Voice of America Digest, 11 December 1995

From: "Ioannis V. Bousnakis" <ivb19@nfi.com>

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] !!! VOA DIGEST - DECEMBER 11, 1995

CLINTON / BOSNIA -- PRESIDENT CLINTON IS VOWING THAT US TROOPS ON A NATO PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA WILL CONCLUDE THEIR WORK IN A YEAR'S TIME. HIS COMMENTS, IN A US TELEVISION NEWS PROGRAM BROADCAST SUNDAY, ARE AIMED AT EASING THE CONCERNS OF A SKEPTICAL AMERICAN PUBLIC AND CONGRESS ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A LONG-TERM US MISSION IN BOSNIA. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS. (12/10)

BOSNIA / FRANCE -- THE DEADLINE SET BY FRANCE FOR NEWS OF TWO FRENCH PILOTS SHOT DOWN OVER BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA HAS EXPIRED. WITH NO WORD ON THE PILOTS' FATE, IT IS NOT CLEAR WHAT ACTION FRANCE PLANS NEXT. STRINGER JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS. (12/10)

US / FRANCE / PILOTS -- PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS HE DOES NOT FORESEE ANY HOSTAGE-TAKING OF US TROOPS DURING THEIR PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. STAFFER VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS MR CLINTON'S COMMENTS RECORDED FOR BROADCAST ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK COME AS HE VOICED SUPPORT FOR FRENCH EFFORTS TO SECURE THE FREEDOM OF TWO FRENCH PILOTS MISSING IN BOSNIA FOR MORE THAN THREE MONTHS. (12/9)

US / YUGO -- AMERICAN PEACE ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE HAS URGED THE SERBIAN PRESIDENT, SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, TO HELP FREE TWO FRENCH PILOTS CAPTURED BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS LAST AUGUST. FRANCE HAS WARNED OF WIDE-RANGING CONSEQUENCES AGAINST THE SERBS IF THE PILOTS ARE NOT RELEASED BY ITS SUNDAY DEADLINE. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS FROM VIENNA. (12/9)

US / MILITARY TECHNOLOGY FOR BOSNIA -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' ERICA BENIS AND HER GUEST RETIRED US ARMY GENERAL EDWARD ATKINSON LOOK AT THE ARRAY OF SOPHISTICATED WEAPONS AND LARGE NETWORKS OF SUPPLY, INTELLIGENCE, AND COMMUNICATIONS THAT WILL LINK THE 20 THOUSAND US TROOPS WITH THE OTHER NATO FORCES AND WILL GIVE IFOR A DOMINANT AWARENESS OF POTENTIAL DANGERS. (12/11)

US TROOPS / BOSNIA -- US TROOPS ARE STEPPING UP THEIR PREPARATIONS FOR THE BOSNIAN PEACEKEEPING MISSION THAT WILL BEGIN IN EARNEST LATER THIS MONTH. AS CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING REPORTS, MILITARY EQUIPMENT FOR THE MISSION IS NOW BEING SHIPPED BY AIR AND RAIL. (12/9)

US / HUNGARY TROOPS -- TWO AMERICAN MILITARY PLANES HAVE LANDED IN SOUTHERN HUNGARY WITH PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT FOR AN IMPORTANT SUPPORT BASE FOR US TROOPS WHO WILL BE SENT TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS FROM VIENNA. (12/9)

BOSNIA / LONDON CONFERENCE -- THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BOSNIA CONTINUES IN LONDON. BUT AS CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS, ITS WORK HAS BEEN OVERSHADOWED BY FRENCH DEMANDS FOR THE RETURN OF TWO OF THEIR PILOTS DOWNED OVER BOSNIA IN LATE AUGUST. (12/9)

PERES / RABIN RALLY -- THE PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL, SHIMON PERES, AND US VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE WERE AMONG THOSE WHO PAID TRIBUTE IN NEW YORK TO YITZHAK RABIN, THE ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER WHO WAS ASSASSINATED ONE MONTH AGO BY AN ISRAELI JEW OPPOSED MR. RABIN'S PEACE POLICIES. CORRESPONDENT BARBARA SCHOETZAU REPORTS. (12/10)

PALESTINIAN AUTONOMY -- ISRAEL WITHDREW ITS FORCES FROM ANOTHER WEST BANK CITY SUNDAY, AS ITS HAND OVER OF AUTHORITY TO THE PALESTINIANS SPEEDS UP TOWARD AN END-OF-THE-MONTH DEADLINE. CORRESPONDENT AL PESSIN REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM. (12/10)

US / IRAQ MISSILES -- THE UNITED STATES HAS WELCOMED JORDAN'S SEIZURE OF RUSSIAN-MADE GUIDANCE EQUIPMENT EN ROUTE TO BAGHDAD DESPITE IRAQ'S DENIAL THAT IT TRIED TO IMPORT THE MISSILE PARTS. STAFFER VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS THE DEVELOPMENTS COME AS THE UN ENVOY CHARGED WITH OVERSEEING THE DESTRUCTION OF BAGHDAD'S WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION PREPARES HIS LATEST ASSESSMENT OF IRAQI COMPLIANCE. (12/9)

WEI TRIAL SET -- TWO HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS SAY THE TRIAL OF CHINA'S BEST-KNOWN DISSIDENT, WEI JINGSHENG, HAS BEEN SET FOR DECEMBER 13TH. CHINESE AUTHORITIES LAST MONTH FORMALLY CHARGED MR WEI WITH SEDITION. CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER REPORTS FROM BEIJING. (12/9)

MACAU AIRPORT / CHINA / TAIWAN -- SENIOR PORTUGUESE AND CHINESE OFFICIALS ARE IN MACAU FOR THE OPENING OF THE TERRITORY'S NEW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. THE AIRPORT IS EXPECTED TO DO MORE THAN JUST INCREASE THE PORTUGUESE ENCLAVE'S TRADE AND TOURISM LINKS WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD. CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON SAYS IT ALSO MARKS A NEW STEP TOWARDS DISMANTLING THE DECADES-OLD BAN ON DIRECT TRANSPORT BETWEEN CHINA AND ITS LONG-TIME RIVAL, TAIWAN. (12/8)

BURMA / RALLIES -- BURMA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT IS SPONSORING MASS RALLIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY IN SUPPORT OF AN ARMY-RUN CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. MEANWHILE, SOUTHEAST ASIA CORRESPONDENT DAN ROBINSON REPORTS DEMOCRACY LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI, WHOSE PRO-DEMOCRACY PARTY BOYCOTTED AND THEN WAS EXPELLED FROM THE CONVENTION, SPOKE AGAIN TO SEVERAL THOUSAND PEOPLE GATHERED AT HER HOME IN RANGOON. (12/10)

MQM KILLINGS -- A THREE-DAY STRIKE HAS BEEN CALLED IN KARACHI, PAKISTAN FOLLOWING THE KILLING OF THE BROTHER OF THE LEADER OF THE CITY'S DOMINANT POLITICAL GROUP. ISLAMABAD CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN REPORTS THIS IS THE LATEST BLOW TO A CITY ALREADY BADLY TORN BY VIOLENCE. (12/10)

KOREA INVESTIGATION -- FORMER SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT CHOI KYU-HAH REFUSED TO OBEY A PROSECUTOR'S SUMMONS SATURDAY FOR QUESTIONING ABOUT EVENTS LEADING TO A 1979 MILITARY COUP ALLEGEDLY COMMANDED BY HIS SUCCESSOR, CHUN DOO-HWAN. STRINGER SHIN NA REPORTS FROM SEOUL ON CONTINUING INVESTIGATIONS INTO WRONGDOINGS SAID TO BE COMMITTED BY TWO FORMER PRESIDENTS. (12/9)

