Voice of America Digest, 24 October 1995

From: yanni@ix.netcom.com (Ioannis Bousnakis)

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] !!! VOA DIGEST - OCTOBER 24, 1995

US / CHINA -- PRESIDENT CLINTON MET CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN TUESDAY, IN AN EFFORT TO PUT SINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS ON A BETTER FOOTING AFTER MONTHS OF TENSION OVER TAIWAN, EARLIER THIS YEAR. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM NEW YORK WHERE BOTH LEADERS ATTENDED THE UNITED NATIONS 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION. (10/24)

CHINA / US -- CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN SAYS COOPERATION BETWEEN CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES TOWARD ACHIEVING WORLD PEACE AND INCREASING BILATERAL TRADE WOULD IMPROVE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. MR JIANG MADE HIS COMMENTS MONDAY IN A SPEECH IN NEW YORK. CORRESPONDENT CHRIS SIMKINS REPORTS. (10/23)

WORLD BANK / CHINA / FORCED LABOR -- CHINESE-AMERICAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST HARRY WU HAS CHARGED THAT THE WORLD BANK IS SUBSIDIZING A LARGE CHINESE IRRIGATION PROJECT CARRIED OUT BY FORCED LABOR. CORRESPONDENT DON HENRY REPORTS A BANK OFFICIAL SAYS THE BANK IS NOT AWARE OF ANY SUCH SITUATION AND WOULD WITHDRAW FUNDING IF IT CAN BE SUBSTANTIATED. (10/23)

CHINA / HUMAN RIGHTS -- CHINESE DISSIDENT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE URGING PRESIDENT CLINTON TO RAISE HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES DURING HIS TALKS WITH CHINA'S PRESIDENT IN NEW YORK TUESDAY. CORRESPONDENT DON HENRY REPORTS EXILED DISSIDENT WANG JUNTAO HAS BEGUN A HUNGER STRIKE TO SUPPORT A JAILED COLLEAGUE IN CHINA. (10/23)

CLINTON / YELTSIN /CHINA -- PRESIDENT CLINTON AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN ARE WINDING UP THEIR MEETING IN HYDE PARK, NEW YORK. LITTLE OF SUBSTANCE HAS EMERGED YET, BUT THERE ARE SIGNS THAT DESPITE SOME TENSION OVER BOSNIA, THE TWO LEADERS CONTINUE TO SHARE A WARM PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS FROM HYDE PARK. (10/23)

CHINA / EARTHQUAKE -- A STRONG EARTHQUAKE HAS HIT YUNNAN PROVINCE IN SOUTHWESTERN CHINA, CAUSING AT LEAST 14 CASUALTIES AND SOME DAMAGE. CHINESE SEISMOLOGISTS SAY THE EARTHQUAKE MEASURED SIX-POINT-FIVE ON THE RICHTER SCALE. CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER REPORTS FROM BEIJING, THE QUAKE OCCURRED IN A MOUNTAINOUS AREA WHERE COMMUNICATIONS ARE A MAJOR PROBLEM. (10/24)

US / RUSSIA / DEFENSE -- FOLLOWING UP ON PROGRESS AT THE SUMMIT MEETING IN HYDE PARK, THE US AND RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTERS WILL MEET IN WASHINGTON FRIDAY ON RUSSIA'S ROLE IN A BOSNIA PEACE FORCE. THE DEFENSE CHIEFS WILL ALSO ATTEND UNPRECEDENTED JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES IN KANSAS. CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON. (10/23)

RUSSIA / SUMMIT REACT -- DESPITE FRIENDLY WORDS AND TALK OF A SPIRIT OF COOPERATION, PRESIDENT CLINTON AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN FACED WHAT MAY HAVE SEEMED INTRACTABLE PROBLEMS AS THEY MET MONDAY IN HYDE PARK, NEW YORK. CORRESPONDENT ELIZABETH ARROTT REPORTS THE SEEMINGLY UNSOLVABLE DIFFICULTIES DID NOT STOP POLITICAL COMMENTATORS FROM TELLING THE RUSSIAN LEADER HOW TO DEAL WITH THE WEST. (10/23)

UN / 50TH / MAJOR -- BRITISH PRIME MINISTER JOHN MAJOR DEMANDED REFORM OF THE UNITED NATIONS MONDAY, WARNING IT FACES SLOW EXTINCTION IF IT DOES NOT CHANGE. THE BRITISH LEADER JOINED OVER 180 NATIONAL LEADERS AND MINISTERS IN NEW YORK FOR A SPECIAL CELEBRATION OF THE UN'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY. CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS. (10/23)

UN / AFRICA -- DURING THE SECOND DAY OF SPEECHES AT THE UN 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, AFRICAN LEADERS CALLED FOR MORE WORLD ATTENTION TO AFRICA'S PROBLEMS. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS. (10/23)

THE UN AT 50 / DAYS OF RECKONING -- CORRESPONDENT BARBARA SCHOETZAU IN NEW YORK HOSTS A PANEL DISCUSSION LOOKING AT THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE UN'S FIRST 50 YEARS AND THE CHALLENGES THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FACES IS IT LOOKS TO ITS SECOND HALF CENTURY. (10/24)

GREENPEACE PROTEST -- A GREENPEACE PROTESTER FLEW A HANG GLIDER OVER THE EAST RIVER NEAR THE UNITED NATIONS MONDAY, AS FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC WAS ADDRESSING THE UN'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY SESSION. THE ENVIRONMENTALIST GROUP HAS ACCUSED THE FRENCH LEADER OF SNUBBING WORLD OPINION WITH ITS NUCLEAR TESTING IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS. (10/23)

FRANCE / CHIRAC -- FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC, FRESH FROM A DIPLOMATIC BRUSH WITH ALGERIA, IS HOLDING TALKS IN GERMANY AND BRITAIN DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS. THE TALKS COME AS HE HAS ANNOUNCED A REDUCTION IN FRANCE'S CONTROVERSIAL NUCLEAR TEST PROGRAM. STRINGER JULIAN NUNDY REPORTED FROM PARIS. (10/24)

EU / TESTS -- THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION SAYS IT BELIEVES THE CONTROVERSIAL FRENCH NUCLEAR TESTS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC ARE SAFE. AS STRINGER JOHN FRASER REPORTED FROM BRUSSELS, THE EUROPEAN UNION SAYS IT WILL BE TAKING NO ACTION TO TRY TO PREVENT FURTHER EXPLOSIONS. (10/24)

CROATIA / SERBS -- THERE WERE SIGNS OF PROGRESS MONDAY IN NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT AND REBEL SERB LEADERS OVER THE DISPUTED REGION OF EASTERN SLAVONIA. THE US MEDIATOR IN THE TALKS CAUTIONED THAT PROBLEMS REMAIN, AS WE HEAR FROM CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN ZAGREB. (10/23)

ISRAEL / LEBANON / SYRIA -- A SENIOR OFFICIAL OF ISRAEL'S FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYS ISRAEL IS NOT CONSIDERING A UNILATERAL WITHDRAWAL FROM SOUTHERN LEBANON, AS SOME CABINET MINISTERS HAVE SUGGESTED. AND, AS CORRESPONDENT AL PESSIN REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM, THE ISRAELI OFFICIAL SAYS SYRIA WOULD RISK THE FUTURE OF THE PEACE PROCESS IF IT TRIES TO USE THE LEBANON SITUATION TO PUT PRESSURE ON ISRAEL. (10/23)

SENATE / ISRAEL / EMBASSY -- THE US SENATE IS EXPECTED TO VOTE TUESDAY TO REQUIRE THE AMERICAN EMBASSY IN ISRAEL TO MOVE FROM TEL AVIV TO JERUSALEM. CORRESPONDENT DAVID SWAN REPORTS THE PRESIDENT COULD STOP THE ACTION. (10/23)

US / BAHRAIN PLANES -- THE UNITED STATES AND BAHRAIN HAVE REACHED AN AGREEMENT PROVIDING FOR THE TEMPORARY STATIONING OF US FIGHTER PLANES IN THE PERSIAN GULF STATE. THE DEPLOYMENT WILL COVER FOR THE ABSENCE OF A US AIRCRAFT CARRIER NORMALLY STATIONED IN THE GULF REGION. CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON. (10/23)

PAKISTAN / FRANCE -- PAKISTAN IS REPORTED TO BE DISCUSSING THE PURCHASE OF 32 MIRAGE WARPLANES FROM FRANCE. CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN SAYS A TEAM OF FRENCH EXPERTS HAS VISITED PAKISTAN FOR TALKS ABOUT THE DEAL. (10/24)

