Voice of America, 8 September 1995

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] !!! VOA DIGEST - 9/8/95

YUGOSLAVIA / TALKS -- THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF BOSNIA, CROATIA AND YUGOSLAVIA HAVE BEGUN A POTENTIALLY CRUCIAL ROUND OF PEACE TALKS IN GENEVA WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BIG POWER CONTACT GROUP. CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS THE TALKS ARE AIMED AT REACHING AGREEMENT ON THE BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR A SETTLEMENT OF THE 41-MONTH BOSNIAN CONFLICT. (9/8)

YUGO / TALKS -- BALKAN PEACE TALKS ARE SCHEDULED IN GENEVA FRIDAY, WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF BOSNIA, CROATIA AND YUGOSLAVIA MEETING WITH THE BIG POWER CONTACT GROUP. CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN GENEVA REPORTS THE TALKS ARE TAKING PLACE AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THE CONTINUING NATO AIR STRIKES ON SERB TARGETS IN BOSNIA. (9/7)

RUSSIA / YELTSIN / NATO -- RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS AGAIN LASHED OUT AT NATO AIR STRIKES IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. CORRESPONDENT PETER COLLINS REPORTS FROM MOSCOW MR YELTSIN IS NOW THREATENING THAT RUSSIAN ASSISTANCE TO THE BOSNIAN SERBS MIGHT GO BEYOND HUMANITARIAN AID, IF THE STRIKES CONTINUE. (9/8)

BOSNIA / DIPLOMACY -- AS THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, CROATIA AND SERBIA ARE DUE TO MEET IN GENEVA FRIDAY, NATO AND ISLAMIC COUNTRIES AGREED IN PARIS THAT AIR STRIKES SHOULD CONTINUE AROUND SARAJEVO UNTIL THE BOSNIAN SERBS PULL BACK THEIR ARTILLERY. STRINGER JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS. (9/7)

WOMEN'S CONFERENCE / ARRESTS -- CHINESE POLICE AT THE SITE OF THE UN CONFERENCE IN BEIJING HAVE BRIEFLY DETAINED THREE JOURNALISTS FROM HONG KONG. CORRESPONDENT JANE KUCZYNSKI REPORTS THE INCIDENT OCCURRED FRIDAY. (9/8)

NGO FORUM / HUMAN RIGHTS -- HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS ATTENDING A LARGE MEETING FOR NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE BEIJING SUBURB OF HUAIROU HAVE EXPRESSED STRONG CONCERN ABOUT SURVEILLANCE PROBLEMS DURING THE FORUM. CORRESPONDENT STEPHANIE HO REPORTS THE GROUPS SAY THE SURVEILLANCE CAME, NOT JUST FROM CHINESE SECURITY FORCES, BUT ALSO FROM OTHER COUNTRIES MONITORING THEIR OWN PEOPLE. (9/8)

US CONGRESS / CHINA -- AN AMERICAN LEGISLATOR WHO SPECIALIZES IN HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES IN THE US CONGRESS SAYS CHINA SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CHOSEN AS THE VENUE FOR THE FOURTH UN WOMEN'S CONFERENCE. AS CORRESPONDENT KIA JOHNSON REPORTS, CONGRESSMAN CHRISTOPHER SMITH SAYS THE CONFERENCE HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE BUT MORE CAREFUL CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO FUTURE VENUES. (9/7)

HARRY WU / TRADE -- CHINESE HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST HARRY WU HAS ARGUED AGAINST UNRESTRAINED US TRADE WITH CHINA ON THE GROUNDS THAT TECHNOLOGY STRENGTHENS THE COMMUNIST REGIME THERE. CORRESPONDENT PHIL KURATA REPORTS MR WU PLANS NO MORE TRIPS TO HIS HOMELAND TO EXPOSE ITS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. (9/7)

BURMA / ALBRIGHT ARRIVAL -- US AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS MADELEINE ALBRIGHT ARRIVED IN THE BURMESE CAPITAL, RANGOON. CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS MS. ALBRIGHT IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL US OFFICIAL TO VISIT BURMA SINCE THE MILITARY CRUSHED THE COUNTRY'S PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT IN 1988. (9/8)

ALBRIGHT / BURMA -- THE US AMBASSADOR TO THE UN, MADELEINE ALBRIGHT IS HEADING FOR RANGOON. SHE IS TRAVELING FROM BEIJING, WHERE SHE HAS BEEN LEADING THE US DELEGATION TO THE UN CONFERENCE ON WOMEN. CORRESPONDENT PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS SOME MEMBERS OF THE US CONGRESS ARE QUESTIONING THE WISDOM OF SUCH A HIGH LEVEL VISIT TO BURMA. (9/7)

THAILAND / POLITICAL TENSION -- IN THAILAND, THERE IS GROWING CONCERN ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF RENEWED TENSION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE MILITARY. CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS THAT DISPUTE OVER EXPECTED PERSONNEL CHANGES WITHIN THE ARMY COULD THREATEN AN INFORMAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE MILITARY NOT TO INTERFERE IN EACH OTHER'S AFFAIRS. (9/8)

PLO / ISRAEL -- ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN LEADERS ENDED NINE HOURS OF TALKS IN THE EGYPTIAN RED SEA RESORT, TABA, FRIDAY BUT FAILED TO ACHIEVE PROGRESS ON THE MAJOR ISSUE THAT HAS DIVIDED THEM. STRINGER PEYMAN PEJMAN HAS THE DETAILS FROM OUR CAIRO BUREAU. (9/8)

US / RUSSIA / IRAN NUCLEAR -- THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS CALLING ON THE US CONGRESS NOT TO CUT OFF AMERICAN AID TO RUSSIA IN RESPONSE TO REVELATIONS ABOUT THE EXTENT OF RUSSIA'S NUCLEAR COOPERATION WITH IRAN. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT. (9/7)

RWANDA / ARMS -- THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY AGREED TO SET UP A COMMISSION OF INQUIRY TO INVESTIGATE REPORTS OF ARMS SALES TO FORMER RWANDAN TROOPS. THE MOVE WAS PROMPTED BY CHARGES THAT EXILED HUTUS BLAMED FOR LAST YEAR'S GENOCIDE IN RWANDA ARE GETTING READY FOR A VIOLENT RETURN TO POWER. CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS. (9/7)

US / NORTHERN IRELAND -- THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION REMAINS HOPEFUL THE NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE PROCESS CAN STILL MOVE FORWARD DESPITE IRELAND'S POSTPONEMENT OF AN ANGLO-IRISH SUMMIT. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA HAS THE LATEST. (9/7)

PACKWOOD RESIGNS -- US SENATOR BOB PACKWOOD HAS RESIGNED FROM THE SENATE, SAYING IT IS THE HONORABLE THING TO DO AFTER THE SENATE ETHICS COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THAT HE BE EXPELLED FOR SEXUAL AND OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT. SENATE CORRESPONDENT JIM MALONE REPORTS FROM CAPITOL HILL. (9/7)

