Voice of America Digest, 23 January 1996

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] !!! VOA DIGEST - JANUARY 23, 1996 !!!

PRESIDENT / STATE OF THE UNION -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' TOM MAHONEY HOSTS A PANEL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF PRESIDENT CLINTON'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS TO CONGRESS. HE IS JOINED BY JAMES THURBER, DIRECTOR OF AMERICAN UNIVERSITY'S CENTER FOR CONGRESSIONAL AND PRESIDENTIAL STUDIES; STEPHEN WAYNE, PROFESSOR OF GOVERNMENT AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY AND DAVID LYNCH, ECONOMICS CORRESPONDENT FOR USA. (1/23)

CLINTON / STATE OF THE UNION -- PRESIDENT CLINTON DELIVERS HIS FOURTH STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS TO CONGRESS AND THE NATION TUESDAY. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS IT IS BEING BILLED AS A MESSAGE OF HOPE FOR THE FUTURE, NOT A CAMPAIGN STYLE SPEECH IN WHICH HE WILL CRITICIZE REPUBLICANS. (1/22)

CONGRESS / STATE OF THE UNION -- PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL DELIVER HIS ANNUAL STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS TO A JOINT SESSION OF THE US CONGRESS. CAPITAL HILL CORRESPONDENT PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS MR CLINTON IS LIKELY TO GET AT BEST A CHILLY RECEPTION FROM REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE. (1/22)

CONGRESS / BUDGET -- THE US CONGRESS IS FACING ANOTHER BIG BUDGET DEADLINE. CORRESPONDENT PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS REPUBLICAN LEADERS ARE SCRAMBLING TO COMING UP WITH A NEW STRATEGY. (1/22)

US / CHEMICAL WEAPONS -- THE UNITED STATES HAS MADE A SWEEPING DISCLOSURE OF THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS STOCKPILES IT HAS UNILATERALLY COMMITTED ITSELF TO DESTROYING BY THE YEAR 2004. CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON. (1/22)

US / ISRAEL / TUNISIA -- ISRAEL AND TUNISIA HAVE AGREED TO OPEN INTEREST SECTIONS IN TUNIS AND TEL AVIV BY APRIL 15TH. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT WHERE THE AGREEMENT WAS ANNOUNCED AFTER MORE THAN ONE YEAR'S DELAY. (1/22)

US / NOKOR -- THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT IS CONSIDERING APPEALS FROM VARIOUS INTERNATIONAL AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL HUMANITARIAN AID TO NORTH KOREA. STAFFER VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTED. (1/22)

AUSTRIA / US ARMS -- THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN CLEANING UP SOME OLD FILES OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY AND IN THE COURSE OF THAT SEARCH HAS FOUND EVIDENCE SMALL ARMS WERE PLACED IN AUSTRIA BY THE CIA FOR USE OF PARTISANS WHO WOULD RESIST A FEARED WARSAW PACT INVASION. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS THE MORE THAN FORTY YEAR-OLD ARMS CACHE HAD EMBARRASSING CONSEQUENCES LAST WEEKEND. (1/22)

COAST RICA / KIDNAP -- COSTA RICAN AUTHORITIES HAVE REDUCED THE SIZE OF THE POLICE FORCE SEARCHING IN NORTHERN COSTA RICA FOR TWO EUROPEAN WOMEN WHO WERE KIDNAPPED JANUARY FIRST. CORRESPONDENT BILL RODGERS REPORTS FROM SAN JOSE, THAT COSTA RICAN AUTHORITIES HOPE THE PRESENCE OF FEWER POLICE WILL PERMIT THE KIDNAPPERS TO OPEN TALKS ON FREEING THE TWO WOMEN. (1/22)

CHILE / ASSASSINATION -- ARGENTINE POLICE HAVE ARRESTED A SUSPECT IN THE ASSASSINATION OF CHILEAN GENERAL CARLOS PRATS IN BUENOS AIRES IN 1974. THE SUSPECT, ARRESTED FRIDAY IN CORDOBA, IS A CHILEAN. SOUTH AMERICA CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK HAS THE DETAILS. (1/22)

VENEZUELAN OIL OPENING -- MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS AFTER VENEZUELA NATIONALIZED ITS OIL INDUSTRY, INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES ARE NOW RETURNING TO VENEZUELA TO TAP SOME OF THE WORLDS LARGEST OIL RESERVES. AS STRINGER RAYMOND COLITT REPORTS FROM CARACAS THE FIRST TWO OF TEN EXPLORATION AREAS HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED FOR BIDDING. (1/22)

ARGENTINA / BRAZIL / CARS -- ARGENTINA AND BRAZIL HAVE SIGNED AN AGREEMENT IN BUENOS AIRES TO SMOOTH OUT THEIR DIFFERENCES IN TRADE IN AUTOMOBILES, AN ISSUE THAT CAUSED FRICTION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES LAST YEAR. CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK REPORTS FROM RIO DE JANEIRO. (1/22)

CUBA CUTS VISA FEES -- CUBA HAS AGREED TO REDUCE FEES IT CHARGES SOME OF ITS CITIZENS WHO WANT TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY. CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE REPORTED FROM MIAMI, THE FEE REDUCTION WILL HAVE LITTLE IMPACT ON MOST CUBANS TRYING TO MIGRATE TO THE UNITED STATES. (1/22)

FLOODS OIL SPILLS -- IN NEW YORK AND EIGHT OTHER MID-ATLANTIC STATES, FLOOD WATERS FROM SWOLLEN RIVERS AND STREAMS BEGAN TO RECEDE AFTER TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WERE FORCED TO EVACUATE THEIR HOMES. CORRESPONDENT CHRIS SIMKINS REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (1/22)

HILLARY TESTIMONY -- HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON WILL TESTIFY BEFORE A FEDERAL GRAND JURY FRIDAY AT THE DIRECT LEGAL REQUEST OF THE INDEPENDENT COUNSEL NAMED TO INVESTIGATE A LOSING CLINTON FAMILY LAND DEAL KNOWN AS 'WHITEWATER' AND A FAILED ARKANSAS SAVINGS AND LOAN INSTITUTION. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS. (1/22)

GERMANY / HOLOCAUST COMMEMORATION -- ON JANUARY 27TH GERMANS FOR THE FIRST TIME WILL OBSERVE A NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR THE VICTIMS OF NAZISM. THE DATE WILL MARK THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SOVIET LIBERATION OF THE AUSCHWITZ CONCENTRATION CAMP, WHICH HAS COME TO SYMBOLIZE THE NAZI GENOCIDE OF MILLIONS OF JEWS. STAFFER DAGMAR BREITENBACH REPORTS FROM BONN. (1/23)

WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT -- FOUR AMERICAN WOMEN WITH WIDELY DIVERSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS HAVE BEEN NAMED OUTSTANDING "WOMEN OF THE YEAR" BY THE "CBS. THIS MORNING" TELEVISION SHOW. ONE IS THE WIFE OF A FILM ACTOR, ONE IS A COUNTRY DOCTOR, ONE IS A RAPE VICTIM, AND ONE IS A COLLEGE PRESIDENT. CURRENT AFFAIRS' MARILYN SILVEY REPORTS THAT THEY SHARE GREAT STRENGTH AND COURAGE UNDER ADVERSITY. (1/23)

SUPER BOWL -- AMERICAN FOOTBALL'S BIGGEST GAME OF THE YEAR - THE SUPER BOWL - WILL TAKE PLACE IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA, SUNDAY. EIGHT YOUNG BOYS WITH LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESSES WILL BE THERE, AND FOR THEM, IT MAY BE THE GAME OF A LIFETIME. CURRENT AFFAIRS' MARILYN SILVEY HAS DETAILS. (1/23)

PRODIGIES -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' TED LANDPHAIR EXAMINES THE WORLD OF WHAT CBS TELEVISION CALLED AMERICA'S "WONDERKIDS" -- PRODIGIES WHOSE ACHIEVEMENTS IN MUSIC, MEDICINE, AND NARROWER FIELDS LIKE CHESS WOULD BE ACCLAIMED, EVEN IF THEY WERE ADULTS. IS A PRODIGY JUST THE CREAM OF GIFTED STUDENTS? WHY DO WE LOSE SIGHT OF THEM WHEN THEY GROW UP? ARE GIRLS AT LAST BEING RECOGNIZED AS PRODIGIES? (1/23)

NATIONAL PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR -- THE NEW NATIONAL PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR CAN BOAST OF SOME IMPRESSIVE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS AT HER SCHOOL, BUT IS BEST KNOWN FOR THE PERSONAL INTEREST SHE TAKES IN HER STUDENTS. CURRENT AFFAIRS' ZLATICA HOKE REPORTS. (1/23)

BOOK WORLD -- NANCY BEARDSLEY REPORTS ON "THE FINAL JUDGMENT," THE LATEST LEGAL THRILLER BY LAWYER TURNED BEST SELLING AUTHOR RICHARD NORTH PATTERSON. (1/23)

INSIDE USA:

ENGLISH / OFFICIAL LANGUAGE -- 'TALK TO AMERICA' WELCOMES LANGUAGE EXPERTS JIM BOULET AND DAPHNE KWOK. THEY JOIN TO DEBATE WHETHER THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE ONE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE THAT EVERYONE BE REQUIRED TO SPEAK AND WRITE. (ENGLISH 1/23)

SECTION 911 / US INCOME -- REPORTER ANDREW BAIRD SPEAKS WITH BRUCE BARTLETT, AN ANALYST WITH THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS, ON THE THREATENED REPEAL OF SECTION 911 OF THE US TAX CODE WHICH SAYS THAT AMERICANS SHOULD NOT BE TAXED DOUBLE FOR EARNINGS ABROAD OF UP TO 70,000 DOLLARS IN INCOME. THE US IS THE ONLY NATION WHICH ALLOWS THE DOUBLE-TAXATION OF ITS BUSINESS PEOPLE OVERSEAS, ALTHOUGH THEY DO GET A TAX CREDIT FOR TAXES PAID TO THE FOREIGN GOVERNMENT. MR. BARTLETT QUOTES A PRICE WATERHOUSE STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF SUCH A REPEAL ON US EXPORTS AND JOBS. (ENP 1/22)

RAMADAN IN AMERICA -- STAFFER ZIAUR RAHMAN INTERVIEWS DR. ENAYETUR RAHIM, A SCHOLAR OF ISLAMIC STUDIES IN TEXAS AND MRS. ABEDA HUQ A MARYLAND SCHOOL TEACHER AND AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE LOCAL MUSLIM COMMUNITY ON OBSERVANCE OF RAMADAN IN THE US. (BANGLA 1/23)

TAJIK STUDENTS -- VISITING STUDENTS FROM TAJIKISTAN SAY THEIR EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN AMERICA HELPS THEM WIDEN THEIR PERSPECTIVE OF THE WORLD AND THE UNITED STATES. IN INTERVIEWS WITH STAFFER AMANULLAH HASRAT, ADIBA ASSADUVA AND LULAH NAMAZOVA ALSO SPOKE ABOUT THEIR TRAINING PROGRAM AT THE BOULDER HIGH SCHOOL IN BOULDER COLORADO. THE TWO TAJIKISTANI GIRLS ARE STUDYING IN THE UNITED STATES UNDER FREEDOM SUPPORT ACT, A PROGRAM SPONSORED BY THE US GOVERNMENT, AND SET UP BY THE BOULDER-DUSHANBE SISTER CITY PROGRAM. (DARI 1/19)

TEENS / READING LESS -- ORANGE COUNTY STRINGER NAM ANH REPORTS ON A SURVEY SHOWING THAT VIET-AMERICAN YOUTH, LIKE OTHER US TEENAGERS, ARE WATCHING MORE TV AND READING FEWER BOOKS. (VIETNAMESE 1/21)

AGRICULTURE / TECHNOLOGY -- STAFFER ELIZABETH MONNAC INTERVIEWS JEAN-PIERRE ROSSO, CEO OF THE WISCONSIN-BASED CASE, A COMPANY THAT BUILDS CONSTRUCTION AND AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT. MR. ROSSO SPOKE OF A NEW SYSTEM THAT CAN BE INSTALLED ON FARMING EQUIPMENT, THEN LINKED TO A SATELLITE AND WOULD THEN ALLOW FARMERS TO ASSESS CROPS, MODIFY USE OF INPUTS AND INCREASE YIELD. (FRENCH 1/22)

MALARIA / DRUG -- DESPITE THE PROMISE OF PYRONARIDINE, A NEW DRUG TO TREAT MALARIA FROM CHINA, SOME RESEARCHERS ARE CALLING FOR CAUTION AND MORE TESTING. A STUDY OF THE DRUG IN CAMEROON REPORTED A 100 PERCENT CURE RATE. REPORTER CATHERINE MADDUX INTERVIEWS DR. HANS LOBEL, HEAD OF MALARIA SURVEILLANCE FOR THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 1/23)

INSIDE AFRICA:

BURUNDI -- MILITARY OFFICIALS FROM BURUNDI AND TANZANIA MET ON THE TANZANIAN SIDE OF THE BORDER TO DISCUSS THE REFUGEE SITUATION IN THE AREA. STRINGER AMRANI BARUTWANAYO ALSO REPORTED THAT SOME REFUGEES ARE RETURNING TO THEIR OLD CAMPS. (SWAHILI 1/23)

BURUNDI -- THE CAPITAL OF BURUNDI, BUJUMBURA, RETURNED TO A NORMAL AFTER A GENERAL STRIKE THAT HAD PARALYZED THE CITY. STRINGER AMRANI BARUTWANAYO REPORTS. (SWAHILI 1/22)