KOREA / SHOOTING -- SOUTH KOREAN POLICE TUESDAY CAPTURED A GUNMAN WHO IS BELIEVED TO BE A NORTH KOREAN SPY. STRINGER SHIN NA REPORTED FROM SEOUL. (10/24)

CHINA / ECONOMIC ZONES -- A DEBATE IS TAKING SHAPE IN CHINA OVER THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY'S HIGHLY-SUCCESSFUL SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES, WHICH WERE SET UP IN THE EARLY 1980'S TO ATTRACT FOREIGN INVESTMENT. AS CORRESPONDENT STEPHANIE HO REPORTS, THE ZONES HAVE HELPED FUEL CHINA'S ECONOMIC BOOM, BUT ONLY FOR THE EASTERN COASTAL AREAS. (10/24)

JAPAN / BUSINESS WRAP -- JAPAN'S BIG-FOUR BROKERAGE HOUSES ARE REPORTING HUGE PROFIT GAINS -- REFLECTING AN UPTURN IN THE STOCK MARKET. BUT, AS JACK RUSSELL REPORTS FROM TOKYO, SECOND-LEVEL SECURITIES FIRMS ARE MOSTLY IN THE RED. (10/24)

VIETNAM / INVESTMENT REFORMS -- OFFICIALS IN VIETNAM HAVE CONFIRMED REPORTS OF PLANNED CHANGES IN THE STRUCTURE OF THE COUNTRY'S GOVERNMENT, MERGING EIGHT GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS INTO THREE NEW MINISTRIES. CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS FOREIGN INVESTORS WORKING IN THE VIETNAMESE MARKET SAY THEY HOPE THE CHANGES WILL RESULT IN A STREAMLINING OF THE BUREAUCRACY AND A REDUCTION IN CORRUPTION. (10/24)

MARINE POLLUTION CONFERENCE -- A TOP UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICIAL SAYS THE GROUNDSWELL OF POPULATION GROWTH IS A MAJOR FORCE BEHIND THE DETERIORATION OF COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS, WITH AN ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE HEALTH OF PEOPLE AND SEA LIFE. CORRESPONDENT DAVID MCALARY REPORTS THAT DELEGATES FROM MORE THAN 120 NATIONS HAVE OPENED A TWO-WEEK CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON TO TRY TO CURB COASTAL POLLUTION. (10/23)

ZANZIBAR / COUNT -- ON THE INDIAN OCEAN ISLANDS OF ZANZIBAR, THE RULING CCM (CHAMA CHA MAPINDUZI) PARTY APPEARS TO HAVE RETAINED THE PRESIDENCY AND CONTROL OF PARLIAMENT AFTER MULTI-PARTY ELECTIONS, THE FIRST IN THE MORE THAN THREE DECADE HISTORY OF ITS UNITY WITH TANZANIA. CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS FROM ZANZIBAR TOWN. (10/23)

SENATE / BUDGET -- THE US SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE HAS APPROVED A REPUBLICAN PLAN TO BALANCE THE FEDERAL BUDGET IN SEVEN YEARS, MAINLY BY CUTTING AND REORGANIZING SOCIAL PROGRAMS. CORRESPONDENT DAVID SWAN REPORTS THE WHITE HOUSE HAS PLEDGED TO VETO THE BILL IF IT REACHES PRESIDENT CLINTON'S DESK. (10/23)

CHIAPAS / MEXICO -- MEXICAN AUTHORITIES SAY THE PERSON BELIEVED TO BE THE SECOND HIGHEST RANKING MEMBER OF THE ZAPATISTA NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY HAS BEEN ARRESTED IN MEXICO CITY. FERNANDO YANEZ IS NOW IN A MEXICO CITY JAIL. STRINGER CINDY LAVANDEROS REPORTS FROM MEXICO CITY. (10/23)

COSTA RICA / PEACE WEEK -- COSTA RICA IS PREPARING TO COMMEMORATE WORLD PEACE WEEK, AN IDEA THE CENTRAL AMERICAN NATION HAS PROMOTED INTERNATIONALLY TO OBSERVE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE UNITED NATIONS. CORRESPONDENT BILL RODGERS REPORTS FROM SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA HOPES INTERNATIONAL OBSERVANCE OF THE WEEK WILL BRING A HALT TO CONFLICTS FOR THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS. (10/23)

SHUTTLE / TW0-WAY VIDEO -- TWO-WAY TELEVISION COMMUNICATIONS HAS COME TO THE SPACE SHUTTLE IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE OPERATIONS EASIER AND THE LIVES OF THE CREW MORE BEARABLE. SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT DAVID MCALARY REPORTS THAT ASTRONAUTS ABOARD THE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA CONVERSED WITH GROUND TECHNICIANS MONDAY IN A TEST OF THE NEW SYSTEM. (10/23)

GALILEO / TAPE RECORDER -- AMERICAN SPACE SCIENTISTS HAVE FIXED A PROBLEM WITH THE DATA TAPE RECORDER ON THE JUPITER-BOUND GALILEO SPACECRAFT. CORRESPONDENT ALAN SILVERMAN REPORTS ON THE INTERPLANETARY REPAIR JOB. (10/23)

US / TELECOM PRIVACY -- THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS EXPRESSED CONCERN AMERICANS' PRIVACY IS INCREASINGLY AT RISK AS THE INFORMATION AGE SUBJECTS CITIZENS TO POSSIBLE HARASSMENT. CORRESPONDENT VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS THE US COMMERCE DEPARTMENT HAS OFFERED VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES IT SAYS COULD BECOME MANDATORY SHOULD COMPANIES REFUSE TO COMPLY WITH EFFORTS TO CONTROL THE USE OF PERSONAL DATA. (10/23)

DOLE / WILSON -- CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR PETE WILSON HAS ENDORSED SENATE MAJORITY LEADER BOB DOLE FOR THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION. THE ENDORSEMENT COMES AS SPECULATION CONTINUES TO MOUNT ABOUT WHETHER RETIRED JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN GENERAL COLIN POWELL WILL MAKE A RUN FOR THE PRESIDENCY. MORE FROM POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT JIM MALONE IN WASHINGTON. (10/23)

YUGO / SLAVS -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' PAMELA TAYLOR HAS A THUMBNAIL SKETCH OF THE ORIGINS OF THE THREE MAIN ETHNIC PARTIES IN THE CURRENT BALKAN CRISIS: THE SERBS, CROATS AND SLAVIC MUSLIMS, WHAT UNITES THEM AND WHAT DIVIDES THEM. (10/24)

SPOTLIGHT / MONTANA WAGON TRAIN -- ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT TOURING MONTANA IS YOU GET A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE FOR THE PIONEERS TO CROSS THE PRAIRIE IN THEIR COVERED WAGONS. SOME MONTANA RANCHERS HAVE A SIDE BUSINESS RUNNING WAGON TRAINS AND CATTLE DRIVES FOR TOURISTS. ONE OF THE ROUTES EVEN PASSES AN OLD STAGECOACH STOP, NOW A GHOST TOWN. CURRENT AFFAIRS' CAROL PEARSON REPORTS. (10/24)

SPOTLIGHT / ATLANTIC CITY CASINOS -- ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY HAS TWELVE LAVISH CASINO HOTELS, BUT THE CITY ITSELF IS POCKMARKED WITH VACANT LOTS AND ABANDONED BUILDINGS. CURRENT AFFAIRS' ANDREW BAROCH RECENTLY VISITED ATLANTIC CITY AND REPORTS ON THE IMPACT OF CASINO GAMBLING, WHICH, SOME OBSERVERS SAY, HAS CREATED A "TALE OF TWO CITIES." (10/24)

THE WORLD REFUGEE CRISIS -- REFUGEE EXPERTS AT A WEEKEND MEETING AT SAIS TELL JANE KUCZYNSKI THAT HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS ALONE CAN NOT BEGIN TO SOLVE THE WORLD'S REFUGEE PROBLEM. AND THEY CALL FOR GREATER POLITICAL AND DIPLOMATIC ACTION. (10/24)

FRESH BLOOD / THE NEW AMERICAN IMMIGRANTS -- IN HIS NEW BOOK "FRESH BLOOD: THE NEW IMMIGRANTS" SANFORD UNGAR, VETERAN JOURNALIST AND DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION AT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, EXAMINES THE NEW IMMIGRANT STRUGGLES AND SUCCESS STORIES. CURRENT AFFAIRS' ZLATICA HOKE REPORTS. (10/24)

