Voice of America, 26 September 1995

From: [email protected] (Ioannis Bousnakis)

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] !!! VOA DIGEST - SEPTEMBER 26, 1995 !!!

BOSNIA / CONTACT GROUP -- THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF BOSNIA, CROATIA AND SERBIAN-DOMINATED YUGOSLAVIA ARE MEETING AT THE AMERICAN MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS IN NEW YORK WITH MEMBERS OF THE BOSNIA CONTACT GROUP. STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS THEY WERE WELCOMED BY THE US SECRETARY OF STATE. (9/26)

CHRISTOPHER / BOSNIA -- SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER HAS MET WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF BOSNIA, CROATIA AND SERBIAN-DOMINATED YUGOSLAVIA. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM NEW YORK, THE AGENDA HAS BEEN SET FOR TUESDAY'S MEETING OF THOSE MINISTERS WITH THE BOSNIA CONTACT GROUP. (9/26)

CLINTON / BOSNIA -- PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS MET WITH HIS TOP FOREIGN POLICY ADVISORS TO DISCUSS INSTRUCTIONS TO US NEGOTIATORS WHO WILL MEET TUESDAY IN NEW YORK WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF BOSNIA, CROATIA, AND YUGOSLAVIA, AS WELL AS WITH US ALLIES. MR. CLINTON IS CALLING ON NEGOTIATORS TO MOVE THE PEACE PROCESS FORWARD, EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE DIFFICULT ISSUES THAT REMAIN TO BE RESOLVED. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS. (9/26)

UN / CROATIA -- A SENIOR ENVOY OF THE UN REFUGEE AGENCY HAS MET WITH CROATIAN OFFICIALS IN A BID TO PERSUADE THE ZAGREB GOVERNMENT TO REVERSE ITS DECISION TO SEND 100-THOUSAND BOSNIAN REFUGEES BACK TO BOSNIA. CROATIAN OFFICIALS SAY THE REFUGEES WILL BE RETURNED TO TERRITORY RECAPTURED BY BOSNIAN MUSLIM AND CROAT FORCES DURING THE PAST FEW WEEKS. BUT, AS CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS FROM GENEVA, THE UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES SAYS THE MOVE IS PREMATURE. (9/26)

BOSNIA / FRANCE -- CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN SAYS HE BELIEVES PEACE IS REALLY AT HAND IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. BUT, DURING A VISIT TO FRANCE, HE WARNED THAT ETHNIC PROBLEMS WILL PERSIST EVEN WHEN PEACE IS RESTORED. STRINGER JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS. (9/26)

IRAN / US -- AT THE UNITED NATIONS MONDAY, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ALI AKBAR VELAYATI EXPRESSED OUTRAGE OVER WASHINGTON'S EFFORTS TO CONVINCE GOVERNMENTS TO DEAL CAUTIOUSLY WITH IRAN, WHICH THE UNITED STATES HAS ACCUSED OF SPONSORING TERRORISM. US SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER RENEWED THE CHARGES EARLIER IN A SPEECH TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. UN CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS. (9/26)

RUSSIA / BRITAIN / UN -- RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ANDREI KOZYREV HAS CALLED FOR THE UNITED NATIONS TO PROVIDE BETTER PEACEKEEPING SUPPORT FOR RUSSIAN EFFORTS TO CONTAIN CONFLICTS IN THE FORMER SOVIET REPUBLICS. THE RUSSIAN OFFICIAL SPOKE TUESDAY TO THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WHICH HAS UN EFFICIENCY AND REFORM AS ITS MAIN THEME. UN CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS. (9/26)

RUSSIA / POLITICS -- MORE THAN 100 RUSSIAN MILITARY OFFICERS WILL RUN AS CANDIDATES FOR PARLIAMENT IN DECEMBER'S ELECTIONS. CORRESPONDENT PETER COLLINS REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, THE MILITARY WANTS ITS OWN PEOPLE IN THE NEW STATE DUMA BECAUSE IT FEELS IT HAS NOT BEEN GETTING ENOUGH SUPPORT. (9/26)

GERMANY / TERRORIST -- A GERMAN COURT HAS SENTENCED FORMER LEFTIST GUERRILLA SIEGLINDE HOFMANN TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR THE MURDER OF A TOP GERMAN BUSINESSMAN AND A FIREBOMBING ATTACK OF A FORMER NATO CHIEF IN THE 1970'S. STAFFER DAGMAR BREITENBACH REPORTS FROM BONN. (9/26)

ITALY / TRIAL -- TRIAL HAS OPENED IN THE SICILIAN CAPITAL, PALERMO, FOR FORMER ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER GIULIO ANDREOTTI ON CHARGES HE SERVED THE INTERESTS OF THE ORGANIZED CRIME MAFIA. STRINGER PEGGY POLK REPORTS THE TRIAL IS EXPECTED TO LAST AT LEAST TWO YEARS. (9/26)

WEAPONS / CONFERENCE -- UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS GHALI AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS HAVE REITERATED CALLS FOR A GLOBAL BAN ON LAND MINES THAT KILL OR INJURE MORE THAN 20-THOUSAND PEOPLE EVERY YEAR. THE APPEALS WERE MADE DURING A UN CONFERENCE ON CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS. (9/26)

SHALIKASHVILI / CZECH -- THE CHAIRMAN OF THE US MILITARY JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, JOHN SHALIKASHVILI, IS IN SLOVAKIA, THE SECOND STOP ON A FOUR NATION TOUR OF CENTRAL EUROPE. CORRESPONDENT BARRY WOOD REPORTS THAT BEFORE LEAVING PRAGUE TUESDAY, GENERAL SHALIKASHVILI SPOKE POSITIVELY ABOUT RUSSIA'S WILLINGNESS TO TAKE PART IN A PLANNED NEW PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN BOSNIA. (9/26)

CLINTON / ILIESCU -- PRESIDENT CLINTON MEETS WITH ROMANIA'S PRESIDENT ION ILIESCU AT THE WHITE HOUSE TUESDAY FOR TALKS EXPECTED TO FOCUS ON ECONOMIC ISSUES. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS. (9/26)

SOUTH PACIFIC / FRANCE NUCLEAR -- ANTI-NUCLEAR PROTESTERS IN TAHITI SAY FRANCE APPEARS TO BE STEPPING UP PREPARATIONS FOR A SECOND NUCLEAR TEST IN THE REGION. AS REPORTED BY CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON IN OUR ASIA PACIFIC NEWS CENTER, TENSION IS REPORTED HIGH IN THE TAHITIAN CAPITAL, PAPEETE, WHICH SUFFERED VIOLENT RIOTS EARLIER THIS MONTH, WHEN FRANCE DETONATED THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS. (9/26)

ARAFAT / ARAB REACTION -- UNDER ATTACK FROM HARDLINERS, PLO LEADER YASSER ARAFAT IS WORKING TO LINE UP PALESTINIAN SUPPORT FOR THE AGREEMENT WITH ISRAEL THAT IS TO BE SIGNED THURSDAY IN WASHINGTON. MR. ARAFAT'S CABINET APPROVED THE ACCORD EXPANDING PALESTINIAN SELF-RULE BEYOND GAZA AND JERICHO LATE MONDAY. CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (9/26)

SYRIA / LEBANON -- LEBANON HAS HAD FIVE YEARS OF RELATIVE PEACE AFTER 16 YEARS OF TRIBAL WARFARE. BUT THE PROCESS OF REBUILDING THE COUNTRY HAS BARELY BEGUN. STRINGER PATRICIA GOLAN RECENTLY VISITED LEBANON, AND REPORTS THAT SYRIA'S ALL PERVASIVE INFLUENCE MAY MEAN THAT THE COUNTRY'S FUTURE REMAINS A HOSTAGE TO FORCES BEYOND ITS CONTROL. (9/26)

CHINA / IRAN / NUCLEAR -- CHINA HAS DENIED A NEWS REPORT THAT IT HAS SUPPLIED TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN FOR PRODUCING WEAPONS-GRADE NUCLEAR MATERIAL. THE REPORT, IN THE BRITISH NEWSPAPER THE "SUNDAY TELEGRAPH," SAID CHINA SUPPLIED THE EQUIPMENT AFTER RUSSIA STOPPED DELIVERY OF SIMILAR TECHNOLOGY. CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER REPORTS FROM BEIJING. (9/26)

JAPAN / BUSINESS WRAP -- ONE OF JAPAN'S LARGEST CITY BANKS HAS LOST MORE THAN ONE-BILLION DOLLARS IN BOND TRANSACTIONS IN NEW YORK. STRINGER JACK RUSSELL REPORTS FROM TOKYO THIS IS ANOTHER BLOW TO JAPAN'S TROUBLED BANKING SYSTEM. (9/26)

JAPAN / BANK -- ONE OF JAPAN'S LARGEST CITY BANKS HAS LOST MORE THAN ONE BILLION DOLLARS IN BOND TRANSACTIONS IN NEW YORK. STRINGER JACK RUSSELL REPORTS FROM TOKYO THIS IS ANOTHER BLOW TO JAPAN'S TROUBLED BANKING SYSTEM. (9/26)

THAILAND / US -- IN THAILAND, HEATED CONTROVERSY CONTINUES OVER A PANEL SET UP TO INVESTIGATE CHARGES OF NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING AGAINST TWO LEADING POLITICIANS. CORRESPONDENT DAVID BUTLER REPORTS FROM BANGKOK, THE CASE BEGAN WHEN THE UNITED STATES SAID THE TWO MEN HAD BEEN DENIED VISAS TO COME TO THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE OF SUSPICIONS THEY WERE INVOLVED IN THE DRUG TRADE. (9/26)

SRI LANKA / WAR -- THE SRI LANKAN MILITARY SAYS POLICE HAVE KILLED SIX TAMIL GUERRILLAS IN THE LATEST FIGHTING IN THE WAR-TORN NORTHEAST. CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE REPORTS THOSE DETAILS AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS EASED CENSORSHIP RESTRICTIONS ON FOREIGN MEDIA. (9/26)

INDIA / PROTEST -- INDIAN POLICE CLASHED TUESDAY IN NEW DELHI WITH THOUSANDS OF ANTI-AMERICAN PROTESTERS WHO WERE DEMONSTRATING AGAINST US EFFORTS TO RESUME ARMS SALES TO PAKISTAN. CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE REPORTS FROM NEW DELHI. (9/26)

INDIA / BOMBS -- INDIAN POLICE SAY MORE THAN 40 PEOPLE WERE INJURED WHEN TWO BOMBS EXPLODED LATE MONDAY IN NEW DELHI. CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE REPORTS A THIRD EXPLOSION INJURED A CHILD TUESDAY IN THE CAPITAL. (9/26)

MQM / BOYCOTT -- PAKISTAN'S MQM POLITICAL GROUP IS BOYCOTTING TALKS ON BRINGING PEACE TO KARACHI TO PROTEST THE KILLING OF SEVERAL OF ITS MEMBERS. CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN REPORTS THE ORGANIZATION ACCUSES POLICE OF MURDERING THE ACTIVISTS. (9/26)

NIGERIA / COMMONWEALTH -- REPORTER WILLIAM EAGLE SAYS ON SUNDAY, NIGERIA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT IS EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE A TIME-TABLE FOR THE COUNTRY'S RETURN TO CIVILIAN RULE. BUT CRITICS PREDICT THE GOVERNMENT PLAN WILL SIMPLY PROLONG THE MILITARY'S STAY IN POWER. TWO COMMONWEALTH HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS SAY WESTERN GOVERNMENTS SHOULD BE READY TO TOUGHEN MEASURES AGAINST NIGERIA'S MILITARY RULERS. (9/26)

SAF / VIOLENCE -- AT LEAST 12 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN A MASSACRE IN SOUTH AFRICA'S VOLATILE REGION OF KWAZULU/NATAL. CORRESPONDENT MALLORY SALESON IN JOHANNESBURG REPORTS FOUR PEOPLE WERE WOUNDED IN THE INCIDENT. (9/26)

UN / RWANDA -- UN OFFICIALS IN GENEVA ARE VOICING CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM ABOUT PROSPECTS FOR THE REPATRIATION OF THE MORE THAN ONE-MILLION RWANDAN REFUGEES IN ZAIRE. CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS THE COMMENTS CAME AFTER SENIOR RWANDAN AND ZAIRIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HELD A DAY OF TALKS IN GENEVA WITH THE UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES ON WAYS TO ACCELERATE THE REPATRIATION PROCESS. (9/26)

KENYA / CARTER VISIT -- FORMER US PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER, ON A TOUR OF EAST AFRICAN NATIONS, SAYS BOTH SIDES ARE TO BLAME IN THE CONTINUING WAR IN SUDAN. STRINGER SONYA LAURENCE GREEN IN NAIROBI REPORTS MR. CARTER ALSO INDICATED THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE PROGRESS TOWARD PEACE IN SOMALIA, AND BURUNDI AND RWANDA ARE STILL FACING LONG-TERM DIFFICULTIES. (9/26)

NIGERIA / POLITICS -- NIGERIAN MILITARY RULER GENERAL SANI ABACHA SAYS THE FATE OF 40 PEOPLE CONVICTED IN AN ALLEGED COUP PLOT WILL BE DECIDED BY THE RULE OF LAW, DAMPENING HOPES HE MIGHT GRANT THEM AMNESTY. CORRESPONDENT PURNELL MURDOCK REPORTS. (9/26)

ZAMBIA / KAUNDA -- ZAMBIA'S GOVERNMENT LED BY PRESIDENT FREDERICK CHILUBA IS MOVING TOWARD A SHOWDOWN WITH FORMER PRESIDENT KENNETH KAUNDA, WHO IS TRYING TO MAKE A POLITICAL COMEBACK. STRINGER LAWRENCE BARTLETT REPORTS THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT HAS ENDORSED PROPOSALS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES WHICH WOULD DISQUALIFY MR. KAUNDA FROM EVER WINNING THE PRESIDENCY AGAIN. (9/26)

US / MEXICO EXTRADITION -- A US FEDERAL JUDGE HAS FOR THE SECOND TIME REFUSED TO ALLOW THE EXTRADITION TO MEXICO OF FORMER MEXICAN DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL MARIO RUIZ MASSIEU ON CHARGES OF OBSTRUCTING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE MURDER OF HIS BROTHER AND OF EMBEZZLEMENT. REPORTER VICTOR BEATTIE QUOTES JUDGE RONALD HEDGES WHO SAYS US OFFICIALS REPRESENTING MEXICAN GOVERNEMENT HAVE FAILED TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO GRANT EXTRADITION. (9/26)

US POLITICS / PEROT -- FORMER INDEPENDENT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AND TEXAS BUSINESSMAN ROSS PEROT HAS ANNOUNCED THE FORMATION OF A THIRD POLITICAL PARTY FOR WHAT HE CALLS INDEPENDENT-MINDED VOTERS. REPORTER VICTOR BEATTIE SAYS MR. PEROT'S NEW PARTY WILL SEEK A SPOT ON THE BALLOT IN ALL 50 STATES IN NEXT YEAR'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. (9/26)

CONSTITUTION / THE SEPARATION OF POWERS -- IN RECENT YEARS MANY COUNTRIES IN EASTERN EUROPE HAVE DRAFTED NEW CONSTITUTIONS; AROUND THE WORLD, MANY CONSTITUTIONS ARE IN THE PROCESS OF REVISION. THIS HAS RENEWED INTEREST IN THE US CONSTITUTION, THE WORLD'S OLDEST AND MOST INFLUENTIAL. CURRENT AFFAIRS' FRANK RONALDS EXAMINES THE MOST ORIGINAL AND VITAL ELEMENT OF THE AMERICAN POLITICAL SYSTEM: THE SEPARATION OF POWERS. (9/26)

US / FOREIGN POLICY -- THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE HAS PUT ON HOLD MORE THAN TWO DOZEN AMBASSADORIAL NOMINATIONS IN A FIGHT WITH THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OVER REFORM OF THE FOREIGN POLICY APPARATUS. REPORTER VICTOR BEATTIE SAYS THE DISPUTE BETWEEN THE WHITE HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN JESSE HELMS IS ALSO HOLDING UP RATIFICATION OF A NUCLEAR ARMS REDUCTION TREATY. (9/26)