FRANCE STRIKES -- FRENCH LABOR UNIONS HAVE OPENED DISCUSSIONS WITH THE GOVERNMENT IN THE HOPE OF ENDING THE STRIKES THAT HAVE BROUGHT FRANCE TO A NEAR STANDSTILL. BUT MARC BLONDEL, THE MOST MILITANT UNION LEADER, THREATENED TO BOYCOTT THE TALKS UNLESS HE COULD MEET PERSONALLY WITH PRIME MINISTER ALAIN JUPPE. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS. (12/9)

FRANCE / EUROPEAN MONETARY UNION -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' LINDA CASHDAN REPORTS THAT THE STRIKE IN FRANCE COULD HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A EUROPEAN CURRENCY, BECAUSE FRANCE MUST CUT ITS SPENDING TO MEET ITS DEFICIT OBLIGATIONS BEFORE THE CURRENCY IS ESTABLISHED. (12/11)

GERMANY / IRAN -- AUTHORITIES IN GERMANY HAVE OPENED A PROBE INTO ALLEGATIONS THAT THE HEAD OF IRANIAN INTELLIGENCE, ALI FALLAHIAN, MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE 1992 MURDER OF FOUR IRANIAN OPPOSITION FIGURES IN BERLIN. CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING REPORTS. (12/10)

RUSSIA CHECHNYA -- ONE OF TWO MAIN CONTENDERS FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF CHECHNYA HAS PULLED OUT OF THE RACE A WEEK BEFORE ELECTION DAY. FROM MOSCOW, STRINGER PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS THE CANDIDATE'S WITHDRAWAL IS A SEVERE BLOW TO RUSSIA'S HOPES FOR A CREDIBLE ELECTION IN THE BREAKAWAY REPUBLIC. (12/9)

UGANDA / SUDAN -- UGANDA HAS DENIED SUDANESE CLAIMS THAT ITS TROOPS HAVE KILLED SCORES OF UGANDAN SOLDIERS FIGHTING ALONGSIDE REBELS IN SOUTHERN SUDAN. EAST AFRICA CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS. (12/9)

INDIA / POLIO -- INDIA'S BIGGEST-EVER PUBLIC HEALTH CAMPAIGN GETS UNDERWAY SATURDAY WHEN THE GOVERNMENT BEGINS TO IMMUNIZE 75 MILLION CHILDREN AGAINST POLIO. STRINGER ANJANA PASRICHA REPORTS FROM NEW DELHI, THE CAMPAIGN IS PART OF A WORLDWIDE DRIVE TO ERADICATE POLIO. IT ALSO MARKS ANOTHER MILESTONE IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD'S BATTLE AGAINST INFECTIOUS DISEASES. (12/8)

US / BUDGET -- REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN CONGRESS SAY NEW ECONOMIC PROJECTIONS THIS WEEK COULD BE THE CATALYST FOR AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION ON BALANCING THE FEDERAL BUDGET. REPORTER VICTOR BEATTIE SAYS BOTH SIDES WANT TO TRY TO AVERT ANOTHER GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, WHICH WOULD OCCUR IF NO AGREEMENT IS REACHED BY MIDNIGHT FRIDAY, WHEN THE CURRENT TEMPORARY SPENDING AUTHORITY EXPIRES. (12/10)

BROADWAY TO BEIJING -- THE OPENING UP OF CHINA TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD HAS OBVIOUSLY BROUGHT MANY CHANGES. IN BEIJING AND OTHER CHINESE CITIES YOU CAN EAT A MCDONALD'S HAMBURGER OR BUY AMERICAN SPORTS EQUIPMENT. NOW ANOTHER AMERICAN PRODUCT IS ON ITS WAY TO CHINA, THE BROADWAY MUSICAL COMEDY. AN AMERICAN THEATER ARTS CENTER PLANS TO STAGE A CHINESE-LANGUAGE PRODUCTION OF THE HIT MUSICAL, 'CRAZY FOR YOU.' CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER REPORTS ON THE CHALLENGES OF BRINGING BROADWAY TO BEIJING. (12/8)

FRANK SINATRA / TURNS 80 -- WHEN HE WAS 17, FRANK SINATRA WAS JUST BEGINNING TO SING FOR AUDIENCES IN HIS HOMETOWN OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY. BUT BY THE TIME HE WAS 25, HE WAS THE NUMBER ONE VOCALIST IN THE NATION. ALTHOUGH SINATRA'S LIFE HAS FREQUENTLY BEEN THE SUBJECT OF CONTROVERSY, HIS MUSIC HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME, TAKING HIM FROM TEEN IDOL TO LIVING LEGEND. CURRENT AFFAIRS' SUSAN LOGUE LOOKS AT THE MAN AND HIS MUSIC. (12/11)

POLLS UNDER FIRE -- PRESIDENT CLINTON AND HIS ADVISERS HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF LATE OF MAKING POLICY BASED ON THE WHIMS OF PUBLIC-OPINION POLLS. REPUBLICANS, MEANTIME, TAKE ISSUE WITH POLLS THAT SHOW A LOSS OF STEAM BY THE "REPUBLICAN REVOLUTION." CURRENT AFFAIRS' TED LANDPHAIR HAS SOME BACKGROUND ON POLLS, THEIR PLUSES AND PITFALLS. (12/11)

TENNIS / GERMANY -- CROATIA'S TOP TENNIS PLAYER, GORAN IVANISEVIC, FIRED FOUR ACES IN A ROW PAST AMERICAN TODD MARTIN, AND CAPTURED THE RICHEST PRIZE IN TENNIS. KYLE KING REPORTS. (12/10)

INSIDE USA:

JAMES RESTON / POLISH AMERICAN JOURNALIST -- BOLESLAW WIERZBIANSKI, THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND PUBLISHER OF A POLISH LANGUAGE DAILY IN NEW YORK, TALKS ABOUT HIS AQUAINTANCE WITH AMERICAN JOURNALIST JAMES RESTON. THE TWO MET IN LONDON AT THE BEGINING OF WORLD WAR II. INTERVIEW BY STAFFER MACIEJ WIERZYNSKI. (POLISH 12/8)

BARBIE / TALK TO AMERICA -- BORN AS A TOY FOR LITTLE GIRLS MORE THAN 35 YEARS AGO, BARBIE HAS BECOME AN ICON OF POPULAR CULTURE. 'TALK TO AMERICA' WELCOMES AUTHOR MG LORD AND EDITOR CAROLYN COOK, TO DISCUSS HOW A DOLL, NO MORE THAN THIRTY CENTIMETERS HIGH, BECAME SUCH A POTENT SYMBOL OF OUR TIMES. (ENGLISH 12/11)

NEW YORK / RABIN STREET -- NEW YORK HAS NAMED A STREET IN HONOR ON SLAIN ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER YITZHAK RABIN. STAFFER ALEC BATCHAN REPORTS THAT IT IS THE STREET IN FRONT OF THE ISRAELI CONSULATE IN THE CENTER OF TOWN. (RUSSIAN 12/10)

US / LABOR UNIONS -- LABOR EXPERT CONSTANTIN SIMIS TALKS ABOUT THE US SUPREME COURT DECISION IN A LABOR DISPUTE ABOUT HIRING UNION ACTIVISTS. (RUSSIAN 12/9)

MIAMI / HUMAN RIGHTS CONGRESS -- GOVERNMENT DELEGATES PARTICIPATE IN THE 7TH INTERNATIONAL CONGRES OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN MIAMI. CORRESPONDENT JORGE WEHBY REPORTS FROM THAT CITY. (SPANISH 12/8)