TANZANIA -- THE GOVERNMENT OF TANZANIA HAS ALLOWED 15,000 REFUGEES FLEEING BURUNDI TO ENTER THE COUNTRY, BUT INSISTS THAT THE BORDER WILL REMAIN CLOSED. SWAHILI STRINGER PASCAL SHIJA REPORTS FROM DAR ES SALAAM. (SWAHILI 1/22)

BURUNDI / REBELS -- THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACY SAYS IT HAS ESCALATED THE STRUGGLE INSIDE BURUNDI. REPORTER SHAKA SSALI SPOKE WITH A SPOKESMAN FOR THE REBEL GROUP, JUMA RASHID, FROM KIGOMA, TANZANIA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 1/19)

NIGERIA / BOMB BLAST -- IN NIGERIA, SECURITY HAS BEEN BEEFED UP FOLLOWING LAST WEEK'S BOMB BLASTS BY A PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN MILITANT GROUP, THE UNITED FRONT FOR NIGERIAN LIBERATION. REPORTER CHINEDU OFFOR REPORTS FROM LAGOS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 1/22)

KENYA SUSPENDS OFFICERS -- THE KENYAN GOVERNMENT HAS SUSPENDED 14 SENIOR OFFICIALS OF THE CUSTOMS AND PORT AUTHORITY TO ALLOW INVESTIGATIONS OVER ALLEGED CORRUPTION PRACTICES AT THE MOMBASA PORT. SWAHILI STRINGER M.G.JOEL REPORTS. (SWAHILI 1/23)

KENYA / ARMED ROBBERS -- KENYAN POLICE HAVE KILLED A NUMBER OF ALLEGED ARMED ROBBERS WHO HAVE BEEN TERRORIZING NAIROBI NEIGHBORHOODS, PARTICULARLY THE DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY. STRINGER M.G. JOEL REPORTS. (SWAHILI 1/23)

SIERRA LEONE POLITICS -- THE HEAD OF SIERRA LEONE'S ELECTORAL COMMISSION SAYS HE SUPPORTS THE NEW HEAD OF STATE. STRINGER KELVIN LEWIS REPORTS FROM FREETOWN. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 1/19)

SIERRA LEONE / LOGGING -- SIERRA LEONE HAS CHOSEN THE PUBLISHER OF AFRICALINK NEWSLETTER TO FIND A COMPANY TO HELP THEM WITH A LOGGING PROGRAM. REPORTER RODRICK MURRAY SPOKE WITH THE CEO OF AFRICALINK, MUHAMMAD NASSOR. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 1/19)

SIERRA LEONE / CABINET -- STRINGER KELVIN LEWIS REPORTS THAT SIERRA LEONE'S NEW MILITARY LEADER, CAPTAIN JULIUS MAADA BIO, HAS NAMED HIS NEW CABINET. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 1/20)

CAMEROON / ELECTIONS -- PARTIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION RESULTS SHOW THE RULING CPDM PARTY LEADING, BUT THE OPPOSITION IS MAKING GAINS. REPORTER JULIUS BARTHSON IN YAOUNDE, GIVES THE ELECTION RUNDOWN. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 1/23)

BENIN / PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE -- BENIN'S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT BRUNO AMOUSSOU ANNOUNCED HE WILL BE A CANDIDATE IN THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER SAMUEL KIENDREBEOGO, MR AMOUSSOU SAID HIS DECISION WAS PROMPTED BY HIS DISAPPOINTMENT OVER THE INCUMBENT GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES. (FRENCH 1/19)

UGANDA / EDITOR ARREST -- TEDDY SEZI CHEYE, PROMINENT UGANDAN EDITOR OF THE "CONFIDENTIAL" WEEKLY MAGAZINE WAS ARRESTED IN KAMPALA OVER THE WEEKEND UNDER MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES. POLICE SAID MR. CHEYE WAS ARRESTED FOR HITTING A WOMAN WHO WAS IN HIS CAR. HE CLAIMS THAT POLICE ARE HARASSING HIM. SWAHILI STRINGER MIKE ARERENG REPORTS FROM KAMPALA. (SWAHILI 1/22)

UGANDA / EDITOR IN COURT -- TEDDY SSEZI CHEYE, EDITOR OF THE WEEKLY "UGANDA CONFIDENTIAL" WHO WAS ARRESTED IN KAMPALA OVER THE WEEKEND WAS IN COURT TUEASDAY. PROSECUTORS SAID THEY ARE FILING KIDNAPPING CHARGES AGAINST MR. CHEYE. HE WAS ARRESTED WHILE IN THE COMPANY OF A WOMAN WHO TOLD REPORTERS TODAY THAT MR CHEYE TRIED TO KIDNAP HER. STRINGER MIKE ARERENG REPORTS FROM KAMPALA. (SWAHILI 1/23)

UGANDA / PRESS -- IN UGANDA, POLICE HAVE ARRESTED THE EDITOR OF THE UGANDA CONFIDENTIAL NEWS LETTER, TEDDY SEEZI CHEEYE. REPORTER SHAKA SSALI SPOKE WITH OFONO OPONDO, A JOURNALIST WITH A PRO-GOVERNMENT PAPER, THE NEW VISION, FROM KAMPALA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 1/23)

APE VERDE ELECT -- LOCAL ELECTIONS WERE HELD SUNDAY IN CAPE VERDE. THE RULING PARTY , MPD, ELECTED EIGHT MAYORS AND EIGHT MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLIES. STRINGER NELSON HERBERT REPORTS ON THE ELECTIONS AND ALSO INTERVIEWS FORMER MINISTER OF EDUCATION, MANUEL FAUSTINO AND ANALYST OF CAPE VERDEAN POLITICAL SITUATION. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 1/22)

ANGOLA / UNITA -- UNITA? S LEADERSHIP ARE MEETING IN BAILUNDO, REBELS HEADQUARTERS TO DISCUSS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LUSAKA PEACE AGREEMENT. UNITA MIGHT BY THE END OF THE MEETING ON WEDNESDAY ANNOUNCE ITS MINISTERS FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY. THE SUMMIT MEETING BETWEEN UNITA? S LEADER JONAS SAVIMBI AND ANGOLAN PRESIDENT. EDUARDO DOS SANTOS, TO TAKE PLACE IN LIBREVILLE HAS BEEN ONCE AGAIN POSTPONED. STAFFER LUIS COSTA REPORTS. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 1/22)

MOZAMBIQUE CHIMWENJE -- MOZAMBICAN INTERIOR MINISTER, MANUEL ANT?ONIO CONFIRMED THAT MEMBERS OF CHIMWENJE GUERRILLAS ATTACKED CIVILIAN POPULATION IN CENTRAL MOZAMBIQUE. MEANWHILE ZIMBABWEAN FORCES REMAIN ON HIGH ALERT ALONG THE COUNTRY? S BORDER WITH MOZAMBIQUE, A DAY AFTER SECURITY WAS TIGHTENED TO GUARD AGAINST A SHADOW REBEL GROUP OPERATING ACROSS THE BORDER. CORRESPONDENT TERESA LIMA REPORTS. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 1/22)

