Voice of America, 25 August 1995

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] !!! VOA DIGEST - AUGUST 25, 1995 !!!

LONG ISLAND NY / FIRE -- A LARGE BRUSH FIRE IS BURNING IN A RURAL AND SUMMER RESORT AREA OF LONG ISLAND, EAST OF NEW YORK CITY. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL INJURIES AND SOME HOMES HAVE BEEN DAMAGED AND LOST. CORRESPONDENT LARRY FREUND IN NEW YORK REPORTS. (8/25)

ISRAEL / HAMAS -- ISRAELI UNDERCOVER TROOPS HAVE KILLED TWO WANTED MUSLIM MILITANTS IN A SHOOTOUT IN THE WEST BANK TOWN OF HEBRON. STRINGER PATRICIA GOLAN IN JERUSALEM REPORTS THE RAID IS PART OF ISRAEL'S INTENSIFYING BATTLE AGAINST THE MILITANT HAMAS ORGANIZATION, WHICH CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR TWO SUICIDE BUS BOMBINGS IN THE PAST MONTH. (8/25)

WU / RETURNS -- CHINESE AMERICAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST HARRY WU HAS RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES AFTER BEING EXPELLED FROM CHINA FOR ALLEGEDLY SPYING. HE ARRIVED IN SAN FRANCISCO THURSDAY EVENING. CORRESPONDENT GREG FLAKUS REPORTS FROM SAN FRANCISCO MR. WU BYPASSED REPORTERS AND WENT TO HIS HOME IN A NEARBY SUBURB. (8/25)

HONG KONG / CHINA / JOURNALISTS EXPELLED -- CHINA HAS EXPELLED TWO HONG KONG JOURNALISTS AFTER CHARGING THEM WITH ILLEGALLY COLLECTING MILITARY SECRETS. CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON IN HONG KONG, CHINA SAYS THE TWO REPORTERS CONFESSED TO THE CHARGES AND BLAMED THEIR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF FOR SENDING THEM ON THE ASSIGNMENT. (8/25)

CHINA / WOMEN'S CONFERENCE -- CHINESE AUTHORITIES ARE PUTTING THE FINAL TOUCHES ON BEIJING FOR THE UPCOMING UNITED NATIONS WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN AND THE PARALLEL FORUM FOR NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS. AS BEIJING CORRESPONDENT STEPHANIE HO REPORTS, WORKERS ARE BUSY AROUND THE CLOCK TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY PRESENTS ITS BEST FACE FOR THE BIGGEST INTERNATIONAL EVENT CHINA HAS EVER HOSTED. (8/25)

CAMBODIA / PRESS -- A CAMBODIAN GOVERNMENT MOVE TO PROSECUTE THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST CIRCULATION ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER IS CAUSING NEW JITTERS IN THE JOURNALISTIC COMMUNITY. CORRESPONDENT DAN ROBINSON REPORTS. (8/25)

TIBET / EXILED COMMUNITY AWARD -- TO MARK THE UNITED NATION'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY, AN INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE HAS SELECTED 50 COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND PLANS TO PRESENT THEM WITH AWARDS FOR THEIR SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENTS. CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS ONE OF THE AWARDS WILL GO TO THE TIBETAN COMMUNITY-IN-EXILE, IN SPITE OF OBJECTIONS FROM CHINA. (8/25)

RWANDA / REFUGEES -- THE UNITED NATIONS HAS RESTARTED ITS PROGRAM OF VOLUNTARY REPATRIATIONS OF RWANDAN REFUGEES. THE RESUMPTION CAME AFTER RELIEF WORKERS WON ZAIRE'S AGREEMENT TO HALT ITS CONTROVERSIAL AND MUCH-PROTESTED PROGRAM OF FORCED MILITARY EXPULSIONS. CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS FROM GOMA, SITE OF THE LARGEST CAMPS IN EASTERN ZAIRE. (8/25)

EGYPT / IRAQ -- EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK HAS TOLD THE LONDON-BASED ARAB DAILY EL-HAYAT HE WOULD BE WILLING TO GRANT POLITICAL ASYLUM TO IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN IF IT WOULD HELP RESOLVE THE CRISIS. MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (8/25)

NEW ZEALAND / FRANCE / ATOLL -- A FLEET OF SHIPS PROTESTING FRENCH NUCLEAR TESTING IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC HAS STARTED TO ARRIVE AT MURUROA ATOLL, WHERE TESTS ARE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER. THE FIRST SHIP TO ARRIVE IS AN UNARMED NEW ZEALAND NAVY RESEARCH VESSEL, AS STRINGER JAMES WEIR REPORTS FROM WELLINGTON. (8/25)

FRANCE / CHIRAC -- FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC HAS JUST COMPLETED HIS FIRST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE. STRINGER JULIAN NUNDY IN PARIS REPORTS MR. CHIRAC'S RECORD SO FAR IS MIXED, WITH PROTESTS OVER HIS DECISION TO RESUME NUCLEAR TESTS HARMING HIS INTERNATIONAL IMAGE. (8/25)

YUGO / BRITISH TROOPS -- BRITISH TROOPS HAVE BEGUN TO LEAVE THE UNITED NATIONS-DECLARED SAFE AREA OF GORAZDE AFTER CLASHING WITH BOSNIAN ARMY SOLDIERS WHO INTRUDED INTO THEIR CAMP. CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY REPORTS ABOUT 80 BRITISH SOLDIERS HAVE LEFT GORAZDE SO FAR. (8/25)

RUSSIA / US THREAT -- US OFFICIALS IN RUSSIA HAVE WARNED OF A THREAT AGAINST AMERICANS IN THE POPULAR TOURIST DESTINATION, SAINT PETERSBURG. CORRESPONDENT ELIZABETH ARROTT IN MOSCOW REPORTS THE DIPLOMATS WARN AN ATTACK COULD COME IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. THE US CONSULATE IN SAINT PETERSBURG SAID IT RECEIVED A CREDIBLE REPORT OF A PLANNED VIOLENT ATTACK ON AMERICAN CITIZENS EITHER VISITING OR LIVING IN THE CITY. (8/25)

INSIDE USA:

INDIAN BUSINESSMAN -- DILIP BAROT OF FLORIDA, WHOSE 'NAIMISHA' GROUP CONSISTS OF 15 FLOURISHING COMPANIES INVOLVED IN CONSTRUCTION AND MOTELS, CREDITS THE OPEN ENVIRONMENT IN THE US FOR HIS SUCCESS. STAFFER NIRMALA JOSHI INTERVIEWED MR. BAROT. (HINDI 8/24)

TV / VIOLENCE -- STAFFER RASHMI SHUKLA INTERVIEWED SEVERAL TEENAGERS OF INDIAN ORIGIN ON VIOLENCE IN AMERICAN TELEVISION PROGRAMS AND ITS POSSIBLE EFFECTS ON YOUNG VIEWERS. (HINDI 8/24)

ASIAN GARMENT SWEATSHOPS / CLOSE IN LOS ANGELES -- OFFICIALS AT THE THAI CONSULATE GENERAL IN LOS ANGELES TOLD REPORTER NITTAYA MAPHUNGPHONG THAT ASIAN-RUN FACTORIES EMPLOYING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS HAVE SUSPENDED WORK AFTER FEDERAL AGENTS RAIDED THREE MORE LOCATIONS. ONE CONSUL ESTIMATES 2,000 THAI WORKERS ALONE HAVE BEEN IDLED IN THE WAKE OF THE RAIDS. (THAI 8/24)

UN / EQUAL EMPLOYMENT FOR WOMEN -- WOMEN EMPLOYEES AT THE UNITED NATIONS HAVE COMPLAINED OF UNEQUAL TREATMENT. A MIX OF CULTURAL AND POLITICAL FACTORS THERE SEEM TO HAVE CREATED A UNIQUELY DIFFICULT ENVIRONMENT FOR WOMEN. THE DEPUTY HEAD OF THE OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES, ANGEL KING, TOLD STAFFER XIA QING ABOUT A SERIES OF UN GOALS FOR IMPROVING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN. (MANDARIN 8/25)