ENDEAVOUR / LIFT OFF -- THE SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR LIFTED OFF THURSDAY ON AN ELEVEN DAY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MISSION. CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE REPORTS FROM THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, ENDEAVOUR'S LIFTOFF IS A RELIEF FOR NASA BECAUSE THE SHUTTLE'S LAUNCH HAD BEEN DELAYED FOR MORE THAN A MONTH. (9/7)

BLUE JEANS / COCA-COLA -- TWO SYMBOLS OF AMERICAN COMMERCE RECOGNIZED THE WORLD OVER ARE LEVIS BLUE JEANS AND COCA-COLA. THEY ARE CONSIDERED TRENDY AND FASHIONABLE. CURRENT AFFAIRS' LINDA CASHDAN LOOKS AT THE HISTORY OF BLUE JEANS AND THEIR IMPACT ON INTERNATIONAL FASHION, WHILE ANDREW BAROCH EXAMINES THE BRILLIANT MARKETING CAMPAIGN THAT HAS MADE COCA-COLA ONE OF THE BEST KNOWN PRODUCTS IN THE WORLD. (9/8)

SPOTLIGHT / MONTANA -- THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER IS THE LONGEST FREE-FLOWING RIVER IN THE UNITED STATES, NO DAMS, NO MAN MADE OBSTRUCTIONS. THE RIVER STARTS AT YELLOWSTONE LAKE IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK AND WINDS ITS WAY NORTHWEST THROUGH MONTANA'S PRAIRIE BEFORE JOINING THE MISSOURI RIVER. CURRENT AFFAIRS' CAROL PEARSON TAKES US ON A BOAT TRIP DOWN A STRETCH OF THE YELLOWSTONE. (9/8)

LOUISA MAY ALCOTT / LONG FATAL LOVE CHASE -- A PREVIOUSLY UNPUBLISHED BOOK BY LOUISA MAY ALCOTT HAS JUST HIT THE BOOKSTANDS AFTER LANGUISHING FOR DECADES. REJECTED IN 1866 FOR BEING "TOO SENSATIONAL" "A LONG FATAL LOVE CHASE" FOCUSES ON OBSESSIVE LOVE, INTRIGUE AND MURDER. THE COLLECTOR WHO BOUGHT THE MANUSCRIPT, AND SAW IT THROUGH TO PUBLICATION IS CURRENTLY ON A NATIONAL BOOK TOUR. CURRENT AFFAIRS' ROBIN RUPLI REPORTS. (9/8)

WALL STREET / BLIND GUIDE -- AN OPINIONATED MAN'S TOUR OF WALL STREET HISTORY AND LORE. MR. GELFAND MAY BE THE ONLY LEGALLY BLIND TOUR GUIDE IN NEW YORK BUT HE STILL SHOWS GROUPS OF OUT-OF-TOWNERS LIKE CURRENT AFFAIRS' REPORTER CAROLYN WEAVER AROUND HIS NATIVE CITY, RELYING NOW ON A CANE AND HIS MEMORY. (9/8)

GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS -- ONE OF THE BEST WAYS OF PREPARING TO DO BUSINESS IN ANOTHER COUNTRY IS TO VISIT IT. CURRENT AFFAIRS' CAROL PEARSON TALKS TO A STUDENT AT THE KELLOGG GRADUATE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY NEAR CHICAGO ABOUT HIS IMPRESSIONS OF THE BUSINESS CLIMATE IN CHINA AFTER A VISIT THERE AND HOW IT CHANGED SOME OF HIS IDEAS ABOUT SETTING UP JOINT VENTURES IN CHINA. (9/8)

HEAVY METALS / UNDOING ENVIRONMENTAL BLIGHT -- HEAVY METALS SUCH AS CADMIUM, ZINC, LEAD AND ARSENIC ARE TOXIC AT FAIRLY LOW CONCENTRATIONS, BOTH TO PEOPLE AND ANIMALS. CURRENT AFFAIRS' BRIAN CISLAK EXAMINES INNOVATIVE WAYS TO REMOVE THESE POISONOUS METALS FROM WATER AND SOIL, AND THUS PREVENT THEM FROM ENTERING THE FOOD CHAIN. (9/8)

US OPEN -- IN A UPSET AT THE US OPEN TENNIS TOURNAMENT IN NEW YORK FIFTH SEED MICHAEL CHANG WAS BEATEN BY 14TH SEED JIM COURIER IN THREE SETS 7-6, 7-6, 7-5. THE VICTORY MOVES COURIER INTO THE SEMI-FINALS OF THE GRAND SLAM CHAMPIONSHIP. CORRESPONDENT CHRIS SIMKINS REPORTS FROM THE TOURNAMENT IN FLUSHING MEADOWS, NEW YORK. (9/8)

INSIDE USA:

DALAI LAMA / ATLANTA -- STAFFER TSETEN WANGCHUK REPORTS ON HIS HOLINESS' MEETING WITH BLACK LEADERS, INCLUDING CORETTA SCOTT KING, AT THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MEMORIAL AND LIBRARY. WANGCHUK REPORTS ON THE DALAI LAMA'S REMARKS THERE ABOUT THE CIVIL RIGHTS STRUGGLE IN AMERICA. (TIBETAN 9/7)

DALAI LAMA / NASA -- STAFFER TSETEN WANGCHUK REPORTS ON A TRIP BY HIS HOLINESS TO NASA IN HOUSTON, WHERE HE WATCHED THE LIFT-OFF OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOR. WHILE THERE, HE WAS HAPPILY STRAPPED INTO AND OPERATED VARIOUS ASTRONAUT TRAINING SPACE SIMULATION DEVICES. ASTRONAUT STEVE SMITH, A TIBETAN BUDDHIST, ALSO PRESENTED THE DALAI LAMA WITH A TIBETAN FLAG THAT THE ASTRONAUT HAD TAKEN INTO SPACE, AND A SERIES OF DETAILED PHOTOGRAPHS OF TIBET HE HAD TAKEN FROM EARTH ORBIT. (TIBETAN 9/7)

RADIO / NEW TECHNOLOGY -- STAFFER SUN CHENG REPORTS FROM NEW ORLEANS ON NEW TECHNOLOGY ON DISPLAY AT THE ANNUAL RADIO SHOW. (MANDARIN 9/8)

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS -- REPORTER SUN CHENG REPORTS FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS ANNUAL SHOW IN NEW ORLEANS. SUN CHENG INTERVIEWED THE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF NAB. (MANDARIN 9/7)

SALVATION ARMY -- REV. HU ZUTONG TALKS TO STAFFER SHU KUO-FU ABOUT THE HISTORY AND TASKS OF SALVATION ARMY. REV. HU ALSO TALKS ABOUT HIS DECISION TO JOIN THE SALVATION ARMY AND THE ORGANIZATION'S ACTIVITIES AMONG ASIAN AMERICANS IN SAN FRANCISCO. (MANDARIN 9/8)