MOZAMBIQUE PORTUGAL -- THE PORTUGUESE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS HAS ANNOUNCED THAT ITS SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COOPERATION, JOSE LAMEGO WILL VISIT MOZAMBIQUE IN THE FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY. JOSE LAMEGO WILL VISIT THE CAHORA BASSA PROJECT, NAMPULA AND BEIRA IN THE NORTHERN PROVINCE. STAFFER OVIDIO PEQUENO REPORTS. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 1/22)

ANGOLA / POLITICS -- THE PEACE PROCESS IN ANGOLA IS AGAIN AT A CROSSROADS AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SAYS IT IS LOSING PATIENCE. MEANWHILE, A SCHEDULED MEETING BETWEEN PRESIDENT EDUARDO DOS SANTOS AND REBEL LEADER JONAS SAVIMBI, IN GABON, WAS POSTPONED. STRINGER LUISA PIETTE REPORTS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 1/19)

LIBERIA / ECOMOG RESTRICTION -- REPORTER JAMES BUTTY SAYS CALM IS RETURNING TO THE CITY OF TUBMANBURG, FOLLOWING AN ATTACK LAST MONTH AGAINST THE WEST AFRICAN PEACEKEEPING FORCE, ECOMOG. GENERAL ROOSEVELT JOHNSON, LEADER OF THE ETHNIC WARRING ULIMO GROUP SAYS ECOMOG IS TO BLAME. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 1/21)

ZAMBIA / DROUGHT -- DESPITE THE END OF A THREE-YEAR DROUGHT, SOME AREAS OF ZAMBIA MAY STILL NEED FOOD RELIEF. STRINGER KELLYS KAUNDA REPORTS FROM LUSAKA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 1/22)

NIGERIA / WRITER AND SOCIAL CHANGE -- REPORTER SHAKA SSALI INTERVIEWS PROFESSOR WOLE SOYINKA, THE FIRST AFRICAN TO RECEIVE A NOBEL PRIZE FOR LITERATURE. THEY DISCUSS THE NEED FOR POLITICAL FAIR PLAY IN NIGERIA AND IN THE WHOLE OF AFRICA, AND THE ROLE OF A WRITER AS AN AGENT FOR SOCIAL CHANGE. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 1/20, 1/21)

WOMEN / CAREERS -- STAFFER MAIMOUNA MILLS HAS A SPECIAL REPORT ON THE ISSUE OF WOMEN TRYING TO BALANCE CAREER AND FAMILY; SHE REVIEWS THE MANY DIFFICULTIES WOMEN FACE WHEN THEY TRY TO "HAVE IT ALL." SHE ALSO INTERVIEWED MARIE MADELEINE MBORANDSUO, PRESIDENT OF THE GABONESE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT WHO COMMENTED ON THIS ISSUE; SHE ARGUED THAT AFRICAN WOMEN FACE THE SAME PROBLEMS AS OTHERS WHEN THEY TRY TO COMBINE FAMILY AND CAREER BUT THAT THANKS TO EXTENDED FAMILY SUPPORT, AFRICAN WOMEN CAN ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS. (FRENCH 1/19)

INSIDE MIDEAST:

MUBARAK / ALBRIGHT -- US AMBASSADOR TO THE UN, MADELENE ALBRIGHT MET WITH EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK TO DISCUSS REGIONAL ISSUES AND THE ROLE OF THE WORLD ORGANIZATION. STRINGER IBRAHIM ABDIN REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 1/22)

DOS / PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS -- STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN PRAISES THE PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS AS A MAJOR STEP TOWARD STABILITY. STAFFER RASHID JAAFAR REPORTS. (ARABIC 1/22)

ARAFAT / PALESTINIAN STATE -- FOLLOWING HIS SWEEPING SUCCESS IN PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS, CHAIRMAN YASSER ARAFAT DESCRIBED THE ELECTIONS AS A MAJOR STEP TOWARD THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PALESTINIAN STATE. STAFFER HAYAT ALKHATEEB INTERVIEWS SAMI MUSALLAM, IN ARAFAT'S JERICHO OFFICE ON THE STATEMENTS WHICH CONTRADICT THE PEACE AGREEMENTS. (ARABIC 1/22)

PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS / REACT -- GAZA STRINGER DOMINIQUE NOGANESSE DESCRIBES THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE RECENT PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS AND THE REACTIONS TO YASSER ARAFAT'S VICTORY. (FRENCH 1/22)

BAHRAIN / KUWAIT / IRAN -- KUWAITI NEWSPAPERS ACCUSE IRAN OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE UNREST IN BAHRAIN, AND CALL ON GULF COUNTRIES AND THEIR WESTERN ALLIES TO RETALIATE. STRINGER MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 1/22)

IRAQ ECONOMY -- BAGHDAD HAS TAKEN NEW ECONOMIC MEASURES TO CURB SOARING INFLATION AND STOP THE FALL OF IRAQI CURRENCY DUE TO UN SANCTIONS. MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 1/22)

KUWAIT POLITICS -- KUWAITI OPPOSITION IN THE PARLIAMENT ACCUSED THE GOVERNMENT OF BUYING VOTES. STRINGER JUMANA TAMIMI SAYS THE CHARGE HAS CREATED TENSIONS. (ARABIC 1/22)

BROTHERHOOD LEADER -- THE MOSLEM BROTHERHOOD MOVEMENT HAS SELECTED A NEW LEADER TO REPLACE ITS DECEASED LEADER ABU EL NASR. REPORTER IBRAHIM ABDIN IN CAIRO INTERVIEWS THE NEW LEADER MUSTAFA MASHHOUR. (ARABIC 1/22)

ISLAM AND THE WEST -- AN INTERVIEW BY STAFFER IMAN RAFI IN CAIRO WITH THE ALGERIAN AMBASSADOR TO EGYPT ON RELATIONS BETWEEN ISLAM AND THE WEST. (ARABIC 1/22)

LEBANON / STOCK MARKET -- ACTIVITIES HAVE RESUMED IN THE BEIRUT STOCK MARKET WHICH WAS REOPENED MONDAY FOLLOWING A THIRTEEN-YEAR-LONG CLOSURE BECAUSE OF THE LEBANESE CIVIL WAR. JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 1/22)

AFGHANISTAN CEASE-FIRE -- AFGHANI LEADER RABBANI IN KABUL HAS ORDERED A UNILATERAL CEASE-FIRE DURING RAMADAN, THE MONTH OF ISLAMIC FASTING. STAFFER HAYAT ALKHATEEB INTERVIEWS THE ALHAYAT NEWSPAPER CORRESPONDENT IN PAKISTAN. (ARABIC 1/22)