HOUSE OF HUSSEIN -- REPORTER SUSAN CLARK SPOKE WITH ROB SATLOFF OF MIDDLE EAST INSTITUTE ON THE HISTORY OF THE HOUSE OF HUSSEIN, THE ROLE IT PLAYS IN IRAQ, AND RELATIONS WITH SAUDI ARABIA. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 8/24) THIRD PARTY IN AMERICA. ANDRZEJ RAPACZYNSKI, LAW PROFESSOR FROM COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY DISCUSSED THE ROOTS OF THE AMERICAN "TWO PARTY" SYSTEM AND DIFFICULTIES IN CREATING A THIRD PARTY. INTERVIEW BY POLISH SERVICE STAFFER JAROSLAW ANDERS. (POLISH 8/24)

HARRY WU / RELEASED -- REPORTER SUSAN CLARK SPOKE WITH MARIA CHANG, A SPECIALIST IN US-CHINA RELATIONS AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA-RENO. SHE SAYS THE RELEASE OF HARRY WU IS THE BEST THAT COULD HAVE BEEN EXPECTED OF CHINA AND THAT TAIWAN PLAYS A MUCH MORE IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE MR. WU INCIDENT THAN IS GENERALLY REALIZED AND THAT INTERNATIONAL OPINION PROBABLY PLAYED A ROLE IN GETTING HIM RELEASED. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 8/24)

HARRY WU -- REPORTER TERRY WING SPOKE WITH HARY HARDING, DEAN OF THE ELLIOTT SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AT GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ABOUT HARRY WU'S RELEASE. HE COMMENTS ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE EVENT AND WHAT THIS PORTENDS FOR US-SINO RELATIONS. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 8/24)

HARRY WU -- REPORTER TERRY WING TALKS WITH HOLLY BURKHALTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH ASIA ABOUT THE WORK HARRY WU HAS DONE, HIS SIGNIFICANCE TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND WHETHER OR NOT HE IS LIKELY TO RESUME HIS ROLE WHEN HE GETS HOME. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 8/24)

WINDOWS 95 GOES ON SALE -- REPORTER PAUL WESTPHELING SPOKE WITH RON CAMPBELL, MANAGER OF THE COMP USA COMPUTER STORE IN VIENNA, VIRGINIA MINUTES BEFORE THE UPGRADE TO THE WINDOWS SOFTWARE OPERATING SYSTEM -- WINDOWS 95 -- WAS TO GO ON SALE. HE SAID THE STORE WAS FAIRLY CROWDED AND THERE WERE PEOPLE WAITING IN THE PARKING LOT TO BUY THE PROGRAM -- ONE OF THE MOST WIDELY ANTICIPATED SOFTWARE PACKAGES IN HISTORY. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 8/24)

WINDOWS 95 / APPLE REACT -- REPORTER TOM CROSBY TALKED WITH NANCY MORRISON AT APPLE COMPUTER'S CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, WHO SAYS APPLE IS NOT WORRIED BY THE RELEASE OF MICROSOFT'S WINDOWS 95. SHE SAYS APPLE EMPLOYEES ARE WEARING T-SHIRTS WHICH READ "BEEN THERE, DONE THAT," A REFERENCE TO PROGRAMS ALREADY DEVELOPED BY APPLE. SHE SAYS APPLE HAS A PROGRAM COMING OUT IN 1996 WHICH IT HOPES WILL ECLIPSE WINDOWS 95. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 8/24)

POPULAR VIETNAMESE SINGER HAILS FROM SEATTLE -- STRINGER KY GIA TAY BAC INTERVIEWED WELL-KNOWN SINGER NHAT HA, WHO PERFORMED TWO OF HER LATEST BALLADS FOR HIM. (VIETNAMESE 8/25)

INSIDE AFRICA:

ETHIOPIA / CABINET -- THE NEW PRIME MINISTER OF ETHIOPIA, MELES ZENAWI, HAS PRESENTED HIS CABINET. AS EXPECTED THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER, TAMRAT LAYNE HAS BEEN GIVEN THE DEFENSE PORTFOLIO IN ADDITION TO BEING NAMED DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER. THE BIGGEST SURPRISE WAS THE APPARENT DEMOTION OF MR. ABDUL MEJID HUSSEIN, THE FORMER FOREIGN ECONOMIC RELATIONS MINISTER WHO NOW BECOMES MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATION. HOWEVER MR. KASSU ILALA, A CLOSE AIDE TO MR. MELES, HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO BE IN CHARGE OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE WITH THE RANK OF DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER. STRINGER TAFESSE KIFLE REPORTS. (AMHARIC 8/24)

ZAIRE / REFUGEES -- STAFFER IDRISSA FALL ASKED SOMBO DIBELE, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE ZAIREAN PRIME MINISTER KENGO WA DONDO, WHETHER ZAIRE WAS STOPPING OR SUSPENDING ITS FORCED REPATRIATION OF RWANDAN AND BURUNDIAN REFUGEES. DIBELE SAID THE ZAIREAN GOVERNMENT HAS AGREED TO SUSPEND FORCED REPATRIATION AS LONG AS THE UNHCR ACTIVELY HELPS TRANSPORTING REFUGEES WILLING TO RETURN TO THEIR COUNTRY. (FRENCH 8/24)

ZAIRE / REFUGEES / UNHCR -- STAFFER JEAN-CLAUDE ANDRE ASKED FRANCIS PATINDE, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE UN HIGH COMMISSIONER ON REFUGEES TO DESCRIBE THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND AS THOUSANDS OF RWANDAN REFUGEES ARE BEING FORCIBLY RETURNED BY ZAIRE TO THE BORDER WITH RWANDA. (FRENCH 8/24)

ZAIRE / REFUGEES / OPPOSITION -- GILBERT MUNDELA, SPOKESPERSON IN WASHINGTON FOR THE ZAIREAN UDPS OPPOSITION PARTY, TOLD FRENCH TO AFRICA INTERN GAEDIG BONABESSE HIS PARTY REITERATES THAT THE KENGO GOVERNMENT SHOULD RESPECT INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND STOP THE FORCED REPATRIATION OF RWANDAN AND BURUNDIAN REFUGEES. (FRENCH 8/24)

IVORY COAST / ELECTIONS -- STRINGER MOHAMED ELBOU TOLD STAFFER SAMUEL KIENDREBEOGO THE NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE PDCI-RDA PARTY TO WHICH THE IVORIAN PRESIDENT BELONGS IS BEING HELD THIS WEEK IN YAMOUSSOUKRO, IVORY COAST. THE CONVENTION IS EXPECTED TO NOMINATE INCUMBENT PRESIDENT HENRI KONAN BEDIE AS ITS CANDIDATE BUT DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST HIS NOMINATION ARE PLANNED BY THE OPPOSITION PARTIES. (FRENCH 8/24)

CHAD / PARLIAMENT -- A NEW PRESIDENT WAS ELECTED EARLIER THIS WEEK TO THE CHADIAN TRANSITIONAL PARLIAMENT. FRENCH TO AFRICA INTERN PIERRE MVEMBA DIZOLELE INTERVIEWED THE NEW PRESIDENT ABBAS ALI WHO TAKES OVER FROM BACHAR GADAYA. (FRENCH 8/24)

AFRICA / BANK -- THE GOVERNORS OF THE AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK ARE MEETING THIS WEEK IN ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST TO TRY AGAIN TO ELECT A NEW PRESIDENT FOR THE BANK, A TASK THEY FAILED TO ACCOMPLISH AT THEIR ANNUAL MEETING LAST MAY. NO CANDIDATE WAS ABLE TO SECURE A MAJORITY VOTE IN THAT ELECTION. THE SAME THREE CANDIDATES ARE AGAIN IN THE RUNNING BUT IT IS EXPECTED A SUCCESSOR TO OUTGOING BANK PRESIDENT BABACAR N'DIAYE WILL BE ELECTED THIS TIME. THE ADB HAS BEEN PLAGUED FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS BY POLITICAL IN-FIGHTING AND ALLEGED FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT. (FRENCH 8/24)