ASIANS / HOUSTON -- STRINGER NGUYEN VINH CHAU INTERVIEWED DEPUTY MAYOR HELEN CHANG ON HER WORK AND ON RELATIONS AMONG DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES IN THE LOCAL ASIAN COMMUNITY. (VIETNAMESE 9/7)NEW ORLEANS / MUSIC -- FROM CAJUN TO ZYDECO TO JAZZ, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA HAS GIVEN BIRTH TO SOME OF AMERICA'S MOST TREASURED MUSICAL FORMS. AS 'TALK TO AMERICA' CONTINUES TO BROADCAST FROM THIS MUSICAL CITY, CO-HOSTS BARBARA AND MEREDITH INTRODUCE AL HIRT, WHO HAS BEEN A PROMINENT US JAZZ MUSICIAN FOR MORE THAN THIRTY YEARS. A NEW ORLEANS NATIVE, MR. HIRT IS RECOGNIZED FOR SPREADING THE POPULARITY OF DIXIELAND JAZZ AND HE JOINS US TO SHARE HIS THOUGHTS ABOUT MUSIC AND THE COLORFUL TOWN HE CALLS HOME. (ENGLISH 9/8)

US / CITIZENSHIP -- STAFFER JANUSZ HEWELL INTERVIEWED TADEUSZ PIOTROWSKI, WHO PREPARES POLISH IMMIGRANTS IN NEW YORK FOR THE US CITIZENSHIP EXAMINATION. (POLISH 9/8)

COMPUTERS / AMERICAN SCHOOLS -- MAREK HOLYNSKI FROM 'COMPUTER GRAPHICS' IN THE SILICON VALLEY TALKED ABOUT USE OF COMPUTERS IN AMERICAN SCHOOLS. INTERVIEW BY STAFFER ANDRZEJ ZWANIECKI. (POLISH 9/8)

PELL / RETIREMENT -- SENATOR CLAIBORN PELL, WHO RECENTLY ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT, WAS THE COUNSEL GENERAL IN SLOVAKIA WHO WAS FORCED TO CLOSE THE US CONSULATE IN 1948, AFTER THE COMMUNIST TAKEOVER. AS SENATE FOREIGN RELATION COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, PELL RE-OPENED THE AMERICAN CONSULATE IN 1989, WHICH THEN BECAME THE US EMBASSY AFTER THE SPLIT OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA. STAFFER MIRO DOBROVODSKY HAS A SPECIAL REPORT. (SLOVAK 9/6)

INSIDE AFRICA:

AFRICAN WOMEN / PARLIAMENT -- A NEW SURVEY SHOWS SOME AFRICAN COUNTRIES HAVE A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN IN THEIR PARLIAMENTS THAN DO THEIR FORMER COLONIAL POWERS. REPORTER WILLIAM EAGLE SPOKE WITH SURVEY AUTHOR CHRISTINE PINTAT OF THE GENEVA-BASED INTERPARLIAMENTARY UNION, AND WITH MR. KALOMBO DIAMANI OF THE UNION OF AFRICAN PARLIAMENTS IN ABIDJAN. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 9/6)

CHINA / UN WOMEN'S FUND -- THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT FUND FOR WOMEN TODAY CELEBRATES ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY. FROM BEIJING, REPORTER LUISA PIETTE SPOKE WITH THE CHIEF OF UNAFEM'S AFRICA SECTION, ACHALA PALA OKEJA OF KENYA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 9/7)

RWANDA / GORILLAS -- OVER THE PAST MONTH, FOUR MOUNTAIN GORILLAS HAVE BEEN SHOT DEAD IN ZAIRE. ROSALIND AVELING, OF THE INTERNATIONAL GORILLA CONSERVATION PROGRAM IN NAIROBI, SAYS THE DEATHS ARE LINKED TO THE RWANDAN REFUGEE CRISIS. SHE SPOKE TO REPORTER JOE DECAPUA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 9/7)

NIGERIA / RANSOME-KUTI -- THE NIGERIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION WANTS TO SEE DR. BEKO RANSOME-KUTI, WHO IS SAID TO BE SERIOUSLY ILL IN DETENTION. REPORTER RICHARD KOTEY SPOKE WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE LAGOS BRANCH OF THE N-M-A, DR. ROTIMI OLA, FROM LAGOS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 9/8)

UGANDA / NEW PARTY -- A NEW POLITICAL PARTY HAS BEEN FORMED IN UGANDA, THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FORUM. REPORTER RICHARD KOTEY SPOKE WITH ITS CHAIRMAN, KARUHANGA CHAPAA, FROM KAMPALA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 9/7)

NIGERIA / CONSTITUTION -- NIGERIA'S THREE MAIN ETHNIC GROUPS DISAGREE WITH A PROVISION IN THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION ON A PROPOSED ROTATION OF POWER BETWEEN THE NORTH AND SOUTH. REPORTER CHINEDU OFFOR REPORTED FROM LAGOS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 9/8)

CAMEROON / NDI -- THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE AND AN AFRICAN NGO, CONSCIENCE AFRICA, ARE SPONSORING A TRAINING SEMINAR FOR INDEPENDENT ELECTION MONITORS IN CAMEROON. REPORTER JULIUS BARTHSON REPORTS FROM YAOUNDE. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 9/7)

ZAMBIA / SECURITY FACILITIES -- JOURNALISTS IN ZAMBIA THIS WEEK WERE GIVEN AN UNUSUAL INSIDE LOOK AT STATE SECURITY FACILITIES. PRESIDENT FREDERICK CHILUBA LED THEM ON A TOUR OF UNDERGROUND BUNKERS AND TUNNELS CONSTRUCTED BY HIS PREDECESSOR AND CURRENT RIVAL, KENNETH KAUNDA. REPORTER KELLYS KAUNDA TOOK THE TOUR. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 9/7)

ABUJA / MARKET DEMOLITION -- IN ABUJA NIGERIA, A GROUP OF MOUNTED POLICEMEN SUPERVISED THE DEMOLITION OF STALLS IN ABUJA CENTRAL MARKET BELONGING TO SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED TRADERS. THE LEADER OF THE TRADERS' ASSOCIATION SAID THE MARKET WAS BUILT WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. BUT THE PRESENT CITY GOVERNMENT SAID THE MARKET WAS BUILD ILLEGALLY. ONE OF THE TRADERS WHO LOST HIS STORE WARNED THE GOVERNMENT THAT PEOPLE WILL TAKE LAW INTO THEIR HANDS IF THEY ARE UNEMPLOYED AND STATED THAT HE FELT THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIBLE. STRINGER BABANGIDA JIBRIN REPORTED. (HAUSA 9/8)

ETHIOPIA / UNEMPLOYMENT -- ACCORDING TO A SURVEY PUBLISHED IN ONE OF THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS IN ETHIOPIA, THE ADDIS TRIBUNE, UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE CITY OF ADDIS ABABA HAS REACHED 20 PERCENT. THE POPULATION IN ADDIS IS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 3 MILLION. THE GOVERNMENT OF PRIME MINISTER MELES ZENAWI HAS PROMISED TO SUPPLY 15,000 NEW JOBS ANNUALLY. THE SURVEY CONCLUDES THIS IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF UNEMPLOYMENT. STRINGER TAFESSE KIFLE COVERED THE STORY FROM ADDIS ABABA. (AMHARIC 9/8)