KABUL BLOCKADE -- CLOSURE OF THE MAIN SUPPLY ROUTES TO THE AFGHAN CAPITAL, KABUL HAS CAUSED A SEVERE SHORTAGE OF FUEL AND FOOD SUPPLIES. STRINGER ABDUL HAI WARSHAN REPORTS THAT PRICES HAVE SURGED ABOUT FIFTY PERCENT SINCE THE MAIN KABUL-JALALABAD HIGHWAY WAS CLOSED BY THE OPPOSITION A WEEK AGO. ALTHOUGH THE ROAD WAS REOPENED SUNDAY TO PASSENGER VEHICLES NO SUPPLY TRUCKS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO GET THROUGH. (DARI, PASHTO 1/23)

AFGHAN / CEASE-FIRE -- THE TALEBAN HAVE REJECTED THE UNILATERAL CEASE-FIRE ANNOUNCE BY PRESIDENT RABBANI. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER ZEBA ZAHER, A TALEBAN SPOKESMAN MASSOUM AFGHANI SAYS TALEBAN CANNOT TRUST RABBANI BECAUSE ON ONE HAND HE TALKS OF PEACE AND ON THE OTHER HE ATTACKS THE TALEBAN POSITIONS. PRESIDENT RABBANI HAD ANNOUNCED THE CEASE-FIRE TO MARK THE START OF RAMADAN. (PASHTO, DARI 1/22)

AFGHAN / UN -- THE SPECIAL UN ENVOY FOR AFGHANISTAN, MAHMOUD MESTIRI CALLED ON TALEBAN TO START NEGOTIATIONS. MESTIRI MADE THE REQUEST AFTER A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT RABBANI IN KABUL. MESTIRI SAID TALEBAN SHOULD HAVE REALIZED THAT THEY CANNOT CAPTURE KABUL BY MILITARY FORCE. COMMENTING ON THE NEWS, A TALEBAN SPOKESMAN, WAKIL AHMAD, SAID TALEBAN'S MAIN PURPOSE IS TO END FIGHTING AND BRING PEACE AND WILL SIT FOR HONEST NEGOTIATIONS. PASHTO STRINGER EKRAM SHINWARAI REPORTS THAT THE TALEBAN WILL PRESENT THEIR POSITION TO MESTIRI DURING HIS UPCOMING TRIP TO KANDAHAR. (PASHTO, DARI 1/22)

AFGHAN / PROTEST -- THE AFGHAN FOREIGN MINISTRY HAS REACTED TO PAKISTANI MEDIA REPORTS THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN IS INTENDING TO SEND A DELEGATION TO KANDAHAR AND HERAT TO OPEN BRANCHES OF PAKISTAN NATIONAL BANK AND SOME FOOD MARKETS AND LOOK INTO WAYS OF IMPROVING THE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM. STRINGER EKRAM SHINWARAI REPORTS THAT THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT HAS CALLED THIS AN INTERFERENCE IN THE AFGHAN AFFAIRS. THE PAKISTANI MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SARDAR ASEF AHMAD ALI REJECTED THE ALLEGATION AND DURING A VISIT TO TOKYO TOLD REPORTERS THAT PAKISTAN HAS NO SUCH INTENTIONS. (PASHTO, DARI 1/21)

IRAN / PAK / AFGHANISTAN -- IRANIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER ALLAUDDIN BUROJERDI SAYS THAT AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN HAVE ASKED TEHRAN TO MEDIATE FOR DE-ESCALATING THE EXISTING TENSION BETWEEN KABUL AND ISLAMABAD. QUOTING A SPOKESMAN OF PAKISTANI MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DARI STRINGER ABDUL HAI WARSHAN REPORTS THAT PAKISTAN HAS RECEIVED SIGNALS INDICATING AFGHAN PRESIDENT BURHANUDDIN RABBANI'S WILLINGNESS TO PATCH UP RELATIONS WITH ISLAMABAD. PAKISTAN SAYS IT SUPPORTS THE UN PEACE DIPLOMACY AND EFFORTS BY THE ORGANIZATION OF ISLAMIC CONFERENCE TO END THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN THROUGH CREATION OF A BROAD-BASED GOVERNMENT. (DARI, PASHTO 1/23)

MAHABAD REPUBLIC / ANNIVERSARY -- MARKING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE MAHABAD REPUBLIC OF KURDISTAN, A FREE AND INDEPENDENT ENTITY IN THE AREA AROUND THE CITY OF MAHABAD, IRAN, WHICH LASTED JUST UNDER A YEAR, STAFFER BEKR REBWAR INTERVIEWED TAHA ATIQI, OF THE KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF IRAN, WHO TALKED ABOUT THE KURDISH STRUGGLE IN IRAN FOR THE PAST HALF CENTURY; HASSAN GHAZI, EDITOR OF THE MAGAZINE GIZING IN SWEDEN WHO DESCRIBED THE CELEBRATION OF THE ANNIVERSARY IN SWEDEN; NEBI QADIRI, SPOKESMAN FOR THE KDPI-REVOLUTIONARY LEADERSHIP, WHO SAID HIS PARTY SEES THE CURRENT STRUGGLE WITH IRAN AS A CONTINUATION OF THE MAHABAD REPUBLIC, AND EMIRI QAZI, GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE KURDISH INDEPENDENCE PARTY IN IRAN; THE MAHABAD REPUBLIC WAS SUPPORTED AS AN AUTONOMOUS REGION BY BRITAIN, BUT AS AN INDEPENDENT ENTITY BY THE SOVIET UNION, SAID QAZI. (KURDISH 1/22)

INSIDE CENTRAL ASIA:

AZERBAIJAN / CENSORSHIP -- ON THE QUESTION OF POLITICAL CENSORSHIP, WHICH ALLEGEDLY IS EXERCISED BY THE AZERI GOVERNMENT IN THE PRESS OF THAT COUNTRY, AZERI STRINGER RAFAEL HUSAINOV HAS INTERVIEWED RAFIQ IMANOV, DEPUTY-CHIEF OF THE "OFFICE FOR PROTECTION OF STATE SECRETS". HE SAYS THAT BECAUSE OF THE "WAR SITUATION" THAT EXISTS IN THE COUNTRY TAKING SOME MEASURES IS JUSTIFIABLE, BUT THESE WILL BE ABOLISHED IN THE NEAR FUTURE. (AZERI 1/23)

TAJIKISTAN / MURDER -- HAJI AKBAR TURAHANZADEH, A MEMBER OF THE TAJIK OPPOSITION IN IRAN WHO IS ALSO THE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE ISLAMIC REVIVAL MOVEMENT TALKED TO STAFFER AVIVA LEKUCH ABOUT THE MURDER OF THE MUFTI OF TAJIKISTAN, FATHULLA SHARIF-ZADEH AND HIS FAMILY. THE MUFTI WAS A SUPPORTER OF THE MOSCOW BACKED GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT EMOMALI RAKIMONOV. (RUSSIAN 1/23)