LIBERIA / PEACE -- STRINGER MOHAMED ELBOU REPORTS ON A US COMMUNIQUE PUBLISHED IN MONROVIA, LIBERIA IN WHICH THE US CALLS ON WARRING FACTIONS TO CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARD SECURING A LONG-LASTING PEACE IN LIBERIA FOLLOWING THE RECENT SIGNING IN ABUJA, NIGERIA OF ANOTHER PEACE AGREEMENT. (FRENCH 8/24)

ALGERIA / ELECTIONS -- STAFFER IDRISSA FALL AND MAHAMAT AHMAT ADAMOU REPORT ON ALGERIA. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN THAT COUNTRY HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED BY ALGERIAN PRESIDENT LAMINE ZEROUAL FOR MID-NOVEMBER. MR. FALL REVIEWED THE CURRENT SITUATION IN ALGERIA WHERE POLITICAL VIOLENCE HAS CLAIMED SEVERAL THOUSAND LIVES SINCE THE CANCELLATION BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE 1992 ELECTIONS THAT THE ISLAMIC SALVATION FRONT (FIS) WAS POISED TO WIN. MR. FALL INTERVIEWED KARIM ELLIAS, ALGERIAN JOURNALIST WITH LE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUE AND SWISSI JOUBER, DIRECTOR OF THE DAILY NEWSPAPER SOIR D'ALGERIE AND SALINA TELCANI AND KHALED MELHAA, BOTH WITH THE EL WATAN PUBLICATION, RESPECTIVELY IN ALGIERS AND IN PARIS. (FRENCH 8/24)

MOZAMBIQUE / SADC MEETING -- MOZAMBIQUE WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE UPCOMING SADC SUMMIT IN SOUTH AFRICA. FROM MAPUTO, STRINGER TERESA LIMA PREVIEWS MOZAMBICAN PARTICIPATION AND REPORTS ON DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING THE FREE CIRCULATION OF PERSONS AND GOODS WITHIN THE SADC COMMUNITY. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 8/25)

KENYA / UNEMPLOYED -- A NEW ORGANIZATION FOR UNEMPLOYED GRADUATES HAS BEEN FORMED IN NAIROBI, KENYA. IT HAS ACCUSED THE GOVERNMENT OF NEPOTISM AND TRIBALISM IN HIRING. MG JOEL REPORTS FROM NAIROBI. (SWAHILI 8/24)

ZIMBABWE / SOLDIERS' PAY HIKE -- ZIMBABWE HAS RAISED SOLDIERS SALARIES BY 55 TO 60 PERCENT. REPORTER AIKA ELINEWINGA DISCUSSED THE ARMY'S PAY INCREASE WITH STRINGER ACADOGA CHILEDI IN HARARE. (SWAHILI 8/25)

ZIMBABWE / UNIVERSITY -- IN ZIMBABWE, THE UNIVERSITY'S GOVERNING COUNCIL HAS BEEN DISBANDED BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE TO TACKLE PROBLEMS FACING STUDENTS. REPORTER ACADOGA CHILEDI HAS DETAILS FROM HARARE. (SWAHILI 8/24)

UGANDA / ELECTIONS -- IN UGANDA, STAFFER JEROME KASSEMBE INTERVIEWED CITIZENS IN KAMPALA MARKET ON THEIR OPINIONS ABOUT THE COMING ELECTION IN WHICH THE OPPOSITION PARTIES ARE FORBIDDEN. MANY SAID THEY WILL VOTE FOR PRESIDENT YOWERI MUSEVENI, CREDITING HIM FOR BRINGING PEACE TO THE COUNTRY. (SWAHILI 8/24)

NAMIBIA / IMMIGRATION -- IN NAMIBIA, IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS HAVE ARRESTED 200 ILLEGAL ALIENS, MOSTLY FROM ZAIRE, ANGOLA, CONGO AND WEST AFRICA. STRINGER JOHN NYOKA REPORTS FROM WINDHOEK. (SWAHILI 8/24)

TANZANIA / RWANDAN REFUGEES -- REFUGEES IN BENACO NGARA ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE FORCED EXPULSION OF REFUGEES IN ZAIRE. STRINGER KABENDERA SHINANI REPORTS FROM BENACO NGARA, TANZANIA. (SWAHILI 8/25)

KENYA / RWANDAN REFUGEES -- AN ORGANIZATION CALLED RALLY FOR THE RETURN OF REFUGEES AND DEMOCRACY IN RWANDA HAS APPEALED TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO INTERVENE IN THE ZAIRE REFUGEE PROBLEM. THE MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION ARE RWANDAN REFUGEES BASED IN NAIROBI. STAFFER JEROME KASSEMBE COVERED THE PRESS MEETING IN NAIROBI. (SWAHILI 8/25)

KENYA / OPPOSITION -- OPPOSITION PARTIES MET IN NAIROBI TO DISCUSS THE RULING PARTY ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE MODES TO BE USED IN DISCUSSING KENYA'S CONSTITUTION. THEY DEMANDED THAT ALL CITIZENS BE INVOLVED AND NOT ONLY THE POLITICIANS. (SWAHILI 8/25)

NAMIBIA / MALAYSIA -- MALAYSIAN PRIME MINISTER MAHATHAR MOHAMED IS IN NAMIBIA TO DISCUSS TRADE AFTER A TOUR IN SOUTH AFRICA. STRINGER JOHN NYOKA REPORTS FROM WINDHOEK. (SWAHILI 8/25)

AFRICA / FOREIGN AID -- FORMER US AMBASSADOR TO THE UN VERNON WALTERS IS HIGHLY CRITICAL OF EFFORTS TO CUT US FOREIGN AID. MR. WALTERS IS NOW HONORARY CHAIRMAN OF THE GEORGE C. MARSHALL INTERNATIONAL CENTER IN LEESBURG, VIRGINIA. HE TOLD REPORTER JOE DECAPUA THAT THERE'S A LINK BETWEEN PROSPERITY AND POLITICAL STABILITY. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 8/25)

RWANDA / CRIMES -- MOST OF THE INVESTIGATIONS OF LAST YEAR'S MASSACRES IN RWANDA HAVE FOCUSSED ON THE FORMER HUTU-DOMINATED GOVERNMENT. BUT TWO HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS HAVE PUBLISHED A REPORT SAYING THE RWANDESE PATRIOTIC FRONT WAS ALSO INVOLVED. REPORTER ETIENNE KAREKEZI SPOKE WITH ONE OF THE ACTIVISTS, PROFESSOR FILLIP REYNTJENS OF THE INSTITUTE OF POLITICS AND MANAGEMENT FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ANTWERPEN IN BELGIUM. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 8/24)

ETHIOPIA / CABINET -- ETHIOPIA'S NEWLY ELECTED PRIME MINISTER, MELES ZENAWI, HAS NAMED HIS CABINET. IT INCLUDES FIFTEEN NEW MINISTERS. REPORTER LAEKE MARIAM DEMESSIE HAS DETAILS FROM ADDIS ABABA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 8/24)

MALAWI / BANDA TRIAL -- IN MALAWI, THE TRIAL OF FORMER PRESIDENT KAMUZU BANDA CONTINUES. HE AND A FORMER TOP AID ARE CHARGED WITH THE MURDER OF FOUR POLITICIANS IN 1983. REPORTER JULIUS KALIYA HAS DETAILS FROM BLANTYRE. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 8/25)

TOGO / CRISIS ENDS -- TOGO'S LARGEST OPPOSITION GROUP HAS CALLED OFF ITS 10-MONTH BOYCOTT OF PARLIAMENT. REPORTER PRINCE GODWIN HAS DETAILS FROM LOME. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 8/25)

