEADER OF THE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ALBANIA, ZEF BUSHATI, WAS DETAINED FOR FIVE HOURS BY THE MONTENEGRIN POLICE ON 19 AUGUST. BUSHATI RECENTLY HAD VISITED ULCINJ AND PARTICIPATED IN TALKS WITH THE LEADER OF THE MAINLY ETHNIC ALBANIAN DEMOCRATIC LEAGUE OF MONTENEGRO AND THE DEPUTY LEADER OF THE DEMOCRATIC LEAGUE OF KOSOVO FEHMI AGANI. STRINGER ALI SALAJ REPORTS. (ALBANIAN 8/21)

BOSNIA / TURKEY -- A GROUP OF 76 TURKISH WRITERS, ARTISTS, ACADEMICIANS, AND POLITICIANS ARE TRAVELLING IN BOSNIA AND CROATIA TO DRAW INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION TO WHAT THEY CALL THE HUMAN TRAGEDY UNFOLDING IN THE REGION. STAFFER AYDIN UTKU INTERVIEWS DR MUSTAFA ?CALIK, A NEWS MAGAZINE EDITOR, WHO IS ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS OF THE 'HUMANITY IN BOSNIA' MISSION. CALIK SAYS THEIR INITIATIVE IS NOT RELIGIOUS IN NATURE AND IS SUPPORTED BY MANY EUROPEAN INTELLECTUALS. (TURKISH 8/22) 22-Aug-95 5:27 PM EDT (2127 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] !!! VOA DIGEST - 8/22/95 !!!

KARADZIC / COUP DENIAL -- BOSNIA'S SERB LEADER, RADOVAN KARADZIC DENIES REPORTS OF A COUP ATTEMPT BY SERB MILITARY LEADERS. THE SERB POLITICAL LEADER HAS WITHDRAWN HIS PLANS TO DISMISS THE ARMY COMMANDER, RATKO MLADIC. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS FROM VIENNA THE ARMY COMMANDER SAYS THE CIVILIAN LEADER HAS LOST THE SUPPORT OF THE SERB PEOPLE AND THE ARMY. (8/22)

BOSNIA / US / PEACE SEEKING -- THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS MOVING TO RECONSTITUTE ITS BALKANS PEACEMAKING TEAM FOLLOWING THE DEATHS OF THREE SENIOR OFFICIALS IN A ROAD ACCIDENT NEAR SARAJEVO OVER THE WEEKEND. STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS HOPE TO RESUME SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY IN THE REGION WITHIN A WEEK. CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT. (8/21)

BOSNIA / US DIPLOMATS -- A PLANE CARRYING THE BODIES OF THREE US DIPLOMATS KILLED IN BOSNIA LAST WEEK IS ON ITS WAY BACK TO THE UNITED STATES. CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING REPORTS SURVIVING MEMBERS OF THE US DELEGATION TO BOSNIA ARE ACCOMPANYING THE BODIES, WHICH WERE FLOWN TO GERMANY FROM THE CROATIAN PORT OF SPLIT. (8/21)

ISRAEL / BOMB / AFTERMATH -- ISRAEL-PLO TALKS WILL CONTINUE ALTHOUGH TERRORISTS BOMB A BUS IN JERUSALEM KILLING FIVE AND WOUNDING 100. JERUSALEM STRINGER PATRICIA GOLAN REPORTS THE BOMBINGS ARE INTENDED TO ERODE PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR A PEACE ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION. (8/22)

ISRAEL / BOMB -- ANOTHER MASSIVE BOMB HAS RIPPED THROUGH A PASSENGER BUS IN JERUSALEM, KILLING AT LEAST SIX PEOPLE AND INJURING NINETY OTHERS. ISRAEL RADIO SAYS A CALLER FROM THE MILITANT ISLAMIC GROUP, HAMAS, CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ATTACK. STRINGER PATRICIA GOLAN REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM. (8/21)

US / ISRAELI BOMB -- THE UNITED STATES HAS CONDEMNED THE SUICIDE BOMBING OF AN ISRAELI COMMUTER BUS IN JERUSALEM. SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER TELEPHONED ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER YITZHAK RABIN TO EXPRESS CONDOLENCES AND OFFER CONTINUED US SUPPORT FOR THE REGIONAL PEACE PROCESS. CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT. (8/21)

INDIA / TRAIN WRECK -- UNCLAIMED BODIES ARE BEING CREMATED AFTER INDIA'S DEADLIEST TRAIN WRECK. TWO COLLIDING TRAINS SOUTHEAST OF NEW DELHI KILLED AN ESTIMATED 350 PEOPLE AND ABOUT 200 UNIDENTIFIED BODIES ARE BEING BURNED. CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE REPORTS FEARS OF A HEALTH HAZARD COMPELLED LOCAL OFFICIALS TO ACT QUICKLY ON THE UNCLAIMED BODIES. (8/22)

INDIA / TRAIN WRECK -- THE PRESS TRUST OF INDIA SAYS AT LEAST 350 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN A COLLISION BETWEEN TWO PASSENGER TRAINS IN NORTHERN INDIA, AND HUNDREDS MORE ARE INJURED. CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE REPORTS. (8/21)

IRAQI / DEFECTOR -- A TOP RANKING IRAQI DEFECTOR, GENERAL HUSSEIN KAMEL HASSAN, HAS TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEWS AGENCY THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN HAD PLANS TO INVADE KUWAIT AND SAUDI ARABIA THIS MONTH. THE NEWS COINCIDES WITH AN INCREASED US MILITARY PRESENCE IN THE REGION. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS. (8/21)

CHINA / VISAS -- CHINA DENIES IT IS REFUSING VISAS TO GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE ON WOMEN IN BEIJING. A CHINESE SPOKESMAN SAYS ONLY A FEW VISAS HAVE BEEN REJECTED AND PROCESSING IS SLOW BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY LOAD OF REQUESTS. CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER REPORTS. (8/22)

CHINA / DENG BIRTHDAY -- DENG XIAOPING CELEBRATES HIS 91ST BIRTHDAY TUESDAY. THE OCCASION HAS DRAWN LITTLE PUBLIC ATTENTION. CORRESPONDENT STEPHANIE HO REPORTS FROM BEIJING THAT CHINESE OFFICIALS AND MEDIA ARE CONSPICUOUSLY QUIET ABOUT THE PASSING BIRTHDAY. (8/22)

ASIA / CHINA / NUKE -- THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND HAVE LODGED OFFICIAL PROTESTS AGAINST BEIJING'S LATEST NUCLEAR TEST. CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON SAYS THE PROTESTS ARE THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF ACTIONS TAKEN BY EAST ASIAN NATIONS TO STOP CHINESE AND FRENCH NUCLEAR TESTING PROGRAMS IN THE REGION. (8/21)

ASIA / NUCLEAR -- PHILIPPINE AND AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS HAVE CONDEMNED FRANCE AND CHINA FOR CONTINUING THEIR NUCLEAR TEST PROGRAMS. STRINGER LAURENCE WILSON REPORTS FROM CANBERRA THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA ISSUED A JOINT CONDEMNATION AT THE END OF THEIR BILATERAL MEETING. (8/22)

JAPAN / SOUTHEAST ASIA -- JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER YOHEI KONO STARTS A REGIONAL TOUR IN THAILAND. CORRESPONDENT DAN ROBINSON REPORTS FROM BANGKOK ECONOMICS APPEARED TO BE THE LEADING ISSUE ON THE AGENDA. (8/22)

NEW ZEALAND / US -- THE US PACIFIC FLEET COMMANDER IN CHIEF SAYS NEW ZEALAND'S ANTI-NUCLEAR POLICY EXCLUDE THAT COUNTRY FROM ENGAGING IN JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES WITH THE UNITED STATES. STRINGER JAMES WEIR IN WELLINGTON REPORTS ADMIRAL RICHARD MACKE SAYS THE COUNTRIES HAVE A GOOD DEFENSE RELATIONSHIP BUT THERE REMAINS WHAT HE CALLS "UNFINISHED BUSINESS." (8/22)