ANTI-HUNGER -- ABOUT ONE THOUSAND AMERICAN WRITERS WILL TAKE PART IN EVENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY NEXT WEEK UNDER THE TITLE "WRITERS HARVEST: THE NATIONAL READING." CURRENT AFFAIRS' MARILYN SILVEY EXPLAINS THAT THE WRITERS HARVEST IS AN ANNUAL EFFORT TO RAISE FUNDS FOR GROUPS THAT ARE FIGHTING HUNGER. (10/24)

INSIDE USA:

UN / JIANG ZEMIN'S SPEECH / LIVE COVERAGE -- CHINA'S PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN DELIVERED A SPEECH AT THE UN ASSEMBLY TUESDAY, CLAIMING CHINA'S GROWTH IS NOT A THREAT TO ANY COUNTRY AND TAIWAN IS PART OF CHINA. JIANG'S SPEECH WAS COVERED LIVE BY STAFFERS SUN CHENG, LUO LAN, STRINGER FANG BING, ALONG WITH TWO CHINESE POLITICAL ANALYSTS, ZHU RONGDE, ROCHESTER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY, AND HUANG YASHENG, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, WHO JOINED THE BROADCAST BY PHONE. THE PANELISTS DISCUSSED THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SPEECH, SAYING THAT JIANG DID NOT SEND ANY NEW MESSAGES, BUT REAFFIRMED CHINA'S LONG-TIME STANDS ON MANY ISSUES. TIBETANS IN EXILE AND TAIWANESE DEMONSTRATED OUTSIDE THE UN DURING THE SPEECH.(MANDARIN 10/24)

NEW YORK / JIANG ZEMIN'S SPEECH -- IN HIS SPEECH TO THE AMERICA-CHINA SOCIETY IN NEW YORK, CHINESE PRESIDENT CALLED THE TAIWAN ISSUE THE MOST SENSITIVE AND CRUCIAL IN SINO-US RELATIONS. HE DEFENDED CHINA'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD SAYING THAT THE GOVERNMENT FIRMLY OPPOSES HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND IS TAKING STEPS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IN HIS OPENING REMARKS, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE HENRY KISSINGER EMPHASIZED THAT MAINTAINING A GOOD BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP IS IN THE INTEREST OF BOTH COUNTRIES. STAFFER JIE LUO COVERS THE SPEECH AND ACTUALITIES OF JIANG ZEMIN AND HENRY KISSINGER. (MANDARIN 10/24)

TIBETAN PROTESTERS / UN -- WHILE NEW YORK IS HOSTING SCORES OF HEADS OF STATE TO CELEBRATE UN'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY, THE CITY HAS ALSO DRAWN LARGE CROWDS OF PROTESTERS WITH A VARIETY OF NATIONAL BACKGROUNDS AND POLITICAL AIMS. SOME TIBETAN PROTESTERS ARE IN THEIR 10TH DAY OF A HUNGER STRIKE, DEMANDING THE UN RECOGNIZE TIBET'S INDEPENDENCE. SO FAR THE TIBETANS HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE FROM THE UN. STAFFER WANG ZE INTERVIEWED NAMKHA TENZIN, THE ORGANIZER OF THE HUNGER STRIKE, ON THE SCENE, AND LIU QING, CHAIRMAN, HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA. (MANDARIN 10/24)

US-CHINA SUMMIT / LOCATION -- STAFFER ALEC BATCHAN REPORTS ON THE DELAY IN THE START OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE, AND ON THE RESOLUTION OF THE DIPLOMATIC SNAFU BETWEEN THE US AND CHINA OVER THE LOCATION OF THE SUMMIT, WHICH WAS MOVED FROM THE NY PUBLIC LIBRARY TO LINCOLN CENTER. (RUSSIAN 10/23)

UN / 50TH ANNIVERSARY -- PRESIDENT OF EL SALVADOR AND FOREIGN MINISTER OF NICARAGUA TALKED ABOUT THE NEEDS OF THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IN THEIR SPEECHES TO COMMEMORATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED NATIONS. CORRESPONDENT LUIS TAMAYO REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (SPANISH 10/23)

FBI / TALK TO AMERICA -- ATTEMPTING TO SOLVE SUCH NOTORIOUS CRIMES AS THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING AND THE WORLD TRADE CENTER EXPLOSION, THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION IS THE US GOVERNMENT'S CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. 'TALK TO AMERICA' GUESTS ARE RAYMOND MISLOCK JR, AND LANE CROCKER, JR. THESE FBI AGENTS DISCUSS HOW THE AGENCY MAINTAINS A BALANCE BETWEEN ARRESTING CRIMINALS WITHOUT ABRIDGING THE RIGHTS OF THE INNOCENT. (ENGLISH 10/24)

UN / CRITICISM -- CRITICS ARE USING THE OCCASION OF THE UN'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY TO MAKE THEIR CASE FOR DISMANTLING THE ORGANIZATION. REPORTER WILLIAM EAGLE SPOKE WITH CRITIC PETER BEINART OF THE NEW REPUBLIC MAGAZINE AND SYLVANA FOA OF THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM IN ROME. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/24)

CLINTON / YELTSIN / REACT -- PROFESSOR ANDREW MICHTA FROM INTERNATIONAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT, RHODES COLLEGE IN MEMPHIS, TN TALKS TO STAFFER MAREK KRZYZANSKI ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE US-RUSSIAN SUMMIT IN HYDE PARK. (POLISH 10/23)

UN / SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE SESSION -- AS HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S SPECIAL SESSION COMMEMORATING THE ORGANIZATION'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY, FRENCH TO AFRICA REPORTS ON THE SPEECHES MADE BY SEVERAL FRANCOPHONE OFFICIALS. THE REPORT INCLUDED ACTUALITIES FROM FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC AND ZAIREAN PRESIDENT MOBUTU SESE SEKO. (FRENCH 10/23)

LITHUANIAN MAYOR / WORLD BANK -- THE MAYOR OF THE THE THIRD LARGEST CITY IN LITHUANIA, SIAULIAI CAME TO WASHINGTON SEEKING A $6 MILLION LOAN FROM THE WORLD BANK TO FINANCE PART OF A WATER PURIFICATION PROJECT. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER ROMAS KASPARAS, MAYOR ALFREDAS LANKAUSKAS ALSO SPOKE OF PLANS TO CREATE AN FREE ECONOMIC ZONE AT THE FORMER SOVIET AIR BASE NEAR SIAULIAI. (LITHUANIAN 10/20)

ENVIRONMENT / RESOURCES / FISH -- STAFFER ELIZABETH MONNAC INTERVIEWS SERGE GARCIA, FISH EXPERT AT THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION. MR. GARCIA SPOKE OF THE NEED TO MANAGE FISH RESOURCES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD IN ORDER TO AVOID DEPLETION. SHE SAID REGULATIONS AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL SHOULD BE PUT IN PLACE. (FRENCH 10/23)

STARBUCKS COFFEE / LABOR CODE -- REPORTER ANDREW BAIRD SPEAKS WITH PHARIS HARVEY, DIRECTOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOR RIGHTS AND EDUCATION FUND, A NON-PROFIT ADVOCACY GROUP IN WASHINGTON, DC ON A NEW LABOR CODE FOR STARBUCKS COFFEE'S SUPPLIERS WORLDWIDE. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 10/23)

IRANIAN WOMEN IN EXILE -- STAFFER FARAH JAHANGIRI INTERVIEWS LOS ANGELES-BASED IRANIAN AMERICAN WRITER AND JOURNALIST, HOMA SARSHAR. MS. SARSHAR, WHO WAS A JOURNALIST AND WRITER IN IRAN, TELLS HOW SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE IN THIS PROFESSION IN THE IRANIAN-AMERICAN PRESS IN THE UNITED STATES. (FARSI 10/24)

INSIDE AFRICA:

UN / 50TH CELEBRATIONS -- STAFFER JEROME KASSEMBE SPOKE WITH STAFFER ABDUSHAKUR ABOUD ON DEVELOPMENTS AT THE UNITED NATIONS CELEBRATIONS. MR KASSEMBE AND MR. ABOUD DISCUSSED THE REQUEST OF SEVERAL LEADERS TO REFORM THE UNITED NATIONS AND ITS GOALS. (SWAHILI 10/23)

UN / AFRICAN LEADERS -- AFRICAN LEADERS SPEAKING AT THE UNITED NATIONS 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS HAVE SENT A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT AFRICA MUST PLAY A GREATER ROLE IN THE UN'S DECISION-MAKING PROCESS. REPORTER CATHERINE MADDUX HAS EXERPTS FROM THE SPEECHES OF TWO LEADERS, KING MSWATI OF SWAZILAND, AND GHANA'S PRESIDENT JERRY RAWLINGS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/24)