NIGERIA / NEW CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE OPENS -- ANOTHER CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE HAS STARTED MEETING IN SECRET IN ABUJA. HAUSA CORRESPONDENT BABANGIDA JIBRIN REPORTS THE COMMITTEE, WHICH WAS PRIVATELY INAUGURATED BY THE SECRETARY TO THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT, IS EXPECTED TO REVIEW THE NEW CONSTITUTION, LISTEN TO SUGGESTIONS FROM THE REPRESENTATIVES, AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT BEFORE THE END OF SEPTEMBER. THE 39-MEMBER COMMITTEE HAS BEEN DRAWN FROM ALL THE STATES AND ABUJA AND IS CHAIRED BY ALHAJI ABDULLAHI IBRAHIM, A ONE TIME MINISTER OF EDUCATION UNDER GENERAL MOHAMMED BUHARI'S ADMINISTRATION. (HAUSA 8/24)

NIGERIA / OPPOSITION GROUPS / PRAYERS -- NIGERIAN OPPOSITION GROUPS AND PRO-DEMOCRACY ADVOCATES HAVE RESORTED TO PRAYERS AS THE ONLY MEANS OF ACHIEVING PEACE AND DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA. HAUSA STRINGER, AHMED MOHAMMED KWALAM REPORTS FROM LAGOS THAT THE FAMILY OF JAILED OPPOSITION LEADER MOSHOOD ABIOLA GATHERED AT HIS RESIDENCE IN IKEJA ON HIS 58TH BIRTHDAY TO PRAY FOR HIS RELEASE. SIMILAR PRAYERS WERE OFFERED FOR THE RELEASE OF ALL DETAINED POLITICAL PRISONERS. (HAUSA 8/24)

NIGERIA / FORMER SARDAUNA PROVINCE CONTROVERSY -- REACTING TO A STRINGER REPORT CARRIED BY THE HAUSA SERVICE ON THE 8/24/95 MORNING SHOW ON THE THREAT BY SOME PORTIONS OF THE FORMER SARDAUNA PROVINCE OF NIGERIA TO SECEDE TO CAMEROON, A TRADITIONAL CHIEF FROM THE AREA, MOHAMMED JADA, THE MUTAWALLE OF ADAMAWA, SAID IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE REGION TO SECEDE BECAUSE IT COMPRISES OF NEW AREAS THAT WERE ADDED TO THE FORMER CAMEROONIAN PORTION LONG AFTER THE UN MERGER. SPEAKING TO ALIYU MUSTAPHA, THE MUTAWALLE SAID ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN LONG-STANDING AGITATIONS FOR STATE CREATION, NO AGREEMENT HAS EVER BEEN REACHED BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY LEADERS OF THE DISPUTED AREA. (HAUSA 8/25)

REGGAE MUSICIAN / BURNING SPEAR -- BURNING SPEAR IS ONE OF JAMAICA'S MOST CHERISHED AND RESPECTED MUSICIANS. HE'S TRAVELLED THOUSANDS OF MILES TO TAKE THE MESSAGE OF HIS MUSIC AROUND THE WORLD. REPORTER VERLA WILEY INTERVIEWED HIM AND USED PORTIONS OF HIS MUSIC SELECTIONS IN HER PROGRAM. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 8/24)

INSIDE MIDEAST:

TURKEY / SAUDI ARABIA -- THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT ABOUT 70 TURKISH CITIZENS ARE ON TRIAL OR IN PRISON IN SAUDI ARABIA FOR SMUGGLING STIMULANT DRUGS INTO THE KINGDOM. STRINGER ZEYNEP TINAZ REPORTS FROM ANKARA THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL RESORT TO QUIET DIPLOMACY TO AVERT A CRISIS IN BILATERAL RELATIONS. STAFFER AYDIN UTKU INTERVIEWED MR. DURMUS AYKIT, A LONG-TIME TURKISH RESIDENT OF RIYADH, WHO SAYS THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT WAS LATE IN ITS EFFORT TO SAVE THE CONVICTED TURKS FROM EXECUTION. (TURKISH 8/24)

IRAN / LEBANON / SYRIA -- THE IRANIAN PRESIDENT REAFFIRMED IRAN'S SUPPORT TO LEBANON AND SYRIA AGAINST WHAT HE CALLED ISRAEL'S EXPANSION POLICY. STAFFER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 8/24)

LEBANON / ISRAEL -- HEZBULLA LEBANESE FIGHTERS IN SOUTHERN LEBANON BOMBARDED THE ISRAELI-BACKED MILITIA OF THE SOUTHERN LEBANESE ARMY. CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 8/24)

AFGHAN / IRAN -- THE LEADER OF THE HEZB-E-WAHDAT PARTY, KARIM KHALILI, REFUSED TO MEET WITH THE SPECIAL ENVOY OF IRANIAN SPIRITUAL LEADER, ALI KHAMENAEE. THE ENVOY, MOHAMMAD IBRAHIMI, WAS TO MEDIATE BETWEEN THE TWO OPPOSING BRANCHES OF HEZB-E-WAHDAT. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH PASHTO'S ZEBA ZAHER, THE HEZB-E-WAHDAT REPRESENTATIVE IN PESHAWAR SAID THE REASON FOR THE REFUSAL IS THE PARTY'S BELIEF THAT ANY PEACE EFFORT WHICH IS IN COORDINATION WITH THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT DOES NOT REPRESENT THE MAJORITY OF AFGHANS. (PASHTO, DARI 8/24)

AFGHAN / FIGHTING -- HEZB-I-ISLAMI FORCES CLAIM TO HAVE CAPTURED SEVERAL POSTS AND LARGE NUMBERS OF WEAPONS FROM THE FORCES OF ABDUL RAB RASUL SAYAF. PASHTO STRINGER REPORTS THAT GOVERNMENT SOURCES HAD NO COMMENT ON THIS CLAIM OR ON THE REPORTS OF HEAVY FIGHTING IN THE MAHIPAR AREA ALONG THE KABUL-JALALABAD ROAD. (PASHTO, DARI 8/23)

AFGHAN / OIC PEACE EFFORTS -- AFGHAN NEWS SOURCES SAY THAT AFGHAN FACTIONS HAVE RECEIVED COPIES OF A PEACE PROPOSAL OFFERED BY THE ORGANIZATION OF ISLAMIC CONFERENCE (OIC) FOR A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT OF THE AFGHAN CONFLICT. PASHTO STRINGER EKRAM SHINWARAI REPORTS THAT THE PROPOSAL ASKS FOR A 60-MEMBER AFGHAN GROUP TO GO TO JEDDAH TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THE CONFLICT. THE GROUP WOULD INCLUDE TWO FROM EACH MAJOR AFGHAN FACTION INCLUDING THOSE OF THE TALEBAN AND GENERAL DOSTUM, FOUR FROM EACH GEOGRAPHICAL ZONE AND 18 NEUTRAL OR INDEPENDENT REPRESENTATIVES. (PASHTO, DARI 8/23)

JORDAN / GERMANY -- JORDAN AND GERMANY ARE DISCUSSING IN AMMAN WAYS TO EASE THE JORDANIAN DEBTS TO GERMANY. STAFFER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 8/24)

HUSSEIN / IRAQ -- CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI IN AMMAN DISCUSSED THE LATEST REACTIONS TO KING HUSSEIN'S SPEECH. (ARABIC 8/24)

JORDAN-IRAQ / POLITICAL RISKS -- GHADA TALHAMI, PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT LAKE FOREST COLLEGE TOLD STAFFER HAYAT KHATEEB THAT THERE ARE SOME POLITICAL RISKS TAKEN BY JORDAN IN IT'S NEW POLICY TOWARD IRAQ. (ARABIC 8/24)

HUSSEIN-IRAQ / KUWAIT REACT -- KUWAIT WELCOMED THE HARSH REMARKS ON IRAQI LEADERSHIP BY KING HUSSEIN OF JORDAN. CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI IN AMMAN REPORTS. (ARABIC 8/24)

KUWAIT / IRAQ -- THE KUWAITI DEFENSE MINISTER DENIED REPORTS OF AN IRAQI BUILDUP NEAR THE BORDERS WITH KUWAIT. STAFFER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 8/24)