FRANCE / NUCLEAR -- FRANCE CALLS FOR EQUAL TREATMENT. THE FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTRY URGES AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND TO TAKE NO HARDER A LINE OF CRITICISM OF FRENCH NUCLEAR TESTING THAN IT TAKES AGAINST OTHER COUNTRIES. THE COMMUNIQUE DID NOT NAME CHINA, ALTHOUGH CHINA CARRIED OUT AN UNDERGROUND TEST LAST WEEK WHILE FRANCE PLANS A PACIFIC OCEAN TEST SOON. STRINGER JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS. (8/22)

CHINA / TIBET -- CHINA CONTINUES TO CRITICIZE TIBET'S DALAI LAMA FOR WHAT IT SAYS ARE HIS ATTEMPTS TO SPLIT THE COUNTRY BY BACKING TIBETAN INDEPENDENCE. CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER REPORTS FROM BEIJING A CHINESE OFFICIAL WHO DEALS WITH TIBETAN ISSUES ALSO REJECTED THE DALAI LAMA'S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE REINCARNATION OF THE SECOND RANKING LAMA, THE PANCHEN LAMA, HAD BEEN FOUND. (8/21)

RUSSIA / CHECHNYA -- RUSSIAN OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL CONTINUE PEACE EFFORTS IN CHECHNYA BUT THERE WAS A CLASH BETWEEN REBELS AND RUSSIAN FORCES IN A TOWN NEAR GROZNY. CORRESPONDENT ELIZABETH ARROTT REPORTS FROM MOSCOW REBELS WERE SAID TO HAVE SEIZED A POLICE STATION IN ARGUN AND RUSSIAN TROOPS RESPONDED TO CHASE THEM OUT. (8/22)

RUSSIA / CHECHNYA -- CHECHEN REBELS HAVE SEIZED A POLICE STATION IN A CHECHEN VILLAGE, ARGUN. CORRESPONDENT ELIZABETH ARROTT IN MOSCOW REPORTS A TENSE STANDOFF BETWEEN THE REBELS AND RUSSIAN FORCES IS NOW UNDERWAY. (8/21)

KOREA / FIRE -- POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING A FIRE WHICH KILLED 38 WOMEN AT A TRAINING CENTER NEAR SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA MONDAY. SHIN NA REPORTS AUTHORITIES BELIEVE THE FIRE WAS A RESULT OF ARSON. (8/21)

ZAIRE / HUMAN RIGHTS -- A US HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION HAS CONDEMNED ZAIRE'S FORCIBLE REPATRIATION OF THOUSANDS OF RWANDAN REFUGEES. FROM NEW YORK CORRESPONDENT LAURI NEFF REPORTS. (8/21)

UN / LIBERIA -- THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS PRAISED THE NEW PEACE PLAN BETWEEN LIBERIA'S WARRING FACTIONS. CORRESPONDENT LAURI NEFF REPORTS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS. (8/21)

PERU / CORRUPTION -- THE INTERNATIONAL POLICE ORGANIZATION INTERPOL HAS ISSUED AN ARREST ORDER FOR FORMER PERUVIAN PRESIDENT ALAN GARCIA, WHO IS WANTED IN HIS COUNTRY FOR TRIAL ON CORRUPTION CHARGES. MR. GARCIA, WHO FLED PERU THREE YEARS AGO, HAS BEEN LIVING IN COLOMBIA, WHICH GRANTED HIM POLITICAL ASYLUM, AND FRANCE. DETAILS OF THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT FROM CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK. (8/21)

MEXICO / SCANDAL -- MEXICO'S ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE SAYS IT HAS FOUND EVIDENCE THAT THE COUNTRY'S RULING PARTY VIOLATED CAMPAIGN FINANCING LAWS IN A CONTROVERSIAL GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION LAST NOVEMBER. THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME ON THE HEELS OF A WEEKEND SHAKEUP IN THE LEADERSHIP OF THE RULING INSTITUTIONAL REVOLUTIONARY PARTY, OR PRI. CORRESPONDENT BILL RODGERS REPORTS. (8/21)

HAITIANS / BAHAMAS SMUGGLING -- SIX HAITIANS DIED DURING A SMUGGLING OPERATION IN THE BAHAMAS ON SUNDAY. CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE HAS DETAILS. (8/21)

NATO / EXPANSION -- NATO ALLIANCE MEMBERS ARE NEAR AGREEMENT FOR RULES ABOUT ADMITTING NEW MEMBERS. BUT STRINGER JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS THERE IS NO AGREEMENT ABOUT WHEN NEW MEMBERS MIGHT BE TAKEN IN. (8/22)

HONG KONG / WAR ANNIVERSARY -- A PARADE IN HONG KONG MARKED THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATION OF THE BRITISH COLONY FROM JAPANESE OCCUPATION TUESDAY. CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS THE TERRITORY PLANS TWO WEEKS OF OBSERVANCES. (8/22)

JAPAN / BUSINESS -- THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT DRAFTS PLANS TO HELP BANKS OVERCOME BAD LOANS. STRINGER JACK RUSSELL REPORTS THE GOVERNMENT PROMISES AN ANNOUNCEMENT NEXT MONTH. (8/22)

GEORGIA / PLANE CRASH -- TWO PEOPLE KILLED IN THE CRASH OF A COMMUTER PLANE IN THE SOUTHERN STATE OF GEORGIA. CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE REPORTS 26 PASSENGERS AND THREE CREW MEMBERS WERE ON BOARD THE ATLANTIC SOUTHEAST AIRLINES FLIGHT WHEN IT CRASHED ON MONDAY. (8/21)

SWEATSHOP PLEA -- EIGHT THAI NATIONALS HAVE PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO FEDERAL CHARGES OF IMMIGRANT SMUGGLING AND OPERATING AN ILLEGAL 'SWEATSHOP' GARMENT FACTORY NEAR LOS ANGELES. CORRESPONDENT ALAN SILVERMAN REPORTS ON THE DEFENDANTS' BRIEF COURT APPEARANCE. (8/21)

NY TERROR TRIAL -- IN THE CONTINUING TERROR CONSPIRACY TRIAL IN NEW YORK OF EGYPTIAN SHEIK OMAR ABDEL RAHMAN AND NINE OF HIS FOLLOWERS, TESTIMONY FOCUSED ON ONE OF THE DEFENDANTS WHOM PROSECUTORS SAY PLOTTED TO BOMB THE UNITED NATIONS AND OTHER NEW YORK CITY LANDMARKS. CORRESPONDENT CHRIS SIMKINS REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (8/21)

OJ SIMPSON / MONDAY -- IN THE LOS ANGELES MURDER TRIAL OF OJ SIMPSON, A DEFENSE EXPERT SAID POLICE TECHNICIANS COULD HAVE CONTAMINATED OR EVEN DESTROYED CRITICAL EVIDENCE AGAINST THE FORMER SPORTS HERO ACCUSED OF MURDERING HIS EX-WIFE AND HER FRIEND IN JUNE 1994. CORRESPONDENT ALAN SILVERMAN REPORTS. (8/21)

INSIDE USA:

POLITICAL INDIFFERENCE / FLORIDA -- POLITICAL ANALYSTS IN FLORIDA SAY THAT ABOUT A THIRD OF NEW VOTERS IN THE STATE CHOSE NOT TO REGISTER WITH THE DEMOCRAT OR THE REPUBLICAN PARTIES. CORRESPONDENT JORGE WEHBY REPORTS FROM MIAMI. (SPANISH 8/22)

LA / WAR ANNIVERSARY -- THE CHINESE COMMUNITY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA OBSSERVED THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SINO-JAPANESE WAR. INTERVIEW WITH LIN, YINGYING COORDINATOR FOR THE LOS ANGELES EXHIBITION OF THE FORGOTTEN HOLOCAUST; LIU KANRU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TELEVISION DOCUMENTARY SERIES 'AN INCH OF BLOOD FOR AN INCH OF TERRITORY.' (MANDARIN 8/22)

IRANIAN-AMERICAN / UZBEK -- STRINGER MOHAMMAD RAZAVI INTERVIEWED FIVE IRANIAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS WHO JUST COMPLETED A UCLA SUMMER COURSE IN THE UZBEK LANGUAGE. THEY TALKED ABOUT WHY THEY DECIDED TO STUDY UZBEK. (FARSI 8/21)