KYRGYZSTAN / REFERENDUM -- ANATOLY MARISHEV, KYRGYZ PARLIAMENT DEPUTY TALKS TO STAFFER AVIVA LEKUCH ABOUT THE OFFICIAL POSITION OF HIS GOVERNMENT ON THE UPCOMING REFERENDUM IN KYRGYZSTAN. (RUSSIAN 1/22)

INSIDE SOUTH ASIA:

BANGLADESH PM / ELECTIONS -- BANGLADESH PRIME MINISTER KHALIDA ZIA TOLD HER PEOPLE IN A NATIONAL RADIO AND TELEVISION ADDRESS THAT NATIONAL ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD BEFORE FEBRUARY 21. THE MAJOR OPPOSITION PARTIES THREATEN TO BOYCOTT THE POLLING. THE PRIME MINISTER SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT MADE CONCESSIONS AND THE ELECTION WAS RESCHEDULED TWICE, BUT THE OPPOSITION REFUSES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTION PROCESS. IN SYLHET, AN OPPOSITION PARTY MEETING WAS ATTACKED AND FIFTY PEOPLE WERE REPORTED INJURED. STRINGER ZAHURUL ALAM REPORTS FROM DHAKA. (BANGLA 1/23)

COLD WAVE IN NORTHERN BANGLADESH -- FIVE PEOPLE DIED IN THE NORTHERN PART OF BANGLADESH DUE TO SEVERE COLD. FROM DHAKA ZAHURUL ALAM REPORTS. (BANGLA 1/23)

INDIA / SCANDAL -- STRINGER KL NANDAN REPORTS THAT INDIA'S CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (CBI) PLANS TO ISSUE ANOTHER CHARGE SHEET IN CONNECTION WITH THE MULTI MILLION DOLLAR BRIBERY SCANDAL. THE EARLIER CHARGE BY CBI THAT TOP POLITICAL LEADERS, INCLUDING THREE CABINET MINISTERS AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY BJP, WERE INVOLVED IN THE SCANDAL HAS ALREADY CREATED TURMOIL IN THE TWO MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES OF INDIA. (HINDI 1/22)

INDIA / ASEAN -- THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH EAST ASIAN NATIONS (ASEAN) HAS AGREED TO MAKE INDIA A FULL DIALOGUE PARTNER IN THE GROUPING. THIS WAS INDICATED TO INDIA'S MINISTER FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, PRANAB MUKHERJEE DURING HIS JUST CONCLUDED VISIT TO THAILAND. STRINGER REPORT. (HINDI 1/22)

INDIAN POP SINGER -- STAFFER VIJAY LAXMI INTERVIEWS IN BOMBAY SADHANA SARGAM, EMERGING POP SINGER OF INDIA. (HINDI 1/21)

INSIDE EAST ASIA:

CHINA / MEDIA CONTROL / HONG KONG REACT -- HONG KONG JOURNALISTS COMMENT ON CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN'S RECENT SPEECH TO SENIOR OFFICIALS OF A MAJOR ARMY NEWSPAPER. JIANG STRESSED THAT GUIDELINES FOR MEDIA SHOULD CONFORM TO THE PARTY LINE AND THE MEDIA SHOULD BE ULTIMATELY RUN BY LOYAL POLITICIANS. HONG KONG STAFFER CHOU YOUKANG INTERVIEWS COMMENTATOR LIU SILU, DEPUTY CHIEF EDITOR OF XINBAO CHEN JINGXIANG, AND HONG KONG PREPARATORY COMMITTEE MEMBER DR. WU WEIYONG. (MANDARIN 1/23)

TAIWAN / ELECTION CAMPAIGN STRATEGY -- TAIPEI STRINGER FAN DAOZHUANG INTERVIEWS PROFESSORS LIAO FENGDE AND ZHANG YAZHOU OF CHENGCI UNIVERSITY, CHEN YISHEN, CENTRAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE, AND PANG JIANGUO, NEW PARTY LEGISLATOR, ON THE CAMPAIGN STRATEGIES OF TAIWAN'S FOUR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES. (MANDARIN 1/23)

CHINA / HOUSING REFORM -- ECONOMISTS PROFESSOR YONG YIN, SUNY BUFFALO, AND PROFESSOR AIMIN CHEN, INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY, DISCUSS HOUSING REFORM ON THE CHINA FORUM CALL-IN SHOW. IN THE PAST, HOUSING WAS CONTROLLED BY THE STATE, AND WORK UNITS ALLOCATED LIVING SPACE. DUE TO ECONOMIC REFORMS, STATE-OWNED HOUSING IS NOW BEING SOLD TO CITIZENS AT A DISCOUNTED PRICE, COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN BUILT AND HOUSING FUNDS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED TO HELP THE POOR AND NEEDY. THE PANELISTS DISCUSS MEASURES THAT NEED TO BE IMPLEMENTED TO HELP AVERAGE PEOPLE FINANCE HOUSING AND MAKE SURE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS ARE BUILT INSTEAD OF HIGH-PRICED OFFICE BUILDINGS AND LUXURY APARTMENTS. SIX CALLS FROM CHINA WERE TAKEN DURING THE SHOW. (MANDARIN 1/22)

TAIWAN / CHINESE HISTORIC CLOTHING EXHIBITION -- MAINLAND CHINESE AND TAIWANESE FASHION DESIGNERS ORGANIZED AN EXHIBIT OF "CHINESE HISTORIC CLOTHING," WHICH WILL START ON WEDNESDAY. THE EXHIBIT CONSISTS OF MORE THAN 200 PIECES AND WILL BE SHOWN IN SEVERAL CITIES IN TAIWAN. STAFFER CHANG YUNG-TAI INTERVIEWS THE ORGANIZER OF THE EXHIBIT FROM MAINLAND CHINA SHI YANGQING, SENIOR DESIGNER OF THE CHINESE FASHION DESIGN CENTER, AND THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF ASSOCIATION OF TEXTILE EXTERNAL DEVELOPMENT OF TAIWAN, LIU RUITU. (MANDARIN 1/22)

STOCK MARKET SOARS -- THE HANG SENG INDEX IN HONG KONG SHOT UP TO 10,955 YESTERDAY, A RECORD HIGH IN 23 MONTHS. ANALYSTS SAY THE MARKET WAS BUOYED BY THE INFLOW OF INVESTMENTS FROM THE US AND EUROPE, AND ALSO BY NEWS THAT CHINA WILL RELAX CONTROLS ON MONEY SUPPLY IN 1996. COMMENTS BY GILBERT LEUNG, GENERAL MANAGER, WAH HING SECURITIES; HUNG SIU LUEN, BZW ASIA LIMITED; LEUNG WEI YUEN, NIKKE SECURITIES LIMITED. STRINGER LAWRENCE NG REPORTS. (CANTONESE 1/23)