MUBARAK / IRAQ -- EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK SAID THAT IRAQ HAS NO MILITARY CAPABILITIES TO INVADE ANY OF THE GULF COUNTRIES. STRINGER MOUSTAFA LABIB REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 8/24)

EGYPT / CENSORED PLAY -- THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT BANNED A COMEDY PLAY BECAUSE IT CRITICIZES SENIOR OFFICIALS. STAFFER IMAN RAFI REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 8/24)

BEIJING CONFERENCE / MARRIAGE CONTRACT -- EGYPTIAN NGO'S PARTICIPATING IN THE WOMEN'S CONFERENCE IN BEIJING WILL DEFEND A CONTROVERSIAL NEW MARRIAGE CONTRACT IN EGYPT. STAFFER IMAN RAFI IN CAIRO EXAMINED THE CONFLICTING VIEWS. (ARABIC 8/24) TUNISIA / ARAB CENTER FOR WOMEN STUDIES-- STRINGER RACHID MABROUK INTERVIEWED TRAKI BOUCHRARA, PRESIDENT OF THE ARAB CENTER FOR WOMEN STUDIES IN TUNIS ON THE ROLE OF THAT CENTER IN PREPARING ARAB WOMEN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WOMEN'S CONFERENCE IN BEIJING. (ARABIC 8/24)

HAMAS / ARRESTS -- STAFFER HAYAT KHATEEB INTERVIEWED PALESTINIAN JUSTICE MINISTER FRAIH ABOU MEDDAINE ON THE ISRAELI CRACK-DOWN ON HAMAS ACTIVISTS. (ARABIC 8/24)

ISRAEL / PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY -- THE ISRAELI CABINET APPROVED USING VIOLENT MEANS DURING INVESTIGATIONS WITH HAMAS ACTIVISTS. STRINGER KHALIL ASSALI REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM. (ARABIC 8/24)

SYRIA / ISRAEL PEACE -- IN DENMARK, SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER FAROUK SHARA SAID IT IS UP TO ISRAEL TO GO AHEAD AND SIGN A PEACE TREATY WITH SYRIA BEFORE THE ISRAELI ELECTIONS LATER NEXT YEAR. STRINGER ALI MAAN REPORTS FROM VIENNA. (ARABIC 8/24)

MOROCCO / US INVESTMENT -- MOROCCO HAS CONCLUDED DISCUSSIONS WITH VISITING AMERICAN OFFICIALS ON EXPANDING US INVESTMENT. STRINGER BEN DEDDOUCHE REPORTS FROM RABAT. (ARABIC 8/24)

SUDAN / GENERAL AMNESTY -- STAFFER MOHAMED SETOUHI SPOKE TO SUDANESE EMBASSY SPOKESMAN SADEK ABDALLA ON THE SUDANESE GOVERNMENT'S OFFER TO GRANT A GENERAL AMNESTY. (ARABIC 8/24)

PARIS / BLAST -- ARAB POLITICAL ANALYST IN PARIS, HAZEM FOUDA, EXPLAINED TO STAFFER MOHAMED SETOUHI WHY THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT IS ASKING SWEDEN AUTHORITIES TO HAND OVER AN ALGERIAN SUSPECT IN THE METRO BLAST IN PARIS. (ARABIC 8/24)

WORLD SUMMIT OF CHILDREN PROJECT -- STAFFER ZEINAB ABDELRAHMAN DISCUSSED THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE WORLD SUMMIT OF CHILDREN PROJECT IN PROMOTING BETTER UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN YOUTH FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES WITH ELLEN BROGREN, COORDINATOR OF THE PROJECT AND TWO JORDANIAN PARTICIPANTS. (ARABIC 8/24)

INSIDE CENTRAL ASIA:

IRANIAN / CINEMA -- A TWO-PART INTERVIEW ABOUT CURRENT IRANIAN FILMS WITH FARROKH GHAFFARI, AN IRANIAN FILM CRITIC WHO LIVES IN PARIS. MR. GHAFFARI WROTE, PRODUCED AND DIRECTED SEVERAL EARLY IRANIAN FILMS. MR. GHAFFARI ATTENDED THE LOCARNO FESTIVAL. (FARSI 8/24/ 8/25)

IRANIAN WOMEN / HUMAN RIGHTS -- IRANIAN WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS ARE THE GUESTS ON THIS WEEK'S FARSI SERVICE CALL-IN,"ROUNDTABLE WITH YOU." THE GUESTS INCLUDE DR. FARNOODI, A FORMER HEAD OF THE TEHRAN UNIVERSITY PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT, AND CHICAGO-BASED ACTIVISTS SHAHLA FORUTAN AND SIMIN MARASHI. STAFFERS AHMAD BAHARLOO AND SETERAH SIEG REPORT. (FARSI 8/25)

TURKEY / IRANIAN REFUGEES -- FARSI STAFFER LIDA FIROUZI INTERVIEWED TURKISH JOURNALISTS ZEYNEP GURCALLE, WHO HAS BEEN COVERING THE PLIGHT OF IRANIAN REFUGEES IN TURKEY FOR HURRIYET NEWSPAPER. MS. GURCALLE TOLD VOA FARSI THAT THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT PLANS TO REPATRIATE 151 IRANIAN REFUGEES WHEN THEIR PERMITS EXPIRE ON AUGUST 31. TURKEY SAYS THEY ARE ECONOMIC, NOT POLITICAL REFUGEES. HURRIYET'S REPORTER SAYS THAT SEVENTY PER CENT OF THE GROUP ARE MONARCHISTS, AND THE REST ARE MOSTLY KURDS. (FARSI 8/25)

.AZERBAIJAN / US -- THE SPECIAL ENVOY OF PRESIDENT CLINTON ON THE CONFLICT OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH, AMBASSADOR JOSEPH PRESEL, IS IN BAKU. AZERBAIJANI STRINGER RAFAEL HUSAINOV REPORTS ON HIS TALKS WITH AZERI AUTHORITIES. MR PRESEL WILL TRAVEL TO REFUGEE CAMPS AND THE KARABAKH REGION. (AZERI 8/25)

AFGHAN / HIGHWAY CLOSED -- THE KABUL-JALALABAD HIGHWAY IS CLOSED DUE TO FIGHTING BETWEEN FORCES OF PRESIDENT RABBANI AND THE OPPOSITION. PASHTO STRINGER EKRAM SHINWARAI REPORTS THAT BOTH SIDES CLAIM VICTORY. THE FIGHTING HAS CAUSED FURTHER PROBLEMS FOR AFGHANS WHO ARE NOW FORCED TO TRAVEL TO JALALABAD OR KABUL THOUGH KHOST, LOGAR OF TAGAB. (PASHTO, DARI 8/25)

FARSI / SPORTS FEATURE -- FARSI STAFFERS AHMAD BAHARLOO AND SETAREH SIEG REPORT ON THE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE WORLD SOCCER FEDERATION (,FIFA) AND THE EUROPEAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION CONCERNING FIFA'S AUTHORITY. THE PROGRAM ALSO COVERED THE CHINESE SWIMMER WHO WON THE GOLD MEDAL IN THE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITIES GAME. (FARSI 8/24)

INSIDE SOUTH ASIA:

INDIA / HOSTAGES -- INDIA'S MINISTER FOR KASHMIR AFFAIRS, BHUVNESH CHATURVEDI EXPRESSED HOPE FOR THE SAFE RELEASE OF FOUR WESTERN HOSTAGES IN KASHMIR. MR. CHATURVEDI TOLD THE INDIAN PARLIAMENT THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS CHOSEN NOT TO USE FORCE AGAINST THE ABDUCTORS. STRINGER VIJAY KRANTI REPORTS. (HINDI 8/24)