ETHIOPIA / FILMMAKER -- THE FAMOUS ETHIOPIAN FILM MAKER WHO HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED IN THE US FOR HIS RECENTLY RELEASED FILM SANKOFA, HAILE GERIMA, WAS IN ADDIS ABABA RECENTLY TRYING TO OPEN A FILM DISTRIBUTING CENTER FOR AFRICA AND PREPARE THE GROUND TO MAKE ANOTHER FILM IN ETHIOPIA. STAFFER MIMI SEBHATU INTERVIEWED HIM ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF FILM INDUSTRY IN ETHIOPIA AND THE REST OF AFRICA. (AMHARIC 9/8)

ZAIRE / REFUGEES -- STAFFER FERDINAND FERELLA INTERVIEWED ZAIREAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER GERARD KAMANDA WA KAMANDA WHO REITERATED THAT ALL RWANDAN AND BURUNDIAN REFUGEES SHOULD BE OUT OF ZAIRE BY THE END OF THE YEAR. ZAIRE IS CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE UN HIGH COMMISSIONER ON REFUGEES TO FIND TRANSPORTATION FOR THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF REFUGEES WILLING TO RETURN HOME. (FRENCH 9/7)

ZAIRE / UNHCR -- THE UN HIGH COMMISSIONER ON REFUGEES SADAKO OGATA SAID SHE FEELS OPTIMISTIC AFTER MEETING WITH ZAIREAN PRESIDENT MOBUTU ON THE ISSUE OF RWANDAN AND BURUNDIAN REFUGEES IN CAMPS WITHIN ZAIRE AND THEIR RETURN HOME. REPORT BY STRINGER JEAN-RENUE MPUTU BIDUYA. (FRENCH 9/7)

SAO TOME / GOVERNMENT -- IN A SPEECH TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, SAO TOME'S PRESIDENT, MIGUEL TROVOADA ANNOUNCED THAT CONDITIONS ARE SET TO FORM A GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY. IN HIS FIRST ADDRESS TO THE ASSEMBLY AFTER THE MILITARY COUP OF AUGUST 15, TROVOADA ONCE AGAIN DENOUNCED CORRUPTION AND PROPOSED A CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION TO AVOID PROBLEMS OF THE PAST. HE ALSO CALLED ATTENTION TO THE NEED OF HAVING BETTER SECURITY FOR HIS OWN PROTECTION. STAFFER OVIDIO PEQUENO COVERED. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 9/8)

CAPE VERDE / ELECTIONS -- CAPE VERDEAN PRESIDENT, ANTONIO MASCARENHAS ANNOUNCED THAT GENERAL ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD ON DECEMBER 17 AND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS ON FEBRUARY 18 NEXT YEAR. THE DATES WERE SET AFTER CONSULTATIONS WITH VARIOUS POLITICAL PARTIES. STAFFER OVIDIO PEQUENO REPORTS. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 9/8)

ANGOLA / DIAMONDS -- ANGOLAN PRESIDENT JOSE EDUARDO DOS SANTOS HAS DECLARED WAR ON DIAMOND SMUGGLERS (GARIMPEIROS) WHO ARE COSTING THE WAR-RAVAGED COUNTRY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE. DOS SANTOS SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S PRIORITY WILL BE STRICTLY IMPLEMENTING EXISTING LAW TO REGULATE THE ILLICIT TRAFFICKING. AN EUROPEAN DEALER REPORTS THAT UNITA WHICH CONTROLS ONE OF THE RICHEST DIAMOND FIELDS, IS MAKING ABOUT 30 MILLION DOLLARS A MONTH ON DIAMOND SALES. STAFFER OVIDIO PEQUENO COVERED. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 9/8)

KENYA / IMF -- THE IMF HAS BLOCKED FUNDS FOR KENYA UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT TAKES ACTION AGAINST PEOPLE IMPLICATED IN THE GOLDENBERG SCANDAL. SWAHILI STRINGER M G JOEL REPORTS FROM NAIROBI. (SWAHILI 9/8)

TANZANIA / ELECTION -- VARIOUS RESIDENTS IN THE TANZANIA CAPITAL DAR-ES-SALAAM AIR THEIR VIEWS ON THE ONGOING REGISTRATION FOR THE OCTOBER GENERAL ELECTIONS AMID FEAR THAT THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION HAS NOT DONE ENOUGH TO ENSURE THAT THE ELECTIONS ARE PEACEFUL, FREE AND FAIR. STRINGER EVARIST MWITUMBA REPORTS FROM DAR-ES-SALAAM. (SWAHILI 9/8)

INSIDE MIDEAST:

AFGHANISTAN / CRISIS -- IN SEPARATE INTERVIEWS WITH STAFFER OMAR MALIKYAR, PROFESSOR BARNETT RUBIN OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY AND AMERICAN AUTHOR ANTHONY ARNOLD COMMENTED ON THE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN AFGHANISTAN. MR. RUBIN SAID THAT THE QUICK MILITARY VICTORY OF THE TALEBAN MILITIA IN FIGHTING AGAINST FORCES LOYAL TO PRESIDENT RABBANI IN THE WESTERN PROVINCE OF HERAT INDICATES THAT NO SINGLE FACTION HAS THE RESOURCES TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OVER LARGE AREAS IN THE COUNTRY. HE SAID THE SOLUTION SHOULD BE SOUGHT THROUGH POWER SHARING ARRANGEMENTS. MR. ARNOLD AGREED THAT THE FACTIONAL FIGHTING WOULD NEVER SOLVE THE AFGHAN PROBLEM. HE SAID THAT ONLY A NATIONAL SOLUTION MIGHT RETURN PEACE AND STABILITY TO THE NATION. (DARI 9/8)

AFGHAN / POLITICAL -- STAFFER MOHAMMED ALAMI INTERVIEWED ANTHONY ARNOLD AND DR. KHALILZAD ON THE POSSIBLE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF THE FALL OF HERAT INTO THE HANDS OF TALEBAN. DR. KHALILZAD SAID PRESIDENT RABANI'S RECENT LOSSES TO TALEBAN MIGHT FORCE HIM TO ACCEPT NEGOTIATIONS. (PASHTO 9/8)

TALEBAN / PAKISTAN -- STAFFER ZEBA ZAHER INTERVIEWED THE HEAD OF THE AFGHAN UN MISSION AND A SPOKESMAN OF TALEBAN CONCERNING THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT ACCUSATION THAT PAKISTAN WAS BEHIND THE RECENT SUCCESS OF THE TALEBAN. (PASHTO 9/8)

AFGHAN / FIGHTING -- STRINGER SHINWARAI, SENT A REPORT ON MR. HIKMATYAR'S SPEECH IN PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN. MR. HEKMATYAR SAID ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO FORMAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN HIS PARTY AND TALEBAN, THERE WAS BASIC UNDERSTANDING THEM THAT LED TO THE GOVERNMENT LOSSES IN SOUTHWESTERN AFGHANISTAN. (PASHTO 9/8)

IRAN / OPPOSITION -- STAFFER HESHMAT MOBASHER INTERVIEWED FARROKH NEGAHDAR THE GENERAL SECRETARY FOR AN OPPOSITION GROUP REPRESENTING THE SO-CALLED LEFTIST GROUPS IN IRAN ABOUT THEIR VIEWS AND FUNCTIONS AFTER THE FALL OF SOVIET UNION. (FARSI 9/8)