VIETNAM / ECONOMY & PROSPECTS -- IN BANGKOK, CORRESPONDENT LE LAI HAD THE THIRD REPORT IN HIS SERIES OF YEAR-ENDERS ON HANOI'S COMPLEX ECONOMIC MIX OF STATE-OWNED AND PRIVATE ENTERPRISES. (VIETNAMESE 1/21)

CAMBODIA / UPDATE ON ALLEGED VIETNAM INCURSION -- FROM BANGKOK LE LAI HAS AN ACCOUNT OF THE MOST RECENT CHARGES AND COUNTERCHARGES SURROUNDING THE CLAIMED PENETRATION OF VIET FARMERS AND POLICE ACROSS THE CAMBODIAN BORDER. (VIETNAMESE 1/21)

VIETS IN AUSTRALIA / BOAT PEOPLE -- SYDNEY STRINGER NGOC HAN REPORTS SEVERE CRITICISM OF POLICE VIOLENCE AGAINST BOAT PEOPLE IN A CAMP NEAR KUALA LUMPUR DEMONSTRATING AGAINST FORCED RETURN TO HANOI. (VIETNAMESE 1/22)

EFFORTS TO CONTROL VIETNAM ECONOMY -- CORRESPONDENT LE LAI IN BANGKOK DESCRIBES RECENT MEASURES BY HANOI TO PRESERVE A TIGHT GRIP ON THE MIXED ECONOMY. (VIETNAMESE 1/22)

MASTER ARTIST ON TRADITIONAL VIET LUTE -- IN MONTREAL STRINGER TRUONG KY TALKED TO NOTED INSTRUMENTALIST DAC CHI, MASTER OF THE CLASSICAL ONE-CHORD LUTE ABOUT MR. CHI'S TRAINING AND ACHIEVEMENTS IN VIETNAM AND HIS CONCERT ACTIVITIES SINCE HE EMIGRATED TO CANADA. MR, CHI DEMONSTRATED HIS ARTISTRY IN SEVERAL SHORT SELECTIONS OF TRADITIONAL MUSIC. (VIETNAMESE 1/19)

JAPAN / ECONOMIC POLICY -- REPORTER SUSAN YACKEE SPEAKS WITH DAVID FERNANDEZ OF JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, ABOUT JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER RYUTARO HASHIMOTO'S FIRST ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT. THE NEW PRIME MINISTER PROMISED A SERIES OF REFORMS THAT HE SAID WOULD RESULT IN FULL ECONOMIC RECOVERY BY THE END OF THE YEAR. MR FERNANDEZ BELIEVES THE JAPANESE OFFICIAL IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK, BUT FULL ECONOMIC RECOVERY WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE BY 1997. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 1/22)

JAPAN / LENDER BAILOUT -- REPORTER ANDREW BAIRD TALKS WITH ARTHUR ALEXANDER, AN ANALYSTS AT THE JAPAN ECONOMIC INSTITUTE, ON JAPAN'S MINISTRY OF FINANCE'S SIX-BILLION DOLLAR BAILOUT OF SEVEN HOME MORTGAGE LENDERS WHICH IS BEING PROTESTED IN TOKYO, IN PART BECAUSE OF THEIR LINKS TO PROPERTY DEVELOPERS WHO IN TURN ARE ACCUSED OF LINKS WITH ORGANIZED CRIME. (ENP 1/22)

INSIDE EUROPE:

BOSNIA / PEACE IMPLEMENTATION -- REPORTER SUSAN CLARK SPEAKS WITH FORMER ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE CHESTER CROCKER ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BOSNIA PEACE AGREEMENT, WHAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS LEARNED FROM OTHER PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, AND WHY IT'S NECESSARY FOR THE UNITED STATES TO LEAD. (ENP 1/22)

CROATIA / REINTEGRATION -- CROATIAN OFFICIALS IN THE TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT FOR EASTERN SLAVONIA IVICA KOSTOVIC AND IVICA VRKIC SAY THEIR ROLE IN THE PROCESS OF REINTEGRATION IS STRICTLY ADVISORY, WHILE THE RESPONSIBILITY LAYS ENTIRELY ON THE ADMINISTRATOR JACQUES KLEIN. STRINGER ZELJKO MATIC REPORTS FROM THE NEWS CONFERENCE THE OFFICIALS HELD IN ZAGREB. (CROATIAN 1/22)

GOLDSTONE / BOSNIA -- CHIEF PROSECUTOR FOR THE INTERNATIONAL WAR TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE, RICHARD GOLDSTONE ANNOUNCED THAT INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATORS OF WAR CRIMES MAY SOON GO TO BOSNIA TO BEGIN INVESTIGATING MASS GRAVES SITES IN EASTERN BOSNIA. STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO. (CROATIAN 1/22)

BOSNIA / LANDMINES -- STRINGER LADA STIPIC NISETEO REPORTS ON A UN SPONSORED CONFERENCE IN GENEVA WHICH FOCUSED ON THE WAYS TO STRENGTHEN THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON LANDMINES. BOSNIA WAS MENTIONED AS ONE OF THE WORLD MOST DANGEROUS PLACES, WITH UP TO SIX MILLION MINES DISPERSED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. (CROATIAN 1/22)

SHATTUCK / SERBIA -- US ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS JOHN SHATTUCK MET WITH SERBIAN PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IN BELGRADE. HE THANKED MR. MILOSEVIC FOR THE COOPERATION WHILE VISITING THE GRAVE SITES IN EASTERN BOSNIA, WHERE MASS EXECUTION WERE PERFORMED. MR SHATTUCK URGED MR MILOSEVIC TO COOPERATE MORE CLOSELY WITH THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. STRINGER JADRANKA KRONJA REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (CROATIAN 1/22)

BOSNIA GOVERNMENT / SARAJEVO REACT -- OPPOSITION PARTY LEADERS IN SARAJEVO REACT TO THE RESIGNATION OF PRIME MINISTER SILAJDZIC. ALL OF THEM EXPRESS ANGER AND DISAPPOINTMENT THAT THE POPULAR PRIME MINISTER FEELS FORCED TO LEAVE HIS POST. THEY WARN OF A POSSIBILITY THAT THE NEW BOSNIAN STATE WILL HAVE A ONE PARTY SYSTEM. STRINGER REPORT. (CROATIAN 1/22)

TUZLA / ACCORD -- STRINGER ZDRAVKO JAVOR REPORTS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE ACCORD. A FOUR KILOMETER WIDE CORRIDOR IS CONTROLLED BY THE IFOR. HOWEVER, THE CIVILIAN PART OF THE AGREEMENT IS STILL NOT COMPLETELY IMPLEMENTED. (CROATIAN 1/22)