BENGALI IMMIGRANTS IN LONDON / PROTEST -- THE LEADER OF THE BANGLADESH JAMAAT ISLAMI PARTY, PROFESSOR GOLAM AZAM IS NOW IN BRITAIN. SOME BANGLADESHI IMMIGRANTS IN BRITAIN ARE PROTESTING HIS TRIP AND ARE DEMANDING THAT PEOPLE INVOLVED IN WAR CRIMES BE TRIED INCLUDING MR. AZAM. STRINGER SHAMEEM CHAWDHURY REPORTS FROM LONDON. (BANGLA 8/25)

MALI'S PRESIDENT / BANGLADESH TRIP -- PRESIDENT OF MALI ALPHA KONARE ARRIVED IN BANGLADESH FRIDAY ON A STATE VISIT. STAFFERS ZAHURUL ALAM REPORTS AND MATIUR RAHMAN CHOUDHURY HAS DETAILS ON HIS ARRIVAL IN BANGLADESH FRIDAY. THE PRESIDENT OF BANGLADESH ABDUR RAHMAN BISWAS RECEIVED THE VISITING LEADER. (8/23 & 8/24)

BANGLADESH / EXTREMISTS -- EXTREMISTS IN BANGLADESH, MOST OF WHOM ARE SAID TO BELONG TO SOCIALIST AND LEFT-WING GROUPS, ARE INVOLVED IN SUBVERSIVE AND TERRORIST ACTIVITIES. BANGLA STRINGER MATIUR RAHMAN CHAWDHURY REPORTS. (BANGLA 8/25)

BANGLADESH / MALAYSIA -- THE GOVERNMENT OF BANGLADESH HAS MADE A RULE THAT MANPOWER EXPORT TO MALAYSIA WILL BE ALLOWED ONLY THROUGH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. THIS ORDER TOOK EFFECT AUGUST 16. REPORTER ZAHURUL ALAM HAS DETAILS FROM DHAKA. (BANGLA 8/24)

MUSLIM WOMEN'S COUNCIL / BEIJING -- REPORTER ROQUIA HAIDE INTERVIEWED KAREEMA ALTOMARE AND SHARMEEN CHOUDHURY OF THE MUSLIM WOMEN'S COUNCIL ABOUT WOMEN'S RIGHT UNDER ISLAM. THE COUNCIL WILL PRESENT AT THE BEIJING CONFERENCE, WOMEN'S RIGHT FROM AN ISLAMIC VIEWPOINT. (BANGLA 8/24)

INSIDE EAST ASIA:

BEIJING / CONFERENCE -- WHAT WAS ENVISIONED AS A GLOBAL FORUM ON WOMEN'S' ISSUES HAS BECOME MIRED IN CONTROVERSY EVEN BEFORE IT'S BEGUN. SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 4TH-15TH, PLANNING FOR THE CONFERENCE HAS BEEN HAMPERED BY LOGISTICAL PROBLEMS. CRITICS SAY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IS CREATING DELIBERATE OBSTRUCTIONS BECAUSE OF ITS OWN FUNDAMENTALLY ANTI-WOMAN POLICIES WHILE THE CONFERENCE BECOMES INCREASINGLY CONTROVERSIAL BECAUSE OF ONGOING HUMAN RIGHTS DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA. TALK TO AMERICA IS JOINED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE US DELEGATION, MARJORIE MARGOLIES-MEZVINSKY. SHE WILL DISCUSS WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA, WHAT EXPECTATIONS DELEGATES HAVE AND WHAT ISSUES ARE LIKELY TO BE THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL. (ENGLISH 8/25)

HARRY WU / RELEASE / REACTIONS -- POLITICAL ANALYSTS SAY THE US DID NOT HAVE TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT CONCESSIONS TO CHINA ON THE HARRY WU ISSUE SINCE CHINA IS EAGER TO MOVE FORWARD ON OTHER MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES, SUCH AS TAIWAN. STAFFER SUN CHENG SPOKE WITH WANG SHAOGUANG OF YALE, BOB SUTTER OF THE CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE, AND LENG SHAOQUAN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA. (MANDARIN 8/24)

HARRY WU / WOMEN'S CONFERENCE -- STAFFER YANG FAN SPOKE WITH LIU QING OF 'HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA' ABOUT THE RELEASE OF HARRY WU. SOME MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FEEL THAT CHINA SHOULD NOT BE REWARDED FOR THE ACTION SINCE WU'S ARREST WAS UNWARRANTED IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND THAT HILLARY CLINTON SHOULD NOT ATTEND THE UN WOMEN'S CONFERENCE IN BEIJING. (MANDARIN 8/24)

WOMEN'S CONFERENCE / PUBLIC RELATIONS -- STAFFER JACQUELINE LUO SPOKE WITH FRANK MANKIEWICZ OF WASHINGTON'S HILL & KNOWLTON AND ZHOU HE OF SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY ABOUT CHINA'S PUBLIC RELATIONS DISASTER WITH THE FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN. THEY BLAME THE FAILURE ON CHINA'S TRADITION OF CONTROLLING THE MEDIA INSTEAD OF WORKING WITH IT. (MANDARIN 8/24)

CHINA / WOMEN -- STAFFER JEAN-CLAUDE ANDRE INTERVIEWED JEAN-JACQUES GRESSE, ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR OF THE UN PROGRAM FOR DEVELOPMENT ABOUT THE UNDP RECENT REPORT ON WOMEN'S CONDITIONS AROUND THE WORLD. MR. GRESSE WHO WILL TAKE PART IN THE UPCOMING WOMEN'S CONFERENCE IN BEIJING, SAID THAT EVEN THOUGH DIFFERENCES IN THE STATUS OF MEN AND WOMEN ARE APPALLING IN MANY COUNTRIES, IN CHINA, THE SITUATION IS RELATIVELY G

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

INTRO: CHINA'S FREEING OF AMERICAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST HARRY WU IS THE MOST COMMON TOPIC ON THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF U-S NEWAPAPERS THIS FRIDAY. MANY PAPERS ARE CONNECTING THE RELEASE WITH THE POSSIBILITY THAT FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON MAY NOW LEAD THE U-S DELEGATION TO THE U-N WOMEN'S CONFERENCE NEXT MONTH IN BEIJING. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF WOMEN'S RIGHT TO VOTE IN THE UNITED STATES; THE SITUATION IN IRAQ, AND THE RWANDAN REFUGEE CRISIS. NOW, HERE IS _________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: MANY OF THE NATION'S LARGEST PAPERS HURRIEDLY WROTE EDITORIALS AFTER THE NEWS BROKE LATE THURSDAY THAT MR. WU, A CHINESE-BORN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST, HAD BEEN RELEASED FROM PRISON AND EXPELLED FROM CHINA. JUST DAYS EARLIER, HE WAS CONVICTED ON ESPIONAGE CHARGES AND GIVEN A 15-YEAR JAIL SENTENCE. "THE NEW YORK TIMES" REACTED TO MR. WU'S RELEASE THIS WAY:

VOICE: "BEIJING HAS WISELY DECIDED TO HALT THE DAMAGE IT WAS INFLICTING ON CHINESE-AMERICAN RELATIONS BY THE CONTINUED DETENTION OF HARRY WU. ... FREEING HARRY WU CANNOT BY ITSELF ERASE THE MANY SERIOUS PROBLEMS THAT HAVE DEVELOPED BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES IN RECENT MONTHS. BUT IT WILL DEFUSE SOME OF THE RESISTANCE IN CONGRESS TO HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON'S GOING TO ... BEIJING. ... MORE SIGNIFICANTLY, MR. WU'S RELEASE REMOVES THE MAIN OBSTACLE TO A MEETING BETWEEN PRESIDENT CLINTON AND CHINA'S PRESIDENT, JIANG ZEMIN."

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" SAYS HARRY WU'S RELEASE IS A TIME TO CELEBRATE, BUT NOT BY HAVING FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON GO TO BEIJING FOR THE U-N WOMEN'S CONFERENCE.