FEDERAL RESERVE -- POLICYMAKERS AT THE US CENTRAL BANK MEET THIS MORNING TO DECIDE WHETHER TO TAKE ACTION ON INTEREST RATES. CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS MOST OBSERVERS THINK MEMBERS OF THE "FEDERAL OPEN MARKET COMMITTEE" WILL LEAVE RATES WHERE THEY ARE. (9/26)

US / CONSUMER CONFIDENCE -- A WIDELY FOLLOWED SURVEY RELEASED TUESDAY SHOWS CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES FELL THIS MONTH AFTER TWO CONSECUTIVE INCREASES. CORRESPONDENT CHRIS SIMKINS REPORTS FROM NEW YORK ON THE FIGURES RELEASED BY THE CONFERENCE BOARD, A PRIVATE BUSINESS RESEARCH GROUP. (9/26)

CONGRESS / AGENDA -- US LAWMAKERS HAVE A BUSY WEEK AHEAD AS THEY RUSH TO COMPLETE ACTION ON SEVERAL SPENDING BILLS BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW FISCAL YEAR ON OCTOBER FIRST. SENATE CORRESPONDENT JIM MALONE REPORTS THE MAIN CHALLENGE FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THIS WEEK WILL BE TO REACH AGREEMENT ON A STOPGAP FUNDING MEASURE WHICH WILL KEEP THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN OPERATION PAST OCTOBER 1. (9/26)

WRITING / ACROSS CURRICULUM -- AS CONGRESS AND THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION CONTINUE TO BATTLE OVER THE SHAPE OF EDUCATION REFORM, A QUIET REVOLUTION BASED ON WRITING INSTRUCTION IS EXPANDING THROUGHOUT AMERICAN HIGHER EDUCATION. CORRESPONDENT DON HENRY REPORTS THE SO-CALLED WRITING ACROSS CURRICULUM PROGRAM WAS CONCEIVED 25 YEARS AGO AT A SMALL IOWA COLLEGE AND HAS SPREAD TO ABOUT A THOUSAND US INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING. (9/26)

SPOTLIGHT / DES MOINES / INTERNATIONAL WRITERS' WORKSHOP -- IOWA CITY IS SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS THE ATHENS OF THE AMERICAN MIDWEST. FAMOUS WRITERS HAVE COME TO READ FROM THEIR WORKS OR EVEN LECTURE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA IN IOWA CITY. THE UNIVERSITY ALSO OFFERS A UNIQUE PROGRAM FOR CREATIVE WRITERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. CURRENT AFFAIRS' ZLATICA HOKE REPORTS. (9/26)

TV / VIOLENCE -- SENATOR PAUL SIMON AND JEFFREY COLE OF THE UCLA CENTER FOR COMMUNICATION POLICY HELD A BRIEFING LAST WEEK ON THE FIRST ANNUAL AUDIT OF VIOLENCE ON TELEVISION. CURRENT AFFAIRS' ROBIN RUPLI REPORTS ON THEIR FINDINGS. (9/26)

TIME FOR KIDS -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' NANCY BEARDSLEY REPORTS ON "TIME FOR KIDS," A NEW EDITION OF THE WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE THAT'S DESIGNED FOR 9 THROUGH 12 YEAR OLDS. (9/26)

MUSIC / JIM WILSON -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' SUSAN LOGUE HAS A REPORT ON JIM WILSON, A CHOCTAW INDIAN WHOSE MUSIC WAS FEATURED IN THE DOCUMENTARY "THE NATIVE AMERICANS" AND WHO HAS NOW PRODUCED AN ENTIRE ALBUM OF HIS OWN MUSIC "THEMATICALLY BASED ON NATIVE AMERICAN SPIRITUALITY." (9/26)

SOLTI / CD-ROM -- CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA MUSIC DIRECTOR LAUREATE, SIR GEORG SOLTI, HAS PLANS TO MAKE A MUSIC CD-ROM AND GET ON THE INTERNET. CORRESPONDENT PAUL FRANCUCH REPORTS ON THE PROJECT. (9/26)

DELANEY / OBIT -- BESSIE DELANEY WHO ALONG WITH HER SISTER SADIE BECAME FAMOUS FOR A MEMOIR ON GROWING UP BLACK IN AMERICA DIED IN A NEW YORK SUBURB EARLY MONDAY. SHE WAS 104 YEARS OLD. STRINGER MICHELE KELEMEN REPORTS HER LIFE STORY LIVES ON IN A POPULAR BROADWAY PLAY. (9/26

PRIMATE STUDY -- CORRESPONDENT PAUL FRANCUCH REPORTS ON WORK BY ANTHROPOLOGISTS AT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS TO PRESERVE THE DWINDLING POPULATION OF MONKEYS IN GUYANA. (9/26)

SUBVERTING THE OZONE TREATY -- A US PUBLIC INTEREST GROUP CHARGES THE INTERNATIONAL TREATY TO SAVE THE EARTH'S PROTECTIVE OZONE LAYER IS BEING SUBVERTED BY SMUGGLERS AND GOVERNMENTS. THE GROUP CLAIMS ILLEGAL TRADE IN OZONE HARMING CHEMICALS AND CONTINUED LEGAL PRODUCTION COULD PROVE TO BE MORE THAN THE TREATY CAN HANDLE. BUT AS REPORTER KATE PORTEUS POINTS OUT, A US OFFICIAL SAYS THE CHARGES ARE EXAGGERATED. (9/26)

OJ SIMPSON / CLOSING -- CLOSING ARGUMENTS ARE SET TO BEGIN TUESDAY IN THE LOS ANGELES MURDER TRIAL OF OJ SIMPSON. THE SPORTS HERO-TURNED-ACTOR HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO CHARGES HE KILLED EX-WIFE NICOLE SIMPSON AND HER FRIEND, RONALD GOLDMAN, IN JUNE 1994. LOS ANGELES CORRESPONDENT ALAN SILVERMAN PREVIEWS THE FINAL PRESENTATION TO THE 12 JURORS AND TWO REMAINING ALTERNATES. (9/26) VOA REPORTS IN INDIVIDUAL LANGUAGES:

INSIDE USA:

US / LABOR / SWEATSHOPS -- SWEATSHOPS IN THE GARMENT INDUSTRY HAVE BECOME A SERIOUS PROBLEM IN THE US. MANY DO NOT PAY MINIMUM WAGE AND OVERTIME AND VIOLATE HEALTH AND SAFETY REGULATIONS. STAFFER RUOSI WU TALKED TO ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF LABOR FOR EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS BERNARD ANDERSON AND MAY CHEN, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, LOCAL 23-25, UNION OF NEEDLETRADES, INDUSTRIAL AND TEXTILE EMPLOYEES ABOUT THE PROBLEM. (MANDARIN 9/26)

CHINA / UN -- STAFFER HUCHEN ZHANG, COVERING THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SAID CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER QIAN QICHEN STOLE TIME TO MEET WITH HIS COUNTERPARTS OF SIX COUNTRIES IN NEW YORK YESTERDAY. (MANDARIN 9/26)

IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER / UNGA -- STAFFER BEHRUZ NIKZAT REPORTS ON STATEMENTS AT THE UNGA BY THE US THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER. SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER ONCE AGAIN ACCUSED IRAN OF SPONSORING TERRORISM. THE IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER EXPRESSED OUTRAGE OVER WASHINGTON'S CURRENT IRAN POLICY. HE URGED SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER TO BACK OFF AND CALLED THE US ATTITUDE ARROGANT. (FARSI 9/26)

IRAN / US / IRAN -- SPEAKING BEFORE THE UNGA, THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF IRAN HAS STRONGLY CRITICIZED THE US FOR WHAT HE CALLED EXPLOITATION OF CERTAIN ISSUES TO GAIN WORLD SUPPORT. CORRESPONDENT MOHAMED ATTIA REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (ARABIC 9/25)

TUNISIA / UNGA -- ADDRESSING THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF TUNISIA HAS WELCOMED THE PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI AGREEMENT ON SELF-RULE. CORRESPONDENT MOHAMED ATTIA REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (ARABIC 9/25)

UNGA / CHRISTOPHER -- STAFFER ALEC BATCHAN REPORTS ON THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING ON TUESDAY 9/25, IN WHICH SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER CALLED FOR REFORMS WITHIN THE UN, MAKING IT MORE EFFICIENT, AND FOCUSING ON THE TASKS IT DOES BEST. (RUSSIAN 9/25)

UN / DEBATE -- US SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER ADVOCATED FOR A DRASTIC REFORM ON THE WORLD ORGANIZATION IN A SPEECH TO THE 50TH UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY. CORRESPONDENT LUIS TAMAYO REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. THIS YEAR'S DEBATE WAS OPENED, AS IT IS TRADITION, BY THE BRAZILIAN FOREIGN MINISTER LUIS FELIPE LAMPREIA. OTHER LATIN AMERICAN SPEAKERS DURING THE FIRST DAY OF DEBATE WERE EL SALVADOR'S PRESIDENT ARMANDO CALDERON SOL, CUBA'S FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA, AND NICARAGUA'S FOREIGN MINISTER, ERNESTO LEAL. (SPANISH 9/25)

JOHNSON SPACE CENTER / BENGALI SCIENTISTS -- STAFFER ZIAUR RAHMAN INTERVIEWS SOME OF THE BANGLADESHI-AMERICAN SCIENTISTS WORKING AT THE JOHNSON SPACE CENTER IN TEXAS AND REPORTS ON THE SPACE CENTER FROM HOUSTON. (BANGLA 9/26)

BEIJING IN RETROSPECT -- STAFFER FARAH JAHANGIRI, WHO COVERED THE BEIJING CONFERENCE, INTERVIEWED MAHNAZ AFKHAMI, A MARYLAND-BASED IRANIAN-BORN FEMINIST WHO ATTENDED THE NGO MEETINGS IN CHINA, ABOUT HER REACTION TO AND INTERPRETATION OF THE CONFERENCE'S FINAL DOCUMENT. MS. AFKHAMI SAID SHE WAS PLEASED TO FIND THAT THE MAJORITY OF DELEGATES FROM ISLAMIC COUNTRIES BELIEVE THAT HUMAN RIGHTS, DEMOCRACY, AND EQUALITY OF MEN AND WOMEN HAVE A PLACE WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF ISLAM. (FARSI 9/26)

FEMALE CIRCUMCISION -- AT THE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S CONFERENCE IN CHINA, AND IN THE US CONGRESS, OUTRAGE IS MOUNTING OVER THE PRACTICE OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION. TALK TO AMERICA AND ITS LISTENERS WELCOME ACTIVIST MIMI RAMSEY, DR. SISSAY AWOKE, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION REPRESENTATIVE EFUA DORKENOO AND DR. JAMAL BADAWI. THEY DISCUSS THE RISING CONDEMNATION OF THIS RITUAL AND THE LIFELONG DAMAGE IT CAN DO TO WOMEN. (ENGLISH 9/25)

ANIMAL SMUGGLING / MIAMI -- US AUTHORITIES SAID MOST OF THE LUCRATIVE SMUGGLING OF ANIMALS FROM SOUTH AMERICA PASSES THROUGHOUT FLORIDA. CORRESPONDENT JORGE WEHBY REPORTS FROM MIAMI. (SPANISH 9/25)

THE OJ SIMPSON TRIAL -- PROSECUTORS AND DEFENSE LAWYERS PREPARE FOR FINAL ARGUMENTS IN THE MURDER TRIAL OF FORMER FOOTBALL STAR OJ SIMPSON. CORRESPONDENT HECTOR VELAZQUEZ REPORTS FROM LOS ANGELES. (SPANISH 9/25)

ALIEN ABDUCTION -- EARTHLING MEETS ALIEN, THIS IS THE DRAMATIC SCENARIO THAT'S DRIVEN COUNTLESS STORIES, NOVELS AND MOVIES. TALK TO AMERICA WELCOMES DR. JOHN MACK FROM HARVARD UNIVERSITY. THIS RESPECTED AUTHOR AND PSYCHIATRIST HAS SHOCKED MANY OF HIS SCIENTIFIC COLLEAGUES WITH THE PUBLICATION OF HIS BOOK ABDUCTION: HUMAN ENCOUNTERS WITH ALIENS. DR. MACK URGES EXPLORATION AND CONSIDERATION OF THESE MYSTERIOUS STORIES RATHER THAN RIDICULE. (ENGLISH 9/26)

MILLION MEN / MARCH -- STAFFER AKMAL ALEEMI INTERVIEWED AFRICAN-AMERICAN MUSLIM LEADERS ABOUT THE MILLION MEN MARCH ORIGINALLY CALLED BY NATIONS OF ISLAM HEAD, LOUIS FARRAKHAN FOR OCTOBER 16, 1995. THESE LEADERS INCLUDED: GHAYTH NOOR KASHIF, CAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF IMAMS FOR THE GREATER WASHINGTON AREA; RAHIM JENKINS A LOCAL POLITICIAN; ABDUL MALIK JAUHRI, STUDENT-FACULTY COORDINATOR, HOWARD UNIVERSITY AND DENIS ROGERS, PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS. (9/24)

US SENATE / PAKISTAN / INDIA REACT -- INDIAN AMBASSADOR SS RAY SAYS THAT THE US SENATE'S APPROVAL OF A $370 MILLION DOLLAR ARMS SALE TO PAKISTAN CAN IGNITE AN ARMS RACE IN SOUTH ASIA. STAFFER NIRMALA JOSHI COVERED AMBASSADOR RAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON WHERE HE ALSO NOTED THAT THE PLAN HAS STILL TO GO THROUGH THE SENATE-HOUSE RECONCILIATION PROCESS BEFORE BECOMING OPERATIVE, AND IT CAN STILL BE CHANGED. (HINDI 9/22)

UNABOMBER / OAKLAND TRIBUNE -- REPORTER TOM CROSBY INTERVIEWS DAVID BERGEN, THE EXECUTIVE EDITOR OF THE OAKLAND TRIBUNE NEWSPAPER, WHICH THIS WEEK PUBLISHED THE UNABOMBER MANIFESTO. THE UNABOMBER HAD NOT NAMED THE TRIBUNE AMONG PAPERS HE WANTED TO CARRY HIS MANIFESTO BUT, EDITOR BERGEN EXPLAINS THE TRIBUNE DECIDED THIS WAS A LOCAL STORY BECAUSE THE BOMBER IS BELIEVED TO LIVE AND WORK IN THE OAKLAND AREA AND BECAUSE MOST OF THE BOMBER'S VICTIMS (DEAD AND INJURED) LIVED IN THE AREA. THE TRIBUNE ALSO BELIEVED IT WOULD HELP TO IDENTIFY THE BOMBER IF THE MANIFESTO WERE PUBLLSHED IN HIS HOMETOWN. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 9/22)

US SENTENCING / RACE -- REPORTER TOM CROSBY TALKED WITH LAURA FRANK, AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER AT THE NASHVILLE TENNESSEAN NEWSPAPER. THE TENNESSEAN COMMISSIONED A STUDY WHICH TURNED UP A TREND IN FEDERAL SENTENCING NATIONWIDE TOWARD IMPOSING STIFFER SENTENCES ON AFRICAN-AMERICANS. FRANK IS AUTHORING THE SERIES OF ARTICLES. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 9/25)

CROATIA / NEW YORK MEETING -- CROATIAN MEDIA EXPECT THAT THE MAJOR OBSTACLE AT THE NEW YORK MINISTERIAL MEETING ON BOSNIA WOULD BE THE DEGREE TO WHICH BOSNIAN SERBS WOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONNECT WITH THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA. MEDIA ATTENTION IS ALSO FOCUSED ON PRESIDENT F TUDJMAN'S VISIT TO FRANCE. STRINGER STEVICA SUSA REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (SERBIAN 9/25)