IRANIAN COMPOSER -- FARSI STAFFER HESHMAT MOBASHER PREPARED A MEMORIAL PROGRAM FOR AKBAR MOHSENI IN SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA. MOHSENI, CONSIDERED THE DEAN OF IRANIAN COMPOSERS, HAD BEEN ACTIVE FOR MORE THAN SIXTY YEARS. THE CORE OF THE PROGRAM IS COMPOSED OF SELECTIONS FROM AN INTERVIEW WITH MOHSENI ABOUT HIS LIFE AND ABOUT IRANIAN MUSIC. (FARSI 8/22)

INSIDE AFRICA:

KENYA / LEAKEY INVESTIGATION -- THE KENYAN RULING PARTY KANU HAS CALLED FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO RICHARD LEAKEY'S CONDUCT AS DIRECTOR OF KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICES. THE RULING PARTY HAS ACCUSED MR. LEAKEY OF EMBEZZLING FUNDS TO HELP WHITE SETTLER FARMERS IN KENYA. HOWEVER THE WORLD BANK WHICH GAVE MR. LEAKEY FUNDS TO RUN THE KWS, SAYS THE FUNDING AND USE OF THE FUNDS WERE CLOSELY MONITORED AND HAS NO DOUBTS THAT THEY WERE USED PROPERLY. SWAHILI REPORTER M G JOEL REPORTS FROM NAIROBI. (SWAHILI 8/21)

ZIMBABWE / DROUGHT -- STAFFER AIKA ELINEWINGA AND STRINGER ACADOGA CHILEDI IN HARARE DISCUSSED THE SEVERE DROUGHT IN ZIMBABWE. THE ZIMBABWE GOVERNMENT SAYS IT WILL SPEND 50 MILLION DOLLARS TO PURCHASE FOOD OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY THIS YEAR. (SWAHILI 8/21)

ZAIRE / REFUGEES -- THE GOVERNMENT OF ZAIRE HAS BEGUN THE FORCED REPATRIATION OF REFUGEES TO RWANDA. REPORTER WILLIAM EAGLE SPOKE WITH A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BURUNDIAN HUTU, JEROME NDIJO OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACY IN UVIRA, ZAIRE, AND FERNANDO DEL MUNDO OF THE UNHCR IN GENEVA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 8/21)

ZAIRE / REFUGEES -- ZAIREAN AUTHORITIES ARE FORCIBLY REMOVING RWANDAN REFUGEES FROM CAMPS IN EASTERN ZAIRE AND TRANSPORTING THEM TO THE BORDER WITH RWANDA DESPITE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS. STAFFER IDRISSA FALL INTERVIEWED CHRISTOPHE VIZERE, ICRC OFFICIAL IN CHARGE OF THE RWANDA/BURUNDI REGION. (FRENCH 8/21)

ZAIRE / REFUGEES / REASONS -- FRENCH TO AFRICA INTERN PIERRE MVEMBA DIZOLELE ASKED MUTIRI WA BASHARA, MISSION CHIEF FOR THE ZAIREAN PRIME MINISTER FOR HIS COMMENTS ON THE REPATRIATION OF RWANDAN REFUGEES. MR. MUTIRI SPOKE OF THE REASONS THAT PROMPTED HIS GOVERNMENT TO COME TO THIS DECISION, INCLUDING THE LIFTING OF THE RWANDAN ARMS EMBARGO. (FRENCH 8/21)

RWANDA / UN EMBARGO -- A HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST SAYS THE LIFTING OF THE UN ARMS EMBARGO AGAINST RWANDA IS A WAY TO FURTHER DESTABILIZE THE REGION. REPORTER ETIENNE KAREKEZI SPOKE WITH MAKAU WA MUTUA, DIRECTOR OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAM AT HARVARD LAW SCHOOL IN BOSTON. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 8/18)

RWANDA / REFUGEES / GOVERNMENT REACT -- ZAIRE HAS BEGUN ROUNDING UP RWANDAN REFUGEES AND FORCIBLY SENDING THEM HOME. EMMANUAL GASSANA IS AN ADVISOR TO RWANDAN PRESIDENT PASTEUR BIZIMUNGU. HE TELLS REPORTER CATHERINE MADDUX HOW THE GOVERNMENT IS DEALING WITH THE SITUATION. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 8/21)

RWANDA / FRANCE / ARMS -- ACCORDING TO AN INTERVIEW GIVEN BY BELGIAN COLONEL LUC MARCHAL TO THE BBC AND TO THE BELGIAN DAILY LIBRE BELGIQUE, FRANCE ALLEGEDLY DELIVERED FIVE TONS OF AMMUNITIONS TO THE KIGALI GOVERNMENT THREE DAYS AFTER THE DEATH OF THE RWANDAN AND BURUNDIAN PRESIDENTS IN 1994. STAFFER JEAN-CLAUDE ANDRE INTERVIEWED YVES DUTRIO, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE FRENCH FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTRY WHO DENIED ANY SUCH DELIVERY EVER TOOK PLACE. STAFFER ANDRE ALSO INTERVIEWED JEAN-PAUL DUCHATEAU, THE EDITOR OF LIBRE BELGIQUE, THE NEWSPAPER THAT CARRIED COLONEL MARCHAL'S INTERVIEW. (FRENCH 8/21)

NIGERIA / POLITICS -- DESPITE UNCERTAINTY THAT THE MILITARY REGIME IN NIGERIA MAY NOT ANNOUNCE ITS PLANS FOR A TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY ON OCTOBER 1 AS PROMISED BY GENERAL SANI ABACHA, CORRESPONDENT SANI ABDULLAHI TSAFE REPORTS NIGERIANS CONTINUE TO FORM POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS. THIS TIME, AN ORGANIZATION FORMED ON REGIONAL LINES WAS LAUNCHED IN JOS PLATEAU STATE BY ASSOCIATES OF FORMER PRESIDENT SHEHU SHAGARI. (HAUSA 8/21)

ETHIOPIA / POWER TRANSFER -- THE PRESIDENT OF THE TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT OF ETHIOPIA, MELES ZENAWI, HAS TEMPORARILY HANDED OVER POWER TO THE SPEAKER OF THE COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES. REPORTER LAEKE-MARIAM DEMESSI HAS DETAILS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 8/21)

UGANDA / ELECTIONS -- IN UGANDA, STRINGER MIKE ARERENG TRAVELLED TO KAKUTO, A TOWN ONE KILOMETER FROM THE TANZANIAN BORDER AND SPOKE TO VILLAGERS ABOUT THE UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTIONS IN UGANDA. THE VILLAGERS EXPRESSED SATISFACTION WITH THE RULING NRM PARTY. (SWAHILI 8/21)

GHANA / STUDENTS DEMONSTRATE -- GHANAIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS HAVE BEGUN A SERIES OF DEMONSTRATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THEIR TEACHERS' DEMANDS FOR HIGHER SALARIES. REPORTER KOFI OPARE-ADDO HAS DETAILS FROM THE GHANAIAN CAPITAL, ACCRA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 8/21)

SAO TOME / COUP -- COUP LEADERS HAVE RESTORED SAO TOME'S CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY AFTER A WEEK IN POWER. REPORTER LUISA PIETTE DISCUSSES THE OUTCOME OF THE ANGOLAN-MEDIATED TALKS WITH MINISTER OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS, RAFAEL BRANCO. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 8/22)

SAO TOME / COUP -- COUP LEADERS IN SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE APPEAR NERVOUS ABOUT A POSSIBLE FOREIGN MILITARY INTERVENTION IN AN EFFORT TO RESTORE DEMOCRACY. REPORTER LUISA PIETTE INTERVIEWED A COUP LEADER, LIEUTENANT FERNANDO SOUSA PONTE, WHO WARNED AGAINST THE ACTION. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 8/21)

ZAMBIA / INTER-PARTY DEFECTIONS -- A NUMBER OF ZAMBIAN POLITICIANS ARE SWITCHING POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION. REPORTER KELLYS KAUNDA HAS DETAILS FROM LUSAKA, ZAMBIA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 8/21)

NIGER / BEIJING WOMEN'S CONFERENCE -- HAUSA STRINGER LAWAL BOUCAR INTERVIEWED MADAM CHRISTIANNE AMUSU OF NIGER'S DIRECTORATE FOR WOMEN'S AFFAIRS, WHO SAYS CHINA HAS NOW AGREED TO ISSUE VISAS TO NIGER'S DELEGATION TO THE UN WOMEN'S CONFERENCE IN BEIJING. CHINA BROKE DIPLOMATIC RELATION WITH NIGER BECAUSE IT RECOGNIZED TAIWAN. (HAUSA 8/21)