AFRICA / UN / ANNIVERSARY -- FORMER OAU AMBASSADOR TO THE UN, OUMAROU YOUSSOUFOU, SUPPORTS REFORMING THE UNITED NATIONS. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER KABIRU FAGGE, THE FORMER OAU AMBASSADOR SPECIFIICALLY CALLED FOR THE INCLUSION OF AT LEAST TWO AFRICAN STATES IN THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL. (HAUSA 10/23)

UN / CAMEROON / DEMONSTRATION -- CAMEROONIANS LIVING IN THE US DEMONSTRATED SUNDAY IN FRONT OF THE HOTEL WHERE CAMEROONIAN PRESIDENT PAUL BIYA WAS STAYING IN NEW YORK DURING THE UN 50TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE SESSION. REBECCA ENONCHONG, PRESIDENT OF CAP LIBERTE USA, THE REPRESENTATIVE OF A CAMEROONIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION IN THE US, TOLD STAFFER JULIUS BARTHSON WHY SHE FELT IT WAS NECESSARY TO ORGANIZE THIS PROTEST. BUT THE CAMEROONIAN EDUCATION MINISTER WHO IS TRAVELLING WITH PRESIDENT BIYA DISAGREED SAYING HIS COUNTRY HAS MADE GREAT PROGESS IN RESPECTING HUMAN RIGHTS AND HAS NOW BEEN ACCEPTED INTO THE COMMONWEALTH. (FRENCH 10/23)

CAMEROON PROTEST / NEW YORK -- CAMEROON'S HEAD OF STATE PAUL BIYA WAS BOOED BY CAMEROONIANS DEMONSTRATING OUTSIDE HIS HOTEL IN NEW YORK. REPORTER JULIUS BARTHSON WAS THERE, AND LATER INTERVIEWED BECKY ENONCHONG, ORGANIZER OF THE PROTEST. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/23)

TANZANIA / ELECTIONS -- APROXIMATELY 15 THOUSAND TANZANIAN SOLDIERS WILL BE DEPLOYED TO OVERSEE POLLING STATIONS DURING THE GENERAL ELECTIONS IN MAINLAND TANZANIA ON OCTOBER 29. STRINGER PASCAL SHIJA REPORTS FROM DAR ES SALAAM. (SWAHILI 10/24)

TANZANIA / CAMPAIGN -- STRINGER EVEREST MUITUMBA SPOKE WITH ABDULRAHAMAN KINANA, THE CAMPAIGN MANAGER OF THE RULING CCM PARTY ON MAINLAND TANZANIA, ON PREPARATIONS BY HIS PARTY ON THE COMING ELECTIONS AND THE PROBLEMS FACING HIS PARTY. (SWAHILI 10/24)

ZANZIBAR / ELECTION RESULTS -- STAFFER EMANUEL MUGANDA SPOKE WITH REPORTER IDRISSA JECHA IN ZANZIBAR ON THE SITUATION IN ZANZIBAR AS PEOPLE AWAITED THE ELECTION RESULTS. MR JECHA SAID RESULTS FOR 47 OF THE 50 CONSITUENCIES HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED, HOWEVER CUF HAS REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE RESULTS IN TWO CONSITUENCIES WHERE THE CUF CANDIDATES LOST BY A VERY SMALL MARGIN. RESULTS MAY BE ANNOUNCED ANYTIME AND PREPARATIONS FOR THE SWEARING IN OF THE PRESIDENT WILL START ON THURSDAY. (SWAHILI 10/24)

KENYA / RWANDESE PUBLICATION -- STAFFER TOM ATANDI SPOKE WITH HASSAN NGEZE THE EDITOR OF KANGURA, A CONTROVERSIAL RWANDESE REFUGEE PUBLICATION. THE LATEST EDITION OF THE PUBLICATION HAS ARTICLES THAT SAY THE RWANDESE REFUGEE COMMUNITY SUPPORTS PRESIDENT DANIEL ARAP MOI 'S STAND ON THE RWANDA TRIBUNAL ARREST WARRANTS. THE WRITER OF ANOTHER ARTICLE CLAIMS THAT PRESIDENT YOWERI MUSEVENI RECENTLY TOLD KANGURA REPORTERS THAT ANYONE OR ANY COUNTRY WHICH WOULD ATTEMPT TO ATTACK RWANDA WOULD BE CONSIDERED AN ENEMY OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA. MR NGEZE SAID HIS COMMUNITY DOES NOT OPPOSE ARRESTS OF PERSONS FOUND GUILTY OF PARTICIPATING IN THE KILLINGS. BUT HE ALSO SAID THAT THE RWANDESE PROBLEM WILL NEVER BE SOLVED WITHOUT PRESIDENT MUSEVENI'S FULL INVOLVMENT. (SWAHILI 10/24)

ZAMBIA / 31 YEARS -- ZAMBIA MARKS 31 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE. REPORTER RICHARD KOTEY SPOKE WITH A FORMER ZAMBIAN VICE PRESIDENT AND PRIME MINISTER, MAINZA CHONA, FROM LUSAKA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/24)

ZAMBIA / MRS KAUNDA -- ALTHOUGH THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT HAS DROPPED INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE CITIZENSHIP OF FORMER PRESIDENT KENNETH KAUNDA, NEW INVESTIGATIONS HAVE BEGUN INTO THE CITIZENSHIP OF HIS WIFE. FROM LUSAKA, REPORTER KELLYS KAUNDA SAYS CRITICS BELIEVE IT'S AN ATTEMPT TO DISCREDIT MR. KAUNDA AS HE TRIES TO REGAIN THE PRESIDENCY. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/24)

LIBERIA / FIGHTING -- THE UNITED STATES EMBASSY IN MONROVIA WARNS THAT RENEWED FIGHTING IN LIBERIA COULD UNDERMINE INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR ENDING THE CIVIL WAR. REPORTER JACKSON KANNEH HAS DETAILS FROM MONROVIA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/23)

IVORY COAST / ELECTIONS DOSSIER -- STAFFERS MAIMOUNA MILLS AND IDRISSA FALL REPORT ON THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS HELD THIS PAST SUNDAY IN IVORY COAST. PROVISIONAL RESULTS ANNOUNCED BY THE GOVERNMENT SHOW PRESIDENT HENRI KONAN BEDIE HAVING OVER 96% OF THE VOTES WITH UP TO 80% OF THE BALLOTS COUNTED. VOTER TURNOUT WAS SAID TO BE AROUND 56%. PROFESSOR RENE DEGNY-SEGUI, PRESIDENT OF THE IVORIAN HUMAN RIGHTS LEAGUE SAYS IT IS TOO EARLY TO PREDICT WHAT THESE ELECTIONS WILL MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF IVORY COAST. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH MR. FALL, THE NATIONAL SECRETARY OF THE OPPOSITION IVORIAN POPULAR FRONT PARTY, SANGARE ABU DRAMANE SAID HIS PARTY DID NOT REGRET BOYCOTTING THE ELECTIONS. MS. MILLS ALSO INTERVIEWED MARIE-LOUISE NGUESSAN, OF THE RESEARCH AND STUDY GROUP FOR DEMOCRACY AND SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHO SPOKE OF A MALAISE WITHIN THE IVORIAN SOCIETY. (FRENCH 10/23)

AFRICA / MOVIE INDUSTRY -- STAFFER SAMUEL KIENDREBEOGO INTERVIEWED MALIAN AWARD-WINNING ACTOR BALAMOUSSA KEITA WHO TALKED ABOUT HIS THIRTY-YEAR EXPERIENCE IN THE MOVIE INDUSTRY AND HIS COLLABORATION WITH FILM-MAKER SOULEYMANE CISSE. BOTH MR KEITA AND MR. CISSE STRESSED THE NEED TO USE AFRICAN ACTORS AND AFRICAN LANGUAGES IN MOVIE-MAKING. (FRENCH 10/23)

MOZAMBIQUE / POLITICS -- SOUTH AFRICAN VICE PRESIDENT FREDERICK DE KLERK MADE A STOP IN MAPUTO IN HIS WAY BACK TO SOUTH AFRICA, WHERE HE DISCUSSED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CORRIDOR PROJECT BETWEEN MAPUTO AND JOHANNESBURG. TERESA LIMA REPORTS. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 10/23)