SARAJEVO / US DIPLOMATS -- AFTER TALKS WITH US NEGOTIATORS, R OWEN AND C HILL, BOSNIAN REPRESENTATIVES AGREED THAT FOREIGN MINISTER M SACIRBEY WOULD ATTEND THE MEETING IN NEW YORK WITH HIS COUNTERPARTS FROM CROATIA AND YUGOSLAVIA. IT WAS ALSO SAID THAT A MORE DETAILED PLAN OF CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES FOR BOSNIA WOULD BE ANNOUNCED AT THE NEW YORK MINISTERIAL GATHERING. STRINGER BORO KONTIC REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO. (SERBIAN 9/25)

INSIDE AFRICA:

UGANDA / STRIKE -- THE DOCTORS AND MEDICAL WORKERS STRIKE CONTINUES. THE ARMY HAS SENT SUBSTITUTE DOCTORS TO HANDLE EMERGENCIES. STRINGER MIKE ARERENG IN KAMPALA REPORTS. (SWAHILI 9/25)

EAST AFRICA / CURRENCY -- GOVERNORS OF BANKS FROM KENYA, TANZANIA AND UGANDA AGREED ON THE USE OF THE THREE CURRENCIES IN THE REGION WITHOUT EXCHANGE AT THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE BUREAUS STARTING DECEMBER 31, 1995. STRINGER M G JOEL IN NAIROBI REPORTS. (SWAHILI 9/25)

KENYA / TRIAL POSTPONED -- THE TRIAL OF A DISSIDENT, KOIGI WA WAMWERE, A FORMER LEGISLATOR, WAS POSTPONED UNTIL OCTOBER 2, 1995. WAMWERE AND HIS ACCOMPLICE ARE CHARGED WITH ATTACKING A POLICE STATION AND WILL FACE THE DEATH PENALTY IF CONVICTED. REPORT BY STRINGER M G JOEL. (SWAHILI 9/25)

TANZANIA / ELECTION OBSERVERS -- IN PRPARATION FOR THE UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTIONS ON OCTOBER 29 ON THE MAINLAND AND OCTOBER 22 IN ZANZIBAR, OBSERVERS FROM FINLAND, NORWAY, FRANCE, BRITAIN AND HOLLAND HAVE ARRIVED. SOME HAVE ALREADY BEEN ASSIGNED TO THEIR POSTS IN THE MAINLAND. TANZANIA ALSO INVITED OBSERVERS FROM THE OAU AND THE UN. REPORT BY STRINGER PASCAL SHIJA. (SWAHILI 9/25)

EAST AFRICA / JIMMY CARTER -- FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER IS TOURING FOUR NATIONS IN EAST AFRICA. PRESIDENT CARTER, WHO LEFT NAIROBI TUESDAY, WILL MEET THE PRESIDENTS OF ETHIOPIA AND UGANDA AND WILL ALSO MEET WITH SOUTHERN SUDANESE REBELS TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION THERE. STRINGER M G JOEL REPORTS FROM NAIROBI. (SWAHILI 9/26)

GERMANY / NAMIBIA -- THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT IS GIVING NAMIBIA MORE THAN 100-MILLION NAMIBIAN DOLLARS FOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. STRINGER WILLIAM NYOKA REPORTS FROM NAMIBIA. (SWAHILI 9/26)

TANZANIA / ELECTIONS -- PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES IN TANZANIA CONTINUE THEIR ELECTION CAMPAIGNS. STRINGER EVEREST MUITUMBA IN DAR ES SALAAM REPORTS. (SWAHILI 9/26)

BURUNDI / UNREST -- THE SITUATION IN BUJUMBURA REMAINS TENSE AFTER GUNMEN ATTACKED THE NGAGARA SURBURB AND KILLED FIVE PEOPLE. STRINGER AMRANI BARUTWANAYO REPORTS FROM BUJUMBURA. (SWAHILI 9/26)

AFRICA / ENGLISH LANGUAGE CONFERENCE -- SCHOLARS AT A RECENT CONFERENCE ON LANGUAGE IN GRAHAMSTOWN, SOUTH AFRICA, DEBATED THE ROLE OF ENGLISH AFTER THE END OF ALL-WHITE RULE. REPORTER WILLIAM EAGLE SPOKE WITH PROFESSOR RICHARD TITTLESTAD OF THE ENGLISH ACADEMY OF SOUTHERN AFRICA; LINGUIST AND BRITISH PARLIAMENTARIAN, LORD RANDOLPH QUIRK; PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH, CHRIS JEFFREY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PORT ELIZABETH; AND PROFESSOR RICHARD BAILEY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 9/25)

NIGERIA / HUMAN RIGHTS -- TWO COMMONWEALTH HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS ARE CALLING FOR SANCTIONS IF NIGERIA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT DOES NOT IMPROVE ITS HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD AND ANNOUNCE A QUICK TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN RULE. REPORTER WILLIAM EAGLE SPOKE WITH LORD ERIC AVEBURY OF THE PARLIAMENTARY HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP AND NEVILLE LINTON OF THE COMMONWEALTH HUMAN RIGHTS INITIATIVE. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 9/26)

AFRICA / COFFEE -- AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF COFFEE PRODUCING NATIONS IS BEING HELD THIS WEEK IN LONDON. REPRESENTATIVES FROM ABOUT 60 COUNTRIES ARE TAKING PART, INCLUDING COFFEE GROWERS FROM AFRICA. REPORTER JOE DECAPUA SPOKE WITH SECRETARY OF THE INTERNATIONAL COFFEE COUNCIL IN LONDON, PABLO DUBOIS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 9/25)

NIGERIA / POLITICS -- ON OCTOBER 1, NIGERIAN MILITARY RULER GENERAL SANI ABACHA IS EXPECTED TO UNVEIL HIS PLAN FOR A RETURN TO CIVILIAN RULE, INCLUDING A TIMETABLE FOR THE TRANSITION. REPORTER JOE DECAPUA TALKED TO FUNSO AFOLAYAN, A NIGERIAN HISTORY PROFESSOR AT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS WHO ANALYZED OF THE SITUATION. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 9/26)

NIGERIA / PRO-DEMOCRACY GROUPS -- NIGERIAN PRO-DEMOCRACY GROUPS IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA HAVE UNVEILED AN ALTERNATIVE TIMETABLE FOR RESTORING DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA. REPORTER JAMES BUTTY HAS DETAILS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 9/26)

NIGERIA / TRADITIONAL RULERS -- THE HEAD OF THE NIGERIAN MILITARY GOVERNMENT GENERAL SANI ABACHA MET WITH YORUBA TRADITIONAL CHIEFS IN ABUJA MONDAY. IN REMARKS AT THE MEETING, HE SAID THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT WILL CARRY OUT THE VARIOUS SENTENCES PASSED ON 40 MILITARY AND CIVILIANS FOUND GUILTY OF A COUP PLOT BY A MILITARY TRIBUNAL LAST JUNE. THIS STATEMENT HAS BEEN INTERPRETED TO MEAN THAT NO PARDONS WILL BE GIVEN TO THE ALLEGED PLOTTERS. STRINGER BABANGIDA JIBRIN REPORTS. (HAUSA 9/26)

NIGERIA / SECT -- A SECT LEADER IN THE WESTERN CITY OF IBADAN, PROCLAIMING HIMSELF TO BE A MESSIAH, HAS CHALLENGED THE LEGALITY OF AN ORDER GIVEN TO HIM BY THE OYO STATE GOVERNOR TO LEAVE THE STATE. THE SECT LEADER WHOSE RELIGION IS CALLED KADGURU MAHARAJ, HAS FILED A LAWSUIT CHALLENGING THE RIGHTS OF THE GOVERNOR TO ASK HIM TO LEAVE. STRINGER AHMED MOHAMMED KWALAM VISITED THE HOME OF THE SECT LEADER IN IBADAN TO INTERVIEW HIM BUT WAS TURNED DOWN. (HAUSA 9/25)

NIGERIA / OPPOSITION SUMMIT -- NIGERIAN POLITICAL ASSOCIATIONS ARE MEETING IN LAGOS TO IRON OUT A COMMON POSITION ON THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT'S SOON-TO-BE-ANNOUNCED TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN RULE. REPORTER CHINEDU OFFOR HAS DETAILS FROM LAGOS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 9/25)

ZAMBIA / BY-ELECTIONS -- ZAMBIA'S FORMER PRESIDENT KENNETH KAUNDA EXPRESSES CONFIDENCE THAT HE'LL WIN NEXT YEAR'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. REPORTER RICHARD KOTEY SPOKE WITH MR. KAUNDA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 9/25)

CAMEROON / POLITICS -- CAMEROON'S LEADING OPPOSITION PARTY, THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT, HAS QUIT A POLITICAL ALLIANCE THAT IT HELPED FORM LAST YEAR. THE SDF SAYS ALLIANCE MEMBERS ARE OUT TO UNDERMINE ITS CHANCES IN LOCAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS. REPORTER JULIUS BARTHSON HAS DETAILS FROM YAOUNDE. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 9/25)

NIGER / TEACHERS' STRIKE ENDS -- STRINGER LAWAN BOUCAR REPORTS TEACHERS RESUMED THEIR DUTIES TUESDAY AFTER A TWO-WEEK STRIKE. A COMPROMISE WAS REACHED BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES THAT UPON IMPROVEMENT OF THE COUNTRY'S FINANCIAL SITUATION, THE GOVERNMENT WILL PAY TEACHERS THEIR OUTSTANDING ALLOWANCES. (HAUSA 9/26)

NIGER ECONOMY / IMF / WORLD BANK -- NIGER HAS BEEN COMMENDED BY IMF AND WORLD BANK OFFICIALS FOR THEIR HANDLING OF THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC CRISIS. THE COMMENDATION COMES AT THE END OF A WEEK-LONG MEETING HELD IN NIAMEY BETWEEN THE OFFICIALS OF THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS THE PROGRESS MADE TOWARDS ECONOMIC STABILITY. STRINGER LAWAL BOUCAR REPORTS FROM NIAMEY THAT FROM ALL INDICATIONS, THE COUNTRY IS NEAR TO SECURING A WORLD BANK LOAN. (HAUSA 9/25)

ETHIOPIA / JIMMY CARTER -- FORMER US PRESIDENT, JIMMY CARTER HAS FLOWN FROM NAIROBI TO ADDIS ABABA WHERE HE IS HOLDING A WORKSHOP ON HIS PROJECT CALLED GLOBAL 2000. OVER 200 DELEGATES FROM AFRICA INCLUDING MINISTERS OF AGRICULTURE ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE WORKSHOP. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE WORKSHOP IS TO IMPROVE AFRICAN AGRICULTURE THROUGH RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENT. STRINGER TAFESSE KIFLE REPORTS FROM ADDIS ABABA. (AMHARIC 9/26)

AMERICANA / MASSACHUSETTES -- IN HIS WEEKLY AMERICA PROGRAM, AMHARIC STAFFER WORK AFERAHU KEBEDE PRESENTS A PROFILE OF THE STATE OF MASSACHUSSETS, ONE OF THE ORIGINAL 13 COLONIES THAT FORMED THE UNITED STATES. (AMHARIC 9/29)

IVORY COAST / POL -- THE IVORIAN OPPOSITION IS REFUSING TO ABIDE BY THE GOVERNMENT'S DECREE FORBIDDING ALL DEMONSTRATIONS. STRINGER MOHAMED ELBOU REPORTS SOME YOUNG DEMONSTRATORS WERE SAID TO HAVE CLASHED WITH POLICE ON MONDAY. THE OPPOSITION IS PROTESTING A NEWLY-ADOPTED ELECTORAL CODE THAT DISQUALIFIES THEIR MAIN CANDIDATE FROM THE OCTOBER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. (FRENCH 9/25)

RWANDA / REFUGEES / ZAIRE -- ZAIREAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER, GERARD KAMANDA WA KAMANDA TOLD STAFFER FERDINAND FERELLA THAT ZAIRE IS SATISFIED WITH ASSURANCES GIVEN BY THE RWANDAN GOVERNMENT FOR THE RETURN OF THE REFUGEES. ZAIREAN AND RWANDAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTERS ARE MEETING IN GENEVA WITH THE HIGH COMMISSIONER ON REFUGEES TO PUT TOGETHER A REPATRIATION PLAN FOR THE MORE THAN TWO MILLION RWANDAN REFUGEES NOW IN CAMPS IN ZAIRE AND OTHER NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES. (FRENCH 9/25)

ECOWAS / LIBERIA -- ECOWAS SECRETARY GENERAL EDOUARD BENJAMIN TOLD FRENCH TO AFRICA INTERN FATOUMATA SIDIBE HE IS IN WASHINGTON TO SEEK ASSISTANCE FROM THE US TO HELP REINFORCE THE PEACE IN LIBERIA. THE ECOWAS DELEGATION IS ALSO SEEKING UN AND EUROPEAN SUPPORT TO HELP IMPLEMENT THE LIBERIAN PEACE AGREEMENT SIGNED ON AUGUST 19TH. (FRENCH 9/25)

AFRICA / CINEMA -- STAFFER SAMUEL KIENDREBEOGO INTERVIEWED ANNE LAURE FOLLY, A TOGOLESE MOVIE-MAKER AND WOMEN'S RIGHTS ADVOCATE. SHE DISCUSSES HER LATEST DOCUMENTARY AND SAYS SHE IS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE BUT ADDS AFRICAN WOMEN HAVE HAD, AT TIMES, TO FIGHT FOR MERE SURVIVAL AND COULD NOT FIGHT FOR THEIR RIGHTS. (FRENCH 9/25)

UN / SOUTH SUDAN CHILDREN -- UNESCO HAS LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN IN SOUTHERN SUDAN WITH THE AIM OF PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM BEING DRAGGED IN CIVIL WAR. CORRESPONDENT MOHAMED ATTIA REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (ARABIC 9/25)

INSIDE MIDEAST:

PEACE ACCORD / ARAB REACTION -- CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS ON ARAB REACTION TO THE SELF-RULE AGREEMENT. HE SAYS JORDAN AND EGYPT SUPPORT IT, WHILE LIBYA, SYRIA, IRAN AND PALESTINIAN GROUPS OPPOSE IT. (ARABIC 9/25)

AGREEMENT REACTION / EGYPT -- THE ARAB LEAGUE IN CAIRO HAS WELCOMED THE PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI AGREEMENT AND EXPRESSED HOPE THAT PROGRESS WILL BE MADE ON THE SYRIAN AND LEBANESE TRACKS OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH ISRAEL. STRINGER IBRAHIM ABDIN REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 9/25)

AGREEMENT / CAIRO -- STAFFER IBRAHIM ABDIN REPORTS FROM CAIRO THAT PALESTINIAN GROUPS HAVE MIXED REACTION TO THE INITIALING OF THE SELF-RULE AGREEMENT, SOME WELCOME IT, AND SOME CRITICIZE IT. (ARABIC 9/25)

ISRAEL / PALESTINIAN AGREEMENT -- STRINGER IMAN RAFI IN CAIRO INTERVIEWS EGYPTIAN POLITICIAN TAHA AL FARNAWANI ON REACTION TO THE SELF-RULE AGREEMENT. MS. RAFI ALSO INTERVIEWS FORMER EGYPTIAN PRIME MINISTER MUSTAFA KHALIL ON HIS VIEWS ON THE PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI AGREEMENT. (ARABIC 9/25)

PALESTINIAN / ISRAELI AGREEMENT -- HEAD OF THE POLITICAL DEPARTMENT IN THE PLO FAROUK QADDOUMI, IN AN INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY MOHAMED ATTIA IN NEW YORK, HAS STRONGLY ATTACKED THE SELF-RULE AGREEMENT AND SAID HE WILL NOT COOPERATE TO IMPLEMENT IT. (ARABIC 9/25)

ARAFAT / AMMAN -- PLO CHIEF YASSER ARAFAT MADE A SHORT VISIT TO JORDAN TO BRIEF CROWN PRINCE HASSAN AND JORDANIAN OFFICIALS ON THE SELF-RULE AGREEMENT WITH ISRAEL. STAFFER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 9/25)