SAF / POST-APARTHEID -- WASHINGTON, DC WRITER AND FILMMAKER KARSONYA WISE HAS JUST RETURNED HOME FROM SOUTH AFRICA AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS. THE LEADER OF THE OPERATION CROSSROADS AFRICA GROUP TELLS REPORTER JOE DECAPUA ABOUT THE MANY PROBLEMS FACING POST-APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA, INCLUDING POVERTY, RACISM AND LACK OF HOUSING AND EDUCATION. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 8/21)

GHANA / UNDER 17 FOOTBALL -- GHANA'S UNDER-17 TEAM, THE BLACK STARLETS BEAT BRAZIL 3-1 TO WIN THE WORLD UNDER-17 FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT IN GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR. REPORTER RICHARD KOTEY TALKED TO THE GHANAIAN HEAD COACH, SAM ARDAY. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 8/21)

GHANA / WORLD YOUTH CUP -- GHANAIANS DANCED, SANG AND OFFERED THANKS IN MOSQUES AND CHURCHES FOR THE SUCCESS OF THEIR COUNTRY IN THE JUST CONCLUDED JVC WORLD U-17 YOUTH TOURNAMENT WHICH THE BLACK STARLETS WON 3-2 AGAINST BRAZIL. HAUSA STRINGER ABDULMALIK DAN BIRNI REPORTS. (HAUSA 8/22)

NIGER / SUSPENDED / FINED -- FIFA HAS SUSPENDED NIGER FOR DELAYING THE INSTALLMENT OF A NEW SOCCER FEDERATION. AFRICAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION, CAF, ALSO FINED NIGER $5,000 FOR PULLING OUT OF THE ON-GOING QUALIFYING MATCHES FOR THE UPCOMING AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS. MEANWHILE, ELECTIONS ARE SCHEDULED TO BE HELD SOON FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF THE COUNTRY'S NATIONAL FOOTBALL FEDERATION. HAUSA STRINGER LAWAL BOUCAR INTERVIEWS SOME OF THE CANDIDATES. (HAUSA 8/22)

INSIDE MIDEAST:

IRAQ / US -- IRAQ HAS ACCUSED THE US OF ATTEMPTING TO INCREASE TENSION IN THE GULF AREA AND UNDERMINE ITS RELATIONS WITH JORDAN. CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 8/21)

JORDAN / IRAQ -- A FORMER IRAQI ARMY OFFICER WHO HAD DEFECTED TO JORDAN PREDICTS THAT A POPULAR REVOLUTION IN IRAQ IS NEAR. CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS. (ARABIC 8/21)

IRAQ / DEFECTORS -- BAQER AL-HAKEEM, PRESIDENT OF ISLAMIC REVOLUTION COUNCIL IN IRAQ WAS INTERVIEWED BY BADIA RIFAI ON POSSIBLE CONTACTS WITH IRAQI DEFECTORS AND SITUATION IN IRAQ. (ARABIC 8/21)

UN ENVOY/ JORDAN -- ROLF EKEUS, HEAD OF UN COMMISSION ON IRAQ ARRIVED IN AMMAN FOR TALKS WITH OFFICIALS IN JORDAN AND IRAQI GENERAL HUSSEIN KAMEL HASSAN. STAFFER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 8/21)

US / KUWAIT / IRAQ -- SHEIKH AHMED HMOUD AL-SABAH, KUWAIT'S MINISTER OF DEFENSE, IS INTERVIEWED BY STAFFER ZEINAB ABDELRAHMAN ON US-KUWAITI MANEUVERS AND IRAQ'S REPORTED TROOP MOVEMENTS. (ARABIC 8/21)

KUWAIT / US -- ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE, ROBERT PELLETREAU CONFERRED WITH THE EMIR OF KUWAIT. STAFFER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 8/21)

ALGERIA / ELECTIONS / VIOLENCE -- ALGERIAN OPPOSITION PARTIES AND THE ISLAMIC SALVATION FRONT (FIS) HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR DISAGREEMENT WITH THE DECISION OF ALGERIAN PRESIDENT LIAMINE ZEROUAL TO HOLD PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN MID-NOVEMBER. STAFFER MAHAMAT AHMAT ADAMOU INTERVIEWED ALGERIAN JOURNALIST SELIMA TELCANI WHO SPOKE OF THE KILLING OF YET ANOTHER JOURNALIST IN ALGIERS. (FRENCH 8/21)

ISRAEL / BOMB / REACT -- STRINGER DOMINIQUE NOGANESS REPORTS FROM GAZA ON THE REACTIONS TO THE BOMBING OF A BUS IN JERUSALEM THAT LEFT AT LEAST FIVE PEOPLE DEAD AND 100 INJURED. THE BLAST WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A SUICIDE BOMBER; THE MILITANT ISLAMIC GROUP HAMAS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY. (FRENCH 8/21)

TURKEY / SAUDI EXECUTIONS -- NEVZAT YALCINTAS, SPECIAL ENVOY OF TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER, RETURNS FROM SAUDI ARABIA WHERE HE PLEADED WITH OFFICIALS FOR CLEMENCY FOR TURKISH CITIZENS ON TRIAL FOR DRUG SMUGGLING CHARGES. THE RECENT EXECUTIONS OF FOUR TURKS DREW SHARP REACTIONS IN TURKEY. INTERVIEWED BY TURKISH STAFFER HAKKI OCAL, PROF. YALCINTAS SAYS THE SAUDI AUTHORITIES WILL ACCEPT TURKEY'S LEGAL HELP IN DEFENDING INDIVIDUAL TURKS ACCUSED OF SMUGGLING STIMULANT DRUGS INTO SAUDI ARABIA. (TURKISH 8/21)

HAMAS / SUICIDE BOMB -- RIGHT WING ISRAELI PARTIES ORGANIZED DEMONSTRATION IN ALL OVER ISRAEL IN PROTEST OVER THE THE SUICIDE BOMB EXPLOSION IN AN ISRAELI BUS. STRINGER KHALIL ASSALI REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM. (ARABIC 8/21)

EGYPT / ISRAEL / WAR CRIMES -- REACTION CONTINUES ON THE POPULAR AND OFFICIAL LEVELS IN EGYPT TO THE NEWS OF KILLING EGYPTIAN PRISONERS OF WAR BY ISRAELI TROOPS IN 1956 AND 1967 WARS. STAFFER THABET BARDICY REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 8/21)

EGYPTIAN POWS / ISRAEL -- GENERAL MOHAMED FAWZI, FORMER EGYPTIAN MINISTER OF DEFENSE WAS INTERVIEWED BY CORRESPONDENT IBRAHIM ABDIN ON THE KILLING OF EGYPTIAN POWS IN 1956 AND 1967 WARS. (ARABIC 8/21)

EGYPT / OIL / NATURAL GAS -- EGYPT IS IMPLEMENTING NEW PROJECTS IN ITS OIL INDUSTRY. STAFFER THABET BARDICY REPORTS. (ARABIC 8/21)

EGYPT / ECONOMY -- EGYPTIAN PRIME MINISTER ATEF SIDKY,SAYS HIS COUNTRY IS IMPLEMENTING A PROGRAM OF ECONOMIC REFORM. STAFFER THABET BARDICY REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 8/21)

ALGERIAN JOURNALIST / ASSASSINATION -- AN ALGERIAN JOURNALIST WHO WAS SHOT BY UNKNOWN GUNMEN DIED IN THE HOSPITAL MONDAY. STRINGER HAKIM OULD KHALED

TUNISIA / LONG TERM DEVELOPMENT -- A NATIONAL REFERENDUM IS UNDER WAY IN TUNIS TO FORMULATE A NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR DEVELOPMENT FOR THE NEXT THIRTY YEARS. STRINGER RACHID MABROUK REPORTS FROM TUNIS. (ARABIC 8/21)

ALGERIA / HUMAN RIGHTS -- ERICK GOLDSTEIN, CHIEF OF MIDEAST-NORTH AFRICA RESEARCH DIVISION, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH, WAS INTERVIEWED BY STAFFER ZEINAB ABDELRAHMAN ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN ALGERIA. (ARABIC 8/21)