IRAN / FILMS -- STAFFER KATAYOUN BEGLARI INTERVIEWED THE MOST CELEBRATED IRANIAN FILM MAKER ABROAD, ABBASS KIAROSTAMI, WHOSE ENTIRE COLLECTION OF 22 FILMS WERE SCREENED DURING THE LOCARNO FILM FESTIVAL. KIASOSTAMI DISCUSSES THE ROLE OF FILM MAKER AS A WATCHDOG FOR SOCIETY, AND THE DIFFICULTIES HE FACES IN IRAN AS A RESULT. (FARSI 9/8)IRAQ / ARABS -- IRAQ IS CONTINUING A CAMPAIGN TO IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH OTHER ARAB NATIONS AND BREAK THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC ISOLATION IMPOSED ON BAGHDAD. CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 9/7)

KING HUSSEIN / IRAQ -- JORDAN'S KING HUSSEIN EXPRESSED HOPE THAT IRAQ RESTORES A DECENT ROLE IN THE MIDDLE EAST WHILE INTRODUCING A MULTI-PARTY AND DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM. CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS. (ARABIC 9/7)

ARAFAT / PEREZ / MUBARAK -- PALESTINIAN LEADER YASSER ARAFAT RESUMED TALKS IN THE EGYPTIAN RESORT OF TABA. CORRESPONDENT IBRAHIM ABDIN REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 9/7)

EGYPT / ISRAEL / POWS -- THE ISRAELI DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER TOLD THE EGYPTIAN NEWSPAPER AL-AHRAM THAT HIS COUNTRY IS PREPARED TO PAY COMPENSATIONS TO THE FAMILIES OF EGYPTIAN PRISONERS OF WAR KILLED BY ISRAELI FORCES. STAFFER USAMA FARAG REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 9/7)

ARAB LEAGUE / ALGERIA -- ALGERIAN PRESIDENT LAMIN ZERWAL MET WITH VISITING SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ARAB LEAGUE ESMAT ABDEL MAJID. STAFFER USAMA FARAG REPORTS. (ARABIC 9/7)

BAHRAIN / FREEDOM MOVEMENT -- DR SAID ELSHIHABI OF THE BAHRAIN FREEDOM MOVEMENT SPOKE TO STAFFER HAYAT ALKHATIB ABOUT TALKS ON RECONCILIATION IN BAHRAIN. (ARABIC 9/7)

EGYPT / MIDDLE EAST ISSUES -- EGYPT'S AMBASSADOR TO THE US AHMED MAHER ELSAYED PARTICIPATES IN A PANEL DISCUSSION IN WASHINGTON AND COMMENTS ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN IRAQ, THE SYRIAN-ISRAELI QUESTION AND THE KILLING OF EGYPTIAN PRISONERS OF WAR BY THE ISRAELI FORCES. STAFFER THABIT BARDICY REPORTS. (ARABIC 9/7)

FRANCE / NUCLEAR TESTS -- DR GHASSAN RIFAI, CHIEF EDITOR OF THE PARIS ARAB NEWSPAPER ALMOHARRER IS INTERVIEWED BY STAFFER HAYAT KHATIB ABOUT THE FRENCH REASONING BEHIND CONTINUED NUCLEAR TESTS. (ARABIC 9/7)

ARAB STATES / FOREIGN MEDIA -- THE FIRST ARAB CONFERENCE ON MEDIA-RELATED SECURITY CALLED ON ARAB NATIONS TO INCREASE SATELLITE TELEVISION TO COMBAT WHAT WAS TERMED AS THE FOREIGN MEDIA INVASION. STRINGER RACHID MABROUK REPORTS FROM TUNIS. (ARABIC 9/7)

ARAB ISRAELI / CULTURAL NORMALIZATION -- SAADEDDINE WAHBA, PRESIDENT OF THE ARAB ARTISTS UNION EXPLAINED IN AN INTERVIEW WITH CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI IN AMMAN THE REASONS BEHIND THE RELUCTANCE IN THE ARAB WORLD TO NORMALIZE CULTURAL RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL. (ARABIC 9/7)

AFGHANISTAN / RETROSPECTIVE -- STAFFER SUSAN YACKEE TALKS TO CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN, NOW IN ALMATY, ABOUT LIFE IN HERAT BEFORE THE TALIBAN MOVED IN. MR BAKSHIAN, WHO VISITED HERAT IN AUGUST, TALKS ABOUT THE MARKETS, HOW REFUGEES HAVE AFFECTED THE CITY, AND TRADE WITH IRAN. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 9/7)

ISLAMISTS / EUROPE -- STAFFER JEAN-CLAUDE ANDRE REPORTS ON THE ARMED ISLAMIC GROUP (GIA), THE MILITARY ARM OF THE FIS OR ISLAMIC SALVATION FRONT. THE ALGERIAN GIA IS SUSPECTED IN RECENT TERRORIST BOMBINGS IN FRANCE. THIRTEEN SUSPECTED MEMBERS OF THE GIA ARE CURRENTLY BEING TRIED IN BELGIUM ON CHARGES OF BELONGING TO A CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION AND OF TAKING PART IN RELATED ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES. BELGIAN JOURNALIST CHRISTIAN DUBRULLE, OF LE SOIR NEWSPAPER, TOLD ANDRE ABOUT THE CHARGES AND THE BELGIAN GOVERNMENT DECISION TO PROSECUTE. FRENCH NEWSPAPER LE FIGARO'S REPORTER THIERRY OBERLE DESCRIBED THE BACKGROUND SITUATION IN ALGERIA WHERE THESE GROUPS WERE FOUNDED. GAEDIG BONABESSE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS REPORT AND INTERVIEWED RASHID RYAL, A JOURNALIST WITH THE ALGERIAN DAILY AL WATAN. (FRENCH 9/7)

INSIDE SOUTH ASIA:

RABIN RAPHEL / DHAKA INTERVIEW -- US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SOUTH ASIA ROBIN RAPHEL IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH STRINGER MATIUR RAHMAN CHOUDHURY SAID THAT THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN BANGLADESH SHOULD BE SETTLED THROUGH DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION PARTIES. SHE CONVEYED THE SAME MESSAGE TO PRIME MINISTER KHALIIDA ZIA AND OPPOSITION LEADER SHEIKH HASINA DURING HER SEPARATE MEETINGS WITH THEM. SHE ALSO SAID THAT THERE ARE GOOD POSSIBILITIES OF FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN BANGLADESH BUT FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, THE POLITICAL DISPUTE MUST BE RESOLVED AND PROPER ATMOSPHERE FOR INVESTMENT SHOULD BE CREATED. THE VISITING US OFFICIAL PRAISED THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE RECENTLY SIGNED MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON CHILD LABOR. (BANGLA 9/7)