PALESTINIAN / ISRAELI AGREEMENT -- CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI IN AMMAN AND STAFFER ZEINAB ABDELRAHMAN DISCUSS CHAIRMAN ARAFAT'S VISIT TO JORDAN TO BRIEF OFFICIALS ON THE NEW AGREEMENT. (ARABIC 9/25)

VIENNA / UN CONFERENCE / LAND MINES -- DELEGATES FROM FIFTY COUNTRIES ARE MEETING IN VIENNA TO DISCUSS NEW RESTRICTIONS AGAINST THE PRODUCTION AND USE OF LAND MINES WHICH KILL THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS EVERY YEAR. STRINGER ALI MAAN REPORTS FROM VIENNA. (ARABIC 9/25)

LEBANON / STOCK MARKET -- THE LEBANESE STOCK MARKET REOPENED IN BEIRUT MONDAY AFTER A 12-YEAR CLOSEDOWN DUE TO CIVIL WAR. CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS. (ARABIC 9/25)

US / JORDAN DEBTS -- STAFFER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS FROM AMMAN THAT AN AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED BETWEEN THE US AND JORDAN FOR THE CANCELLATION OF JORDAN'S DEBTS OWED TO THE US GOVERNMENT. (ARABIC 9/25)

ARAB COUNTRIES / TRADE -- A REPORT BY BANKERS ASSOCIATION IN DUBAI SAYS TRADE AMONG ARAB COUNTRIES HAS NEGATIVELY AFFECTED ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ SINCE 1991. STAFFER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS. (ARABIC 9/25)

BROTHERHOOD / OPPOSITION -- FIVE OPPOSITION PARTIES IN EGYPT HAVE APPEALED TO PRESIDENT MUBARAK TO RETRACT HIS DECISION TO TRY 49 MEMBERS OF THE ISLAMIC BROTHERHOOD MOVEMENT BEFORE A MILITARY TRIBUNAL. STRINGER IBRAHIM ABDIN REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 9/25)

US / WESTERN SAHARA -- THE US CALLED ON THE POLISARIO FRONT TO WORK SERIOUSLY TOWARD REMOVING ALL OBSTACLES DELAYING REFERENDUM IN WESTERN SAHARA. CORRESPONDENT MOHAMED ATTIA REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (ARABIC 9/25)

IRAQ / FRANCE / UN -- CORRESPONDENT MOHAMED ATTIA REPORTS FROM NEW YORK THAT FOREIGN MINISTERS OF FRANCE AND IRAQ MET TO DISCUSS PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING UN RESOLUTIONS AHEAD OF THE UN REVIEW OF IRAQ'S ADHERENCE TO RESOLUTIONS. (ARABIC 9/25)

IRAQ / US -- IRAQ HAS DENIED CLAIMS MADE BY FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE JAMES BAKER IN HIS NEW BOOK THAT IRAQ WAS PLANNING TO INVADE SAUDI ARABIA DURING THE GULF CRISIS. CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS. (ARABIC 9/25)

IRAQ / SUNKEN CHEMICAL WEAPONS -- STAFFER ZEINAB ABDELRAHMAN INTERVIEWS ABDEL RAHMAN AL AWADI OF THE REGIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE GULF ENVIRONMENT IN KUWAIT. HE COMMENTS ON REPORTS THAT SUNKEN IRAQI SHIPS IN THE GULF MAY CARRY CHEMICAL WEAPONS. (ARABIC 9/25)

WORLD BANK / ANNUAL REPORT -- STRINGER KHALIL ASSALI REPORTS THAT WORLD BANK'S ANNUAL REPORT REFLECTS FEARS THAT LOAN AVAILABILITY MAY SHRINK DUE TO TENDENCIES BY SOME MEMBERS TO DECREASE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS. (ARABIC 9/25)

LIBYA / PALESTINIANS -- STRINGER PEYMAN PEJMAN REPORTS ON LIBYA'S DECISION TO EXPEL PALESTINIANS. THE LIBYAN GOVERNMENT SAID THAT THE DECISION WAS ECONOMIC, NOT POLITICAL. THE COUNTRY JUST COULD NOT SUPPORT THE PALESTINIANS. (FARSI 9/26)TABA / INITIALING -- THE LONG-AWAITED PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI AGREEMENT ON EXPANDING PALESTINIAN SELF RULE WAS INITIALED THIS AFTERNOON. CORRESPONDENT IBRAHIM ABDIN REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 9/24)

ARAFAT-PERES / INITIALING -- AFTER INITIALING THE PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI AGREEMENT ON IMPLEMENTING THE SECOND PHASE OF THE DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES, PLO CHAIRMAN YASSER ARAFAT AND ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER SHIMON PERES EXPRESSED HOPE THAT THE JEWISH NEW YEAR WOULD BE A YEAR OF GENUINE PEACE. CORRESPONDENT IBRAHIM ABDIN REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 9/24)

PALESTINIAN / REACTION -- IN DAMASCUS, TWO PALESTINIAN OPPOSITION GROUPS CONDEMNED THE AGREEMENT TO EXPAND PALESTINIAN SELF RULE, WHICH WAS INITIALED SUNDAY. CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 9/24)

HUSSEIN / FRANCE / US -- KING HUSSEIN OF JORDAN LEFT AMMAN FOR FRANCE WHERE HE WILL ADDRESS THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARY UNION. HE THEN GOES TO WASHINGTON WHERE HE IS TO MEET PRESIDENT CLINTON. CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 9/24)

IRAN / KURDS -- AN IRANIAN NEWSPAPER SAYS THE TWO RIVAL KURDISH LEADERS: JALAL TALBANI AND MASOUD BARZANI, ASKED IRAN TO MEDIATE THEIR TALKS TO REACH A PEACEFUL SOLUTION. STAFFER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 9/24)

ARAB PREPARATIONS / UN HUMAN HABITAT MEETING -- THE THIRD ARAB PREPARATORY MEETING FOR THE UN HUMAN HABITATS OPENS TOMORROW IN MOROCCO. STRINGER MOHAMED BENDEDDOUCHE REPORTS FROM RABAT. (ARABIC 9/24)

IRAQ / UN -- ROLF EKEUS, HEAD OF THE UN SPECIAL COMMISSION ON IRAQ BEGINS A NEW MISSION NEXT WEEK IN BAGHDAD TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IRAQ'S WEAPONS PROGRAMS. STRINGER SULEIMAN KHAIRALLAH REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 9/23)

LEBANON / POL -- INTENSIVE POLITICAL ACTIVITY IS TAKING PLACE IN LEBANON WHERE THE LEBANESE PARLIAMENT MUST CHOOSE A NEW PRESIDENT WITHIN SIXTY DAYS. STRINGER SULEIMAN KHAIRALLAH REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 9/23)

GENERAL CONFERENCE / UN ATOMIC AGENCY -- THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY ASKED ALL MIDEAST COUNTRIES, WITHOUT NAMING ISRAEL, TO SUBJECT ALL THEIR NUCLEAR FACILITIES TO INTERNATIONAL INSPECTION. THE CONFERENCE CONDEMNED IRAQ FOR WITHHOLDING INFORMATION ON ITS WEAPONS PROGRAMS. STRINGER ALI MAAN REPORTS FROM VIENNA. (ARABIC 9/23)

PERCEPTIONS OF THE UNITED NATIONS -- REPORTER JOHN PITMAN SPEAKS TO JEFFREY LAURENTI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR POLICY STUDIES AT THE UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES, ABOUT GLOBAL PERCEPTIONS OF THE UN AND HOW AND WHY THEY DIFFER. HE SAYS AMERICANS AND OTHERS IN THE WEST VIEW THE UN PRIMARILY AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT ENFORCES AND IMPLEMENTS SECURITY AGREEMENTS AROUND THE WORLD. ELSEWHERE, ESPECIALLY IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD, THE UN IS UNDERSTOOD AS A HUMANITARIAN OPERATION. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 9/25)

INSIDE CENTRAL ASIA:

AZERBAIJAN POLITICS -- A SPECIAL DELEGATION OF THE MINSK GROUP IS VISITING BAKU FOR NEGOTIATIONS ON THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE PEACE-KEEPING FORCES IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH. STRINGER RAFAEL HUSAINOV REPORTS ABOUT THESE TALKS AND THE PRESS CONFERENCE THAT THE SWEDISH REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GROUP HAS GIVEN ABOUT THESE EARLY STAGES OF TALKS. THE GROUP WILL TRAVEL TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH. (AZERI 9/26)

INSIDE SOUTH ASIA:

BANGLADESH / ELECTION COMMISSION -- BANGLADESH ELECTION COMMISSION CALLED A MEETING OF ALL POLITICAL PARTIES TO DISCUSS THE PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. FIVE POLITICAL PARTIES BOYCOTTED THE MEETING SAYING WITHOUT RESOLVING THE REAL ISSUE THIS MEETING WILL BE MEANINGLESS. STRINGER ZAHURUL ALAM REPORTS FROM DHAKA. (BANGLA 9/26)

BANGLA / CHILD CARE -- DR. MOHAMMAD ABDUL BARI ONE OF BANGLADESH'S EIGHTY SIX PEDIATRICIANS TRYING TO SERVE OVER FIFTY MILLION CHILDREN, HAS DEMONSTRATED HOW ORGANIZED MOTHERS CAN FILL MUCH OF THE HEALTH CARE GAP THEMSELVES AND HOW TO PULL THE LARGELY UNUSED RESOURCES OF THE GOVERNMENT'S HEALTH SYSTEM IN TO HELP THEM. STAFFER ASIM CHAKRABART INTERVIEWS DR. BARI IN WASHINGTON. (BANGLA 9/26)

BANGLA / SPORTS COMMENTATOR -- BANGLA STAFFER ROQUIA HAIDER INTERVIEWS POPULAR SPORTS COMMENTATOR-WRITER ABDUL HAMID IN DHAKA ON THE PREPARATION OF THE NEXT SOUTH ASIAN GAMES TO BE HELD IN INDIA IN DECEMBER. (BANGLA 9/26)

KASHMIR / HOSTAGES -- AMANULLAH KHAN, CHAIRMAN OF JAMMU & KASHMIR LIBERATION FRONT (JKLF) HAS CONDEMNED THE AL FARAN GROUP FOR NOT FREEING THE FOUR WESTERN HOSTAGES IT IS STILL HOLDING. STAFFER BHAGWAN PRAKASH INTERVIEWED MR. KHAN BY TELEPHONE. (HINDI 9/25)

US / PAKISTAN / INDIA -- INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTER PRANAB MUKHERJEE HAS EXPRESSED GRAVE CONCERN AT THE HANK BROWN AMENDMENT, PASSED BY THE US SENATE, WHICH WILL PERMIT ONE TIME SUPPLY OF ARMS TO PAKISTAN. STRINGER NANDAN REPORTS THAT MANY OPPOSITION PARTIES IN INDIA HAVE ALSO CRITICIZED THE SENATE MOVE. (HINDI 9/25)

ENRON / MAHARASHTRA -- THE CHIEF MINISTER OF INDIAN STATE OF MAHARASHTRA, MANOHAR JOSHI HAS INDICATED THAT HIS GOVERNMENT IS PREPARED TO CONSIDER ANY SUBSTANTIAL NEW PROPOSALS ENRON MAY MAKE TO REVIVE THE MULTI BILLION DOLLAR POWER PROJECT WHICH WAS EARLIER CANCELLED BY HIS STATE. STRINGER REPORT. (HINDI 9/25)

STATUES / MILK -- THERE WERE WIDE SPREAD REPORTS IN INDIA, THE US AND SEVERAL OTHER COUNTRIES THAT STATUES OF INDIAN GOD "GANESHA" WERE DRINKING MILK OFFERED BY DEVOTEES. RICHARD MULLER, PROFESSOR OF PHYSICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKLEY OFFERS SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION OF THE 'MIRACLE' IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER GULSHAN MADHUR. (HINDI 9/25)

HEALTH AND YOGA -- ACHARYA OM DUTT SHARMA, PRESIDENT OF A YOGA INSTITUTE IN ROHTAK, INDIA, TALKS ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF YOGA IN MAINTAINING HEALTH IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER JAGDISH VASHIST. MR. SHARMA CAME TO THE US TO ATTEND AN ARYAN CONFERENCE IN DETROIT. (HINDI 9/24)

INDIAN SINGER -- HABIB WALI MOHAMMED, A LIGHT CLASSICAL SINGER FROM INDIA IS ON A CONCERT TOUR OF THE US. STAFFER VIJAY LAXMI INTERVIEWED MR. WALI MOHAMMED AND INCLUDED SAMPLES OF HIS SINGING IN HER REPORT. (HINDI 9/24)

AFGHAN / IRAN -- STRINGER, ABDUL HAI WARSHAN REPORTS AN IRANIAN DELEGATION AFTER MEETING WITH GENERAL DOSTAM IN MAZARISHARIF RETURNED TO ISLAMABAD. ALTHOUGH THE DETAILS OF THE TALKS BETWEEN THE IRANIAN DELEGATION AND GENERAL DOSTAM WERE NOT REVEALED, A PUBLICATION OF HIKMATYAR'S PARTY SAYS GENERAL DOSTAM CALLED FOR MR. RABANI'S RESIGNATION. (PASHTO 9/24)

AFGHAN / POL -- A TALEBAN SPOKESMAN IN PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN, TOLD REPORTER SPOZHMAI MAIWANDI THAT THEY DELAYED THEIR ATTACK ON KABUL FOR HUMANITARIAN REASONS. MAULAWI AHMAD JAN ADDED THAT THEY DID NOT WANT CIVILIANS TO BE HARMED SO THEY ARE ONCE AGAIN ASKING THEM TO LEAVE POSSIBLE GOVERNMENT TARGETS IN KABUL AND THE SURROUNDING AREA. (PASHTO 9/25)

AFGHAN / CENTRAL ASIA -- EDEN NABI OF THE CENTER FOR MIDDLE EAST STUDIES AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY TOLD REPORTER MOMAND THAT AFGHANISTAN IS A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE NEWLY INDEPENDENT STATES OF THE FORMER SOVIET UNION AND SOUTHERN ASIA. EDEN NABI SAYS THAT FOR AFGHANS TO REALIZE THE POTENTIAL TRADE BENEFITS, AFGHANISTAN NEEDS A STRONG CENTRAL GOVERNMENT. (PASHTO 9/25)

AFGHAN / EDUCATION -- THE HEAD OF THE UNION OF AFGHAN PROFESSORS IN PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN, TOLD REPORTER TEGEY THAT THE PURPOSE OF THEIR UNION WAS TO KEEP THE AFGHAN EDUCATORS INVOLVED IN THE ACADEMIC FIELDS SO THEY CAN HELP THEIR COUNTRY IN THE FUTURE. BUT MR. TANIWAL ADDED THAT NOW THE FINANCIAL SOURCES HAVE DRIED UP, THEIR MEMBERS ARE PRESSED FOR FINDING JOBS. (PASHTO 9/26)

SRI LANKA / VIOLENCE -- REPORTER SUSAN YACKEE SPEAKS WITH MARSHAL SINGER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURG ABOUT HIS JUST CONCLUDED TRIP TO SRI LANKA. THE PROFESSOR SAYS HE HAS SOME OPTIMISM ABOUT THE PEACE PROCESS IN SRI LANKA AND HE HAS HOPES THAT A CURRENT PEACE PROPOSAL WILL BE ACCEPTED BY ALL SIDES. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 9/25)

INDIA / TURKMENISTAN -- A JOINT COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE CONCLUSION OF INDIAN PRIME MINISTER RAO'S VISIT TO TURKMENISTAN SUPPORTS THE RESOLUTION OF INDIA-PAKISTAN DISPUTES ACCORDING TO THE SIMLA AGREEMENT, A PERMANENT SEAT FOR INDIA IN THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL AND WELCOMES TURKMENISTAN'S DECISION TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE NON-ALINGNED MOVEMENT. STRINGER REPORT. (HINDI 9/22)