OMAN / OIL -- OMAN CONTINUES ITS STEADY EFFORTS TO DEVELOP ITS OIL INDUSTRY BY ENCOURAGING FOREIGN INVESTMENTS TO INCREASE ITS OIL PRODUCTION. CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS. (ARABIC 8/21)

JAPANESE PEACE SHIP / CASABLANCA PORT -- THE JAPANESE 'PEACE BOAT' LAID ANCHOR AT THE MOROCCAN PORT CASABLANCA, AS APART OF A TOUR CALLING FOR PEACE AND THE ELIMINATION OF WARS AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS. (ARABIC 8/21)

KURDS / IRAN -- STAFFER BEKR REBWAR INTERVIEWED KENNETH TIMMERMAN, MIDEAST EXPERT AND EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL 'IRAN BRIEF.' TIMMERMAN SAID THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT'S HARSH TREATMENT OF THE KURDS WILL BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. IRANIAN KURDS HAVE NEVER ASKED FOR INDEPENDENCE, ONLY FOR FEDERATION. (KURDISH 8/19)

IRAN / KURDISH OPPOSITION -- STAFFER ALI B FARHOODI INTERVIEWED ABDULLAH HASSANZADEH, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE KURDISH DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF IRAN FROM HIS BASE IN NORTHERN IRAQ. THE KURDISH LEADER TALKS ABOUT HIS PARTY'S PROGRAM, RELATIONS WITH OTHER OPPOSITION GROUPS, AND THE CURRENT SITUATION IN IRANIAN KURDISTAN. (FARSI 8/22)

KURDS / IRAQ -- STAFFER BEKR REBRAWR TALKED WITH SHEIKH IZZADIN HUSSEINI, A FORMER IRANIAN RELIGIOUS LEADER, ABOUT THE CURRENT SITUATION OF THE KURDS. HUSSEINI THANKED THE UNITED STATES FOR GETTING INVOLVED IN KURDISH ISSUES. HE SAID NOW IS THE TIME FOR THE FEUDING PARTIES IN NORTHERN IRAQ TO SIT DOWN TOGETHER AND CREATE A STABLE PEACE IN NORTHERN IRAQ. (KURDISH 8/20)

KURDISH PAPER / TURKEY -- STAFFER KHALAF ZEBARI REPORTED ON A LETTER SENT TO TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER FROM HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH-HELSINKI. THE LETTER SAID THAT CLOSING THE PRO-KURDISH PAPER 'YENI POLITIKA' VIOLATES TURKEY'S OBLIGATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 10 OF THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS; THE TURKISH 1991 ANTI-TERROR LAW IS ALSO A VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 10, SAYS THE HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH. (KURDISH 8/22)

AFGHAN / PAKISTAN -- THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT HAS EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER PAKISTANI FOREIGN MINISTER SARDAR ASSEF AHMAD ALI'S RECENT STATEMENT THAT PAKISTAN WILL SEND A 16-MEMBER TECHNICAL DELEGATION TO MAZAR-I-SHARIF TO HELP GENERAL ABDUL RASHID DOSTUM IN GAS, POWER, AND COMMUNICATIONS PROJECTS. PASHTO STRINGER EKRAM SHINWARAI REPORTS THAT THE AFGHAN EMBASSY IN ISLAMABAD HAS SENT A DIPLOMATIC NOTE TO THE FOREIGN MINISTRY OF PAKISTAN. (PASHTO, DARI 8/21)

AFGHAN / PEACE -- THE PAKISTANI AMBASSADOR TO AFGHANISTAN, QAZI HUMAYUN, SAYS PAKISTAN WOULD LIKE TO SEE PEACE AND STABILITY COME TO AFGHANISTAN SO THAT ITS BORDERS WITH AFGHANISTAN COULD BECOME SAFE AND SECURE. PASHTO STRINGER EKRAM SHINWARAI REPORTS THAT IN AN INTERVIEW WITH PAKISTAN TV, QAZI HUMAYUN SAID PAKISTAN IS INTERESTED IN THE RECONSTRUCTION OF AFGHANISTAN AND IN MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR AFGHAN REFUGEES TO RETURN HOME. (PASHTO, DARI 8/21)

AFGHAN / FIGHTING -- SEVERE FIGHTING ERRUPTED IN THE JAJI AREA OF PAKTIA PROVINCE BETWEEN THE FORCES OF GUBUDDIN HEKMATYAR AND PRESIDENT RABBANI'S ALLY ABDUL RAB RASUL SAYAF. PASHTO STRINGER EKRAM SHINWARAI REPORTS THAT BOTH SIDES HAVE USED HEAVY WEAPONS AND THAT SOME ROCKETS HAVE HIT THE PAKISTANI TERRITORY. NEWS REPORTS SAY THAT IN SUPPORT OF SAYAF FORCES, PRESIDENT RABBANI'S AIR FORCE HAS BOMBED AREAS CONTROLLED BY HEKMATYAR'S HEZB-I-ISLAMI. CASUALTIES ARE REPORTEDLY HIGH. (PASHTO, DARI 8/22)

AFGHAN / DUEL -- HEAVY FACTIONAL FIGHTING IS REPORTED IN THE EASTERN AFGHAN PROVINCE OF PAKTIA. DARI STRINGER ABDUL HAI WARSHAN REPORTS THAT MILITARY CONTINGENTS BELONGING TO TWO OPPOSING FACTIONS (ETEHAD-E-ISLAMI OF ABDURAB SAYAF AND HEZB-E-ISLAMI OF GULBUDDIN HEKMATYAR) ARE ENGAGED IN INTENSE ARTILLERY SHELLING AND ROCKET FIRES IN JAJI DISTRICT NEAR THE BORDER WITH PAKISTAN. SEVERAL ROCKETS LANDED IN PAKISTANI TERRITORY CAUSING INJURIES AND LOSS OF PROPERTY. (DARI, PASHTO 8/22)

INSIDE CENTRAL ASIA:

INDEPENDENT MEDIA / AZERBAIJAN -- THE AZERBAIJANI NEWS SERVICE (ANS), AN INDEPENDENT TV/RADIO STATION AND VOA AFFILIATE IN AZERBAIJAN, HAS EXPANDED ITS OPERATIONS BY ADDING A CULTURAL FOUNDATION. THE FOUNDATION WILL BE INVOLVED IN CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMS WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES. AZERBAIJANI STRINGER IN BAKU RAFAEL HUSAINOV INTERVIEWED VAHID NAKHISH, PRESIDENT OF ANS. (AZERBAIJANI 8/22)

INSIDE SOUTH ASIA:

INDIA / TRAIN ACCIDENT -- KK GUPTA, SECURITY DIRECTOR OF THE INDIAN RAILWAY BOARD SAYS HUMAN ERROR WAS INVOLVED IN THE DISASTROUS TRAIN WRECK IN INDIA WHICH KILLED AT LEAST 350 PEOPLE AND ANOTHER 500 WERE INJURED. THE INDIAN OFFICIAL WAS INTERVIEWED BY STAFFER BHAGWAN PRAKASH. (HINDI 8/21)

TRAIN WRECK / PARLIAMENT -- OPPOSITION MEMBERS IN THE INDIAN PARLIAMENT BLAMED GOVERNMENT INEFFICIENCY FOR THE SERIOUS TRAIN ACCIDENT WHICH CAUSED HUNDREDS OF DEATHS AND INJURIES, AND DEMANDED THE RESIGNATION OF PRIME MINISTER RAO. STRINGER REPORT. (HINDI 8/21)

KASHMIR / HOSTAGES / THATCHER -- FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER MARGARET THATCHER, WHO VISITED INDIA TO DELIVER THE RAJIV GANDHI MEMORIAL LECTURE, NOTED THE PLIGHT OF WESTERN HOSTAGES IN KASHMIR AND APPEALED FOR THEIR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. GOVERNOR KRISHNA RAO OF KASHMIR AND US AMBASSADOR IN INDIA FRANK WISNER ALSO MADE SIMILAR APPEALS. STRINGER REPORT. (HINDI 8/21)

BANGLADESH / POLITICS -- IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER SARKAR KABIRUDDIN, JOINT SECRETARY GENERAL OF JATIYA PARTY, MUNIRUL HUQ CHOWDHURY REPEATED HIS PARTY'S DEMAND THAT THE BANGLADESH PARLIAMENT BE DISSOLVED IMMEDIATELY AND NATIONAL ELECTIONS BE HELD UNDER A NEUTRAL CARETAKER GOVERNMENT. (BANGLA 8/20)