AUSTRALIA MARKS HUMAN RIGHTS DAY -- SYDNEY STRINGER NGOC HAN TALKED TO PARTICIPANTS OF THE SEMINAR ORGANIZED BY THE VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY TO OBSERVE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY. (VIETNAMESE 12/11)

CALIFORNIA / TEACHING VIETNAMESE -- SAN JOSE STRINGER THANH PHUONG TALKED TO MS. DINH KIM NGUYET ON THE VIETNAMESE TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM FOR THE EAST SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THIS CITY WITH A LARGE VIET COMMUNITY. (VIETNAMESE 12/10)

INSIDE AFRICA:

KAMPALA / AIDS CONFERENCE -- STRINGER MIKE ARERENG REPORTS ON THE OPENING OF THE NINTH INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE. ORGANIZERS URGED POLITICAL LEADERS TO GET MORE INVOLVED IN FIGHTING AIDS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. (SWAHILI 12/11)

AFRICA / WOMEN / AIDS -- STAFFER MAIMOUNA MILLS FOCUSED ON AIDS AND WOMEN IN A SPECIAL REPORT. SHE INTERVIEWS STATE DEPARTMENT'S PRUDENCE BUSHNELL ON WHY THE FIGHT AGAINST AIDS IN AFRICA HAS BECOME A PRIORITY FOR THE US ADMINISTRATION AND ON SPECIFIC PROGRAMS TARGETING WOMEN. ALSO INTERVIEWED WERE DR TIM DONDERO, CHIEF OF INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES AT THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND IVORIAN PHYSICIAN DR JUSTINE AGNES SOUMAORO WHO HEADS THE INFECTIOUS DISEASES UNIT IN ABIDJAN'S UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL. (FRENCH 12/8)

KENYA / TANZANIA -- RECENTLY ELECTED PRESIDENT MKAPA OF TANZANIA ARRIVED ON A TWO-DAY STATE VISIT IN NAIROBI, UPON THE INVITATION OF PRESIDENT MOI. HE WILL ATTEND KENYA'S INDEPENDENCE DAY OBSERVANCES. STRINGER MG JOEL REPORTS FROM NAIROBI. (SWAHILI 12/11)

BURUNDI / POLITICS -- VIOLENCE CONTINUES IN BURUNDI, AND ONE EXPERT SAYS IT COULD LEAD TO WAR. REPORTER JOE DECAPUA SPOKE WITH FILIP REYNTJENS, PROFESSOR OF LAW AND POLITICS AT ANTWERP UNIVERSITY. HE'S THE AUTHOR OF A REPORT ON BURUNDI VIOLENCE. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 2/11)

NIGERIA / POLITICS -- NIGERIA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT HAS RELEASED A CLOSE AIDE OF DETAINED MILLIONAIRE BUSINESSMAN AND PRESUMED PRESIDENTIAL WINNER CHIEF MOSHOOD ABIOLA. STRINGER CHINEDU OFFOR REPORTS FROM LAGOS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/11)

NIGERIA / OAU -- THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF A NAMIBIA-BASED HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP CRITICIZED THE REFUSAL OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY TO CONDEMN HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN NIGERIA. REPORTER WILLIAM EAGLE SPOKE WITH PYA NANGOLOH OF THE NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/9)

NIGERIA / PRO-DEMOCRACY GROUPS -- THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA HAS BEEN CRITICIZED REPEATEDLY FOR ITS VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES, INCLUDING THE RECENT EXECUTION OF KEN SARO-WIWA AND EIGHT OTHER OGONI RIGHTS ACTIVITISTS. HOW ARE THESE EVENTS PLAYING AMONG NIGERIAN PRO-DEMOCRACY GROUPS? REPORTER JAMES BUTTY REPORTS ON THE NIGERIAN PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/8)

NIGERIA / SECURITY ALERT -- THE NIGERIAN RAILWAY CORPORATION HAS TIGHTENED SECURITY IN ITS HEADQUARTERS IN LAGOS FOLLOWING RECENT FIRE OUTBREAKS IN ONE OF ITS STATIONS IN THE COUNTRY. STRINGER AHMED MOHAMMED KWALAM SPOKE WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CORPORATION WHO SAID THAT ALL EFFORTS ARE BEING TAKEN TO PREVENT ACTS OF SABOTAGE BY DETRACTORS OF THE MILITARY REGIME. (HAUSA 12/8)

NIGERIA / LEAHY -- THE US SENATE IS CONSIDERING ADDITIONAL SANCTIONS AGAINST NIGERIA. REPORTER DEBORAH BLOCK SPOKE WITH ONE OF THE BILL'S SPONSORS, SENATOR PATRICK LEAHY. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/11)

US CHRISTIAN DELEGATION / NIGERIA -- THE NIGERIAN MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, TOM IKIMI, SAYS THAT FOREIGN OBSERVERS ARE WELCOME TO OVERSEE THE TRANSITION TO CIVIL RULE IN THE COUNTRY. HE MADE THE REMARK WHILE SPEAKING TO A SEVENTEEN-MEN CHRISTIAN DELEGATION FROM UNITED STATES WHO ARE IN NIGERIA TO ASSESS THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY. STRINGER BABANGIDA JIBRIN REPORTS FROM ABUJA. (HAUSA 12/8)

SUDAN / POLITICAL TREMORS -- REPORTER GETAHUN TAMRAT DISCUSSES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS IN SUDAN WITH DR GHAZI SALAHUDDIN ATABANI, SUDANESE STATE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS. THE INTERVIEW COVERS A WIDE ARRAY OF DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL ISSUES FACING SUDAN. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/9, 12/10)

LIBERIA / NINETY DAY REVIEW -- DECEMBER FIRST MARKED THE FIRST THREE MONTHS IN OFFICE OF THE CURRENT LIBERIAN GOVERNMENT. REPORTER JAMES BUTTY REVIEWED THE FIRST 90 DAYS IN OFFICE OF THE LIBERIA NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/11)

LIBERIA / UNESCO-FRENCH DELEGATIONS -- THE FRENCH SECRETARY OF STATE FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS, ZAVIER EMMANUELI, IS TO VISIT LIBERIA TO ASSESS REHABILITATION NEEDS. A UNESCO DELEGATION IS DUE IN MONROVIA IN JANUARY TO STUDY COMMUNICATIONS NEEDS. REPORTER TED ROBERTS SPOKE TO VICTORIA REFFELL, LIBERIA'S MINISTER OF INFORMATION, ABOUT THE PRESENT DISARMAMENT IMPASSE AND WHAT THE TWO DELEGATIONS WILL BE DOING IN MONROVIA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/10)

LIBERIA / SOLIDARITY RALLY -- LIBERIANS IN THE UNITED STATES OVER THE WEEKEND HELD A SOLIDARITY RALLY IN WASHINGTON TO SAVE THE CURRENT PEACE PROCESS. REPORTER JAMES BUTTY HAS THIS REPORT. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/11)

EBOLA / OUTBREAK -- THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION LAST WEEK ANNOUNCED A ISOLATED CASE OF EBOLA IN IVORY COAST. NOW, SOME PEOPLE WHO CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE LIBERIAN PATIENT ARE BEING TESTED. STRINGER RODRICK MURRAY TALKED WITH A SPOKESMAN FROM THE WHO'S CENTER FOR COMMUNICABLE DISEASES. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/11)

SIERRA LEONE / WILLIAMS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE -- A MULTI-PARTY PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY IN SIERRA LEONE. REPORTER TED ROBERTS SPOKE WITH CANDIDATE JERIDINE WILLIAMS-SARHO, HEAD OF THE COALITION CONGRESS PARTY. MS WILLIAMS-SARHO IS THE FIRST SIERRA LEONE WOMAN TO CAMPAIGN FOR THE PRESIDENCY. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/10)