VOICE: "HARRY WU'S RELEASE BY HIS CHINESE JAILERS AND HIS RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES ARE GOOD REASON FOR REJOICING. [OPT] ... IF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAD CONTINUED TO HOLD MR. WU IN PRISON, IT WOULD HAVE CAST A DARK SHADOW ON EVERY KIND OF CONTRACT BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. [END OPT] ... HIS RETURN RAISES THE QUESTION WHETHER HILLARY ... CLINTON WILL NOW DECIDE TO GO TO THE (WOMEN'S) CONFERENCE. CLEARLY SHE OUGHT NOT. HER APPEARANCE THERE WOULD HINT STRONGLY OF A DEAL ... TRADING HER PRESENCE FOR MR. WU'S RELEASE."

TEXT: TRYING TO LOOK BEYOND THE WU RELEASE, TODAY'S "WALL STREET JOURNAL" NOTES:

VOICE: "... MR. WU'S FATE IS NOT THE CENTRAL PROBLEM IN U-S-CHINA RELATIONS. WE HOPE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION AND OTHERS WILL APPLY THE LESSON OF THIS MINI-CONFRONTATION TO THE BROADER RELATIONSHIP. CHINA IS QUITE CAPABLE OF BEHAVING REASONABLY IF THE U-S SHOWS THIS IS WHAT IT EXPECTS. [OPT] ... IN SHORT, THE CLINTON PEOPLE SHOULD BE DRIVING HOME THE ABSOLUTE NECESSARY OF CHINA BEHAVING IN A NON-DISRUPTIVE, NON-DESTABILIZING WAY IF IT WANTS TO KEEP GOOD ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH THE WORLD."

TEXT: CALLING HARRY WU'S RELEASE "A GREEN LIGHT FOR HILLARY ... CLINTON TO ATTEND THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ", LONG ISLAND'S "NEWSDAY" ADDS:

VOICE: "THE GOOD NEWS ... IS THAT CHINA IS SHOWING A WILLINGNESS TO BEND WHEN IT SEES THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS REACHED THE LIMIT OF ITS TOLERANCE."

TEXT: BUT "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" ASKS IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL HEADLINE, "HILLARY FOR HARRY?", AND GOES ON TO WONDER:

VOICE: "DID THE CHINESE TRADE HARRY WU FOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON? ... THE WHITE HOUSE, OF COURSE, DENIES THAT ANY DEAL WAS STRUCK ... BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT MR. WU'S IMPRISONMENT REPRESENTED AN INCONVENIENT STUMBLING BLOCK FOR THE FIRST LADY'S PLANS TO TRAVEL TO THE UNITED NATIONS ... CONFERENCE. ... HOWEVER, THE FACT IS THAT MR. WU'S COURAGE CONTRASTS SHARPLY WITH THE PERVERSE SYMBOLISM OF HOLDING A U-N WOMEN'S CONFERENCE IN A COUNTRY WHERE BABY GIRLS ARE ROUTINELY ABORTED, MURDERED OR ABANDONED AND WHERE WOMEN DO NOT EVEN HAVE THE MOST BASIC OF RIGHTS."

TEXT: "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" MARKS THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE SUCCESS IN AMERICA WITH A LONG EDITORIAL, INCLUDING THESE EXCERPTS:

VOICE: "... THE 20TH CENTURY HAS BEEN GOOD FOR WOMEN. IN 1900, WOMEN COULDN'T VOTE AND WERE EXTREMELY LIMITED IN EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES. TODAY, WOMEN HOLD HIGH OFFICE, RUN COMPANIES, SERVE IN THE MILITARY, TEACH AT GREAT UNIVERSITIES AND EVEN FLY INTO OUTER SPACE. THESE ENORMOUS GAINS WERE POSSIBLE BECAUSE A SMALL GROUP OF WOMEN, BACK IN 1848, STARTED A REVOLUTION. THIS WEEKEND, ALL AMERICANS WHO CHERISH THE RIGHT TO VOTE SHOULD QUIETLY MARK AND CELEBRATE THEIR VICTORY."

TEXT: TURNING BACK TO INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" TRIES TO ASSESS THE EFFECTS OF A MIDDLE EAST WITHOUT SADDAM HUSSEIN, WHOM THE PAPER FEELS, MAY WELL BE VERY NEAR THE END OF HIS DICTATORIAL REIGN. THESE ARE SOME CONCLUSIONS:

VOICE: "IRAQ SITS ASTRIDE WHAT IS ... A PETROLEUM CRESCENT THAT RUNS NORTHWARD FROM THE SAUDI ARABIAN FIELDS ... INTO KAZAKHSTAN. BY SOME ESTIMATES, IRAQ'S POTENTIAL RESERVES ARE NEARLY AS LARGE AS SAUDI ARABIA'S. THE ADVENT OF A NEW REGIME COULD RETURN A MAJOR STREAM OF PETROLEUM TO WORLD CONSUMERS, THUS STABILIZING FUEL PRICES LONGER THAN NOW EXPECTED. ... LET'S JUST SAY HERE THAT, MORE THAN ANY OTHER ARAB LAND, IRAQ HAS HAD PRIME INGREDIENTS FOR SUCCESS. HUGE RESERVES OF OIL FOR FINANCING DEVELOPMENT. PLENTIFUL WATER. FERTILE LANDS ADJACENT TO ITS TWO GREAT RIVERS... IN SHORT, MANY INTERACTIONS OF WIDE IMPORTANCE AWAIT THE NEXT FRAMES OF THE FILM IN WHICH SADDAM HUSSEIN WALKS ON THIN AIR... A LOT IS AT STAKE FOR THE LONG-SUFFERING, HIGH-POTENTIAL IRAQI PEOPLE"

TEXT: ON LONG ISLAND, "NEWSDAY" CASTS A WATCHFUL EYE TOWARD AFRICA, REMARKING:

VOICE: "TIDES OF REFUGEES ARE ONE OF THE MOST DIRE CONSEQUENCES OF TODAY'S ETHNIC AND TRIBAL UPHEAVALS. WHETHER THEY OCCUR IN THE BALKANS OR IN CENTRAL AFRICA, THEY STRAIN THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FABRIC OF ENTIRE REGIONS. BUT ZAIRE'S DISGRACEFUL METHOD OF DEALING WITH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DISPLACED RWANDANS IS UTTERLY BEYOND THE PALE OF CIVILIZED BEHAVIOR."

TEXT: IN FLORIDA, "THE ORLANDO SENTINEL" COMMENTS ON THE CONVICTION IN CHICAGO THIS WEEK OF U-S CONGRESSMAN MEL REYNOLDS, A FORMER RHODES SCHOLAR, ON CHARGES OF HAVING SEX WITH A TEENAGE GIRL CAMPAIGN WORKER, SUGGESTING:

VOICE: "... THERE IS ONLY ONE HONORABLE THING TO DO AT THIS POINT: HE SHOULD RESIGN FROM CONGRESS AND SPARE HIMSELF, HIS FAMILY, AND THE NATION THE AGONY OF CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS ABOUT THIS SORDID MATTER."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, ABOUT THE WIDELY AND WILDLY PUBLICIZED DEBUT THURSDAY OF THE COMPUTER SOFTWEAR CALLED WINDOWS 95 FROM MICROSOFT CORPORATION, "USA TODAY" WRITES, WITH SOME SKEPTICISM:

VOICE: "HOW THIS MARGINAL IMPROVEMENT THREATENS TO BECOME A POPULIST REVOLUTION IS MYSTIFYING, BUT THEN WINDOWS 95 IS EVERYWHERE. THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING IS LIT UP IN WINDOWS' COLORS, FIELDS IN ENGLAND ARE PAINTED FOR AIRLINE PASSENGERS FLYING BY, AND A BARGE BEARING A GIANT BOX WITH THE WINDOWS LOGO FLOATS IN THE HARBOR IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA. ... THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CALLED IT 'A NEW ERA IN PERSONAL COMPUTING.' ... BUT THERE IS HOPE. MANY STORES DID NOT SEE THE EXPECTED MULTITUDES, AND CHRISTMAS IS FOUR MONTHS AWAY. "