GUINEA BISSAU / PROTEST -- OPPOSITION POLITICAL PARTIES IN GUINEA BISSAU ARE STAGING A PROTEST MARCH AGAINST HUNGER AND HARDSHIP IN THAT COUNTRY. THEY ALSO ARE APPEALING TO THE PRESIDENT, NINO VIEIRA, TO CALL EARLY LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS. TERESA RIBEIRO REPORTS. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 10/23)

SAO TOME / POLITICS -- ANGOLA PRIME MINISTER, MARCOLINO MOCO HAS ONCE AGAIN CANCELLED HIS OFFICIAL VISIT TO SAO TOME. MEANWHILE, THE RULING PARTY HAS REJECTED THE CALL FOR A NATIONAL CONFERENCE TO DEAL WITH THE FORMATION OF A GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THERE ARE FORCES ORGANIZING IN ORDER TO RETURN SAO TOME TO A ONE PARTY SYSTEM. PRESIDENT MIGUEL TROVOADA IS EXPECTED TO DELIVER A SPEECH ON THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN THAT COUNTRY. STAFFER OVIDIO PEQUENO REPORTS. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 10/23)

FRANCE / ALGERIA -- ALGERIA CANCELLED THE MEETING BETWEEN PRESIDENT LAMINE ZEROUAL AND FRENCH PRESIDENT, JACQUES CHIRAC AT THE UNITED NATIONS. STAFFER ANA GUEDES SPOKE WITH LISA ANDERSON WHO TEACHES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS OF THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 10/23)

NIGERIA / SPORTS / MURDER -- HAUSA STRINGER AHMED MOHAMMED KWALAM REPORTS ON ATTEMPTS BY SUSPECTED VOODOO CULTISTS TO ABDUCT THE BODY OF A MURDERED NIGERIAN FOOTBALL PLAYER, IGINIWERE GEORGE, FROM THE PORT-HARCOURT MORTUARY. THE ATTEMPT WAS ABORTED BY A TEAM OF SECURITY MEN. AND IN NIGER REPUBLIC, SOME FOOTBALL TEAMS ARE REFUSING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SO-CALLED SPORTS YEAR ACTIVITIES BECAUSE THEY DO NOT ENDORSE THE COUNTRY'S NEWLY-FORMED SPORTS FEDERATION. (HAUSA 10/24)

AFRICA / SPORTS WRAP -- IN HIS WEEKLY SPORTRAMA PROGRAM, STAFFER CLAUDE PORSELLA, IN COOPERATION WITH STAFFER HENRY FRANCISQUE AND LIBREVILLE STRINGER FRITZ KOUM, REPORTS ON THE MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS OF THE WEEK. MR. KOUM REPORTS ON THE 10TH AFRICAN VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP WON BY TUNISIA, AND THE TEAMS THAT WILL BE COMPETING IN THE SECOND LEG OF THE SEMI-FINALS IN THE AFRICAN SOCCER CUP. MR. PORSELLA REPORTS ON AUTO-RACING IN EUROPE WITH THE LATEST VICTORY OF THE GERMAN MICHAEL SCHUMACHER AND ON THE BEIJING TENNIS TOURNAMENT WON BY THE AMERICAN MICHAEL CHANG, AS WELL AS THE WORLD SERIES AND SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR ALEXI LALAS. (FRENCH 10/23)

INSIDE MIDEAST:

IRAQ POLITICS -- IRAQ HAS ANNOUNCED THAT PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS WILL TAKE PLACE EARLY NEXT YEAR. STAFFER JUMAN TAMIMI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 10/23)

JORDAN / KUWAIT LOAN -- A JORDANIAN OFFICIAL SAYS JORDAN WILL GET A LOAN FROM THE KUWAITI ARAB FUND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A POWER STATION IN SOUTHERN JORDAN. STAFFER JUMAN TAMIMI REPORTS. (ARABIC 10/23)

ISRAEL / WEST BANK WITHDRAWAL -- ISRAELI CABINET MINISTERS HAVE WARNED THAT ISRAEL MAY RECONSIDER PLANS TO WITHDRAW FROM SIX WEST BANK CITIES IF MUSLIM MILITANTS KILL ANY MORE ISRAELIS. STRINGER BADIA' RIFAI INTERVIEWS HEBRON'S MAYOR MUSTAFA EL-NATSHA, FOR HIS REACTION. (ARABIC 10/23)

AFGHAN / FIGHTING -- TALEBAN SOURCES REPORT THAT FORCES LOYAL TO AFGHAN PRESIDENT RABBANI LAUNCHED ANOTHER ATTACK ON TALEBAN POSITIONS SOUTH OF KABUL, THIS TIME AT SANG-E-NAWESHTA AREA. PASHTO STRINGER EKRAM SHINWARAI REPORTS THAT THE TALEBAN HAVE REPULSED THE ATTACK AND THERE HAS BEEN CASUALTIES ON BOTH SIDES. A DELEGATION SENT BY PRESIDENT RABBANI TO JALALABAD TO GET THE SUPPORT OF OTHER FACTIONAL LEADERS HAS MET WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HARKAT-E-ENQELAB-E-ISLAMI AND THE NENGRAHAR SHURA OFFICIAL AND HAS DISCUSSED PRESIDENT RABBANI'S PROPOSAL WHICH REQUESTS THAT ALL FACTIONAL LEADERS SIT TOGETHER AND DISCUSS THE POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THE CURRENT CRISIS. (PASHTO, DARI 10/24)

UN / AFGHANISTAN -- THE AFGHAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS HE IS REPRESENTING PRESIDENT BURHANUDDIN RABBANI AT THE UN 50TH ANNIVERSARY CEREMONIES AS THE PRESIDENT COULD NOT PERSONALLY ATTEND DUE TO THE CRITICAL MILITARY SITUATION IN AND AROUND KABUL. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH OMAR MALIKYAR, NAJIBULLAH LAFRAIE ALSO SAID HE WILL TRY TO EXPLAIN TO THE WORLD BODY THE POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE CRISIS IN HIS WAR-TORN COUNTRY EVEN THOUGH SPEAKERS AT UNGA ARE ALLOWED ONLY A FEW MINUTES OF TIME. (DARI, PASHTO 10/24)

UN / AFGHANISTAN -- AFGHAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER NAJIBULLAH LAFRAI SAYS THE UN PEACE PLAN FORMULATED BY SPECIAL ENVOY MAHMOUD MESTIRI HAS CERTAIN FLAWS AND THEREFORE NOT FULLY UNACCEPTABLE TO ALL PARTIES. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER OMAR MALIKYAR, MR LAFRAI, WHO REPRESENTS PRESIDENT BURHANUDDIN RABBANI AT THE UN ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS IN NEW YORK, SUGGESTED THAT CHANGES ARE TO BE MADE IN THE UN PEACE PROPOSAL THROUGH FURTHER CONSULTATIONS WITH THE WARRING FACTIONS. (DARI, PASHTO 10/24)

AFGHAN / TRANSIT -- AS THE MAJOR HIGHWAY CONNECTING KABUL WITH THE NORTHERN AFGHAN PROVINCES CONTINUES TO BE BLOCKED BY FACTIONAL FIGHTING, A CIRCUITOUS ROAD THROUGH THE HINDUKUSH MOUNTAINS BECOMES A MAJOR DETOUR FOR COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC. DARI STRINGER ABDUL HAI WARSHAN REPORTS THAT THE MOUNTAINOUS ROUTE FROM THE NORTHWESTERN AFGHAN PROVINCE OF BADAKHSHAN TO CHITRAL IN PAKISTAN SERVES AS AN ATTRACTIVE DETOUR FOR TRANSPORTING GOODS FROM THE NORTH TO THE AFGHAN CAPITAL. (DARI 10/24)

IRANIAN IDENTITY / CRISIS -- FARSI STAFFER BEHRUZ NIKZAT INTERVIEWS DR ALI AL-TAI OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA. DR AL-TAI, AN ETHNIC ARAB FROM SOUTHWEST IRAN, SPOKE ABOUT THE CRISIS OF IRANIAN IDENTITY. HE ARGUES THAT IRANIAN ETHNIC MINORITIES SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK, WRITE, TEACH, AND BE EDUCATED IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGES. HE SAID IRAN'S ETHNIC MINORITIES MUST KNOW WHAT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE, WHAT THEIR FUTURE IS. (FARSI 10/24)