BANGLA / POLITICS -- THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE RULING BNP, ABDUS SALAM TALUKDAR SAYS THE PROPOSAL MADE BY AWAMI LEAGUE PRESIDENT SHEIKH HASINA TO RESOLVE THE PRESENT CRISIS IS NOTHING NEW. HE SAYS THE PRIME MINISTER HAS ALREADY ANNOUNCED THAT SHE WILL RESIGN ONE MONTH BEFORE THE ELECTIONS AND THAT SHOULD BE THE BASIS FOR ALL PROPOSALS. STRINGER ZAHURUL ALAM REPORTS. (BANGLA 9/8)

INSIDE EAST ASIA:

WOMEN'S CONFERENCE -- STAFFER QI FENG REPORTED ON A NEWS CONFERENCE ON CAPITOL HILL WHERE A CONGRESSMAN WHO ATTENDED THE WOMEN'S CONFERENCE IN BEIJING, GAVE HIS IMPRESSIONS OF THE CONFERENCE. (MANDARIN 9/8)

AZERBAIJAN / CHINA CONFERENCE -- STAFFER SPOZHMAI MAIWANDI INTERVIEWED ELMIRA SULAYMANOVA, HEAD OF THE AZERBAIJANI DELEGATION TO THE BEIJING CONFERENCE, AS WELL AS SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION. THEY DISCUSSED A SPECIAL PANEL ENTITLED "WOMAN, WAR AND CONFLICT" IN WHICH SEVERAL OF THE AZERBAIJANI DELEGATES PARTICIPATED. (AZERI 9/8)

FARSI / BEIJING CONFERENCE -- STAFFER FARAH JAHANGIRI TALKED WITH DELEGATES OF MOROCCO, ALGERIA, AND IRAN. SHE DISCUSSED WITH IRANIAN WOMEN THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT ATTEMPT TO REPLACE THE WORD "EQUALITY" WITH "FAIRNESS" WHEN IT COMES TO THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN. (FARSI 9/8)

WOMEN / NGO FORUM ENDS -- WOMEN DELEGATES FROM AFGHAN NGOS DISCUSSED SOCIAL AND POLITICAL OBSTACLES FACING WOMEN IN AFGHANISTAN. THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CLOSING SESSION OF THE NGO FORUM HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE U.N. WOMEN CONFERENCE IN THE CHINESE CAPITAL WAS REPORTED BY SPOZHMAI MAIWANDI. (9/8)

PALESTINIAN WOMEN / WOMEN'S CONFERENCE -- MRS SAMIHA KHALIL, PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL UNION OF PALESTINIAN WOMEN IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES SPOKE TO STAFFER WASSILA BELDI, ABOUT THE PALESTINIAN PARTICIPATION IN THE UN-SPONSORED CONFERENCE IN CHINA. (ARABIC 9/7)

WOMEN CONFERENCE / LEBANESE FIRST LADY -- LEBANON'S FIRST LADY APPEALED TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT LEBANON IN IT'S QUEST TO FREE IT'S LAND AND PRISONERS HELD BY ISRAEL. SHE SPOKED AT THE WOMEN CONFERENCE IN CHINA. STAFFER WASSILA BELDI REPORTS FROM BEIJING. (ARABIC 9/7)

WOMEN'S CONFERENCE / ARAB PARTICIPATION -- STAFFER WASSILA BELDI REPORTS ON THE ARAB NGOS PARTICIPATION IN THE BEIJING CONFERENCE. (ARABIC 9/7)

WOMEN'S CONFERENCE / CHINESE-AMERICAN REACTION -- STAFFER SHU KUO-FU INTERVIEWED REPRESENTATIVES FROM SEVERAL CHINESE AMERICAN ASSOCIATIONS TO GET THEIR REACTION TO HILLARY CLINTON'S ADDRESS TO THE WOMEN'S CONFERENCE. (MANDARIN 9/7)

WOMEN'S CONFERENCE / CHINA -- RUSSIAN DELEGATES AT THE NGO FORUM IN CHINA, MARINA GORDEEVA, THE SECRETARY OF THE WOMEN'S UNION OF RUSSIA AND FLORA ABDURAKHMANOVA, INTERNATIONAL PROJECT COORDINATOR WERE INTERVIEWED BY UKRAINIAN REPORTER LUBA CVIKULA. THEY DISCUSSED THE AIMS OF THEIR ORGANIZATION, AND WHAT THEY HOPE TO ACHIEVE AT THE FORUM IN CHINA. (RUSSIAN 9/7)

UN / WOMEN'S CONFERENCE -- STAFFERS SUSAN CLARK AND JANE KUCZYNSKI DISCUSS THE DEBATE OVER THE CONFERENCE DOCUMENTS, AND ABOUT THE MOOD IN SPITE OF HASSLES BY CHINESE, AND WHY THERE WAS NO MENTION OF HILLARY CLINTON IN THE CHINESE MEDIA. (ENP 9/7)

WOMEN'S CONFERENCE / UNHCR -- AT THE UN WOMEN'S CONFERENCE IN BEIJING, A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE UN HIGH COMMISSIONER ON REFUGEES SAYS FINANCIAL SUPPORT IS LACKING FOR THE CARE OF REFUGEES. REPORTER LUISA PIETTE SPOKE WITH THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION OF THE UNHCR, WAIRIMU KARAGU. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 9/7)

WOMEN'S CONFERENCE / NGO MEETING -- IN A SPEECH DELIVERED TO THE NGO MEETING IN HUAIROU, AMBASSADOR ALBRIGHT CONDEMNED HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES, INCLUDING COERCED ABORTION, AND SAID THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING IS TO ASSURE WOMEN OF THEIR EQUAL RIGHTS. IN A WORKSHOP ON CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS, DELEGATES FROM TAIWAN AND MAINLAND CHINA FOUND THAT THEY SHARE SIMILAR CONCERNS. STAFFER CHOU YUNTING REPORTS FROM THE CONFERENCE. (MANDARIN 9/7)

WOMEN'S CONFERENCE / SECURITY MEASURES -- TIGHT SECURITY MEASURES TAKEN BY THE CHINESE COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT AT THE FOURTH UN WOMEN'S CONFERENCE IN BEIJING ARE MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR SOME OF THE DELEGATES AND MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES TO MOVE FREELY FROM ONE POINT TO ANOTHER. STAFFER HADIZA ISA WADA REPORTS FROM BEIJING THAT ON MANY OCCASIONS SHE AND OTHER REPORTERS HAD DIFFICULT TIMES MOVING FROM ONE CONFERENCE VENUE TO ANOTHER. ONE OF THE DELEGATES DESCRIBED THE SECURITY MEASURES AS IMPINGEMENT OF WOMEN'S FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT. (HAUSA 9/7)

CHINA CONFERENCE / ISLAM -- STAFFER HADIZA WADA, ATTENDING THE UN CONFERENCE IN BEIJING, REPORTED THAT THE NGO MEETING WILL END TODAY AND NIGERIA WILL ADDRESS THE UN CONFERENCE. HADIZA INTERVIEWED ZAINAB SA'IDU KABIR, A NIGERIAN REPRESENTING THE ISLAMIC ORGANIZATION CONFERENCE AND FEDERATION OF MUSLIM WOMEN ASSOCIATION IN NIGERIA ON THE PROPOSED PLAN OF ACTION OF THE CONFERENCE. MS KABIR SAID CONSIDERING THE SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES AMONG NATIONS AND PEOPLES, IT WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE FOR THE TWO GROUPS SHE IS REPRESENTING TO ACCEPT SOME OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE PLAN, BUT SAID THAT THE CONFERENCE IS IMPORTANT AND TIMELY. (HAUSA 9/8)

HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES / WOMEN -- STAFFER QI FENG INTERVIEWED LI XIAORONG, VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE NEW YORK BASED GROUP HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA, IN A REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES TOWARD WOMEN SAYS IN RECENT YEARS, CHINESE WOMEN HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED AND SOLD TO STRANGERS AS WIVES AND ARE OFTEN ABUSED. IN A REPORT RELEASED LAST MONTH, HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA SAID THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT TAKEN SUFFICIENT MEASURES AGAINST THIS NEW "SLAVE TRADE." (MANDARIN 9/8)

HARRY WU / HEARING -- STAFFER YANG FAN COVERED CHINESE AMERICAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST HARRY WU AND HIS WIFE'S TESTIMONY AT A HEARING ON CHINESE PRISON SYSTEMS BY THE INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (MANDARIN 9/8)

HARRY WU / HUMAN RIGHTS -- HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST HARRY WU TALKED TO STAFFER WEI KE ABOUT HIS ORDEAL IN A CHINESE DETENTION CENTER. WU SAID HIS ARREST, CONVICTION AND QUICK RELEASE SHOWED THE INEPTNESS OF THE CHINESE LEGAL SYSTEM. WU SAID HE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THE END OF THE SYSTEM THAT COST HIM TWENTY YEARS OF HIS LIFE AND THE LIVES OF MILLIONS OF CHINESE. (MANDARIN 9/8)

CHINESE BROADCASTERS / TAIWAN -- THREE ADMINISTRATORS OF CHINESE BROADCASTING COMPANIES ARE VISITING TAIWAN ON AN EIGHT-DAY TRIP. STRINGER ZHANG YONGTAI IS COV

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

INTRO: NOT IN PERHAPS A YEAR HAS A SINGLE TOPIC DOMINATED THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF U-S NEWSPAPERS ON THE SAME DAY, AS THURSDAY'S RESIGNATION OF OREGON SENATOR BOB PACKWOOD. NOT FEWER THAN 14 OF THE LARGEST CIRCULATION PAPERS IN THE COUNTRY COMMENTED UPON HIS RESIGNATION AND MADE IT THEIR LEAD EDITORIAL. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDED THE NATO AIR STRIKES AGAINST THE BOSNIAN SERBS; PEACE IN LIBERIA; AND MORE PRAISE FOR RECORD-SETTING BASEBALL PLAYER CAL RIPKEN. NOW ____________________ HAS A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: SENATOR BOB PACKWOOD, REPUBLICAN OF OREGON, HAS RESIGNED FROM THE UNITED STATES SENATE AFTER A SENATE ETHICS COMMITTEE VOTED UNANIMOUSLY THIS WEEK THAT HE BE EXPELLED FOR SEXUAL AND OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT. U-S PAPERS FOLLOWED THE CASE CLOSELY AND MANY HAD BEEN CALLING FOR HIS RESIGNATION IN ADVANCE OF HIS ANNOUNCEMENT. HIS RESIGNATION ABSOLUTELY DOMINATED THE NATION'S EDITORIAL COLUMNS THIS FRIDAY. "THE MIAMI HERALD", ONE OF THE MAJOR DAILIES THAT HAD REPEATEDLY CALLED ON THE OREGON REPUBLICAN TO STEP DOWN, RAN A TINY BOX IN ITS EDITORIAL COLUMN TODAY READING SIMPLY: "PACKWOOD RESIGNS ..... GOOD RIDDANCE." "THE WASHINGTON POST", WHICH PLAYED THE STORY ACROSS ITS ENTIRE FRONT PAGE, REACTED THIS WAY ON THE EDITORIAL PAGE:

VOICE: "THE TALK YESTERDAY AFTERNOON WAS OF DUTY AND HONOR, BUT MR. PACKWOOD RESIGNED BECAUSE HE HAD RUN OUT OF ALTERNATIVES. THE SENATE WAS PLAINLY RELIEVED. HIS DECISION TO RESIGN WAS SMART AND SURELY WELCOMED BY HIS COLLEAGUES. [OPT] .... IT WAS NO SINGLE EVENT THAT PERSUADED THE [SENATE ETHICS] COMMITTEE. RATHER, THE GROWING MASS OF EVIDENCE COMBINED WITH THE SENATOR'S OWN TACTICS - - BELLIGERENCE, OBSTRUCTION, FREQUENT CHANGES OF POSITION ... AND APPARENT CONTEMPT FOR THE SENATE'S RULES AND THE REPUTATION OF THE INSTITUTION ITSELF - - BROUGHT HIM DOWN."[END OPT]

TEXT: IN CALIFORNIA, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" CALLED IT "A LATE BUT NECESSARY EXIT," ADDING:

VOICE: "THE U-S SENATE'S TRADITION OF CLUBBY, LOOK-THE-OTHER WAY TOLERANCE FOR ITS MEMBERS' FOIBLES, ECCENTRICITIES AND EVEN OUTRIGHT BOORISHNESS CAME TO AN EMPHATIC END THIS WEEK WITH THE ETHICS COMMITTEE'S UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION THAT BOB PACKWOOD LOSE THE SEAT HE HAS HELD FOR 26 YEARS. .....[SENATOR] PACKWOOD HAD A LONG AND LARGELY CREDITABLE LEGISLATIVE CAREER, MARKED BY A WELCOME MODERATION AND A TALENT FOR CONCILIATION. SADLY, ON THE EVIDENCE, HE ALSO BEHAVED TOWARD MANY WOMEN .... WITH AN INEXCUSABLE LOUTISHNESS."

TEXT: "THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE" TOOK A MORE COLLOQUIAL APPROACH:

VOICE: "THAT HISSING SOUND COMING FROM THE CAPITOL THURSDAY WAS A GIANT SIGH OF RELIEF. THE SENATE HAS PUT ANOTHER SCANDAL TO REST. .... PERHAPS, [OPT] AFTER SUCH EMBARRASSMENTS AS THE KEATING FIVE, [FIVE SENATORS ACCUSED OF FAVORING THE PRESIDENT OF AN UNSCRUPULOUS SAVINGS AND LOAN WHO GAVE THEM ALL LARGE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS] THE INDICTMENT OF DAN ROSTENKOWSKI [ACCUSED OF STEALING MONEY FROM THE HOUSE POST OFFICE AND OTHER VIOLATIONS] AND THE CONVICTION [JUST LAST WEEK IN CHICAGO] OF MEL REYNOLDS, [CONVICTED AND ABOUT TO BE SENTENCED TO THE PENITENTIARY FOR HAVING SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH A MINOR, A CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEER] [END OPT] CONGRESS HAS DECIDED TO TAKE A TOUGHER LINE WITH ITS OWN WAYWARD MEMBERS."