KASHMIR -- INDIAN OFFICIALS SAY THAT THEY ARE AGAIN PROPOSING BILATERAL TALKS WITH PAKISTAN TO RESOLVE THE KASHMIR DISPUTE. A FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, HOWEVER, REITERATED THAT INDIA WILL NOT ACCEPT MEDIATION BY ANY THIRD PARTY. STRINGER KL NANDAN PROVIDES DETAILS. (HINDI 9/22)

VIVEKANANDA / MEMORIAL -- A BRONZE PLAQUE HAS BEEN INSTALLED AT THE FULLERTON HALL OF CHICAGO'S ART INSTITUTE IN MEMORY OF INDIAN SAINT, SWAMI VIVEKANADA WHO ADDRESSED A GATHERING OF WORLD RELIGIOUS LEADERS MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO AT THE SAME SPOT. STAFFER SUBHASH VOHRA REPORTS WITH COMMENTS FROM INDIAN AMBASSADOR RAY AND CHICAGO ARTS INSTITUTE DIRECTOR, JAMES WOOD. (HINDI 9/22)

DAVIS CUP / QUALIFYING MATCHES -- IN THE GRASS-COURT QUALIFYING MATCHES FOR THE DAVIS CUP TENNIS TOURNAMENT, INDIA AND CROATIA ARE RUNNING NECK TO NECK. IN THE TWO SINGLES PLAYED IN NEW DELHI, INDIA WON THE FIRST MATCH BUT CROATIA DEFEATED INDIA IN THE SECOND. STRINGER JASDEV SINGH REPORTS. (HINDI 9/22)

STRANDED BANGLADESHIS IN THAILAND -- ABOUT 40,000 BANGLADESHIS ARE STRANDED ON THE THAI-MALAYSIA BORDER. DISHONEST EMPLOYMENT AGENTS OPERATING IN BANGLADESH PROMISED THESE PEOPLE THAT THEY WILL GET JOBS IN MALAYSIA IF THEY PAY A FEE WHICH RANGES FROM $1000.00 TO $3000.00 PER PERSON. ALTHOUGH THESE UNSUSPECTING BANGLADESHIS MANAGED TO ENTER MALAYSIA, THEY WERE UNABLE TO STAY AND WORK IN THAT COUNTRY WITHOUT LEGAL WORK PERMITS. THE MALAYSIAN AUTHORITIES THREW THEM OUT OF THEIR COUNTRY. THEY CROSSED THE BORDER AND ARE NOW HIDING IN THE JUNGLES OF THAILAND, WITHOUT ANY MONEY OR FOOD. FROM DHAKA, STRINGER MATIUR RAHMAN CHOWDHURY REPORTS. (BANGLA 9/22)

NEW HINDU TEMPLE IN LONDON -- A NEW HINDU TEMPLE HAS BEEN BUILT IN LONDON AT THE COST OF THREE MILLION POUNDS. FROM LONDON, STRINGER SHAMEEN CHAUDHURY REPORTS. (BANGLA 9/22)

KARACHI KILLINGS -- STRINGER QAISER MAHMOOD REPORTS THAT VIOLENCE ERUPTED AGAIN IN KARACHI WHICH CLAIMED SEVEN LIVES SATURDAY AND 14 SUNDAY. HOWEVER, THE DOMINANT POLITICAL PARTY OF THE CITY, MQM (MOHAJIR QUOMI MOVEMENT) SAYS IT IS COMMITTED TO HOLD ANOTHER ROUND OF PEACE TALKS WITH THE GOVERNMENT DELEGATION IN ISLAMABAD TUESDAY. (URDU 9/24)

PAK / US -- PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER SARDAR ASIF AHMAD ALI SAID IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER RAZI AHMAD RIZVI THAT HIS COUNTRY IS FULLY SATISFIED WITH THE SENATE APPROVAL OF ARMS SALES TO PAKISTAN AND APPRECIATES PRESIDENT CLINTON'S AND CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS' EFFORTS. COMMENTING ON THE WORSENING RELATIONS BETWEEN PAKISTAN AND THE KABUL REGIME HE SAYS THAT BURHANUDDIN RABBANI'S ADMINISTRATION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PRESENT STATE OF THE RELATIONSHIP. (URDU 9/24)

PAK / UN / HUMAN RIGHTS -- A WELL KNOWN PAKISTANI HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST ANSAR BURNEY IN NEW YORK ATTENDED A THREE-DAY NON-GOVERNMERNTAL ORGANIZATIONS' ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON HUMAN RIGHTS. HE TOLD STAFFER RAZI RIZVI THAT PARTICIPANTS EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN THE URBAN AREAS OF SINDH IN PAKISTAN. (URDU 9/23)

PAKISTAN / SQUASH -- PAKISTANI SQUASH LEGEND, HASHIM KHAN, RECENTLY TALKED TO STAFFER MOHAMMAD ANWAR AND EXPLAINED THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH FORCED HIM TO MOVE TO THE UNITED STATES FROM PAKISTAN. DURING HIS HEY DAYS HE DOMINATED THE SQUASH WORLD AND WON MORE THAN 75 INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. (URDU 9/23)

INSIDE EAST ASIA:

CHINA / FOOD SHORTAGE -- RECENT REPORTS BY CHINESE, AMERICAN AND JAPANESE INSTITUTIONS WARN THAT IN FIVE YEARS CHINA WILL FACE A CRITICAL FOOD SHORTAGE. RESEARCH DONE BY WORLDVIEW INSTITUTE PREDICTS THAT CHINA WILL BE SHORT 156 MILLION TONS OF FOOD. EXPERTS SAY THE MORE INDUSTRIALIZED YANGZE AND PEARL RIVER AREAS WILL BE HIT HARDEST. HONG KONG STRINGER LI SU INTERVIEWS PROFESSORS LIN YIFU, HONG KONG SCIENCE & TECH UNIV, WEN SIMEI, SOUTH CHINA AGRICULTURE UNIVERSITY, AND PENG ZHIGANG, SUN YAT-SEN UNIV. (MANDARIN 9/26)

TAIWAN / ELECTION / DPP NOMINATION -- THE TAIWAN DEMOCRATIC PROGRESSIVE PARTY (DPP) HAS ANNOUNCED THAT PENG MING-MIN, WHO SPENT 22 YEARS IN EXILE AND ADVOCATES TAIWAN INDEPENDENCE, WILL BE ITS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION NEXT YEAR. STAFFER YANG YANG INTERVIEWS TAIWAN UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR LU YA-LI, AN EXPERT IN TAIWAN POLITICS, WHO COMMENTS ON PENG'S NOMINATION. (MANDARIN 9/26)

CHINA / DISSIDENT'S BANK DEPOSITS FROZEN -- DISSIDENT CHEN ZIMING'S BANK DEPOSITS HAVE BEEN FROZEN BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. ACCORDING TO HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA, CHEN'S HEALTH HAS DETERIORATED SEVERELY SINCE HE WAS IMPRISONED AGAIN IN JUNE. HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA HAS PROTESTED THE FREEZING OF CHEN'S BANK ACCOUNT AND HIS INCARCERATION. STAFFERS RUOSI WU AND ZHANG YONGTAI REPORT WITH AN INTERVIEW WITH LIU QING, CHAIRMAN OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA. (MANDARIN 9/26)

HONG KONG / POST 1997 / INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS -- THE WORKING GROUP PREPARING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL DISTRICT SAID MONDAY THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WILL BE FLEXIBLE ON HONG KONG INSTITUTIONS' PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND CONFERENCES. THIS IS A STEP BACK FROM BEIJING 'S POSITION OF JUNE AND JULY. STAFFER CHOU YUNTING INTERVIEWS TIMOTHY WONG, RESEARCHER AT THE INSTITUTE FOR ASIAN AND PACIFIC STUDIES AT THE CHINESE UNIV. OF HONG KONG, AND DENG TEKANG, PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, HONG KONG UNIVERSITY. (MANDARIN 9/26)

KOREAN ARMISTICE PACT / CHINA -- SOUTH KOREA'S MAJOR NEWSPAPERS REPORT SOUTH KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTER GONG RO MYUNG SAID THAT CHINA, AS A SIGNER, EXPRESSED HOPE TO MAINTAIN THE KOREAN ARMISTICE AGREEMENT. MR. GONG SAYS THAT THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER INFORMED HIM OF THE CHINESE POSITION IN JULY IN BRUNAI. NORTH KOREA INSISTS THAT THE KOREAN ARMISTICE AGREEMENT BE REPLACED BY A PEACE TREATY WITH THE UNITED STATES. SOUTH KOREA AND THE US HAVE OPPOSED TO THE PROPOSAL. CORRESPONDENT YONG KYUNG LIM REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 9/26)

NORTH KOREA / US / CONSULAR PROTECTION -- NORTH KOREA AND THE US AGREED TO GIVE A TEMPORARY CONSULAR PROTECTION RIGHTS TO EACH OTHER UNTIL LIAISON OFFICES ARE ESTABLISHED IN WASHINGTON AND PYONGYANG, THE SOUTH KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTRY REVEALED IN SEOUL. A US DELEGATION IS IN PYONGYANG DISCUSSING ARRANGEMENTS FOR OPENING LIAISON OFFICES. THE US CONSULAR RIGHTS OVER ITS CITIZENS IN NORTH KOREA WILL BE EXECUTED BY THE SWEDISH MISSION IN PYONGYANG, WHILE THE NORTH KOREAN MISSION TO THE UN IN NEW YORK TAKE CARE OF ITS CITIZENS IN THE US. CORRESPONDENT YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 9/26)

NORTH / SOUTH KOREA / BEIJING TALKS -- A SOUTH KOREAN DELEGATION LEFT FOR BEIJING TO RESUME TALKS WITH NORTH KOREA ON BILATERAL ISSUES INCLUDING ECONOMIC COOPERATION. THE TALKS, SUSPENDED SINCE JUNE, WILL BEGIN WEDNESDAY. BEFORE LEAVING SEOUL, THE SOUTH KOREAN DELEGATION SAID THAT SOUTH KOREA IS WILLING TO GIVE FLOOD-STRICKEN NORTH KOREA LARGE-SCALE RELIEF AID, IF PYONGYANG RELEASES THE SOUTH KOREAN FISHING BOAT "YUSONG" SEIZED BY THE NORTH KOREAN IN MAY. STAFFER YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 9/26)

KHMER ROUGE / KOMPONG CHHNANG PROVINCE -- OUR STRINGER IN CAMBODIA REPORTS THAT THE KHMER ROUGE ARE INCREASING THEIR ACTIVITIES IN THE TOWN OF BORIBO IN KOMPONG CHHNANG PROVINCE. CLASHES BETWEEN THE KHMER ROUGE AND GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS ARE ALSO REPORTED. (KHMER 9/26)

JAPAN / POLITICS -- STRINGER PAMELA BURTON DISCUSSES JAPANESE POLITICS, SPECIFICALLY THE NAMING OF RYUTARO HASHIMOTO TO HEAD JAPAN'S LARGEST POLITICAL PARTY. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 9/22)

HASHIMOTO PROFILE -- REPORTER JOHN PITMAN SPEAKS TO DOUGLAS PAUL, PRESIDENT OF THE ASIA-PACIFIC POLICY CENTER, ABOUT RYUTARO HASHIMOTO'S REPUTATION AS A "NATIONALIST" POLITICIAN. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 9/22)

HONG KONG / MINIMUM WAGE -- THE GOVERNMENT WILL FREEZE THE MINIMUM WAGE OF SOME 150,000 FOREIGN NATIONALS WORKING AS DOMESTIC HELPERS AT HK 3,750 PER MONTH. DUE TO THE FREEZE, SOME DOMESTIC HELPERS MAY HAVE TO MOONLIGHT ILLEGALLY. REPORTER LAWRENCE NG INTERVIEWS: WONG YIU TIM, A SENIOR LECTURER AT LINGNAN COLLEGE, BETTY YUNG, CHAIRMAN, HONG KONG DOMESTIC HELP EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATION AND MUNG SIU TAT, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, HONG KONG FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS. (CANTONESE 9/26)

HONG KONG / AIRPORT WORKERS STRIKE -- EIGHT HUNDRED THAI CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AT THE NEW AIRPORT PROJECT WENT ON STRIKE, COMPLAINING THAT THE MANAGEMENT HAS WITHHELD OVER 50 PERCENT OF THEIR WAGES. AN AGREEMENT WAS REACHED WHICH PROVIDED THAT WITHHOLDINGS WILL NOT EXCEED 25 PERCENT OF THEIR WAGES. STRINGER YEUNG WAI LING REPORTS FROM HONG KONG. (CANTONESE 9/26)

INSIDE EUROPE:

TURKEY / PRIVATIZATION -- PROFESSOR EKREM PAKDEMIRLI, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE MAIN OPPOSITION MOTHERLAND PARTY, SAID SPEEDING UP THE PRIVATIZATION PROGRAM IS THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY AWAITING THE NEW GOVERNMENT IN TURKEY. ECONOMIST BY TRAINING AND A FORMER CABINET MINISTER IN CHARGE OF THE ECONOMY, PAKDEMIRLI DISCUSSED THE STATE OF THE TURKISH ECONOMY DURING A PANEL DISCUSSION AS PART OF THE ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE AMERICAN-TURKISH ASSOCIATIONS IN WASHINGTON. STAFFER HALE EBIRI INTERVIEWED THE TURKISH ECONOMIST ON THE PRIVATIZATION EFFORTS IN TURKEY. (TURKISH 9/26)

MLADIC / BOSNIA -- BOSNIAN SERB COMMANDER GENERAL RATKO MLADIC TALKED WITH REPORTERS IN BANJALUKA, FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER A SURGERY IN BELGRADE. MR. MLADIC SAID THAT IN SPITE OF INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE, BOSNIAN SERBS WILL NOT BACK-OFF UNDER INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE. STRINGER DUSKO MASIC REPORTS. (SERBIAN 9/26)

GERMANY / SERBIA / BOSNIA -- VISITING YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER MILUTINOVIC HAS BEEN COOLY RECEIVED BY GERMANY'S KLAUS KINKEL. MEANWHILE, BUNDESTAG CONTINUES DEBATE ON GERMANY'S PARTICIPATION IN PROPOSED NEW MULTILATERAL PEACEKEEPING FORCES IN BOSNIA. STRINGER DRAGAN BISENIC REPORTS. (SERBIAN 9/26)

BOSNIA / RUSSIA -- PRESIDENT YELTSIN MADE PUBLIC HIS PLAN FOR JOINT RUSSIAN-NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCES TO REPLACE UN PEACEKEEPERS IN BOSNIA ONCE THE PEACE AGREEMENT IS SIGNED. STRINGER RISTO BAJALSKI REPORTS. (SERBIAN 9/26)

BOSNIA / PEACE TALKS -- THE BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY OPENED A DIRECT PHONE LINE WITH ITS DELEGATION ATTENDING THE PEACE TALKS IN NEW YORK. MEANWHILE, BOSNIAN AND BOSNIAN SERB SIDES EXCHANGED 17 WAR PRISONERS IN SARAJEVO IN THE FIRST SUCH SWAP FOR MONTHS. STRINGER BORO KONTIC REPORTS. (SERBIAN 9/26)

BOSNIA / CONFLICT -- STAFFER IDRISSA FALL REPORTS ON THE BOSNIAN CONFLICT. WITH ALAIN GRESH, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF LE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUE, MR. FALL REVIEWED THE HISTORY OF THE REGION AND HOW DIFFERENT EVENTS LED TO TODAY'S CONFLICT. ALSO INTERVIEWED WAS JACQUES RUPNIC, PROFESSOR AT THE POLITICAL STUDIES INSTITUTE IN PARIS AND AUTHOR OF A BOOK ENTITLED FROM SARAJEVO TO SARAJEVO. THE REPORT INCLUDES ACTUALITIES FROM PROFESSOR GALE STOKES WHO TEACHES THE HISTORY OF THE BALKAN REGION AT RICE UNIVERSITY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. (FRENCH 9/26)