ATOM AND ENVIRONMENT / IRAN -- FARSI STAFFER BEN ABBASSI REPORTS ON IRANIAN AND CHINESE EFFORTS TO START OR INCREASE NUCLEAR POWER PLANS. LAST WEEK, THE CHINA DAILY REPORTED THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO INCREASE ITS NUCLEAR GENERATING CAPACITY TEN-FOLD BY THE YEAR 2020. MR ABBASSI DISCUSSED THIS TREND AND THE RISKS AND HAZARDS OF NUCLEAR ENERGY, WITH SCIENTIST JOHN AHEARNE. (FARSI 10/23)

IRANIAN CINEMA -- FARSI STAFFER KATAYOUN BENLARI PREPARED A PROGRAM ABOUT A NEW HISTORY OF THE IRANIAN CINEMA, WHICH WAS PUBLISHED RECENTLY IN IRAN. FILMMAKER BAHMAN FARMAN ARA, BY PHONE FROM TEHRAN, TALKED ABOUT THE NEW BOOK WITH PARIS-BASED FILM HISTORIAN, FARROKH GHAFFARI, TEHRAN-BASED CRITIC, HOOSHANG KAVOOSI, AND TEHRAN-BASED FILMMAKER FARMAN-ARA. (FARSI 10/21, 10/22)

KURDS / LITERATURE -- STAFFER KHALAF ZEBARI INTERVIEWSAHMED CHAMLIBEL, A KURD FROM TURKEY, AND EDITOR OF THE KURDISH JOURNAL 'RONAHI' IN GERMANY. HE ORGANIZED A CONFERENCE IN MECKENHEIM, GERMANY COMMEMORATING THE 300TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE APPEARANCE OF AHMED-I KHANI'S KURDISH EPIC 'MEM U ZIN,' CALLED BY SOME THE KURDISH 'ROMEO AND JULIET.' (KURDISH 10/24)

INSIDE CENTRAL ASIA:

KYRGYZSTAN / PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION -- ANATOLY MARISHEV, THE HEAD OF KYRGYZSTAN SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY, TOLD STAFFER RANO HABIB THAT, REJECTION OF THE PROPOSAL TO HOLD A REFERENDUM ON EXTENDING THE POWERS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE KYRGYZSTAN REPUBLIC FOR FIVE YEARS BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY AND SCHEDULING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR, DEMONSTRATE HOW DEMOCRACY IS FLOURISHING IN HIS COUNTRY. (UZBEK 10/24)

AZERBAIJAN / US -- WHILE IN BAKU STAFFER HABIB AZARSINA INTERVIEWED RICHARD BROWN, THE USIA OFFICIAL IN AZERBAIJAN ABOUT THE CULTURAL ACTIVITIES BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES AND A NEW AMERICAN LIBRARY WHICH IS GOING TO START IN THAT CITY. (AZERI 10/24)

INSIDE EAST ASIA:

TAIWAN / SINO-US TALKS -- STRINGER ZHANG YONGTAI IN TAIPEI INTERVIEWS PROFESSOR QINGFU, TAIWAN UNIVERSITY, LU HSIU-LIAN, DPP LEGISLATOR, AND YONG WEI, KMT LEGISLATOR, WHO COMMENT ON THE CLINTON-JIANG MEETING IN NEW YORK AND THE TAIWAN ISSUE IN SINO-US RELATIONS. (MANDARIN 10/24)

CHINA / LAOGAI / WORLD BANK -- HARRY WU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LAOGAI RESEARCH FOUNDATION SAID THAT IN THE AREA COVERED BY THE WORLD BANK IRRIGATION PROJECT IN XINJIANG, THERE ARE AT LEAST 21 FORCED LABOR CAMPS AND 30 SPECIAL FARMS RUN BY THE ARMY. THE LAOGAI RESEARCH FOUNDATION URGED THE WORLD BANK TO APPOINT AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE THE TARIM BASIN PROJECT, ADOPT AN OFFICIAL POLICY THAT BARS THE USE OF FORCED LABOR ON ALL BANK PROJECTS, AND DEVELOP A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR BANK STAFFERS TO SENSITIZE THEM TO THE REALITY OF FORCED LABOR AND HOW TO PREVENT ITS EXPLOITATION IN BANK ACTIVITIES. STAFFER JIANG TIAN COVERS A PRESS CONFERENCE HELD BY THE LAOGAI RESEARCH FOUNDATION. (MANDARIN 10/24)

CHINA/STATE ENTERPRISES / DEBT -- A CHINESE STATE ASSET ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL PROPOSED NEW REFORM MEASURES FOR THE COUNTRY'S DEBT RIDDEN STATE ENTERPRISES. THE DEBT REDUCTION PROPOSAL CALLS FOR OPTIMIZING STATE COMPANIES' RESOURCES AND GETTING AWAY FROM DEPENDENCE ON STATE SUBSIDIES. ECONOMISTS BELIEVE THIS IS A NEW STEP TOWARD MULTI-OWNERSHIP OF STATE FIRMS. STAFFER HE PING IN HONG KONG INTERVIEWS FAN GANG, CHINESE SOCIAL SCIENCE ACADEMY, XIA GENG, HONG KONG UNIVERSITY, AND LIN YIFU, BEIJING UNIVERSITY. (MANDARIN 10/24)

CHINA / HUMAN RIGHTS -- CHINESE DISSIDENT WANG JUNTAO AND CHINESE DISSIDENT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE US URGED PRESIDENT CLINTON TO RAISE THE HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES DURING HIS TALKS WITH CHINA'S PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN IN NEW YORK. THE DEMOCRATIC FRONT OF CHINESE DISSIDENTS SAID PRESIDENT CLINTON FAILED TO HONOR HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISE TO BE TOUGH ON HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES WITH CHINA. STAFFER JIANG TIAN INTERVIEWS WANG JUNTAO AND COVERS A PRESS CONFERENCE. (MANDARIN 10/24)

MASTER SHENG-YAN ON THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF TAIWAN -- MASTER SHENG-YAN, FOUNDER OF DHARMA DRUM FOUNDATION OF CULTURE AND EDUCATION, HAS ABOUT 300,00 DISCIPLES IN BOTH US AND TAIWAN. HE SPOKE TO STAFFER KUO-FU SHU IN LOS ANGELES ABOUT THE UPCOMING TAIWAN ELECTIONS. THE ADVICE HE OFFERS THE PEOPLE OF TAIWAN IS TO ELECT A WISE AND CAPABLE PERSON TO BE THE PRESIDENT DESPITE DIFFERENCES IN POLITICAL PARTIES AND RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. HE OFTEN ENCOURAGES HIS DISCIPLES TO PARTICIPATE IN POLITICS WITHOUT ANY SELFISH MOTIVATION. HE SAID HE HIMSELF WILL NOT BE INVOLVED IN THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN. (MANDARIN 10/24)

HONG KONG / INFLATION -- AFTER FOUR MONTHS OF DECREASING INFLATION, HK IS EXPERIENCING A RISE IN ITS INFLATION RATE. STAFFER LAWRENCE NG LOOKS AT THE REASONS FOR THE RISE IN HK'S INFLATION RATE, THE DECLINE IN THE PRC'S INFLATION RATE AND ITS IMPACT ON HK, AND PROSPECTS FOR THE UPCOMING CHRISTMAS AND BUYING SEASON. INTERVIEWS WITH K C KWOK, STANDARD CHARTERED BANK CHIEF ECONOMIST, YIM OI-KWAN, HANG SENG BANK ECONOMIC RESEARCH DEPARTMENT MANAGER, AND WOO TUN-OI, BAPTIST UNIVERSITY ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT SENIOR LECTURER. (CANTONESE 10/24)

NORTH / SOUTH KOREA / SPIES -- SOUTH KOREA ANNOUNCED THAT A NORTH KOREAN ARMED AGENT WAS CAPTURED DURING A GUNFIGHT WITH POLICE NEAR THE CENTRAL TOWN OF PUYO. AUTHORITIES SAY THAT THE MAN IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS KIM DO-SIK AND CONFESSED HE WAS SENT FROM NORTH KOREA IN AUGUST. SECURITY FORCES ARE STILL SEARCHING FOR KIM'S COMPANION, WHO ESCAPED DURING THE FIGHT WITH POLICE. CORRESPONDENT YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 10/24)

FORMER PRESIDENT / MONEY SCANDAL -- SOUTH KOREAN PROSECUTORS SAY THAT THEY CONFIRMED THAT A SECRET FUND OF 48.5 BILLION WON ($63 MILLION) WAS LAUNDERED THROUGH 12 COMMERCIAL BANKS. CORRESPONDENT YONG KYUN LIM SAYS THE PROSECUTORS ARE SEARCHING THROUGH BANK RECORDS, ATTEMPTING TO TRACK A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY ALLEGEDLY ACCUMULATED BY FORMER PRESIDENT ROH TAE WOO WHILE HE WAS IN OFFICE. (KOREAN 10/24)