KOSOVA / TRIAL -- A COURT IN YUGOSLAVIA'S PREDOMINANTLY ALBANIAN INHABITED REGION OF KOSOVA HAS SENTENCED FOUR ETHNIC ALBANIANS ON CHARGES OF ANTI-GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES. MEANWHILE, AN ALBANIAN HAS DIED IN SERBIAN POLICE CUSTODY. STRINGER IBRAHIM OSMANI REPORTS FROM PRISHTINA. (ALBANIAN 1/23)

KOSOVA / ALBANIA RIGHT -- A COALITION OF RIGHT WING PARTIES BASED IN THE NORTHERN CITY OF SHKODRA REAFFIRMED SUPPORT FOR AN INDEPENDENT KOSOVA. THE ALBANIAN RIGHT WING LEAGUE IS HIGHLY CRITICAL OF THE GOVERNMENT'S STAND. TIRANA HAS CALLED FOR DIRECT TALKS BETWEEN BELGRADE AND ETHNIC ALBANIAN REPRESENTATIVES IN KOSOVA. STRINGER PELLUMB SULO REPORTS FROM SHKODRA. (ALBANIAN 1/22)

ALBANIANS / GREECE -- ALLEGED POLICE ILL-TREATMENT OF ILLEGAL ALBANIAN REFUGEES IN GREECE HAS PROVOKED CONCERN AMONG ALBANIANS SEEKING JOBS IN THE NEIGHBORING COUNTRY. A 29-YEAR OLD ALBANIAN WAS KILLED EARLIER THIS WEEK BY A GREEK POLICEMAN. GREEK AUTHORITIES ANNOUNCED THEY ARE INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT. IN RECENT YEARS AN ESTIMATED THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND ALBANIANS HAVE CROSSED INTO GREECE IN SEARCH OF JOBS. STRINGER RAJMOND KOLA REPORTS FROM GJIROKASTER. (ALBANIAN 1/23)

ALBANIA / ELECTIONS -- THIRTEEN ALBANIAN POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE URGED THE RULING DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO SUBMIT TO THE PARLIAMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE A DRAFT ELECTION LAW. PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE CURRENT MIXED ELECTORAL SYSTEM HAVE CAUSED A HEATED DEBATE. MEANWHILE, LOCAL AUTHORITIES HAVE BEGUN COMPILING NEW VOTER REGISTERS IN PREPARATION FOR THE MAY PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. STRINGERS MERO BAZE AND PELLUMB SULO REPORT FROM TIRANA AND SHKODRA, RESPECTIVELY. (ALBANIAN 1/23)

ALBANIA / POLL CONTROVERSY -- PETER DICKENSON, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE INTERNATIONAL REPUBLICAN INSTITUTE IN TIRANA HAS DENIED PRESS REPORTS THAT THE US ORGANIZATION WORKED WITH A PRO-GOVERNMENT INSTITUTE IN CONDUCTING A NATIONWIDE SURVEY ON ALBANIAN PUBLIC ATTITUDES. ACCORDING TO THE POLL, 73 PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS BELIEVE ALBANIA IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, 41 PERCENT WOULD VOTE FOR THE RULING DEMOCRATIC PARTY, AND 19 PERCENT FOR THE OPPOSITION SOCIALIST (FORMERLY COMMUNIST) PARTY. THE LEFTIST KOHA JONE ALLEGED TUESDAY THAT THE INTERNATIONAL REPUBLICAN INSTITUTE HAD CONDUCTED THE SURVEY JOINTLY WITH THE TIRANA-BASED INSTITUTE OF STRATEGIC STUDIES. DICKENSON AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE TIRANA INSTITUTE STRONGLY DENIED THE CHARGE. STRINGER MERO BAZE REPORTS FROM TIRANA. (ALBANIAN 1/23)

GERMANY / ARSON REACT -- FOLLOWING THE ARSON FIRE THAT KILLED AT LEAST TEN PEOPLE AND INJURED OVER FIFTY OTHERS IN AN ASYLUM SEEKERS' HOME IN LUEBECK, GERMANY, STAFFER JEAN-CLAUDE ANDRE INTERVIEWED PROFESSOR REMY LEVEAU AT THE BERLIN POLITICAL SCIENCE INSTITUTE. PROFESSOR LEVEAU SAID THAT GERMANY IS NOT A SINGULARLY RACIST COUNTRY BUT A CLIMATE FOR VIOLENCE DOES EXIST AND SMALL ANTI-SOCIAL GROUPS CAN BE PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS. (FRENCH 1/19)

POLAND / POLITICAL CRISIS -- THE "FREEDOM UNION," THE MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY IN POLAND HAS CALLED FOR A GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO BE CREATED FROM ALL POLITICAL GROUPS EXCLUDING THE POST-COMMUNISTS. REPORTER WOJTEK MINICZ INTERVIEWS PARLIAMENTARIAN PIOTR NOWINA-KONOPKA, A MEMBER OF THE "FREEDOM UNION." (POLISH 1/23)

POLAND / POLITICAL CRISIS (2) -- A SPOKESPERSON FOR PRIME MINISTER OLEKSY, ALEXANDRA JAKUBOWSKA, REJECTED CALLS BY THE OPPOSITION FOR OLEKSY'S RESIGNATION. JAKUBOWSKA SAID THAT THE OPPOSITION IS IN CRISIS, NOT THE POLISH GOVERNMENT. STRINGER MARIA BNINSKA REPORTS FROM WARSAW. (POLISH 1/23)

NEUTRAL SLOVAKIA? -- DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF SLOVAKIA BECOMING A NEUTRAL STATE ARE CONTINUING IN THAT COUNTRY. THE IDEA OF NEUTRALITY IS IS BEING PUSHED BY THE SLOVAK NATIONAL PARTY, WHICH OPPOSES SLOVAKIA'S JOINING NATO. STRINGER IVAN RAJECKY REPORTS FROM BRATISLAVA. (SLOVAK 1/23)

INSIDE EURASIA:

RUSSIA / YELTSIN -- YEGOR GAIDAR, THE LEADER OF RUSSIA'S CHOICE PARTY THINKS THAT YELTSIN'S CANDIDACY FOR PRESIDENT WILL BENEFIT THE COMMUNISTS, REPORTS MOSCOW CORRESPONDENT ALEC BATCHAN. HE SAYS THAT PRESIDENT YELTSIN'S FINAL DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT TO RUN FOR A SECOND TERM WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN MID FEBRUARY. (RUSSIAN 1/22)

RUSSIA / USA -- ROMAN SZPORLUK, A HISTORIAN AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY DISCUSSED THE IMPACT OF THE LATEST POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN MOSCOW ON US-RUSSIAN RELATIONS. INTERVIEW BY STAFFER MIREK KONDRACKI. (POLISH 1/23)

23-Jan-96 5:11 PM EST (2211 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America