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

BANDA / TRIAL UPDATE -- IN MALAWI, FORMER PRESIDENT KAMUZU BANDA AND FIVE OTHERS ACCUSED OF MURDER HAVE REFUSED TO TESTIFY IN COURT. REPORTER JULIUS KALIYA REPORTS FROM BLANTYRE. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/8)

GHANA / MINISTER PROBE -- THE GHANAIAN INTERIOR MINISTER IS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR ALLEGED FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT. STRINGER ABDULMALIK DANBIRNI REPORTS FROM ACCRA. (HAUSA 12/8)

AFRICANS / AFRICAN-AMERICANS -- IN THE FIRST PART OF A SERIES ON THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, STAFFER MAIMOUNA MILLS LOOKS AT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AFRICAN-AMERICANS, WEST INDIANS AND AFRICANS IN THE UNITED STATES. MS MILLS INTERVIEWS SAM FULWOOD WHO SAID THE DIFFERENCES STEM FROM IGNORANCE; MR. FULWOOD'S ARTICLE, US BLACKS: A DIVIDED EXPERIENCE, ANALYZES THAT RELATIONSHIP. ALSO INTERVIEWED WAS CAMEROONIAN FILM-MAKER JEAN-PIERRE BEKOLO WHO CONTENDS A NUMBER OF STEREOTYPES EXIST BETWEEN THE COMMUNITIES. MR. BEKOLO'S LATEST FILM, 'HAVE YOU SEEN FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT' DEALS WITH RACE STEREOTYPES. (FRENCH 12/8)

SPORTS / CHALLENGE CUP -- ZANZIBAR IS THE WINNER OF THE CHALLENGE CUP, THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1947. STRINGER MIKE ARERENG REPORTS AND STAFFER EMMANUEL MUGANDA TALKS TO RADIO ZANZIBAR TO GET A LOCAL FLAVOR OF ZANZIBAR'S ACHIEVEMENT. (SWAHILI 12/11)

INSIDE MIDEAST:

SOUTH LEBANON / ISRAEL / UN FORCES -- THREE MEMBERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS PEACE FORCE IN SOUTH LEBANON WERE WOUNDED AS THEIR PATROL CAME UNDER FIRE FROM ISRAELI FORCES. STAFFER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS. (ARABIC 12/10)

EGYPT / BARAK -- EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER AMR MOUSSA ANNOUNCED THAT ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER EHUD BARAK WILL VISIT CAIRO IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. CORRESPONDENT IBRAHIM ABDIN REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 12/10)

JORDAN / IRAN -- JORDAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER ABDEL KARIM KABARITI SAID AMMAN HAS EXPELLED AN IRANIAN DIPLOMAT FOR SECURITY REASONS BUT IRAN'S EMBASSY SAID THE DIPLOMAT DID NOT ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES INCOMPATIBLE WITH HIS STATUS. STAFFER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS. (ARABIC 12/10)

JORDAN / IRAQ -- JORDAN'S GOVERNMENT HAS CONFIRMED REPORTS THAT A SHIPMENT OF MISSILE PARTS WAS SEIZED ON ITS WAY TO IRAQ. IRAQ HAS DENIED REPORTS THAT IT ORDERED THAT SHIPMENT. STRINGER SULEIMAN KHAIRALLAH REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 12/9)

SYRIA / ISRAEL / PEACE -- SYRIA EXPRESSED HOPE THAT ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER SHIMON PERES WILL COME UP WITH NEW PROPOSALS AND IDEAS, DURING HIS TALKS IN THE US, ON THE STALLED PEACE PROCESS WITH SYRIA. STAFFER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 12/10)

JORDAN / ARREST -- JORDANIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE ARRESTED A LEADING OPPOSITION LEADER. LAITH SHUBAILAT WAS CHARGED WITH INCITING SEDITION AND SLANDERING KING HUSSEIN. STRINGER SULEIMAN KHAIRALLAH REPORTS. (ARABIC 12/9)

AFGHAN / IRAN -- THE DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER OF IRAN, ALAUDIN BOROJERDI IS ON HIS WAY TO ISLAMABAD FOR TALKS WITH THE PAKISTANI OFFICIALS ON THE SITUATION OF AFGHANISTAN. QUOTING IRANIAN AND PAKISTANI NEWS SOURCES, STRINGER EKRAM SHINWARAI REPORTS THAT IRAN TRIES TO FIND A REGIONAL SOLUTION FOR THE AFGHAN CONFLICT. (PASHTO, DARI 12/11)

AFGHAN / HUMAN RIGHTS -- A THREE-DAY SEMINAR ON THE SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFGHANISTAN OPENED IN PESHAWAR, SPONSORED BY AN AFGHAN AND A NETHERLAND NGO. STRINGER EKRAM SHINWARAI REPORTS THAT THE SEMINAR WAS OPENED BY MARTIN BARBER, DIRECTOR OF THE UN AGENCY FOR COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AID TO AFGHANISTAN, WHO SAID THE FINDINGS OF THIS SEMINAR WILL BE SHARED WITH THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION. (PASHTO, DARI 12/10)

AFGHAN / LAND MINES -- THE DANGER OF LAND MINES DOMINATED DAY TWO OF THE SMINAR ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN. STRINGER EKRAM SHINWARAI REPORTS THAT HAYATULLAH WAHDAT, DIRECTOR OF THE AFGHAN DE-MINING PROJECT SAID IN ADDITION TO THE MILLIONS OF LAND MINES PLANTED BY THE SOVIETS, THE LAND MINES PLACED IN KABUL BY THE RIVAL FACTIONS HAVE POSED A MAJOR DANGER TO THOSE REFUGEES WHO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES. WAHDAT CALLED ON THE UN TO HELP IN DE-MINING OPERATIONS AND CALLED ON AFGHAN FACTIONS TO STOP USING MINES. (PASHTO, DARI 12/11)

AFGHANISTAN / PAKISTAN -- A HIGH RANKING AFGHAN DIPLOMAT SAYS THAT PAKISTAN'S DECISION TO MOVE ITS EMBASSY FROM KABUL TO THE EASTERN CITY OF JALALABAD, THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL OF NANGARHAR, IS A HOSTILE MOVE AIMED AT DESTROYING THE UNITY OF THE AFGHAN PEOPLE AND UNDERMINING CENTRAL AUTHORITY. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER NOUR RAHIMI, DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER ABDUL RAHIM GHAFURZAI, WHO IS IN NEW YORK FOR UNGA DISCUSSIONS ON AFGHANISTAN, ALSO SAID THE MOVE IS A VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC CONVENTIONS TO WHICH PAKISTAN AND AFGHANISTAN ARE SIGNATORIES. MEANWHILE PASHTO STRINGER SHINWARI REPORTED THAT PAKISTAN'S AMBASSADOR TO AFGHANISTAN, QAZI HUMAYUN, ARRIVED IN JALALABAD ACCOMPANIED BY SEVERAL OF HIS EMBASSY STAFF TO OPEN THE NEW OFFICES. (DARI, PASHTO 12/9)

INSIDE CENTRAL ASIA:

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH / UZBEKISTAN -- ERIKA DAILEY, A RESEARCH ASSOCIATE AT THE HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH IN NEW YORK, SAYS IN SPITE OF SOME PROGRESS IN TREATING FOREIGN HUMAN RIGHTS OBSERVERS AND TANGIBLE SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT ON THE DIPLOMATIC LEVEL IN UZBEKISTAN, MANY POLITICAL PARTIES REMAIN BANNED AND AN ATMOSPHERE OF FEAR HAVING TO DO WITH ANY KIND OF POLITICAL ACTIVITY PREVAILS IN THE FORMER SOVIET REPUBLIC. STAFFER ABDUL MANNAN KAISKEN COVERED THE FORUM AT CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE. (UZBEK 12/9)