BOSNIA / PEACE TALKS -- ON THE EVE OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE TALKS IN NEW YORK, SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER SAID BOSNIA MUST REMAIN A UNIFIED STATE IN WHICH EVERYONE WILL HAVE RIGHTS TO LIVE A DECENT LIFE, AND IN WHICH EVERYONE'S RIGHTS WILL BE RESPECTED. CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MATE GRANIC SAID THAT PEACE IS POSSIBLE ONLY IF A QUICK REINTEGRATION OF THE CROATIAN TERRITORIES CAN BE DONE. STRINGER IVICA PULJIC REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (CROATIAN 9/26)

CONTACT GROUP / BOSNIA -- THE FIVE-MEMBER CONTACT GROUP FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA BEGINS MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTERS OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AND CROATIA IN NEW YORK. STRINGER IVICA PULJIC REPORTS THAT US SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER OPENED THE TALKS. HE ALSO QUOTED CROATIAN MINISTER MATE GRANIC AS SAYING THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR HIS COUNTRY IS EASTERN SLAVONIA, PART OF CROATIA STILL UNDER SERBIAN CONTROL. (CROATIAN 9/26)

BOSNIA / PEACE TALKS -- STRINGER VLADO BILIC REPORTS A PHONE LINE BETWEEN SARAJEVO AND WASHINGTON OPENED TUESDAY SO THAT THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT IS CURRENT ON ISSUES OF THE NEW YORK TALKS. HE ALSO QUOTES UN OFFICIALS IN SARAJEVO AS SAYING THAT THE UN WAS PREVENTED ACCESS TO ALLEGED MASS GRAVES OF MUSLIMS IN THE TOWN OF KLJUC. (CROATIAN 9/26)

BOSNIA / CROATIA / REFUGEES -- STRINGER BILIC REPORTS THAT THE BOSNIA-CROAT FEDERATION IS FACING A LOT OF DIFFICULTIES ABOUT REPATRIATION OF MUSLIMS AND CROATS BACK TO BOSNIA. (CROATIAN 9/26)

BOSNIA / AMBASSADOR INTERVIEW -- STAFFER IDRISSA FALL INTERVIEWED AMBASSADOR OF BOSNIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS IN GENEVA, MOUSTAPHA BIEDIC. AMBASSADOR BIEDIC SPOKE OF HIS GOVERNMENT'S EXPECTATIONS FROM THE CONFERENCE TO BE HELD TUESDAY IN NEW YORK WHERE ALL PARTIES TO THE BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA CONFLICT WILL MEET TO BUILD ON THE AGREEMENT REACHED EARLIER THIS MONTH. (FRENCH 9/25)

CROATIA / FRANCE -- CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN'S TALKS WITH FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC RESULTED IN BETTER MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING SAYS CROATIA'S AMBASSADOR IN PARIS SMILJAN SIMAC. AMBASSADOR SIMAC SAYS ZAGREB IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE PRESENT LEVEL OF RELATIONS WITH FRANCE. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER ZORZ CRMARIC, HE ADDED THAT PRESIDENT TUDJMAN'S VISIT RESULTED IN SEVERAL USEFUL AGREEMENTS. (CROATIAN 9/26)

TUDJMAN / PARIS -- AFTER TALKS WITH FRENCH PRESIDENT J CHIRAC, CROATIAN LEADER . TUDJMAN STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF RESOLVING THE PROBLEM OF EASTERN SLAVONIA THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS RATHER THAN BY MILITARY FORCE. PRESIDENT TUDJMAN ALSO SAID THAT THERE IS A CHANCE TO REACH A PEACEFUL AGREEMENT ON BOSNIA AT THE FORTHCOMING MINISTERIAL MEETING IN NEW YORK. STRINGER DRAGAN BLAGOJEVIC REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS. (SERBIAN 9/25)

CROATIA / REFUGEES -- UN OFFICIALS IN ZAGREB EXPRESS DEEP CONCERN OVER CROATIA'S DECISION TO REPATRIATE A NUMBER OF BOSNIAN REFUGEES BACK TO BOSNIA. MEANWHILE, MOST OF THE CROATIAN OPPOSITION PARTIES DECIDED TO UNITE AGAINST THE RULING CROATIAN DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE AT FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS. STRINGER STEVICA SUSA REPORTS. (SERBIAN 9/26)

LIBOR NOVACEK / KENNEDY CENTER -- STAFFER JARMILA CECH INTERVIEWS SIXTEEN YEAR OLD CZECH MUSICAL PRODIGY LIBOR NOVACEK, JR WHO PERFORMED AT THE KENNEDY CENTER, ACCOMPANIED BY THE CZECHOSLOVAK CHAMBER ORCHESTRA. (CZECH 9/24)

PRESIDENT ILIESCU / WASHINGTON -- ROMANIA'S PRESIDENT ION IIESCU WAS INTERVIEWED AT THE ANDREWS BASE UPON HIS ARRIVAL IN WASHINGTON. COVERAGE OF THE AFTERNOON EVENTS INCLUDED THE ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY WREATH LAYING CEREMONY AND THE VISIT PAID BY ROMANIAN'S PRESIDENT TO THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. ELENA LAZAR AND VLADIMIR GODEANU HAS DETAILS. (ROMANIAN 9/25)

INSIDE LATIN AMERICA:

COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT / DRUGS -- COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT ERNESTO SAMPER TESTIFIED AT A CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE HEARING ABOUT ALLEGATIONS THAT DRUG MONEY WAS USED IN HIS ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN EN 1994. STRINGER JUAN ALVARO CASTELLANOS REPORTS FROM BOGOTA. (SPANISH 9/26)

PARAGUAY / LABOR STRIKES -- LABOR UNIONS IN PARAGUAY CALLED A GENERAL STRIKE TO PROTEST ECONOMIC POLICIES. STRINGER MARCOS ALVAREZ REPORTS FROM ASUNCION. ONE PERSON WAS INJURED AND THERE WERE PROPERTY DAMAGES DURING DEMONSTRATORS CLASHES WITH POLICE IN DIFFERENT PLACES OF THE CAPITAL. (SPANISH 9/25) 26-Sep-95 7:27 PM EDT (2327 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.

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

INTRO: THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY OVER CONTROL OF THE WEST BANK IS THE MAJOR EDITORIAL TOPIC IN U-S NEWSPAPERS THIS TUESDAY MORNING. OTHER SUBJECTS UNDER DISCUSSION INCLUDE RESTRAINTS ON PRESS COVERAGE OF TURKEY'S WAR WITH THE KURDS; SENATOR JESSE HELMS AFFECTS ON U-S FOREIGN POLICY; CONGRESSIONAL PLANS TO REFORM THE MEDICARE AND MEDICAID HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS, AND CUTS IN THE NATIONAL SOCIAL SERVICE GROUP, AMERICORPS. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME OF THE COMMENTARIES IS ______________________ AND TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: SPEAKING OF THE LATEST ISRALI-PALESTINIAN PEACE AGREEMENT, DUE TO BE SIGNED IN WASHINGTON THURSDAY, "THE WASHINGTON POST" SAYS:

VOICE: "THE LATEST ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN ACCORD IS A BIG ONE, MAKING THE HISTORIC MOVE TOWARD ACCOMMODATION OF THE TWO PEOPLES ALL BUT IRREVERSIBLE. ... THE FACT IS THAT THE POLITICAL AND TERRITORIAL GAINS PALESTINIANS MAKE IN THIS AGREEMENT PUT THEM WELL ON THE ROAD TO BECOMING A STATE. "

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SHARES THE "THE POST'S" OPTIMISM, EXCLAIMING:

VOICE: "... THE AGREEMENT REACHED SUNDAY FOR EXTENDING PALESTINIAN AUTONOMY TO THE MAJOR POPULATION CENTERS OF THE WEST BANK IS A MOMENTOUS SUBSTANTIVE STEP TOWARD TRANSLATING THE HOPE OF OSLO INTO REALITY."

TEXT: AND IN CALIFORNIA, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" IS MORE RESERVED IN ITS ASSESSMENT OF THIS LATEST MIDEAST PEACE ACHIEVEMENT, AND VOICES SOME OF CAUTION:

VOICE: "THERE ARE INESCAPABLE SECURITY RISKS IN BEGINNING TO WITHDRAW FROM PARTS OF THE WEST BANK. THERE ARE NO LESS CERTAIN RISKS -- MORAL AS WELL AS POLITICAL -- IN SEEKING TO PERPETUATE INDEFINITELY THE STERILE STATUS QUO. YASSER ARAFAT AND YITZHAK RABIN WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO SATISFY THE EXTREMISTS IN THEIR TWO CAMPS. BOTH DESERVE CREDIT FOR HAVING THE COURAGE TO DEFY THEM."

TEXT: IN NEW ENGLAND, "THE PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD" CALLS THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN ACCORD "THE ROSH HASHANA PEACE [THAT] BLESSES [AN] ANCIENT LAND, ADDING:

VOICE: "THOSE WHO SAW THE HAND OF GOD IN THIS INCLUDED ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER SHIMON PERES. 'THE LORD HAS OFFERED US A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF HOPELESSNESS AND DESPERATION AND BLOODSHED INTO SOMETHING MORE PROMISING, MORE NOBLE, MORE HUMANE,' HE SAID. ... MAY THIS NEW YEAR'S PEACE GIVE THEM THAT CHANCE, AND THE LANDS OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND JACOB KNOW WAR NO MORE."

TEXT: A LEADING NEW ENGLAND DAILY, "THE BOSTON GLOBE", COMMENTS:

VOICE: "IF THIS CONTRACT IS IMPLEMENTED, A CENTURY OF NATIONALIST PASSION AND COMMUNAL VENGEFULNESS WILL CULMINATE IN AN IMPERFECT BUT PRACTICAL RESOLUTION OF A DESOLATING CONFLICT."

TEXT: AND IN FLORIDA, "THE MIAMI HERALD" SUGGESTS:

VOICE: "FOR THE MOMENT, PALESTINIANS CAN TAKE A BREATHER, [A REST] AND ISRAELIS CAN CELEBRATE A NEW YEAR. ARDUOUS AS THESE NEGOTIATIONS WERE, IN THE NEXT ROUND, WHICH BEGINS IN MAY, BOTH SIDES MUST TACKLE STILL HARDER ISSUES -- SUCH AS WATER RIGHTS AND THE STATUS OF JERUSALEM."

TEXT: TURNING TO OTHER ISSUES, "THE WASHINGTON POST" CITES THE ARREST OF A REUTERS JOURNALIST, ALIZA MARCUS, IN TURKEY, FOR HER REPORTING ON THE KURDISH REBELLION, TO COMMENT ON THE EROSION OF PRESS FREEDOM IN THAT MUSLIM COUNTRY.

VOICE: "[OPT] MS. MARCUS ... WILL BE PUT ON TRIAL FOR ALLEGEDLY VIOLATING A TURKISH LAW AGAINST FOMENTING HATRED BETWEEN ETHNIC GROUPS. SHE IS CHARGED WITH NO FACTUAL ERROR BUT MERELY WITH REPORTING ON THE BAD STATE OF THE WAR, WHICH PERSISTS DESPITE ESCALATING MILITARY PRESSURE AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CASUALTIES ON BOTH SIDES. [END OPT] ... THE ANKARA GOVERNMENT FACES A MISERABLE SITUATION IN DEALING WITH THE P-K-K [THE KURDISH WORKERS PARTY] ... AN UNSAVORY GROUP WHICH ITSELF HAS ENGAGED IN MANY ABUSES... BUT A SOCIETY, ANY SOCIETY, ASKS FOR NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WHEN IT INSISTS ON COMPOUNDING ITS PROBLEMS BY HOUNDING DISSENTERS EVEN AS DISSENT SPREADS TO AN EVER BROADER SWATH OF SOCIETY."

TEXT: "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" SPEAKS OUT AGAINST THE RECENT ACTIONS OF NORTH CAROLINA SENATOR JESSE HELMS, CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE, WHO IS FEUDING WITH THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION.

VOICE: "FOR MOST OF HIS 22 YEARS IN THE SENATE, JESSE HELMS OF NORTH CAROLINA HAS BEEN AN EMBARRASSMENT TO FELLOW REPUBLICANS. ... NOW, HOWEVER, THE SENATOR IS CHAIRMAN OF THE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE, AND HE CAN CAUSE MORE DAMAGE. ... HE HAS ESSENTIALLY SHUT DOWN THE COMMITTEE, BLOCKING 30 AMBASSADORIAL NOMINATIONS, HOLDING UP HUNDREDS OF STATE DEPARTMENT PROMOTIONS AND ACTION ON NUMEROUS KEY TREATIES ON ARMS CONTROL AND TRADE. THE REASON ... [SENATOR] HELMS IS UNHAPPY THAT THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT YET RESPONDED FAVORABLY TO HIS PLAN TO FOLD INDEPENDENT FOREIGN AID, ARMS CONTROL AND INFORMATION AGENCIES INTO THE STATE DEPARTMENT. ... THE NATION WILL BE BETTER OFF WHEN THE SENATE IS RID OF THIS INTOLERANT IDEOLOGUE."

TEXT: ANOTHER DOMESTIC TOPIC, PROPOSED CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET CUTS IN MEDICAID, DRAWS THIS RESPONSE FROM "USA TODAY," THE NATIONAL WEEKDAY PAPER PUBLISHED IN THE WASHINGTON SUBURBS.

VOICE: "WOULD-BE MEDICAID REFORMERS TELL YOU NOT TO WORRY. THEY SAY THEIR PLAN TO TURN MEDICAID OVER TO THE STATES IS SOUND AND SAFE AND SENSIBLE. DON'T BELIEVE THEM, THOUGH. IT ENDANGERS THE HEALTH SECURITY OF MILLIONS OF OLDER AMERICANS AND THE FINANCIAL SOLVENCY OF MILLIONS OF WAGE EARNERS WHO RELY ON MEDICAID TO HELP DEFRAY THE RUINOUS COST OF CARING FOR DISABLED AND AGING RELATIVES."

TEXT: HOWEVER, REPUBLICAN EFFORTS TO CUT THE MEDICAID AND MEDICARE MEDICAL INSURANCE PROGRAMS DRAWS THESE SUPPORTING COMMENTS FROM "THE WASHINGTON TIMES":

VOICE: "AS THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS RESPONDS TO THE PLEADINGS OF THREE CLINTON CABINET MEMBERS, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND ITS SPECIAL-INTEREST AGENTS HAVE EMBARKED ON A CAMPAIGN OF IRRESPONSIBLE, DEMAGOGIC FEAR-MONGERING. THERE'S A SERIOUS GOVERNMENT PROBLEM IN NEED OF FIXING HERE. IT'S A SHAME SO MANY OF THOSE ELECTED TO GOVERN AREN'T INTERESTED IN IT."

TEXT: ON ANOTHER DOMESTIC ISSUE, THE POSSIBLE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDACY OF RETIRED ARMY GENERAL COLIN POWELL, "THE BOSTON GLOBE", IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL, IS FULLY SUPPORTIVE:

VOICE: "... WE ... URGE [GENERAL] POWELL TO ENTER THE RACE AS A REPUBLICAN... IF HE IS GUIDED BY ... ONE OF HIS MAXIMS -- THAT CAMPAIGNS REQUIRE THE CLEAR SUPPORT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE -- THEN HE SHOULD RUN."

TEXT: AND FINALLY, OF REPUBLICAN ATTEMPTS TO END PRESIDENT CLINTON'S NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE PROGRAM, CALLED AMERICORPS, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" SAYS:

VOICE: "ELIMINATING NATIONAL SERVICE WOULD DEFINITELY BE BAD POLICY; IT WOULD QUITE LIKELY ALSO BE A POLITICAL BOOMERANG."