BANGLA / FLOODS -- THE FLOOD SITUATION IN BANGLADESH HAS FURTHER DETERIORATED AND MORE AREAS ARE NOW AFFECTED BY FLOODS. STRINGER ZAHURUL ALAM REPORTS. (BANGLA 8/20)

MUSIC COMPOSER -- NAUSHAD ALI, WHO HAS THRILLED INDIAN MUSIC LOVERS WITH HIS VERSATILE FILM MUSIC COMPOSITIONS FOR OVER 50 YEARS, PLANS TO REMAIN ACTIVE IN THE FILM MUSIC FIELD. STAFFER VIJAY LAXMI INTERVIEWED MR NAUSHAD. (HINDI 8/20)

INSIDE EAST ASIA:

INDONESIA / PRESS -- REPORTER YENNI DJAHIDIN HAS DETAILS ON THE TRIAL OF TRI AGUS, A MEMBER OF INDONESIA'S ALLIANCE OF INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS (AJI). HE IS ACCUSED OF INSULTING PRESIDENT SUHARTO IN AN ARTICLE HE WROTE FOR THE NEWS BULLETIN, PIJAR. IF CONVICTED, TRI AGUS COULD FACE A SEVEN-YEAR JAIL TERM. AJI IS NOT RECOGNIZED BY THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT. (INDONESIAN 8/22)

INDONESIA / AUSTRALIA -- FROM JAKARTA, YENNI DJAHIDIN REPORTS ON A DEMONSTRATION OUTSIDE THE AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY. DEMONSTRATORS URGED THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT TO CUT OFF DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH AUSTRALIA. THEY ALSO CALLED FOR INDONESIA'S ARMED FORCES TO INVADE AUSTRALIA, AND MAKE IT INDONESIA'S 28TH PROVINCE. (INDONESIAN 8/21)

HONG KONG / INFLATION -- GOVERNMENT FIGURES SHOW INFLATION IS DOWN FOR THE THIRD TIME IN THREE MONTHS. THIS DOWNWARD TREND IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR. COMMENTS BY PROFESSOR LIU PAK WAI, CHINESE UNIVERSITY; GEORGE LEUNG, SENIOR ECONOMIST, HONG KONG BANK; CHAN KWOK KAI, CHIEF ECONOMIST, NOMURA RESEARCH INSTITUTE. REPORT BY LAWRENCE NG. (CANTONESE 8/22)

SINGAPORE LEADERS / BEIJING -- SINGAPORE PRESIDENT ONG TENG CHEONG AND SENIOR MINISTER LEE KUAN YEW ARRIVED IN BEIJING MONDAY FOR AN OFFICIAL VISIT AMID SPECULATION THAT MR. LEE MAY PLAY AN IMPORTANT MEDIATING ROLE BETWEEN CHINA AND TAIWAN. ALTHOUGH OFFERING MEDIATION IS NOT OFFICIALLY ON THE AGENDA, THE LEADERS MAY STILL DISCUSS THE ISSUE DURING INFORMAL TALKS. SINGAPORE STRINGER LIN GUANGHUI REPORTS. (MANDARIN 8/21)

SOUTH KOREA / FIRE -- A FIRE AT A TRAINING CENTER NEAR SEOUL KILLED AT LEAST 37 WOMEN AND INJURED 16 OTHERS. THE FIRE WAS REPORTEDLY SET BY SOME OF THE RESIDENTS AT THE DORMITORY OF THE REHABILITATION SCHOOL TO CAUSE A DISTRACTION AS THEY ESCAPED. A SURVIVOR TOLD INVESTIGATORS THAT SHE SAW FIRE ERUPTING AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLACES IN THE BUILDING AT THE SAME TIME. CASUALTIES WERE HIGH BECAUSE ALL WINDOWS WERE BLOCKED WITH IRON BARS AND DOORS WERE LOCKED FROM THE OUTSIDE TO PREVENT THE RESIDENTS FROM ESCAPING. THE SCHOOL, LOCATED ABOUT 60 KILOMETERS SOUTH OF SEOUL, IS A VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTER TO REHABILITATE YOUNG WOMEN CONVICTED FOR PROSTITUTION OR PETTY CRIME. CORRESPONDENT SUCK TAE KO REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 8/21)

SOUTH / NORTH KOREA / RICE -- SOUTH KOREAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER NA WOONG BAE SAID SEOUL WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE RICE AID TO THE NORTH FOR HUMANITARIAN AND RECONCILIATORY REASONS. MR. NA PREDICTED THAT KIM JONG IL'S OFFICIAL SUCCESSION TO HIS LATE FATHER AS NORTH KOREAN LEADER WILL COME BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, AND SAID IF NORTH KOREA PURSUES THE POLICY OF REFORMS AND OPENNESS, SEOUL WILL SPARE NO EFFORT TO ASSIST AND COOPERATE WITH NORTH KOREANS. STAFFER SUCK TAE KO REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 8/21)

KOREAN RULING PARTY / NEW LEADER -- KIM YOON HW

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

INTRO: THE GROWING INFORMATION TROVE FROM SEVERAL HIGH-LEVEL IRAQI DEFECTORS AND THE YOUNG WOMAN WHO COULD NOT TAKE THE PRESSURES OF BEING THE ONLY FEMALE IN A SOUTH CAROLINA MILITARY COLLEGE TODAY ARE AMONG THE FAVORITE SUBJECTS OF U-S EDITORIAL WRITERS. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE THE RESULTS OF A STRAW POLL IN IOWA FOR REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS; THE INCREASING CHINESE BELLIGERENCE TOWARD TAIWAN, AND INDIA'S RECENT TROUBLES WITH WESTERN INVESTORS. NOW, HERE IS ______________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE LEAD EDITORIAL IN "THE WASHINGTON POST" COMMENTS ON THE WEALTH OF INFORMATION THE WEST STANDS TO GAIN FROM THE IRAQI MILITARY OFFICERS WHO DEFECTED IN JORDAN, INCLUDING NEW REVELATIONS ABOUT IRAQ'S MILITARY ARSENAL.

VOICE: "THE RANKING FIGURE AMONG THE DEFECTORS IS A GENERAL WHO FOR SOME YEARS PLAYED A CENTRAL PART IN THE WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. LIKE ALL DEFECTORS, HE NOW HAS A COMPELLING INTEREST IN BIDDING UP HIS VALUE TO HIS FORMER ENEMIES BY TELLING THEM MUCH OF WHAT THEY NEED TO KNOW BUT PERHAPS NOT EVERYTHING. SIMILARLY, HIS FORMER FRIENDS BACK IN BAGHDAD NOW HAVE A COMPELLING INTEREST IN DESTROYING HIS VALUE TO THE OTHER SIDE BY TELLING THE UNITED NATIONS EVERYTHING THAT HE COULD TELL THEM. NEITHER THE ESCAPED GENERAL NOR THE BAGHDAD GOVERNMENT HAS MUCH OF A REPUTATION FOR TELLING THE TRUTH, BUT MUCH OF THE MATERIAL THE UNITED NATIONS SEEKS IS CHECKABLE IN THE WEST ...."

TEXT: ON THE SAME TOPIC, "THE BALTIMORE SUN" SAYS THE INFORMATION FROM THE IRAQI OFFICERS HAS PRODUCED SOME SURPRISES:

VOICE: "IRAQ WAS MORE DANGEROUS THAN WE THOUGHT. THAT MUCH IS ALREADY CLEAR FROM THE DOMINOES FALLING AS A RESULT OF THE DEFECTION OF ITS ARMS PROGRAM BOSS, LT. GENERAL HUSSEIN KAMEL HASSAN. THE FIRST PAY-OFF WAS THE NEW CANDOR OF SADDAM HUSSEIN'S REGIME TO THE UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION CHARGED WITH SUPERVISING THE DESTRUCTION OF IRAQ'S WEAPONRY OF MASS DESTRUCTION."