AZERBAIJAN / ARMENIA -- STAFFER HASAN JAVADI REPORTS ON DISCUSSION OF THE KARABAKH CONFLICT AND ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJAN RELATIONS AT THE WASHINGTON MESA CONFERENCE IN WHICH THE AMBASSADORS OF AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA HAD PARTICIPATED. HE ALSO INTERVIEWED THE AZERBAIJANI AMBASSADOR TO US HAFEZ PASHAYEV. (AZERI 12/11)

AZERBAIJAN / ARMENIA -- STRINGER RAFAEL HUSAINOV INTERVIEWED HASAN HASANOV, THE AZERI FOREIGN MINISTER, ON THE TWO RECENT MEETINGS IN BONN AND BUDAPEST IN ORDER TO SOLVE THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT WITHIN THE FRAME-WORK OF THE MINSK CONFERENCE. (AZERI 12/11)

INSIDE SOUTH ASIA:

PANCHEN LAMA / INDIA REACT -- THE INSTALLATION BY CHINA OF A YOUNG BOY, WHO WAS NOT APPROVED BY DALAI LAMA, AS THE NEXT PANCHEN LAMA, THE SECOND HIGHEST RELIGIOUS LEADER OF TIBETAN BUDDHISTS, GENERATED LARGE SCALE NEGATIVE REACTION IN INDIA, ESPECIALLY AMONG THE LARGE TIBETAN EXILE COMMUNITY. STRINGER REPORT. (HINDI 12/9)

ANTARCTICA / INDIA -- INDIA'S MINISTER OF STATE EDUARDO FALERO WAS ON HAND TO BID FAREWELL TO THE 47 MEMBER INDIAN TEAM AS IT LEFT FOR ANTARCTICA WHERE THESE SCIENTISTS WILL COOPERATE WITH THE US TEAM IN STUDYING WEATHER PATTERNS. STRINGER KL NANDAN HAS DETAILS. (HINDI 12/8)

INDIAN YACHTSMAN -- STAFFER PUSHPA AGNIHOTRI INTERVIEWS SN MATHUR, AN EXPERIENCED AND AWARD WINNING INDIAN YACHTSMAN WHO IS ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF RAJASTHAN STATE SPORTS COUNCIL. (HINDI 12/9)

WOMEN'S CRICKET -- THE WOMEN'S CRICKET TEAM OF INDIA SCORED A CONVINCING VICTORY OVER ENGLAND, DEFEATING THE BRITISH WOMEN'S TEAM BY EIGHT WICKETS IN THE ONE-DAY MATCH PLAYED IN LUCKNOW. STRINGER JASDEV SINGH REPORTS. (HINDI 12/9)

INSIDE EAST ASIA:

CHINA / WTO -- IN A MAJOR MOVE TO JOIN THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION, CHINA ANNOUNCED RECENTLY THAT IT WOULD SLASH TARIFFS ON OVER 4,000 IMPORT CATEGORIES BY 30 PER CENT NEXT YEAR. THE IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH A MEASURE WERE DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S CHINA FORUM CALL-IN PROGRAM. GUESTS INCLUDED WANG NIANZU, COLUMBIA UNIV., AND PROF. XU DIANQING, DEPT OF ECONOMICS, HURON COLLEGE, UNIV. OF WEST ONTARIO, CANADA. STAFFERS LUO JIE AND BAO SHEN HOSTED THE PROGRAM. (MANDARIN 12/11)

WEI JINGSHENG TRIAL / CHINA SCHOLARS -- STAFFER FANG YUAN DISCUSSES CHINA SCHOLARS ON DISSIDENT WEI JINGSHENG'S INDICTMENT AND UPCOMING TRIAL. INTERVIEWS WITH LIU BINGYAN, RENOWNED CHINESE DISSIDENT, AND ZHAO HAIQING, PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON CHINESE AFFAIRS. (MANDARIN 12/9)

CHINA / WEI TRIAL SET -- HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS SAY THE TRIAL OF CHINA'S BEST-KNOWN DISSIDENT, WEI JINGSHENG, HAS BEEN SET FOR DEC. 13. WEI WAS INDICTED DEC. 1. STRINGER FANG BING IN NEW YORK INTERVIEWS LIU QING, CHAIRMAN OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA. (MANDARIN 12/9)

CHINA / WEI JINGSHENG CHARGED -- HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA REPORTS THAT THE BEIJING PUBLIC PROCURATORATE HAS FORMALLY BROUGHT SUIT AGAINST WEI JINGSHENG. WEI SHANSHAN, WEI JINGSHENG'S SISTER, PASSED THE NEWS TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION. TELEPHONE HOOK-UP BETWEEN STAFFER FANG YUAN IN DC AND STRINGER FANG BING IN NEW YORK. COMMENTS FROM LIU QING, CHAIRMAN OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA. (MANDARIN 12/8)

TAIWAN / LI AO INTERVIEW -- DISSIDENT AND COMMENTATOR LI AO CRITICIZES THE TAIWANESE LEADER LEE TENG-HUI IN AN INTERVIEW WITH CORRESPONDENT TIEN KANGLIN IN TAIPEI. HE SAYS LEE HAS THE SAME TENDENCY TO CONTROL FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AS PREVIOUS LEADERS; THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT HE LACKS THE ABILITY. ACCORDING TO LI AO, PRESIDENT LEE COULD REINSTATE THE MARTIAL LAW WITH SOME EXCUSES. LI SAYS HE HAS NO PLANS TO LEAVE TAIWAN AND VISIT CHINA OR THE US. (MANDARIN 12/9)

TAIWAN / ELECTION -- WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENTS FOR TAIWANESE NEWSPAPERS ANALYZE THE RESULTS OF THE DEC. 2 LEGISLATIVE ELECTION AND COMMENT ON THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. STRINGER JILL KU INTERVIEWS XU BOXIONG, TAIWAN DAILY'S WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT, JAMES WANG, UNITED DAILY'S WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT, MARCO LIU, ECONOMIC DAILY'S WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT, AND PARRIS CHANG, TAIWAN DPP LEGISLATOR. (MANDARIN 12/9)

CHINA / TAIWAN INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES -- THE CEOS OF MANY TAIWAN COMPANIES ALSO OPERATING IN MAINLAND CHINA ARE SATISFIED WITH THE QUALITY OF MAINLAND EMPLOYEES. THEY ARE ESPECIALLY IMPRESSED BY THE LARGE POOL OF VALUABLE HUMAN RESOURCES. BUT IDEOLOGICAL, SYSTEM AND EVEN CULTURAL GAPS CREATE SOME DIFFICULTIES FOR TAIWANESE ENTERPRISES IN CHINA. STRINGER CHANG YUNG-TAI INTERVIEWS CHEN BIFU, GENERAL MANAGER OF AOMEI ADVERTISING IN BEIJING, XU ZHENFANG, HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER AT IBM TAIWAN, PROF. ZHENG BOXUN, INSTITUTE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDIES, TAIWAN UNIV. TELEPHONE HOOK-UP BETWEEN STRINGER CHANG YUNG-TAI IN TAIPEI AND STAFFER FANG YUAN IN DC. (MANDARIN 12/8)