TEXT: AND ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE COMMENTS APPEARING IN TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL PAGES. NEB/ANG/PCH 26-Sep-95 10:56 AM EDT (1456 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] BOSNIA / CONTACT GROUP (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: THE FOREIGN MINISTERS FROM BOSNIA, CROATIA AND SERBIAN-DOMINATED YUGOSLAVIA HAVE AGREED TO NEW CONSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURES FOR A NEW BOSNIAN STATE. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS, ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN OUTLINED BUT A CEASE-FIRE AND DIVISION OF TERRITORY ARE STILL AHEAD.

TEXT: EVEN BEFORE THE GUNS FALL SILENT IN BOSNIA, THE WARRING PARTIES HAVE AGREED TO HOLD FREE, DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS FOR A JOINT PARLIAMENT AND PRESIDENCY. A DAY-LONG MEETING OF THE BALKAN FOREIGN MINISTERS AT THE U-S MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS WITH THE INTERNATIONAL CONTACT GROUP HAS TAKEN ANOTHER STEP TOWARD AN EVENTUAL PEACE CONFERENCE.

THE CO-CHAIRMAN OF THE CONFERENCE, U-S DIPLOMAT RICHARD HOLBROOKE, SAYS THERE IS STILL A LONG WAY TO GO TOWARD PEACE. HE NEGOTIATED THE PRINCIPLES OF ELECTIONS WITH THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT IN THE FINAL HOURS BEFORE THE AGREEMENT WAS ANNOUNCED.

THE AGREEMENT CALLS FOR FREE AND DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS, WHEN SOCIAL CONDITIONS PERMIT, IN BOTH THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION AND THE BOSNIAN SERB ENTITY. THEY ARE TO ELECT A PARLIAMENT AND PRESIDENCY WITH THE FEDERATION HAVING TWO-THIRDS OF THE VOTE AND THE SERBS HAVING ONE-THIRD.

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE DEFENDS THE AGREEMENT BUT ADMITS THERE IS STILL CONFUSION.

I CERTAINLY EXPECT CONFUSION. THIS IS A CONFUSING WAR AND THIS DOCUMENT, EVEN MORE THAN THE ONE ISSUED IN GENEVA, SEPTEMBER 8TH, ADDRESSES THE REASONS THEY HAVE BEEN FIGHTING. THE DOCUMENT SAYS WHAT IT SAYS, AND IT MEANS WHAT IT MEANS, AND ON THE QUESTIONS OF ELECTIONS, THIS WAS PROBABLY THE SINGLE MOST DIFFICULT ISSUE TODAY. THE TWO SIDES WILL HAVE TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT DEFINITIVE ON ELECTIONS. IT SIMPLY ESTABLISHES THE PRINCIPLE AND EVERY WORD AND EVERY COMMA WAS THOUGHT OUT.

MR. HOLBROOKE HAD TO TELEPHONE SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER HAD TO SPEAK WITH BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC TO WORK OUT THE UNDERSTANDING ON ELECTIONS.

BOSNIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MUHAMMED SACIRBEY CHARGES BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS IMPOSED THE WORDING ABOUT ELECTIONS.

I AM ANGRY ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CONTACT GROUP SEES FIT TO TRY TO CONVINCE THE DEMOCRATICALLY-ELECTED GOVERNMENT OF BOSNIA-HERZGOVINA TO ADOPT WORDS DICTATED BY BELGRADE, DICTATED BY MLADIC AND KARADZIC, REGARDING THE NATURE OF FUTURE ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA-HERZGOVINA.

AMERICAN OFFICIALS COMPLAIN IT IS DIFFICULT TO GET AN AGREEMENT WITH BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT LEADERS WHO ARE NOT UNITED ON THE PEACE PROCESS. THE BOSNIAN SERBS WERE REPRESENTED HERE BY THEIR VICE-PRESIDENT NIKOLA KOLJEVIC AND THEIR FOREIGN MINISTER ALEKSA BUHA. THEY ATTEND THESE TALKS AS PART OF THE YUGOSLAV DELEGATION.

TALKS WILL CONTINUE HERE WEDNESDAY IN PRIVATE BEFORE AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE RETURNS TO THE BALKANS THURSDAY TO TRY TO GAIN AGREEMENT ON A CEASE-FIRE. HE TELLS REPORTERS HE DOES NOT EXPECT SUCCESS ON HIS TRIP. AMERICAN OFFICIALS SAY A CEASE-FIRE IS NOT A CONDITION FOR A PEACE CONFERENCE BUT THEY SAY THERE MUST BE AN AGREEMENT ON TERRITORY TO DETERMINE WHICH 51 PERCENT OF BOSNIA WILL RUN BY THE FEDERATION AND WHICH 49 PERCENT WILL BE RUN BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS. (SIGNED)

NEB / RP / BD / SKH
26-Sep-95 7:28 PM EDT (2328 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] BOSNIA / SARAJEVO (L) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA IS CALM AS PEACE TALKS GET UNDERWAY IN NEW YORK. DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS U-N OFFICIALS SAY MOST FIGHTING IN THE COUNTRY HAS STOPPED, AS BOTH SIDES WAIT TO LEARN THE RESULTS OF THE LATEST ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS.

TEXT: AN EXPECTANT CALM HAS SETTLED OVER BOSNIA AFTER A FRANTIC 24-HOURS IN WHICH THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT FIRST WITHDREW FROM THE PEACE TALKS AND THEN, AFTER HOURS OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH U-S DIPLOMATS, DECIDED TO ATTEND AFTER ALL.

U-N MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY MOST FIGHTING HAS STOPPED AND CONFRONTATION LINES ARE STABLE. SOME ARTILLERY FIRE IS CONTINUING IN A SMALL POCKET OF NORTHERN BOSNIA. U-N OFFICIALS DESCRIBE CURRENT MILITARY ACTIVITY AS HALF-HEARTED, AND SAY BOSNIA IS QUIETER THAN IT HAS BEEN IN YEARS.

HIGHLIGHTING THE NEW MOOD, 17 PRISONERS OF WAR FROM EACH SIDE WERE EXCHANGED AT SARAJEVO'S AIRPORT. IT WAS THE FIRST SUCH EXCHANGE SINCE MAY WHEN THE FIRST ROUND OF NATO AIRSTRIKES PROMPTED THE BOSNIAN SERBS TO TAKE HUNDREDS OF U-N PERSONNEL HOSTAGE.

AID FLIGHTS AND CONVOYS ARRIVING IN SARAJEVO ALREADY ARE ROUTINE BUSINESS, AND THE MAJOR TOPIC OF CONVERSATION IS THE QUESTION OF WHEN, NOT IF, SUPPLIES OF GAS, WATER, AND ELECTRICITY WILL RESUME IN THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL.

THERE IS STILL CONCERN OVER BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT REPORTS TO HAVE UNCOVERED A MASS GRAVE IN TERRITORY RECAPTURED FROM THE BOSNIAN SERBS. U-N MILITARY OBSERVERS VISITED THE SITE OF THE ALLEGED GRAVE SUNDAY AND SAID THEY SAW ONE BODY NEXT TO A FIVE-BY-FIVE METER HOLE.

THE U-N COMMANDER FROM BIHAC TRIED TO VISIT THE SITE MONDAY, BUT WAS REFUSED ACCESS BY LOCAL BOSNIAN OFFICIALS WHO CITED SAFETY CONCERNS. IT IS NOT CLEAR HOW MANY BODIES MIGHT BE BURIED THERE, BUT EVEN LOCAL OFFICIALS SAID THEY HAD NO EVIDENCE OF THE 540 BODIES THE BOSNIAN PRIME MINISTER SAID WERE IN THE GRAVE.

DESPITE THESE DEVELOPMENTS, ALL EYES ARE FOCUSED ON NEW YORK, AND IT IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE PEACE TALKS THAT HAVE CAUSED THE CURRENT LULL IN BOSNIA.

WITH THE DISPUTE OVER KEY CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES THAT LED TO MONDAY'S ON AGAIN, OFF AGAIN BOYCOTT UNRESOLVED, THE CURRENT ATMOSPHERE OF CALM IS FRAGILE. U-N OFFICIALS POINT OUT IF THE PEACE TALKS COLLAPSE, ALL-OUT FIGHTING COULD RESUME JUST AS QUICKLY AS IT STOPPED. (SIGNED)

NEB/DF/JWH/RAE
26-Sep-95 10:56 AM EDT (1456 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] BOSNIA / SILAJDZIC (S) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: THE BOSNIAN PRIME MINISTER, HARIS SILAJDZIC, HAS SAID THE AGREEMENT IN NEW YORK WILL PROTECT BOSNIAN DEMOCRACY, BUT HE HAS CALLED FOR AMERICAN GUARANTEES THAT THE BOSNIAN SERBS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SECEDE AND JOIN WITH SERBIA. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: MR. SILAJDZIC SAID THE TALKS IN NEW YORK HAD APPROACHED A SOLUTION THAT WILL SAFEGUARD BOSNIAN DEMOCRACY. HE SAID SOME DETAILS STILL REMAINED TO BE WORKED OUT, BUT HE SAID THE AGREEMENT WOULD SECURE DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS FOR BOSNIA.

HE ALSO SAID THE AGREEMENT WOULD PROTECT AGAINST ANY FUTURE ATTEMPT BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS TO SECEDE FROM BOSNIA, BUT HE SAID THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT STILL WANTED AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT THAT IT WOULD OPPOSE ANY ATTEMPT AT SECESSION.

HE ALSO SAID HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE "A GOOD THING" IF THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT ALSO SAID THEY WOULD NOT ENCOURAGE SECESSION, BUT HE ADDED THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT WOULD ONLY BE "AMERICAN GUARANTEES PLUS FORCE PLUS NATO TROOPS" ON THE GROUND IN BOSNIA THAT WOULD ENSURE BOSNIA REMAINED ONE STATE.(SIGNED)

NEB / DF / BD/PT
26-Sep-95 4:07 PM EDT (2007 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[06] CHRISTOPHER-BOSNIA UPDATE (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (NEW YORK)

INTRO: IN NEW YORK, SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER HAS MET WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF BOSNIA, CROATIA AND SERBIAN DOMINATED YUGOSLAVIA. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM NEW YORK, THEY SET THE AGENDA FOR TUESDAY'S MEETING OF THE MINISTERS WITH THE BOSNIA CONTACT GROUP.

TEXT: THE AIM OF TUESDAY'S MEETING WILL BE TO AGREE ON PRINCIPLES FOR A BOSNIAN CONSTITUTION. SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER MET WITH THE THREE FOREIGN MINISTERS HERE TO URGE THEM TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS THAT BEGAN IN GENEVA ON SEPTEMBER 8TH.

THE GENEVA PRINCIPLES DETERMINED THERE WILL BE A SINGLE BOSNIAN STATE DIVIDED INTO THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION WITH 51 PERCENT OF THE TERRITORY AND A SERB ENTITY WITH 49 PERCENT OF BOSNIA. HOWEVER,GENEVA DID NOT DETERMINE HOW THE TWO PARTS SHOULD RELATE TO EACH OTHER, IF AT ALL.

THE THREE MINISTERS WILL NOW MEET WITH THE FIVE-NATION CONTACT GROUP AND EUROPEAN UNION AT THE U-S MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS. THE SECRETARY OF STATE TOLD REPORTERS THE MEETING WILL BE A SUCCESS IF THE MINISTERS CAN AGREE ON CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES.

TOMORROW'S MEETING WILL BE A SUCCESS IF THE PARTIES ADOPT A SET OF CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES, ADOPT THE FORM OF A SUPERSTRUCTURE THAT WOULD MOVE THE GENEVA AGREEMENT ONE STEP FURTHER FORWARD. WHAT THEY'LL BE TALKING ABOUT TOMORROW IS THE CONNECTIVE TISSUE BETWEEN THE TWO ENTITIES THAT WERE SPELLED OUT IN THE GENEVA AGREEMENT. THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT AND SENSITIVE DISCUSSIONS AND I ENCOURAGED THE PARTIES TODAY TO MAKE A STRONG EFFORT AND WE WILL BE WORKING TONIGHT,PROBABLY THROUGH THE NIGHT, TRYING TO ACHIEVE THE BASIS FOR AS ETTLEMENT TOMORROW.

DURING HIS MEETING MONDAY, THE SECRETARY OF STATE URGED THE THREE FOREIGN MINISTERS TO THINK ABOUT A CEASEFIRE IN BOSNIA. HOWEVER, WHEN HE ASKED THEM INDIVIDUALLY TO DESCRIBE WHAT IS NEEDED FOR A TRUCE,U-S OFFICIALS SAY BOSNIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MUHAMMED SACIRBEY, THEN YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER MILAN MILUTINOVIC AND FINALLY CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MATE GRANIC TOLD HIM WHAT THE OTHER SIDE MUST DO.

THAT'S WHY U-S DIPLOMAT RICHARD HOLBROOKE WILL MAKE A COUNTRY-WIDE CEASEFIRE THE PURPOSE OF HIS NEXT BALKAN PEACE MISSION THAT WILL BEGIN THURSDAY AFTER THE MEETINGS HERE IN NEW YORK CONCLUDE.

SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER ALSO URGED CROATIA AND SERBIA TO AGREE ON THE FUTURE OF SERBIAN-OCCUPIED EASTERN SLAVONIA, THE LAST PART OF CROATIA NOT UNDER ZAGREB'S CONTROL. THAT ISSUE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE GENEVA PRINCIPLES.BOSNIA HAD THREATENED TO BOYCOTT TUESDAY'S MEETING BECAUSE OF CONCERNS THAT THE SERB PART OF BOSNIA MAY BE ABLE TO SECEDE. SOME TELEPHONE DIPLOMACY BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE PLUS A U-S NEGOTIATING TEAM IN SARAJEVO MANAGED TO REASSURE THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT. MR.CHRISTOPHER RE-STATED THE AMERICAN UNDERSTANDING.

I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR HERE THAT THE UNITED STATES WILL OPPOSE ANY SETTLEMENT IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA THAT WOULD UNDERMINE ITS TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OR ITS CONTINUATION AS A SINGLE STATE. WE EXPECT THAT THE PARTIES WILL MEET THEIR COMMITMENTS TO ASSURE HUMAN RIGHTS THROUGHOUT BOSNIA. ALL BOSNIAN CITIZENS SHOULD HAVE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AND DISPLACED PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE A RIGHT TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES.

THE BOSNIAN SERBS ARE REPRESENTED BY FOREIGN MINISTER MILUTINOVIC IN TUESDAY'S NEGOTIATIONS. BOSNIAN SERB REPRESENTATIVE NIKOLA KOLJEVICIS EXPECTED TO TAKE PART HERE AS HE DID IN GENEVA. (SIGNED) NEB/PT 25-Sep-95 8:09 PM EDT (0009 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[07] CLINTON-CONGRESS-BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY DAVE BORGIDA (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS DENYING IT HAS BEEN LESS THAN FORTHCOMING WITH THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED CONGRESS OVER ITS BOSNIA POLICY. IN A LETTER TO PRESIDENT CLINTON, SOME SENATE REPUBLICANS WARNED THEY SHOULD BE CONSULTED MORE IF THE PRESIDENT WANTS APPROVAL OF THE USE OF U-S TROOPS FOR A NATO FORCE TO ENFORCE ANY PEACE SETTLEMENT IN BOSNIA. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA HAS MORE ON THIS LATEST PARTISAN SKIRMISH.

TEXT: CLINTON SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY RESPONDED FIRMLY TO THE LETTER FROM SENATE MAJORITY LEADER BOB DOLE AND NINE OTHER SENATE REPUBLICANS, POINTING TO NINE PAGES OF RECORDED CONTACTS BETWEEN ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS AND CONGRESS ON BOSNIA.

THERE'S BEEN A VERY ACTIVE AND CONSTANT DIALOGUE ON THE QUESTION OF BOSNIA AND HOW WE MIGHT BEST ADDRESS IT. THE SIGNATORIES OF THIS LETTER KNOW THAT, THEY KNOW THE PARAMETERS OF OUR POLICY AND THEY ARE TRYING TO CREATE, I BELIEVE, A DIVERSION.

SENATOR DOLE, A FREQUENT CRITIC OF THE CLINTON BOSNIA POLICY, IS ALSO THE FRONTRUNNER FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION.