TEXT: THE MOST POPULAR DOMESTIC EDITORIAL TOPIC IS THE FAILURE OF SHANNON FAULKNER TO WITHSTAND THE RIGORS OF "HELL WEEK," AT "THE CITADEL" MILITARY COLLEGE IN SOUTH CAROLINA. MS. FAULKNER WON A TWO AND ONE-HALF YEAR LEGAL FIGHT TO ATTEND THE PREVIOUSLY ALL-MALE COLLEGE, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL STRAIN THAT CONFRONTS ALL NEWCOMERS TO THE SCHOOL. SHE RESIGNED AFTER HER FIRST WEEK, TO THE CHEERS AND JEERS OF THE MALE CADETS, WHICH PROMPTED SOME SHARP WORDS FROM "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION":

VOICE: "SHANNON FAULKNER'S CRITICS SAY HER WITHDRAWAL FROM CADET TRAINING AT THE CITADEL AFTER ONLY A WEEK SHOWS THAT WOMEN CAN'T PASS MUSTER [SUCCEED] AT THE MILITARY ACADEMY. NONSENSE. HER WITHDRAWAL SHOWS NO SUCH THING. WOMEN HAVE BEEN PROVING THEMSELVES AT THE NATION'S MAJOR MILITARY ACADEMIES FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS......... [OPT] [MS.] FAULKNER'S UNFORTUNATE EXPERIENCE ONLY UNDERSCORES WHAT WAS ALREADY ABUNDANTLY CLEAR: THE BENIGHTED SOULS WHO RUN SOUTH CAROLINA'S PSEUDO-PUBLIC MILITARY ACADEMY WILL DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT NO WOMAN WILL EVER 'WANT' [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] TO ENTER THE CITADEL. .... [END OPT] BUT [MS.] FAULKNER'S DECISION TO LEAVE DOES NOT CHANGE ANY OF THE FACTS THAT MAKE THE CITADEL'S POSITION UNTENABLE. THE LEGAL CASE AGAINST THE SCHOOL MUST GO ON."

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SEES A POSITIVE SIDE TO SHANNON FAULKNER'S EXPERIENCE:

VOICE: "MS. FAULKNER SURELY FEELS SAD ABOUT LEAVING THE CITADEL, BUT SHE HAS NO REASON TO FEEL SHAME. MORE THAN 30 MALE CADETS DROPPED OUT AS WELL. IN FIGHTING AS HARD AND LONG AS SHE DID, SHE MAY HAVE OPENED THE DOOR FOR OTHER WOMEN. [REST OPT] IT IS THOSE YAHOOS, [ BOORISH, MALE CHAUVINIST CADETS] THOSE FUTURE FIRST CITIZENS OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND ITS NEIGHBORS, WHO SHOOK THEIR FISTS AND YELLED THEIR CATCALLS WHO SHOULD FEEL SHAME. SO SHOULD THEIR COMMANDING OFFICERS ....." [END OPT]

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" WRITES INDIGNANTLY ABOUT AN ALL-FEMALE INSTITUTION, MILLS COLLEGE, WHICH HAS BEEN FIGHTING A SIMILAR BATTLE TO KEEP MEN OUT. AND SO, THE PAPER SAYS, THE FIGHT OVER ADMITTING WOMEN TO THE CITADEL PRESENTS AN UNPLEASANT DOUBLE STANDARD, ADDING:

VOICE: "BUT UNLIKE MILLS COLLEGE, WHOSE PROUD BATTLE AGAINST COEDUCATION WON PLAUDITS FROM THE LIKES OF THE NEW YORK TIMES AND OTHER LIBERAL VOICES, THE CITADEL AND ITS FELLOW ALL-MALE MILITARY ACADEMY, THE VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE, HAVE BEEN UNDER ATTACK FROM THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION, THE NEW YORK TIMES AND OTHER ELITES FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. ... IT'S ... A CASE FULL OF DOUBLE STANDARDS. "

TEXT: IN POLITICS, SEVERAL PAPERS ARE COMMENTING ON THE WEEKEND POPULARITY POLL FOR REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES GATHERED IN IOWA, WHERE ANYONE WHO PAID 25-DOLLARS TO THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY COULD VOTE, EVEN RESIDENTS OF OTHER STATES. "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" IS AMONG PAPERS QUESTIONING THE MEANING OF IT ALL:

VOICE: "YEARS AGO, STRAW POLLS WERE CASUAL SAMPLINGS OF THE PREFERENCES OF PEOPLE AT A POLITICAL DINNER OR SOME OTHER GET-TOGETHER. NOWADAYS, THEY ARE EXTRAVAGANZAS HYPED [PUBLICIZED] TO DEATH BY UNDERDOGS, REPORTERS AND PUNDITS [POLITICAL COMMENTATORS]. ... SINCE THE CALENDAR WILL CONSTRICT A DEBATE ON ISSUES NEXT YEAR, IT'S SAD TO SEE STRAW-POLL GIMMICKRY OVERSHADOWING ISSUES NOW."

TEXT: TO WHICH "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" ADDS:

VOICE: "TOO MUCH CAN BE MADE OF THE RESULTS ... BUT SURELY THEY WERE A WAKE-UP CALL [STARK REVELATION] FOR [KANSAS REPUBLICAN SENATOR] BOB DOLE. NOT ONLY DID HE END UP TIED WITH PHIL GRAMM AT 24 PERCENT OF THE VOTE, BUT THREE-FOURTH OF THE VOTES WERE EXPLICITLY CAST AGAINST A FRONT-RUNNER WITH UNIVERSAL NAME I-D AND FROM NEARBY KANSAS. ... THE STRAW POLL ... CARRIED A MESSAGE: ... MR. DOLE HAS A SPECIAL NEED TO PERSUADE PRIMARY VOTERS HE WANTS NOT MERELY TO BE PRESIDENT BUT TO USE THE POWERS OF THAT OFFICE FOR REAL REFORM."

TEXT: TURNING ONCE AGAIN OVERSEAS, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" LEAD EDITORIAL IS ENTITLED, "BULLYING TAIWAN," AND SAYS IN PART:

VOICE: "CHINA HAS EMBARKED ON AN ESCALATING CAMPAIGN OF MILITARY MANEUVERS MEANT TO INTIMIDATE TAIWAN AND UNDERMINE ITS PRESIDENT, LEE TENG-HUI. WASHINGTON, AS MUCH AS IT WANTS TO CALM TROUBLED RELATIONS WITH BEIJING, MUST FIRMLY SIGNAL ITS OPPOSITION TO THIS CAMPAIGN. TIES WITH CHINA CANNOT BE BUILT ON TOLERANCE FOR PROVOCATIVE DISPLAYS OF MILITARY FORCE AND EFFORTS TO DESTABILIZE TAIWAN. [OPT] CHINA IS TRYING TO INTIMIDATE TAIWAN INTO REINING IN ITS DIPLOMACY. IT IS ALSO TRYING TO WARN OUTSIDE POWERS AGAINST GRANTING VISAS TO TAIWANESE POLITICAL LEADERS. THAT CHINA SHOULD BE PRESSING THESE POSITIONS ... BY MILITARY MEANS, AND IN THE PROCESS UNDERMINE[ING] POLITICAL STABILITY IN TAIWAN, IS DISTURBING AND CANNOT BE IGNORED." [END OPT]

TEXT: ELSEWHERE IN ASIA, "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" IS TROUBLED ABOUT THE RECENT CHANGE IN INDIA'S RELATIONSHIP WITH WESTERN CONTRACTORS TRYING TO MODERNIZE THAT ANCIENT NATION.

VOICE: "WITH THUNDER COMING OUT OF CHINA, INVESTMENT EYES NATURALLY TURN TO THE OTHER ASIAN GIANT, INDIA. UNHAPPILY, INDIA'S BIG PLUS, ITS BRITISH LEGAL TRADITION AND DEMOCRATIC TRANSPARENCY, HAS BEEN SUFFERING ITS OWN STORMS. TWO CASES IN POINT ARE THE SLOW-DRIP DEATH OF ENRON'S POWER PLANT DEAL, AND THE DEATH IN CUSTODY OF THE SINGAPOREAN 'BISCUIT KING,' RAJAN PILLAI. NEITHER [INCIDENT] DOES MUCH TO ENCOURAGE INVESTORS TO PUT THEMSELVES IN THE HANDS OF INDIA'S LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM. ... INDIA'S POLITICIANS CONTINUE TO ... PAY LIP SERVICE TO REFORM, BUT IN FACT CONTEMPT FOR BUSINESS AND FOREIGN INVESTORS STILL OOZES OUT OF THEM."