TAIWAN / KMT DIVISION -- TAIWAN'S KMT IS GOING TO EXPEL TWO SENIOR MEMBERS FOR THEIR OPEN SUPPORT OF AN OPPOSITION PARTY CANDIDATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS. LIN YANGGANG AND HAO BOCUN, TWO OF THE KMT'S VICE CHAIRMEN AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES, WILL BE EXPELLED. ANALYSTS SAY THEIR EXPULSION WILL RESULT IN A DIVISION OF THE PARTY, AND IT WILL HAVE AN IMMENSE IMPACT ON TAIWANESE POLITICS. STRINGER FAN DAOZHUANG IN TAIPEI INTERVIEWS KMT OFFICIALS JIAN HANSHENG AND XU SHUIDE, AND PROF. CHEN YUJUN, CULTURE UNIV. (MANDARIN 12/10)

TAIWAN / MACAO AIR LINK -- AIR SERVICE BEGAN ON FRIDAY BETWEEN TAIWAN AND MACAO. NOW MACAO AIRLINERS TAKING OFF FROM TAIWAN CAN FLY DIRECTLY TO BEIJING AFTER CHANGING FLIGHT NUMBERS. TAIWAN'S MAINLAND AFFAIRS COUNCIL SAYS THAT THIS DOES NOT AMOUNT TO DIRECT CROSS-STRAIT AIR LINKAGE. STRINGER FAN DAOZHUANG IN TAIPEI INTERVIEWS GAO KUNGLIAN, TAIWAN'S MAINLAND AFFAIRS COUNCIL. (MANDARIN 12/8)

CHINA / NATIONALISM -- THE PANELISTS DISCUSS THE RISE OF CHINESE NATIONALISM. THE RISE OF NATIONALISM HAS BEEN WIDELY DESCRIBED AS ONE OF THE MOST SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS OF POST-MAO CHINA. VIEWS AND PERSPECTIVE PANELISTS: PROF. CHONG-PIN LIN, DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE OF POLITICAL STUDIES AT NATIONAL SUN YATSEN UNIV., PROF. PERRY LINK, PRINCETON UNIV., PROF. DING XUELIANG, HONG KONG UNIV. OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. STAFFER ZHANG JING REPORTS. (MANDARIN 12/9)

CHINA / FIGHTER PLANES -- ASIA TIMES REPORTED THAT THE CIA HAS ACQUIRED PROOF THAT CHINA IS BUILDING A NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART FIGHTER BOMBER AT LEAST PARTIALLY BASED ON TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPED JOINTLY BY THE US AND ISRAEL IN THE 80'S. MILITARY EXPERTS BELIEVE THE NEW FIGHTER BOMBER WILL BE PUT INTO PRODUCTION BY 2003. STAFFER YANG GUANG INTERVIEWS MENG XUAN, NEWS COMMENTATOR. (MANDARIN 12/8)

TROUBLE IN PHNOM PENH -- CORRESPONDENT LE LAI HAD AN UPDATE FROM BANGKOK ON THE ANTAGONISM BETWEEN PRINCE SIRIVUDH AND SECOND PRIME MINISTER HUN SEN WHICH INCLUDED A CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION. (VIETNAMESE 12/9)

VIETNAM / SIX IFC PROJECTS -- REPORTER THONG DUC TRINH INTERVIEWED HAROLD ROSEN, SEA DIVISION MANAGER AT THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCE CORPORATION, BACK FROM VIETNAM WHERE HE SIGNED AN AGREEMENT FOR A LOAN TO A NEW CEMENT FACTORY. THE INTERVIEW FOCUSED ON THE SIX IFC PROJECTS AIMED AT HELPING THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO ENTER INDUSTRIES FORMING THE FOUNDATION OF VIETNAM'S MARKET-PLACE ECONOMY. (VIETNAMESE 12/9)

INDONESIA / HUMAN RIGHTS -- STRINGER LUDPHY ARGUBIE DISCUSSES A HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH/ASIA REPORT DESCRIBING HUMAN RIGHTS CONDITIONS IN INDONESIA AND EAST TIMOR. (INDONESIAN 12/8)

NORTH KOREA / FOREIGN INVESTMENT -- A VISITING NORTH KOREAN DELEGATION BRIEFED FRIDAY IN NEW JERSEY AMERICAN AND KOREAN-AMERICAN BUSINESSMEN ON THE RAJIN-SONBONG FREE ECONOMIC AND TRADE AREA. THE SESSION WAS PART OF PYONGYANG'S ATTEMPT TO ATTRACT FOREIGN INVESTMENT INTO THE ZONE. STAFFER IN-SOP HAN SAID NORTH KOREANS WERE TRYING TO ERADICATE ANY SUSPICION AND CONCERNS PROSPECTED INVESTORS MAY HAVE ABOUT CONDUCTING BUSINESS WITH THE ROGUE COMMUNIST COUNTRY. (KOREAN 12/8)

KOREAN AMERICAN JOURNALIST / NORTH KOREA VISIT -- A KOREAN AMERICAN COLUMNIST IN CALIFORNIA PUBLISHED A BOOK ON HIS RECENT VISIT TO NORTH KOREA. MR. LEE SOK RYUL TOLD STAFFER MONICA CHO, THAT NORTH KOREANS WERE VERY FRIENDLY TO VISITORS FROM AMERICA AND HE FOUND NO SIGNS OR BILLBOARDS CRITICIZING THE US. HE WAS MOST IMPRESSED BY NO POLLUTION EVERYWHERE IN NORTH KOREA, CITING THAT A DOWNTOWN STREAM IN KAESONG CITY WAS AS CLEAN AS THE ONE IN HIGH MOUNTAINS. (KOREAN 12/8)

SOUTH KOREA SCANDALS / PRESIDENT KIM -- SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT KIM YOUNG SAM WILL MAKE A NATIONWIDE TELEVISION ADDRESS TUESDAY TO CLARIFY HIS POSITION ON THE ARRESTS OF THE TWO FORMER PRESIDENTS. HIS IMMEDIATE PREDECESSOR ROH TAE WOO WAS INDICTED TUESDAY ON CHARGES OF ACCEPTING $369 MILLION IN BRIBES FROM 35 BUSINESS GROUPS, WHILE FORMER PRESIDENT CHUN DOO HWAN IS DETAINED ON CHARGES OF PLOTTING A 1979 MILITARY COUP THAT LED TO THE MASSACRE OF MORE THAN 200 PRO-DEMOCRACY DEMONSTRATIONS IN KWANGJU IN 1980. PRESIDENT KIM'S ADDRESS WILL BE THE FIRST OFFICIAL COMMENT ON THE LATEST POLITICAL TURMOIL IN SOUTH KOREA. CORRESPONDENT YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 12/11)

SOUTH KOREA SCANDALS / FORMER ADVISOR -- KIM CHONG-HWI, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR TO FORMER PRESIDENT ROH TAE WOO, WAS ARRESTED AT KIMPO AIRPORT UPON HIS RETURN FROM A TWO-YEAR OF EXILE IN THE US. HE WAS SUSPECTED OF BEING INVOLVED IN KICKBACKS FROM GENERAL DYNAMICS IN A DEAL TO PURCHASE 120 F-16 FIGHTERS FROM THE US COMPANY. MR. KIM TOLD REPORTERS AT THE AIRPORT THAT HE HAD VOLUNTEERED TO RETURN HOME. STAFFER YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 12/11)

INSIDE EUROPE:

BRUSSELS / ULTIMATUM -- FRANCE GAVE AN ULTIMATUM TO THE BOSNIAN SERBS AND THE GOVERNMENT IN BELGRADE TO RELEASE THE TWO MISSING FRENCH PILOTS, OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES. THE PILOTS WERE SHOT DOWN IN A MISSION ABOVE BOSNIA ON AUGUST 30. STRINGER DRAGAN BLAGOJEVIC REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS. (SERBIAN 12/10)