TEXT: AND ON THAT TECHNOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL NOTE, WE DRAW TO A CLOSE THIS BRIEF OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE DAY'S EDITORIALS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

NEB/ANG/PCH
25-Aug-95 10:35 AM EDT (1435 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA NEGOTIATIONS (L) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE NEWLY APPOINTED TEAM OF U-S PEACE ENVOYS DEPARTS WASHINGTON SUNDAY TO RESUME NEGOTIATIONS ON SETTLING THE CRISES IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. THE TEAM'S LEADER ASSISTANT U-S SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE SAYS THE U-S HAS RECEIVED GENERAL SUPPORT FROM ALL PARTIES INVOLVED EXCEPT THE BOSNIAN SERBS. V-O-A'S PAMELA TAYLOR REPORTS:

TEXT: IN A BRIEFING WITH REPORTERS BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE, MR. HOLBROOKE OUTLINED THE GENERAL TERMS OF THE U-S BACKED PEACE INITIATIVE WHICH WILL FIRST BE PRESENTED TO THE CONTACT GROUP OF NATIONS IN PARIS AND THEN TO SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IN BELGRADE ON TUESDAY. HE SAID THE KEY TO THE PLAN IS THE RECOGNITION BY ALL WARRING PARTIES OF THE NEW INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED BORDERS OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.

MR. HOLBROOKE SAID THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT SUPPORT THE PARTITION OF BOSNIA DESPITE THE CURRENT PLAN WHICH WOULD GIVE ROUGHLY HALF THE COUNTRY TO THE BOSNIAN SERBS AND THE OTHER HALF TO THE MUSLIM-LED GOVERNMENT -- WITHIN A UNIFIED COUNTRY. HE SAID HIS DEFINITION OF "PARTITION" MEANS ALLOWING THE BOSNIAN SERBS A SEPARATE COUNTRY OR UNION WITH NEIGHBORING SERBIA -- BOTH OF WHICH HE SAYS THE UNITED STATES OPPOSES.

HE SAID MUTUAL RECOGNITION ALSO APPLIES TO CROATIA AND THE CONTESTED EASTERN SLAVONIA REGION WITH IT'S LARGE SERB POPULATION WHICH ALSO SEEKS UNION WITH SERBIA:

MR. HOLBROOKE SAID ONE REASON FOR THE CURRENT SENSE OF URGENCY IN DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS IN THE AREA IS THE INCREASING EVIDENCE OF TROOP AND ARMS MOVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE REGION BUT ESPECIALLY AROUND EASTERN SLAVONIA ON SERBIA'S BORDER.

THE RECONSTITUTED U-S NEGOTIATING TEAM, LED BY MR. HOLBROOKE, WILL CONTINUE DISCUSSIONS BROKEN OFF LAST WEEK WHEN THREE U-S DIPLOMATS WERE KILLED IN A ROAD ACCIDENT NEAR SARAJEVO. THE SENIOR MEMBER OF NEW TEAM IS ROBERTS OWEN, CURRENTLY THE U-S REPRESENTATIVE IN THE CONTACT GROUP WHICH ALSO INCLUDES BRITAIN, FRANCE, GERMANY AND RUSSIA. MR. OWEN WAS THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S SENIOR LEGAL ADVISOR DURING THE CARTER ADMINISTRATION.

THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE NEW TEAM ARE GENERAL DONALD KERRICK, A MILITARY INTELLIGENCE SPECIALIST, JAMES PARDEW, DIRECTOR OF THE PENTAGON'S BALKAN TASK FORCE AND CHRISTOPHER HILL, CHIEF OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S OFFICE OF SOUTH CENTRAL EUROPEAN AFFAIRS.

IN A SEPARATE JOINT STATEMENT WITH VISITING BOSNIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MOHAMED SACIRBEY, MR. HOLBROOKE SAID THE U-S COMMITMENT TO DEFEND THE BOSNIAN ENCLAVE OF GORAZDE REMAINS UNCHANGED DESPITE REPORTS OF AN APPARANT ATTACK BY BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT TROOPS ON U-N PEACEKEEPERS PREPARING TO WITHDRAW FROM THE ENCLAVE:

[04] U.S. - BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: U-S PEACE NEGOTIATORS ARE SET TO LEAVE WASHINGTON SUNDAY NIGHT ON THEIR WAY RESUME NEGOTIATIONS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. THE TEAM IS BEING LEAD BY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE, WHO BRIEFED REPORTERS BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS.

TEXT: MR. HOLBROOKE SAYS THE UNITED STATES, NATO AND THE WESTERN CONTACT GROUP ALL REMAIN COMMITTED TO HELPING BRING PEACE TO THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE IN THE PRESENCE OF BOSNIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MUHAMED SACIRBEY AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT. AND IT CAME IN THE CONTEXT OF AN ATTACK BY BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT TROOPS ON U-N PEACEKEEPERS PREPARING TO WITHDRAW FROM GORAZDE.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HOLBROOK DECLINED TO DESCRIBE IN DETAIL THE PROPOSAL HIS TEAM WILL BE TAKING TO THE BALKAN LEADERS, BUT HE MADE CLEAR THAT THEY DO _NOT_ INCLUDE ANY DIVISION OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, DESPITE A PEACE PROPOSAL THAT WOULD APPORTION ABOUT HALF THE COUNTRY TO BOSNIA'S SERB POPULATION..

WE'RE _NOT_ SUPPORTING PARTITION, DIVISION, SUCCESSION OR ANY OF THESE OTHER THINGS THAT KEEP BEING SPECULATED IN THE PRESS.

MR. HOLBROOK WILL BE LEADING A RECONSTITUTED MISSION TO THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, AFTER THREE AMERICAN DIPLOMATS WERE KILLED LAST WEEK IN A ROAD ACCIDENT NEAR SARAJEVO. (SIGNED)

NEB/ART/MMK
25-Aug-95 2:29 PM EDT (1829 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] YUGO SITREP 2ND UPDATE (S) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: BRITISH TROOPS HAVE BEGUN TO LEAVE THE UNITED NATIONS DECLARED SAFE AREA OF GORAZDE AFTER CLASHING WITH BOSNIAN ARMY SOLDIERS WHO INTRUDED INTO THEIR CAMP. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: ABOUT 80 BRITISH SOLDIERS HAVE LEFT GORAZDE SO FAR. THE 100 BRITISH TROOPS STILL THERE WILL LEAVE THE MUSLIM ENCLAVE IN EASTERN BOSNIA BY THE END OF THE MONTH.

AS THE BRITISH BEGAN THEIR DEPARTURE, THE UNITED NATIONS PROTESTED TO THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT OVER AN EARLIER BOSNIAN ARMY ATTACK ON THE BRITISH CAMP.

BRITISH FORCES KILLED TWO BOSNIAN ARMY INTRUDERS AND WOUNDED A THIRD. THERE WERE NO BRITISH CASUALTIES.

THE BOSNIAN SOLDIERS APPARENTLY WANTED TO STEAL WEAPONS OR EQUIPMENT FROM THE BRITISH -- THE LAST PEACEKEEPERS STILL IN GORAZDE.

WHEN THE BRITISH ARE GONE, THE ONLY INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION FOR THE 60-THOUSAND MUSLIMS IN THE ENCLAVE WILL BE POSSIBLE NATO AIRSTRIKES.

THE UNITED NATIONS MAY WITHDRAW ITS PEACEKEEPERS FROM ANOTHER MUSLIM ENCLAVE, THE U-N DECLARED SAFE AREA OF BIHAC, IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA.

WITH THE BACKING OF CROAT FORCES, THE BOSNIAN ARMY HAS REGAINED ITS CONTROL OF THE BIHAC AREA. U-N OFFICIALS IN SARAJEVO BELIEVE IT WOULD BE MORE DIFFICULT NOW FOR THE BOSNIAN SERBS TO CAPTURE BIHAC. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/JWH/BG
25-Aug-95 12:07 PM EDT (1607 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America