INSIDE EUROPE:

CROATIA / EASTERN SLAVONIA -- CROATIAN OFFICIALS MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF SERBS FROM EASTERN SLAVONIA IN OSIJEK TO DISCUSS FUTURE STATUS OF THE AREA. CHIEF CROATIAN NEGOTIATOR H SARINIC SAID THAT THE SERBIAN SIDE HAS AGREED TO THE PEACEFUL INTEGRATION OF EASTERN SLAVONIA INTO CROATIA, BUT THE TIMING OF SUCH A MOVE REMAINS A PROBLEM. STRINGER STEVICA SUSA REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (SERBIAN 10/23)

CROATIA / EASTERN SLAVONIA MEETING -- REPRESENTATIVES OF CROATS AND SERBS FROM EASTERN SLAVONIA, MEETING IN OSIJEK, HAVE DECIDED TO CONTINUE THEIR TALKS IN ERDUT ON WEDNESDAY. (CROATIAN 10/23)

AKASHI / BELGRADE -- SPECIAL UN ENVOY FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, Y AKASHI PAID A FAREWELL VISIT TO THE SERBIAN CAPITAL FOR TALKS WITH PRESIDENT S MILOSEVIC. IN THE MEANTIME THE BOSNIAN SERB ASSEMBLY ADOPTED A PLATFORM TO BE PRESENTED AT THE FORTHCOMING PEACE TALKS ON BOSNIA IN THE USA. STRINGER MILICA KUBUROVIC REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (SERBIAN 10/23)

MILUTINOVIC / PEACE TALKS -- YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER M. MILUTINOVIC DISCUSSES THE CHANCES FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE DAYTON PEACE TALKS ON BOSNIA. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STRINGER RIALDA SEBEK IN LONDON, MR MILUTINOVIC CHARACTERIZED HIS TALKS WITH BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY M RIFKIND AS VERY PRODUCTIVE. (SERBIAN 10/23)

UN / 50TH ANNIVERSARY -- STRINGER IVICA PULJIC REPORTS ON THE CELEBRATIONS MARKING 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UN IN NEW YORK. IT INCLUDES REMARKS MADE BY BRITISH PRIME MINISTER JOHN MAJOR AND FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC. HE ALSO REPORTS ON THE MEETING OF CROATIAN PRESIDENT TUDJMAN AND GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER KLAUS KINKEL. (CROATIAN 10/23))

UN / ANNIVERSARY -- STRINGER IVICA PULJIC REPORTS FROM NEW YORK ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS OF THE UNITED NATIONS. MR PULJIC FOCUSED ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE CROATIAN DELEGATION AND ALSO PREVIEWED THE AMERICAN-RUSSIAN SUMMIT. (CROATIAN 10/23)

NATO / BOSNIA -- JANUSZ BUGAYSKI OF THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES DISCUSSED THE POSSIBLE DEPLOYMENT OF NATO TROOPS IN BOSNIA. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER DZENITA MEHIC, MR BUGAYSKI SAID THAT THE PRESENCE OF WESTERN TROOPS IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE SUCCESSFUL CONTINUATION OF THE PEACE PROCESS. (CROATIAN 10/21

UN / BOSNIA / CROATIA / TURKEY -- STRINGER IVICA PULJIC REPORTS FROM NEW YORK THAT THE PRESIDENTS OF CROATIA, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, AND TURKEY HAVE AGREED TO FORM A JOINT POLICE FORCE THAT WILL OVERSEE THE RETURN OF REFUGEES TO WESTERN BOSNIA. (CROATIAN 10/24)

BOSNIA / TRUCE -- STRINGER LINDA MILISA REPORTS FROM THE TOWN OF SANSKI MOST ON THE TRUCE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND BOSNIAN-SERB FORCES. THE CEASE-FIRE IN WESTERN BOSNIA IS HOLDING, BUT THERE ARE NEW REPORTS ON MASS KILLINGS OF MUSLIM CIVILIANS. (CROATIAN 10/24)

BOSNIA / CEASE-FIRE VIOLATIONS -- SARAJEVO STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTS THAT THE UN IN SARAJEVO HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT AN INCREASE IN CEASE-FIRE VIOLATIONS FOR NO MILITARY REASONS. (CROATIAN 10/23)

CROATIA / PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS -- ON THE EVE OF THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, CROATIAN POLITICIANS DISCUSS GOVERNMENT POLICY TOWARDS BOSNIA. THE RULING PARTY'S REPRESENTATIVE, AND PRESIDENT TUDJMAN'S ADVISER FOR BOSNIA, BRANKO MISETIC, TOLD STRINGER ZELJKO MATIC IN AN INTERVIEW, THAT BOSNIA SHOULD REMAIN A COUNTRY WITH THREE NATIONS AS CONSTITUENT ELEMENTS. (CROATIAN 10/23)

BOSNIAN CROATS / VOTE -- SARAJEVO STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTS THAT THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT NOW REGRETS TO HAVE ALLOWED CROATS IN BOSNIA TO VOTE IN THE CROATIAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS AFTER IT TURNED OUT THAT IT APPLIES NOT TO CROATIAN CITIZENS IN BOSNIA BUT TO BOSNIAN CROATS CITIZENS OF BOSNIA. STRINGER BILIC ALSO REPORTS ON THE MEETING BETWEEN BOSNIA'S PRIME MINISTER AND WORLD BANK OFFICIALS. (CROATIAN 10/23)

CROATIAN OPPOSITION / ELECTIONS -- IN THE CAMPAIGN FOR PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, THE CROATIAN SOCIAL-LIBERAL PARTY HAS CRITICIZED THE GOVERNMENT'S ECONOMIC POLICY. STRINGER SLAVICA LUKIC REPORTS THAT SOCIAL LIBERALS HAVE DENOUNCED PRESIDENT TUDJMAN' PARTY AS INEPT AND CORRUPT. (CROATIAN 10/21)

BALKAN / COOPERATION -- THE PRESIDENTS OF ALBANIA, BULGARIA AND TURKEY, SALI BERISHA, ZHELYU ZHELEV, AND SULEYMAN DEMIREL, AND THE ACTING MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT AND SPEAKER OF THE MACEDONIAN PARLIAMENT, STOJAN ANDOV, MET IN NEW YORK ON THE SIDELINES OF THE CELEBRATIONS FOR THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UN. THEY PLEDGED TO WORK FOR PEACE IN THE BALKANS AND PRESS AHEAD WITH NEW INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING ROADS, POWER AND TELECOMMUNICATION LINKS. A DOCUMENT THEY SIGNED STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF PROJECTS LINKING THE BALKANS AND WESTERN EUROPE. STRINGER ZAMIRA EDWARDS INTERVIEWS ALBANIAN PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA. (ALBANIAN 10/23)

SLOVENIAN PRESIDENT / UN -- STAFFER ALENKA RICHARDSON INTERVIEWS SLOVENIAN PRESIDENT MILAN KUCAN, ATTENDING THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE OCCASION OF THE UN'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY. PRESIDENT KUCAN TALKED ABOUT HIS MEETINGS WITH WORLD LEADERS, AMONG THEM PRESIDENTS OF NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES. ASKED ABOUT THE WASHINGTON TIMES ARTICLE WHICH DESCRIBED SLOVENIA AS THE MODEL CENTRAL EUROPEAN NATION IN TRANSITION FROM COMMUNISM TO MULTIPARTY DEMOCRACY, HE SAID THAT SLOVENIA IS TRYING TO FULFILL THOSE EXPECTATIONS. AS TO THE DISPUTE WITH ITALY, THE SLOVENIAN PRESIDENT MET WITH UN AMBASSADOR MADELEINE ALBRIGHT WHO NOTED THE GROWING INTEREST OF WASHINGTON IN US MEDIATION OF THE DISPUTE. (SLOVENE 10/24)

ALBANIA / YUGO / UN EMBARGO -- THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT SAYS POLICE HAS INCREASED ITS SURVEILLANCE OF THE TRANSPORT OF FUEL, AS SMUGGLERS ARE STEPPING UP TRADE BEFORE A BOSNIAN PEACE SETTLEMENT AND THE LIFTING OF UN SANCTIONS. THE DEMAND FOR FUEL ALMOST DOUBLED AFTER TURKISH UN TROOPS BLOCKED SMUGGLING ALONG THE DANUBE LAST WEEK. STRINGER PELLUMB SULO REPORTS. (ALBANIAN 2/23)