SARAJEVO / CONGRESSMEN -- A US CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION DISCUSSED AMERICAN TROOP DEPLOYMENT AND AID FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF BOSNIA WITH BOSNIAN PRIME MINISTER HARIS SILAJDZIC. STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTS THAT ANOTHER CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION MET WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BOSNIAN-CROAT FEDERATION, EJUP GANIC. (CROATIAN 12/11)

US / BELGRADE -- A TWENTY-MEMBER AMERICAN CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION MET WITH SERBIAN PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IN BELGRADE AND DISCUSSED THE DAYTON AGREEMENT. EARLIER, MR. MILOSEVIC MET WITH THORVALD STOLTENBERG TO DISCUSS EASTERN SLAVONIA. THE SAME ISSUE WAS THE TOPIC OF THE TALKS BETWEEN THE SERBIAN PRESIDENT AND UN MEDIATOR KOFI ANAN. (CROATIAN 12/11)

CONGRESS / CROATIA -- CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION CONFERRED WITH CROATIAN PRESIDENT TUDJMAN. THEY DISCUSSED THE RECONSTRUCTION OF CROATIA AND BOSNIA, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND THE MILITARY CAPACITY OF THE BOSNIAN-CROAT FEDERATION. STRINGER LINDA MILISA REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (CROATIAN 12/10)

DAYTON AGREEMENT / CROATIA -- STRINGER SLAVICA LUKIC REPORTS ON THE DEBATE OVER THE DAYTON AGREEMENT IN THE CROATIAN PARLIAMENT. OPPOSITION REPRESENTATIVES CONSIDER THE DAYTON AGREEMENT NOT A VICTORY FOR THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT, BUT RATHER A POOR COMPROMISE. (CROATIAN 12/11)

UN / BOSNIA -- STRINGER IVICA PULJIC REPORTS ON THE PREPARATIONS FOR VOTING ON THE MANDATE OF THE I-FOR FORCES. THE RESOLUTION IS EXPECTED TO INCLUDE PROVISIONS FOR THE RETURN OF THE REFUGEES, FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT FOR THE SOLDIERS, AND FORM OF RESPONSE IN A CASE OF AN ATTACK. THE VOTE IN THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL IS EXPECTED A DAY AFTER THE PEACE ACCORD IS SIGNED IN PARIS. (CROATIAN 12/10)

LONDON CONFERENCE / BOSNIAN SERB REACTION -- BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS DENOUNCED THE RESULTS OF THE LONDON CONFERENCE, SAYING IT DID NOT DO ANYTHING TO IMPROVE THE POSITION OF SERB INHABITANTS OF SARAJEVO OR TO OFFER ADDITIONAL SAFETY GUARANTEES FOR THEM. STRINGER DUSAN MASIC REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (SERBIAN 12/10)

BOSNIA CONFERENCE -- THE THIRD LONDON CONFERENCE ON IMPLEMENTATION OF BOSNIAN PEACE ACCORD DEBATED THE ISSUES OF DIVIDING THE ARMED FORCES OF WARRING SIDES, THE RETURN OF REFUGEES, HUMAN RIGHTS, FREE ELECTIONS AND THE RECONSTRUCTION OF WAR-TORN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. STRINGER RIALDA SEBEK REPORTS FROM LONDON. (SERBIAN 12/9)

BOSNIA CONFERENCE -- THE START OF LONDON CONFERENCE ON BOSNIA WAS MARKED BY THREE THINGS: A WISH, A NOMINATION AND AN ULTIMATUM. FIRST REACTIONS OF BRITISH COMMENTATORS ARE FULL OF SKEPTICISM THAT THE PEACE WILL TAKE HOLD AS FAST AS IT CALLED BY DAYTON AGREEMENTS. STRINGER RIALDA SEBEK REPORTS FROM LONDON. (SERBIAN 12/8)

RUSSIA / YUGOSLAVIA -- RUSSIA SUPPORTS YUGOSLAVIA'S ADMISSION INTO THE ORGANIZATION OF EUROPEAN SECURITY AND COOPERATION, AND CONSIDERS THAT YUGOSLAVIA DESERVES THE STATUS OF A FULL MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. MOSCOW ALSO WELCOMES SUSPENSION OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA AND PLANS TO SEND PRIME MINISTER CHERNOMYRDIN TO THE BOSNIAN PEACE SIGNING CEREMONY IN PARIS. STRINGER RISTO BAJALSKI REPORTS FROM MOSCOW. (SERBIAN 12/9)

MONTENEGRO / WAR CRIMES -- A MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL COURT FOR WAR CRIMES IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA WARNED SERBIAN AUTHORITIES THAT THE LACK OF COOPERATION WITH THE COURT WOULD LEAD TO THE RENEWAL OF THE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS. THE YUGOSLAV SUPREME DEFENSE COUNCIL SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT YUGOSLAVIA WOULD FULFILL ALL ITS OBLIGATIONS REGARDING WAR CRIMINALS AS STIPULATED BY THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT. STRINGER BOSKO DJUKIC REPORTS FROM PODGORICA. (SERBIAN 12/8)

MONTENEGRO / MEDIA -- THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA IN MONTENEGRO DEMAND THAT LAWSUITS AGAINST NON-GOVERNMENT JOURNALISTS BE CONDUCTED ON THE BASIS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS. STRINGER BOSKO DJUKIC REPORTS. (SERBIAN 12/9)

CROATIA / SLAVONIA -- US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE SPOKE WITH CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN ABOUT THE TRANSITIONAL ADMINISTRATION OF EASTERN SLAVONIA. MR HOLBROOKE SAID THE US RECOMMENDS THAT A RETIRED AMERICAN GENERAL BE NAMED TO HEAD THE TRANSITIONAL ADMINISTRATION IN EASTERN SLAVONIA. STRINGER STEVICA SUSA REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (SERBIAN 12/9)

US DELEGATION / MILOSEVIC -- A DELEGATION OF THE US COUNCIL FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS MET WITH PRESIDENT S MILOSEVIC OF SERBIA. INDEPENDENT MEDIA REPORT THAT THE TALKS COVERED IMPORTANT ISSUES, INCLUDING THE QUESTION OF THE PROVINCE OF KOSOVO. STRINGER MILICA KUBUROVIC REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (SERBIAN 12/8)

PODGORICA / INTERVIEW -- STRINGER BOSKO DJUKIC IN PODGORICA, MONTENEGRO, INTERVIEWS NENAD CANAK, THE PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE OF SOCIAL DEMOCRATS OF VOJVODINA. THEY DISCUSS THE EFFECTS OF THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORD, SUSPENSION OF THE UN SANCTIONS, AND THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL. (SERBIAN 12/10)

SKOPJE / ALBANIANS -- THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN MACEDONIA EXPECT THAT A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT OF THE ISSUE OF KOSOVO, AND GENERALLY THE POSITION OF ALBANIANS IN THE BALKANS, WILL BE DECIDED NOW THAT THE PEACE AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED IN DAYTON. THEY BELIEVE THAT THE VISIT OF THE LEADER OF KOSOVO ALBANIANS, IBRAHIM RUGOVA TO WASHINGTON, DC, HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THESE ISSUES. SKOPJE STRINGER ZELJKO BAJIC REPORTS. (SERBIAN 12/10)

ZAGREB / CHURCH -- THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN CROATIA HAS ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING THAT IT IS WORRIED THAT THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR A JUST PEACE AND DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN, RELIGIOUS, AND ETHNIC RIGHTS OF THE CROATS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. ZAGREB STRINGER STEVICA SUSA REPORTS. (SERBIAN 12/10)