SPOKESMAN MCCURRY ALSO LASHED OUT AT REPUBLICAN KAY HUTCHINSON, WHO QUESTIONED WHETHER THE UNITED STATES MUST PLAY A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN RESOLVING THE BOSNIAN CONFLICT. HE SAID U-S LEADERSHIP IN RESOLVING A CONFLICT IN THE HEART OF EUROPE IS VITAL.

PRESIDENT CLINTON IS TO MEET WITH LAWMAKERS THIS WEEK TO DISCUSS BOSNIA. (SIGNED)

NEB/BORG/MMK
26-Sep-95 3:06 PM EDT (1906 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[08] CLINTON / BOSNIA (S&L) BY DAVID BORGIDA (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS THE AGREEMENT BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLICS ON PRINCIPLES FOR A NEW BOSNIAN CONSTITUTION BRINGS THE PARTIES A STEP CLOSER TO A GENUINE PEACE IN BOSNIA. AND, IN ANNOUNCING CONTINUED U-S DIPLOMACY IN THE BALKANS, HE IS REASSURING ALLIES AND REMINDING CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS OF HIS INTENTION TO INCLUDE U-S FORCES IN ANY EVENTUAL NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS.

TEXT: OBSTACLES REMAIN, SAYS PRESIDENT CLINTON, AND THAT'S WHY HE IS SENDING THE U-S NEGOTIATING TEAM BACK TO THE REGION THURSDAY.

BUT IN BRIEF COMMENTS AT THE WHITE HOUSE, HE WAS ENCOURAGED THAT GENUINE PEACE IS WITHIN REACH.

WE HOPE THE PROGRESS WE ARE MAKING FINALLY REFLECTS THE WILL OF THE PARTIES TO END THIS TERRIBLE WAR. WE KNOW IT IS A RESULT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S RESOLVE, AND DETERMINED DIPLOMACY ON THE PART OF OUR NEGOTIATING TEAM AND OUR EUROPEAN AND RUSSIAN PARTNERS.

REMEMBER, I HAVE SAID SINCE FEBRUARY OF 1993, SINCE FEBRUARY OF 1993--CONSTANTLY FOR MORE THAN TWO AND HALF YEARS NOW--THAT THE UNITED STATES SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN IMPLEMENTING A PEACE AGREEMENT. /// OPT /// WE SHOULD NOT HAVE GROUND TROOPSUNDER THE PRESENT U-N MANDATE, WE SHOULD NOT HAVE GROUND TROOPS IN COMBAT, BUT THE UNITED STATES IS THE LEADER OF NATO. NO PEACE AGREEMENT COULD BE FAIRLY IMPLEMENTED WITHOUT THE INVOLVEMENT OF NATO AND WE CANNOT WALK AWAY FROM OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO TRY TO END THIS TERRIBLE CONFLICT. // END OPT //

THE PRESIDENT SAID HE INTENDS TO CONTINUE TO KEEP CONGRESS INFORMED ABOUT HIS THINKING ON BOSNIA. IN FACT, A MEETING WITH LAWMAKERS IS SCHEDULED ON THE ISSUE THIS WEEK.

THE PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS ON THE U-S ROLE IN NATO CAME IN RESPONSE TO A LETTER FROM SENATE MAJORITY LEADER BOB DOLE AND NINE OTHER SENATE REPUBLICANS IN WHICH THEY WARN CONGRESS SHOULD BE CONSULTED FURTHER BEFORE ANY U-S GROUND TROOPS ARE COMMITTED TO A NATO PEACE-KEEPING FORCE.

SENATOR DOLE -- A FRONTRUNNER FOR THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION -- HAS BEEN A VOCAL CRITIC OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S BOSNIA POLICY. EARLIER, CLINTON SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY SUGGESTED REPUBLICAN COMPLAINTS AMOUNTED TO A POLITICAL DIVERSION AND HE CALLED ON SENATOR DOLE TO DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM COMMENTS MADE BY FELLOW REPUBLICAN KAY HUTCHINSON. SHE QUESTIONED WHETHER THE UNITED STATES SHOULD, IN FACT, PLAY A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN BOSNIA. LAST WEEK, GENERAL JOHN SHALIKASHVILI, CHAIRMAN OF THE MILITARY JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, SAID THE UNITED STATES SHOULD DEPLOY WHAT HE CALLED A "ROBUST" FORCE OF UP TO 25-THOUSAND TROOPS TO DETER ANY ATTACKS AGAINST ANY NATO FORCE. (SIGNED)

NEB / BORG / BD / SKH
26-Sep-95 5:02 PM EDT (2102 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[09] GERMANY/TERRORIST (S ONLY) BY DAGMAR BREITENBACH (BONN)

INTRO: A GERMAN COURT HAS SENTENCED FORMER LEFTIST GUERRILLA SIEGLINDE HOFMANN TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR THE MURDER OF A TOP GERMAN BUSINESSMAN AND A FIREBOMBING ATTACK OF A FORMER NATO CHIEF IN THE 1970'S. FROM BONN, V-O-A'S DAGMAR BREITENBACH REPORTS.

TEXT: A STUTTGART COURT (TUESDAY) CONVICTED SIEGLINDE HOFMANN OF PARTICIPATING IN THE 1977 KIDNAPPING AND MURDER OF HANNS MARTIN SCHLEYER, THEN CHAIRMAN OF THE GERMAN EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION. THE 50-YEAR-OLD HOFMANN WAS ALSO CONVICTED OF HELPING PLAN THE 1979 ATTEMPTED MURDER OF FORMER NATO CHIEF ALEXANDER HAIG. HOFMANN, WHO HAD BEEN JAILED FOR 15-YEARS IN 1982 FOR HER PART IN THE ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPING OF A GERMAN BANKER, HAS NOW RECEIVED A LIFE SENTENCE.

PROSECUTORS SAY THE TESTIMONY OF FORMER RED ARMY FACTION MEMBERS PLAYED A LARGE PART IN THE CASE.

HOFMANN IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN A LEADING MEMBER OF THE RED ARMY FACTION GROUP, MUCH-FEARED FOR BOMBINGS AND ASSASSINATIONS IN THE 1970'S AND 1980'S. IN THE MEANTIME, THE RED ARMY FACTION HAS RENOUNCED VIOLENCE, PUTTING AN END TO ITS ATTACKS ON WHAT IT CALLED IMPERIALIST TARGETS, MAINLY GERMAN POLITICAL AND BUSINESS LEADERS. (SIGNED)

NEB/DB/MH/RAE
26-Sep-95 10:23 AM EDT (1423 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[10] PENTAGON / BOSNIA (S-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (PENTAGON)

INTRO: WHILE BOSNIAN PEACE TALKS ARE UNDERWAY IN NEW YORK, NATO IS MAKING PLANS TO ENFORCE A POTENTIAL AGREEMENT, AND REPORTING A POSSIBLE VIOLATION OF BOSNIA'S NO-FLY ZONE. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT DAVID SWAN HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY SAYS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS, HE IS CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE CHANCES OF PEACE IN THE BALKANS. HE SAYS ANY NATO PEACEKEEPING ARMY WOULD STAY A RELATIVELY SHORT TIME, WITH A SCHEDULE FOR DEPARTURE.

THE PEACE FORCE AS ITS NOW ENVISIONED WOULD HAVE A DEFINITE TIMETABLE FOR ALL OF THE FORCE -- NOT JUST U-S FORCES BUT THE NATO FORCE. THAT WILL BE SPECIFIED IN THE PLANS TO GO OVER THERE. THAT'S STILL UNDER DISCUSSION. IN MY JUDGEMENT, IT WILL BE A YEAR OR LESS.

THE PENTAGON SAYS THE ALLIES ARE STILL WEEKS AWAY FROM FINISHING A PEACEKEEPING PLAN. AMONG OTHER THINGS, COMMANDERS ARE DEBATING HOW BEST TO USE RUSSIAN OR OTHER NON-NATO SOLDIERS. MEANWHILE, NATO IS STILL TRYING TO ENFORCE A NO-FLY ZONE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. OFFICIALS SAY SURVEILLANCE PLANES PICKED UP RADAR TRACKS MONDAY OVER NORTHERN BOSNIA. FIGHTERS WERE CALLED IN TO INVESTIGATE, BUT FOUND NOTHING.

NATO SAYS IT CAN NOT CONFIRM WHETHER BOSNIAN SERB JETS BREACHED THE EXCLUSION ZONE, THOUGH BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT RADIO REPORTS THE PLANES ATTACKED TARGETS NEAR THE TOWN OF KLJUC. (SIGNED)

NEB/DS/LTJ/BG
26-Sep-95 4:16 PM EDT (2016 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[11] U-N / CROATIA (L ONLY) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (GENEVA)

INTRO: A SENIOR ENVOY OF THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY HAS MET WITH CROATIAN OFFICIALS IN A BID TO PERSUADE THE ZAGREB GOVERNMENT TO REVERSE ITS DECISION TO SEND 100-THOUSAND BOSNIAN REFUGEES BACK TO BOSNIA. CROATIAN OFFICIALS SAY THE REFUGEES WILL BE RETURNED TO TERRITORY RECAPTURED BY BOSNIAN MUSLIM AND CROAT FORCES DURING THE PAST FEW WEEKS. BUT, AS V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS FROM GENEVA, THE U-N HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES SAYS THE MOVE IS PREMATURE.

TEXT: THE CROATIAN DECISION WAS ANNOUNCED LATE LAST WEEK. THE 100-THOUSAND REFUGEES, BOTH MUSLIMS AND CROATS, ARE TO BE SENT BACK TO TOWNS IN CENTRAL AND NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA SEIZED FROM SERB FORCES DURING A SERIES OF SUSTAINED OFFENSIVES BY BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AND CROATIAN TROOPS DURING THE PAST TWO MONTHS.

THE ZAGREB GOVERNMENT SAYS IT IS REVOKING THE REFUGEE STATUS OF THOSE TO BE REPATRIATED, WHO CONSTITUTE NEARLY ONE-QUARTER OF ALL THE REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS LIVING IN CROATIA.

CROATIA MAINTAINS THE REFUGEES ARE RETURNING HOME VOLUNTARILY, AND THE REPATRIATION PROGRAM IS LEGAL. U-N OFFICIALS DISPUTE BOTH THOSE ASSERTIONS.

THEY SAY MANY OF THE REFUGEES DO NOT WANT TO RETURN TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AT THIS TIME, AND ANY FORCED RETURN WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE 1951 GENEVA CONVENTION, TO WHICH CROATIA IS A SIGNATORY.

SPOKESMAN RON REDMOND VOICED U-N-H-C-R'S CONCERN OVER THE CROATIAN PLAN AT A NEWS BRIEFING (TUESDAY).

WE DO NOT BELIEVE THIS SHOULD HAPPEN BECAUSE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS THERE (BOSNIA). THERE IS STILL FIGHTING GOING ON. THERE ARE MANY MINES IN THE REGION. AND ALSO, WE BELIEVE THAT ANY RETURN ON THIS SCALE SHOULD TAKE PLACE IN THE CONTEXT OF AN OVER-ALL PEACE AGREEMENT.

THE CHIEF U-N-H-C-R ENVOY IN ZAGREB (PIERRE JAMBOR) MET WITH CROATIAN OFFICIALS TUESDAY TO URGE THEM TO RECONSIDER THE DECISION. BUT SO FAR, THERE HAS BEEN NO INDICATION ZAGREB WILL AGREE.

DURING A VISIT TO PARIS MONDAY, CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN SAID IT IS NORMAL FOR THE REFUGEES TO RETURN TO -- WHAT HE TERMED -- LIBERATED TERRITORY. HE VOWED HIS GOVERNMENT WILL STAND BY ITS DECISION. (SIGNED)

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26-Sep-95 10:44 AM EDT (1444 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[12] U-S / BOSNIA / SENATORS (S-ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ROBERT DOLE AND NINE OTHER REPUBLICAN SENATORS ARE QUESTIONING THE PROPOSED DEPLOYMENT OF U-S GROUND TROOPS IN BOSNIA ONCE A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT IS AGREED UPON. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS THE LAWMAKERS WARN PRESIDENT CLINTON IN A LETTER THAT THE COMMITMENT OF U-S TROOPS TO A PEACE-KEEPING OPERATION IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO CONGRESS FOR ITS APPROVAL:

TEXT: IN THEIR LETTER, THE LAWMAKERS SAY THAT TO THEIR DISMAY THEY HAVE LEARNED ABOUT THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S PLEDGE TO SEND UP TO 25-THOUSAND TROOPS TO BOSNIA LARGELY FROM PRESS REPORTS. THE LAWMAKERS SAY THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT PROMISES HAVE BEEN MADE TO NATO, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO COMMAND THE FORCE, HOW MANY TROOPS WILL BE REQUIRED, THE COST INVOLVED AND WHETHER RUSSIAN OR MIDDLE EASTERN TROOPS WOULD BE INVOLVED.

ONE OF THE SENATORS -- KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON OF TEXAS -- DOUBTS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT'S ACTION.

I DON'T SUPPORT THE MISSION AND I DON'T THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DO. THIS IS NOT WHERE WE SHOULD BE TAKING THE LEADERSHIP ROLE.

THE LAWMAKERS QUESTION WHETHER U-S TROOPS SHOULD BE DEPLOYED TO PARTITION AN INDEPENDENT COUNTRY AND THEY THREATEN TO OPPOSE ANY SETTLEMENT OF THE CONFLICT NOT FULLY SUPPORTED BY THE SARAJEVO GOVERNMENT.

THEY WARN THERE SHOULD BE NO DOUBT THAT WITHOUT THE CONCURRENCE OF THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED CONGRESS A COMMITMENT OF TROOPS TO BOSNIA WILL NOT BE FULFILLED.

THE LETTER ALSO CALLS ON THE PRESIDENT TO REVERSE HIS OPPOSITION TO LIFTING THE ARMS EMBARGO ON SARAJEVO TO ALLOW THE BOSNIANS TO FIGHT UNTIL THERE IS A STABLE MILITARY BALANCE. (SIGNED)

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25-Sep-95 10:25 PM EDT (0225 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[13] U-S ROMANIA (S ONLY) BY DAVID BORGIDA (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: VISITING ROMANIAN PRESIDENT ION ILIESCU HAS PRESSED HIS COUNTRY'S CASE FOR PERMANENT PREFERENTIAL U-S TRADING BENEFITS. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS THE ROMANIAN LEADER MET WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON TUESDAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: THE U-S CONGRESS DECIDES EACH YEAR WHETHER TO RENEW MOST-FAVORED-NATION TRADING STATUS FOR ROMANIA. TUESDAY, AFTER HIS FIRST OFFICIAL MEETING WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON, PRESIDENT ILIESCU SAID HE DELIVERED THIS MESSAGE:

WE HAVE STRESSED OUR INTEREST TO SEE THE PERMANENT STATUS OF THE M-F-N FOR ROMANIA.

CONFERRING PERMANENT STATUS IS DONE BY A VOTE OF CONGRESS. SENIOR U-S OFFICIALS ARE SAYING THAT WOULD BE BASED ON CONTINUED PROGRESS BY ROMANIA ON ECONOMIC REFORM AND ON FAIR TREATMENT OF THE NATION'S TWO-MILLION HUNGARIANS.

M-F-N STATUS ALLOWS A COUNTRY TO EXPORT ITS GOODS TO THE UNITED STATES UNDER THE LOWEST POSSIBLE TARIFFS. GENERALLY, PRESIDENT ILIESCU SAID HE IS SATISFIED WITH THE EVOLUTION OF THE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP ON THE POLITICAL, MILITARY, AND ECONOMIC FRONTS.

ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAY THE TWO LEADERS TALKED ABOUT ROMANIA'S INTEGRATION INTO THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AND ROMANIAN EFFORTS TO COMPLETE AGREEMENTS WITH THE WORLD BANK AND THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUNDS. (SIGNED)

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26-Sep-95 2:37 PM EDT (1837 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America