RIGA / PUBLIC TRANSPORT -- HAT WILL NEW WORLD BANK DEVELOPMENT LOANS MEAN TO THE IMNHABITANTS OF LATVIA'S CAPITAL? ALEKSANDRS DZERKALIS, CHAIRMAN OF RIGA'S PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, TALKS TO STAFFER PETERIS AIZUPITIS AT THE CONCLUSION OF MEETINGS WITH WORLD BANK OFFICIALS IN WASHINGTON. (LATVIAN 10/23)

LATVIA AND THE UN -- LATVIA'S BASIC RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UN AND HOPES FOR THE FUTURE ARE LAID OUT BY PRESIDENT GUNTIS ULMANIS IN AN ADDRESS TO THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. (LATVIAN 10/20)

LITHUANIA / UNITED NATIONS -- STAFFER REPORT ON THE SPEECH BY THE LITHUANIAN PRESIDENT ALGIRDAS BRAZAUSKAS AT THE UNITED NATIONS 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL SESSION, AND ON HIS BILATERAL MEETING WITH AUSTRALIAN GOVERNOR-GENERAL BILL HEYDEN. (LITHUANIAN 10/24)

LITHUANIA / JORDAN -- STAFFER REPORT ON BILATERAL MEETINGS BETWEEN LITHUANIAN PRESIDENT BRAZAUSKAS AND JORDAN'S KING HUSSEIN AND GREEK PRESIDENT CONSTANTINE STEPHANOPOULOUS. BASED ON INTERVIEW WITH LITHUANIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UN. (LITHUANIAN 10/23)

POLISH PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN -- PROFESSOR KRZYSZTOF JASIEWICZ, MEMBER OF THE POLISH ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES TALKS TO WARSAW CORRESPONDENT WOJCIECH MINICZ ABOUT NEW POLITICAL ATTITUDES OF POLES DURING THE CURRENT PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN. ACCORDING TO PROFESSOR JASIEWICZ POLITICS OF SYMBOLS IS GRADUALLY REPLACED BY POLITICS OF INTERESTS. THUS ANTI-COMMUNIST SLOGANS OF SOME POLITICAL FACTIONS, OR EVEN THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ARE LESS IMPORTANT THAN INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP INTERESTS OF THE ELECTORATE. (POLISH 10/23)

HUNGARIAN REVOLT / 56 ANNIVERSARY -- STAFFER VERONIKA LUDMER INTERVIEWS PROFESSOR RUDOLF T?OK?ES OF CONNECTICUT UNIVERSITY ON THE 1956 HUNGARIAN REVOLUTION, AND US FOREIGN POLICY TOWARDS HUNGARY THEN AND NOW. (HUNGARIAN 10/23) HUNGARIAN REVOLT / BUDAPEST STRINGER J?OZSEF SIM?ANYI INTERVIEWS FORMER VOA DIRECTOR ROBERT E BUTTON IN BUDAPEST. MR BUTTON HEADED VOA IN 1956. (HUNGARIAN 10/23)

HUNGARIAN REVOLT / PRESIDENT GONCZ -- CORRESPONDENT EUGENE DETHASSY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK ON THE 1956 ANNIVERSARY OBSERVANCES. ARPAD GONCZ, PRESIDENT OF HUNGARY, WAS THE GUEST SPEAKER. (HUNGARIAN 10/23)

ROMANIAN PARLIAMENTARIAN -- DAN MARTIAN, VICE-PRESIDENT OF ROMANIAN HOUSE OF DEPUTIES VISITED VOA IN WASHINGTON. IN HIS INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER ANDREI BREZIANU HE TALKED ABOUT THE NEED TO COMBAT CORRUPTION IN ROMANIA'S POLITICAL LIFE. (ROMANIAN 23/16)

INSIDE EURASIA:

HYDE PARK -- STAFFER ALEC BATCHAN REPORTS ON THE CLINTON-YELTSIN MEETING AT A WORKING LUNCH OVER SEVERAL BILATERAL DIFFERENCES, THE YELTSIN TOUR OF HYDE PARK, VISIT TO THE ROOSEVELT GRAVES, AND RUSSIAN WAR CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNING LEND-LEASE. (RUSSIAN 10/23)

CLINTON / YELTSIN STATEMENTS AT HYDE PARK -- STATEMENTS BY PRESIDENTS CLINTON AND YELTSIN AFTER THEIR HYDE PARK MEETING CARRIED LIVE. THE TWO LEADERS AGREED THAT RUSSIAN TROOPS WOULD BE PART OF A PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN BOSNIA, BUT THE QUESTION OF WHO WOULD BE IN COMMAND, NATO OF THE UN, WAS LEFT OPEN. PRESIDENTS CLINTON AND YELTSIN AGREED TO A BAN NEXT YEAR ON NUCLEAR TESTING. (RUSSIAN 10/23)

ROUNDTABLE ON CLINTON / YELTSIN MEETING -- DIMITRY SIMES, PRESIDENT OF THE NIXON CENTER FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM, LEON ARON OF THE AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE, ANDREY KORTUNOV FROM THE INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF THE US AND CANADA AND STAFFER VLADIMIR MATLIN ANALYZE THE CLINTON-YELTSIN SUMMIT AND US RUSSIAN RELATIONS POST SUMMIT. (RUSSIAN 10/23)

THOMAS PICKERING / SUMMIT -- STAFFER ALEC BATCHAN INTERVIEWS FORMER US AMBASSADOR TO RUSSIA THOMAS PICKERING, WHO GAVE A POSITIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE RESULTS OF THE CLINTON-YELTSIN SUMMIT. (RUSSIAN 10/23)

RUSSIA / NATO -- REPORTER TERRY WING TALKS WITH JOSEPH LEPGOLD, A PROFESSOR OF GOVERNMENT AND NATO EXPERT, ABOUT THE RUSSIAN RELATIONSHIP WITH NATO REGARDING PEACEKEEPING IN BOSNIA. HE SAYS NATO NEEDS RUSSIA JUST AS MUCH AS RUSSIA NEEDS NATO. NATO NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THAT RUSSIA DOESN'T USE ITS SECURITY COUNCIL VETO OF BOSNIAN PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS. RUSSIA NEEDS TO MAKE THE WORLD SEE THAT IT STILL MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 10/23)

INSIDE LATIN AMERICA:

MENEM / PRESS CONFERENCE -- ARGENTINE PRESIDENT CARLOS MENEM DEFENDED HIS ECONOMY MINISTER DOMINGO CAVALLO AT A PRESS CONFERENCE IN NEW YORK. CORRESPONDENT LUIS TAMAYO REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (SPANISH 10/23)

US / COLOMBIAN DRUG ASSETS -- COLOMBIAN AUTHORITIES SAID THE US DECISION OF FREEZING BANK ASSETS OF INDIVIDUALS AND COMPANIES FRONTING FOR DRUG OPERATIONS IMPLEMENTS THE COLOMBIAN-US LAW ENFORCEMENT COOPERATION AGREEMENT. STRINGER JUAN ALVARO CASTELLANOS REPORTS FROM BOGOTA. (SPANISH 10/23)

VENEZUELA / JOSE IGNACIO CABRUJAS -- VENEZUELAN PLAYWRIGHT JOSE IGNACIO CABRUJAS DIED IN CARACAS. STRINGER URANIA MENDEZ REPORTS. (SPANISH 10/23)

ARGENTINA / BRAZIL / INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES -- A BRITISH FIRM SPECIALIZED IN INTERNATIONAL MARKETS ANALYSIS SAID AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRIES IN ARGENTINA AND BRAZIL OFFER GOOD INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES. STRINGER HUMBERTO CASTELLANOS REPORTS FROM LONDON. (SPANISH 10/23)

PROPOSITION 187 -- A US JUDGE IN CALIFORNIA POSTPONED AGAIN A DECISION ON CONSTITUTIONALITY OF PROPOSITION 187 BANNING SOCIAL SERVICES TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. CORRESPONDENT HECTOR VELAZQUEZ MEJIA REPORTS FROM LOS ANGELES. (SPANISH 10/23)

SEBASTIENNE / CARIBBEAN -- TROPICAL STORM "SEBASTIENNE" WAS DOWNGRADED TO A MERE TROPICAL DEPRESSION AFTER LOSING STRENGTH IN THE LAST HOURS. CORRESPONDENT GORGE WEHBY REPORTS FROM MIAMI. (SPANISH 10/23) 24-Oct-95 5:27 PM EDT (2127 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America