TEXT: AND WITH THAT FRANK ASSESSMENT OF THE BUSINESS CLIMATE IN THE "NEW" INDIA FROM THE NATION'S PREMIER FINANCIAL DAILY, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF REVIEW OF EDITORIAL COMMENT TODAY IN THE MAJOR U-S NEWSPAPERS.

NEB/ANG/PCH

22-Aug-95 11:28 AM EDT (1528 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] U-S/BOSNIA MEETING (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: SENIOR OFFICIALS OF THE FIVE-NATION CONTACT GROUP ON BOSNIA MEET IN WASHINGTON WEDNESDAY FOR A BRIEFING ON THE U-S PEACE INTIATIVE FOR THE BALKANS. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION -- AS PROMISED -- IS PUSHING AHEAD WITH BOSNIAN DIPLOMACY DESPITE THE WEEKEND DEATHS OF THREE KEY MEMBERS OF THE U-S NEGOTIATING TEAM. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER WILL MEET WITH BOSNIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MOHAMED SACIRBEY AND THEN CONVENE THE MEETING OF CONTACT GROUP POLITICAL DIRECTORS -- AS THE ADMINISTRATION REDEEMS A PLEDGE TO PRESS FORWARD WITH BOSNIAN PEACEMAKING DESPITE SATURDAY'S FATAL CRASH.

PRESIDENT CLINTON'S SPECIAL ENVOY FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA ROBERT FRASURE AND TWO OTHER SENIOR OFFICIALS WERE KILLED WHEN THE U-N ARMORED VEHICLE IN WHICH THEY WERE RIDING PLUNGED OFF A MOUNTAIN ROAD OUTSIDE SARAJEVO.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE -- WHO WAS RIDING IN ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE CONVOY AND WAS UNHURT -- WILL BRIEF THE CONTACT GROUP DIPLOMATS ON THE STATUS OF THE BALKANS SHUTTLE MISSION HE BROKE OFF AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

THE ADMINISTRATION IS PRESSING AN UPDATED VERSION OF THE CONTACT GROUP PEACE PLAN DIVIDING CONTROL OF BOSNIA BETWEEN THE BOSNIAN SERBS AND THE ALLIANCE OF BOSNIAN MUSLIMS AND CROATS -- AND PROVIDING FOR MUTUAL RECOGNITION AMONG BOSNIA SERBIA AND CROATIA.

SENIOR U-S OFFICIALS HOPE TO HAVE A RECONSTITUTED NEGOTIATING TEAM BACK IN THE AREA BY NEXT WEEK TO CONTINUE TRYING TO CAPITALIZE ON WHAT IS SEEN AS THE BEST CHANCE FOR PEACE SINCE THE BOSNIAN CONFLICT BEGAN FOUR YEARS AGO.

THE OFFICIALS ARE EXPRESSING ALARM OVER THE UPSURGE IN FIGHTING THIS WEEK THAT HAS INCLUDED THE HEAVIEST SERB SHELLING OF SARAJEVO IN RECENT WEEKS. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN DAVID JOHNSON URGED THE PARTIES TO SUSPEND HOSTILITES SO U-S LED PEACE EFFORTS CAN GO FORWARD:

THE RENEWED FIGHTING CERTAINLY DOESN'T HELP THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND. WE'VE BEEN SAYING OVER SEVERAL DAYS THAT WE BELEIVE IT'S THE TIME AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT -- TO PURSUE THE OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE. AND THAT FURTHER ENDEAVORS ON THE BATTLEFIELD SHOULD BE RESTRAINED.

PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL BE INTERRUPTING HIS WESTERN VACATION TO ATTEND MEMORIAL SERVICES NEAR WASHINGTON FOR MR. FRASURE AND THE TWO COLLEAGUES WHO DIED IN THE ACCIDENT -- DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE JOSEPH KRUZEL AND WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL MILITARY AIDE NELSON DREW.

SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER LED MOURNERS AT MR. FRASURE'S FUNERAL TUESDAY -- PRAISING A CAREER OF ACHIEVEMENTS THAT INCLUDED HELPING BRING ABOUT AN END TO MARXIST RULE IN ETHIOPIA AND THE REMOVAL OF RUSSIAN TROOPS FROM ESTONIA. MR. CHRISTOPHER SAID THAT WHEN THE "UGLY" WAR IN BOSNIA FINALLY ENDS, THE LATE U-S DIPLOMAT WILL DESERVE A LARGE MEASURE OF CREDIT FOR THAT AS WELL. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAG/LTJ/PT
22-Aug-95 5:47 PM EDT (2147 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] YUGO SITREP (L UPDATE) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE SHELLED SARAJEVO. MORE THAN 20 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED OR INJURED INCLUDING UNITED NATIONS PEACE-KEEPERS. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: THE LATEST SERB SHELLING OF SARAJEVO IS THE DEADLIEST IN WEEKS. IT MAY HAVE BEEN RETALIATION FOR A BOSNIAN ARMY SHELLING ATTACK ON A SERB-HELD AREA IN THE SARAJEVO REGION.

BESIDES THE CIVILIAN CASUALTIES, SIX EGYPTIAN SOLDIERS WERE INJURED, TWO OF THEM SERIOUSLY, WHEN SERB MORTAR SHELLS HIT THEIR OBSERVATION POST IN AN EASTERN SUBURB. UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS SAY THE SERBS DELIBERATELY TARGETED THE EGYPTIAN POSITION.

A NEARLY DESERTED FACTORY WAS DESTROYED IN THE SERB SHELLING ATTACK. A HUGE BLAST SHOOK THE BUILDING, AND THE UPPER FLOORS COLLAPSED. AN ADJACENT APARTMENT BUILDING WAS SET ON FIRE. MEANWHILE, U-N OFFICIALS IN SARAJEVO SAY THEY ARE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING WITHDRAWING MOST PEACE-KEEPERS FROM THE MUSLIM ENCLAVE OF BIHAC IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA.

THE UNITED NATIONS HAS ALREADY BEGUN TO PULL MOST OF ITS PEACE-KEEPERS OUT OF THE MUSLIM ENCLAVE OF GORAZDE IN EASTERN BOSNIA. GORAZDE IS TO BE PROTECTED, IF NECESSARY, BY NATO WARPLANES.

U-N PEACE-KEEPERS IN EXPOSED AREAS IN BOSNIA ARE BEING REGROUPED SO IT WOULD BE MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE SERBS TO TAKE THEM AS HOSTAGES. REMOVING PEACE-KEEPERS FROM ISOLATED AREAS WOULD ALSO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE UNITED NATIONS TO CARRY OUT A COMPLETE MILITARY WITHDRAWAL FROM BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA IF THAT SHOULD BECOME NECESSARY.

A DECISION ON A COMPLETE WITHDRAWAL COULD BE MADE IF THE NEW AMERICAN PEACE INITIATIVE IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA FAILS. AN AMERICAN DELEGATION IS EXPECTED TO RETURN TO THE REGION NEXT WEEK AFTER THREE U-S OFFICIALS, WHO DIED IN A ROAD ACCIDENT NEAR SARAJEVO, ARE REPLACED.

WHILE THE BOSNIAN SERBS' BATTLEFIELD INTENTIONS ARE NOT CLEAR, THEIR LEADER, RADOVAN KARADZIC, SAYS HE IS READY TO BE FLEXIBLE IN FRESH NEGOTIATIONS ON A PEACE AGREEMENT FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. BUT, HE SAYS SERB-HELD TERRITORY CANNOT REMAIN PART OF BOSNIA. THE CONTINUING SERB DEMAND FOR AN INDEPENDENT STATE COULD BE THE FUNDAMENTAL OBSTACLE TO A PEACE AGREEMENT.

MR. KARADZIC ALSO DENIES HE HAS BEEN OVERTHROWN BY A MILITARY COUP, LED BY HIS DISSAFECTED ARMY COMMANDER, GENERAL RATKO MLADIC. GENERAL MLADIC HAS REFUSED TO ACCEPT HIS DISMISSAL. HE RECENTLY SAID MR. KARADZIC HAS LOST THE SUPPORT OF THE SERB ARMY AND OF THE SERB PEOPLE. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/CF
22-Aug-95 2:25 PM EDT (1825 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America