MACEDONIA / ALBANIANS -- NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY FOR MACEDONIAN NATIONAL UNITY, AND THE PARTY OF DEMOCRATIC PROSPERITY, WHICH CONSISTS MOSTLY OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN MEMBERS, ENDED ON MUTUALLY EXPRESSED POSITION THAT POLITICAL COALITIONS CAN BE ESTABLISHED WHENEVER POSSIBLE IN NEXT YEAR'S LOCAL ELECTIONS. STRINGER ZELJKO BAJIC REPORTS FROM SKOPJE. (SERBIAN 12/9) A

ALBANIA / BERISHA INTERVIEW -- ALBANIAN PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA SAYS THAT HIS COUNTRY HAS MADE BIG STRIDES TOWARDS BUILDING A STRONG DEMOCRACY AND MARKET ECONOMY. THE ALBANIAN LEADER LISTED FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND PRESS, THE FAST ECONOMIC GROWTH, LOW INFLATION, LOW UNEMPLOYMENT, PRIVATIZATION, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LAW AND ORDER. HE RESPONDED TO THE CRITICISM HIS GOVERNMENT'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD, BY SAYING THAT WHILE THERE IS STILL LOT OF ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN ALBANIA HAS IMPROVED SIGNIFICANTLY. AS TO FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, THE ALBANIAN PRESIDENT INSISTED THAT UNLESS THE ISSUE OF KOSOVO IS SOLVED, A LASTING AND COMPREHENSIVE PEACE CAN NOT BE ACHIEVED IN BALKANS. PRESIDENT BERISHA SPOKE IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH STRINGER MERO BAZE. (ALBANIAN 12/11)

TURKEY / EUROPE -- THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT WILL VOTE, DECEMBER 13, TO APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE THE AGREEMENT FOR CUSTOMS UNION BETWEEN TURKEY AND THE MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. IN A REPORT FROM THE PARLIAMENT IN STRASBOURG, STRINGER NUSRET OZGUL DESCRIBES THE MOOD AMONG MEMBERS AND TURKISH OBSERVERS. (TURKISH 12/11)

TURKEY / ELECTIONS / A FORECAST -- PROFESSOR ILTER TURAN OF TURKEY'S KOC UNIVERSITY SAYS THE ONLY DESTABILIZING RESULT OF THE DECEMBER 24 ELECTIONS IN TURKEY WOULD BE AN ISLAMIST-NATIONALIST COALITION BETWEEN THE WELFARE AND NATIONALIST ACTION PARTIES. IN AN INTERVIEW TO STAFFER HAKKI OCAL, PROF. TURAN SAYS A REJECTION OF THE CUSTOMS UNION AGREEMENT BETWEEN TURKEY AND THE EUROPEAN UNION COULD RESULT IN POPULAR SUPPORT FOR THOSE PARTIES THAT OPPOSE CLOSER TIES WITH EUROPE WHILE A RATIFICATION OF THE AGREEMENT WOULD NOT BENEFIT THOSE PARTIES THAT SUPPORT CLOSER TIES WITH EUROPE. (TURKISH 12/11)

TURKEY / ELECTIONS / POLITICS -- IN PRE-ELECTION POLITICAL MANEUVERING IN TURKEY, THE COMPLETE LEADERSHIP OF THE SMALL, DEMOCRAT PARTY QUITS AND JOINS THE PRO-ISLAMIC WELFARE PARTY. TURKISH STAFFER HULYA POLAT INTERVIEWS MURAT UZMAN, THE NEWLY ELECTED LEADER OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY, WHO SAYS THEY FORMED A POLITICAL ALLIANCE WITH WELFARE PARTY FOR THE DECEMBER 24 ELECTIONS. (TURKISH 12/9)

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH / TURKEY -- THE HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH SAID IN ITS ANNUAL REPORT THAT DESPITE SOME IMPROVEMENTS, HUMAN RIGHTS PROBLEMS STILL EXISTED IN TURKEY, IN 1995. STAFFER MELEK CAGLAR COVERED THE WASHINGTON NEWS CONFERENCE ON THE RELEASE OF THE REPORT AND INTERVIEWED KENNETH ROTH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GROUP. (TURKISH 12/7)

TURKEY / ELECTIONS / WOMEN -- LESS THAN THIRTY WOMEN ARE NOMINATED BY POLITICAL PARTIES FOR 550 PARLIAMENTARY SEATS IN THE DECEMBER 24TH ELECTIONS IN TURKEY. STAFFER HULYA POLAT INTERVIEWS MS. SENEL AKSU, CO-CHAIR OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S COUNCIL, WHO CRITICIZES TURKISH POLITICAL PARTIES FOR NOT CONSIDERING WOMEN APPLICANTS FOR PARTY NOMINATIONS ON EQUAL GROUNDS WITH MEN. (TURKISH 12/7)

TURKEY / EUROPE -- THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT WILL VOTE TO RATIFY THE AGREEMENT FOR CUSTOMS UNION BETWEEN TURKEY AND THE MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. STAFFER HALE EBIRI INTERVIEWED SEYFI TASHAN, DIRECTOR OF TURKISH FOREIGN POLICY INSTITUTE, WHO EXPECTS THAT THE EURO PARLIAMENT WILL APPROVE THE AGREEMENT ON ITS ECONOMIC MERITS. THE EXPERT SAID WHILE THE EU COUNTRIES WILL BENEFIT MORE IN TERMS OF ECONOMICS TURKEY'S GAIN WILL BE MORE POLITICAL AT LEAST IN THE SHORT TERM. TURKISH STAFFER KEMAL AKAYDIN INTERVIEWED PROFESSOR BIROL YESILADA OF THE MISSOURI UNIVERSITY TO DISCUSS IMPLICATIONS OF THE CUSTOMS UNION ON TURKISH ECONOMY. YESILADA SAID TURKISH ECONOMY MAY ENCOUNTER DIFFICULTIES IN COMPETING WITH EUROPEAN INDUSTRIES IN THE SHORT TERM BUT WILL BENEFIT GREATLY IN THE LONG RUN. (TURKISH 12/8)

EAST EUROPE / POLITICS -- EDITOR TRI H NGUYEN HAD AN INTERACTIVE SESSION WITH STRINGER VAN TRAN IN PRAGUE ABOUT CURRENT POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES AND THE OUTLOOK FOR THE UPCOMING CZECH ELECTIONS. (VIETNAMESE 12/11)

MONEY LAUNDERING IN EUROPE -- AUTHORITIES IN SEVERAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES DISCOVERED GREAT SCALE MONEY LAUNDERING OPERATIONS. STRINGER HUMBERTO CASTELLANOS REPORTS FROM LONDON. (SPANISH 12/11)

INSIDE EURASIA:

RUSSIA PREPARES FOR ELECTIONS -- MOSCOW STRINGER HA GIANG REPORTS ON THE FINANCIAL ISSUES RUSSIAN VOTERS ARE HEARING ABOUT IN THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS FOR THE DUMA. (VIETNAMESE 12/9)

RUSSIAN JOURNALIST / PRESS FREEDOM AWARD -- EVGENY KISELEV, THE ANCHORMAN OF ITOGI, RUSSIAN INDEPENDENT TV COMPANY NEWS PROGRAM RECEIVED THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS FREEDOM AWARD. STAFFER ALEC BATCHAN REPORTS ON THE AWARDS CEREMONY AND TALKS TO MR. KISELEV ABOUT HIS WORK. (RUSSIAN 12/8)

HUMAN RIGHTS ANNIVERSARY -- STRINGER LYUDMILA ALEXEYEVA REPORTS FROM MOSCOW ON THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN RUSSIA. (RUSSIAN 12/10) 11-Dec-95 4:42 PM EST (2142 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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