TEXT: ACROSS TOWN, "THE CHICAGO SUN" ADDED:

VOICE: [SENATOR] PACKWOOD INSISTS HE WAS UNFAIRLY TREATED BECAUSE HE HAS NOT CONFRONTED HIS ACCUSERS. ..... BUT HE MADE THE BETTER CHOICE ..... RESIGNATION WAS THE DECENT THING FOR PACKWOOD TO DO. FOR A CHANGE."

TEXT: IN TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES," THE NEWS WAS GREETED WITH THESE REMINISCENCES:

VOICE: "..... MR. PACKWOOD'S INSULTS TOWARD THOSE HE WRONGED AND HIS IMPUDENT EXPECTATION THAT THE OLD BOYS [HIS COLLEAGUES IN THE SENATE] WOULD SAVE HIM CRIED OUT FOR REPUDIATION BY THE ETHICS COMMITTEE AND THE FULL MEMBERSHIP. ..... THE ETHICS COMMITTEE REACHED A PROPER JUDGMENT, AND MR. PACKWOOD DEPARTS, TOO LATE, BUT WITH THE BURDEN OF SHAME HE HAS EARNED."

TEXT: "THE BOSTON GLOBE," NOTING SENATOR PACKWOOD'S OUTSTANDING RECORD OF LEGISLATION ADVANCING WOMEN'S CAUSES, TRIED TO UNDERSTAND THE IRONY OF THE SITUATION:

VOICE: "..... MANY PUZZLED HOW HE COULD PUBLICLY RESPECT WOMEN WHILE DEMEANING THEM WITH HIS PRIVATE ACTS. THE ANSWER IS POWER. IT IS THE INGREDIENT THAT PUSHES UNWANTED SEXUAL ADVANCES OUT OF THE REALM OF MERE BOORISHNESS INTO ACTIONABLE SEXUAL HARASSMENT. ..... SIMILARLY, IT IS POWER THAT DISTORTS A PUBLIC OFFICIAL'S UNDERSTANDING OF HIS OWN ACTIONS. MORE THAN A FEW POLITICIANS WITH GOOD PUBLIC RECORDS ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS ..... MAYBE ... THINK THEIR PUBLIC RECORD GIVES THEM A KIND OF COVER, AT LEAST IN ANSWERING THEIR OWN CONSCIENCES. IF IT EVER DID, IT DOESN'T ANYMORE."

TEXT: AND IN FLORIDA, "THE ORLANDO SENTINEL" EXCLAIMED:

VOICE: "HE FINALLY GOT THE MESSAGE .... IT'S TIME TO LEAVE. SENATOR ... PACKWOOD DISPLAYED SOME RESPECT FOR THE INSTITUTION IN WHICH HE HAS SERVED FOR THE PAST 27 YEARS WHEN HE AGREED TO RESIGN."

TEXT: BRIEFLY IN OTHER TOPICS, "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" SAID "NATO [IS] BACK ON TRACK IN BOSNIA":

VOICE: "LAST WEEK, NATO JETS ATTACKED BOSNIAN SERB POSITIONS ... BUT THOSE ATTACKS WERE ... RAPS ON THE KNUCKLES TO THE SERBS, WHO HAD BECOME INURED TO SUCH ASSAULTS..... THE REAL TEST OF NATO'S DETERMINATION CAME THIS WEEK, AND THE ALLIANCE PASSED IT COMMENDABLY."

TEXT: ABOUT FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON'S SPEECH IN CHINA AT THE U.N.'S FOURTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WOMEN, "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE COMMENTED:

VOICE: "MRS. CLINTON'S ROLE IS DIFFICULT FOR FOREIGNERS TO FATHOM. SHE IS NOT A HIGH GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL, EXACTLY, OR A QUEEN, EXACTLY, BUT SHARES SOME OF THE ATTRIBUTES OF EACH FOR THE DURATION OF HER HUSBAND'S TERM. ...... AND SO, WHILE MRS. CLINTON EXCITED MANY WOMEN AT THE NON-GOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE ... SAYING WHAT THEY WANTED TO HEAR, SHE WAS LESS PROMINENT THERE THAN AMERICAN MEDIA MAKE OUT. .... IT'S GOOD THAT MRS. CLINTON WENT TO CHINA ... BUT HER VISIT DID NOT GREATLY AFFECT THE POLITICS OF THE CONFERENCE OR THE DOCUMENT THAT WILL EMERGE."

TEXT: IN REGARD TO THE RECENT PEACE IN LIBERIA, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" REMARKED:

VOICE: "A SENSELESS WAR IN AFRICA SEEMS FINALLY TO HAVE ENDED ..... WHERE TEEN-AGE SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN SLAUGHTERING EACH OTHER AND INNOCENT CIVILIANS FOR SIX YEARS..... NOW LIBERIA MUST START FROM SCRATCH. .... LIBERIA IS RICH IN NATURAL RESOURCES AND ITS POPULATION IS STILL THE BEST EDUCATED IN WESTERN AFRICA. IF IT CAN ESTABLISH THE RULE OF LAW AND ATTRACT BACK SOME OF THE 80-THOSUAND LIBERIANS NOW LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES, IT CAN STILL BE A PROSPEROUS COUNTRY. [OPT] IF IT CAN LEARN FROM ITS DISASTROUS PAST, IT HAS A CHANCE TO BE A DEMOCRATIC ONE AS WELL."

TEXT: AND FINALLY, MORE PRAISE FOR BALTIMORE ORIOLE SHORTSTOP CAL RIPKEN, JUNIOR, WHO THIS WEEK SET THE ALL-TIME AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL ENDURANCE RECORD OF 2-THOUSAND-1-HUNDRED-31 CONSECUTIVE GAMES. "THE MIAMI HERALD" PRAISED NOT ONLY HIS FEAT, BUT HIS EXEMPLARY PERSONALITY AND CHARACTER:

VOICE: "HE SEEMS TO BELIEVE, AGAINST ALL APPARENT TRENDS AMONG HIS FELLOW PLAYERS, THAT BASEBALL IS FUN, THAT ITS FANS ARE VALUABLE PEOPLE, THAT ITS TRADITIONS HAVE AS MUCH TO DO WITH THE FANS IN BLEACHERS AS WITH THE PLAYERS ON THE FIELD. JUST AS REMARKABLY, MR. RIPKEN IS A CELEBRITY WHO EVIDENTLY TAKES THE ROLE SERIOUSLY. HIS PUBLIC LIFE IS ABOVE REPROACH, HIS DEMEANOR IS RESPECTFUL AND GRACIOUS, AND HIS COMMITMENT TO THE GAME IS WELL, 2-THOUSAND,1-HUNDRED-31 PERCENT. ..... ONE OF THE SPORT'S TRUE HEROES......"

TEXT: AND ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

ANG/NL

08-Sep-95 10:40 AM EDT (1440 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA / AIR STRIKES (S) BY KYLE KING (ZAGREB)

INTRO: AS PEACE TALKS WERE BEING HELD IN GENEVA, NATO WARPLANES WERE BUSY TRYING TO INDUCE THE BOSNIAN SERBS TO END THEIR SIEGE OF SARAJEVO AND STOP THREATENING OTHER U-N SAFE AREAS. U-N OFFICIALS SAY THEY INTEND TO KEEP UP THE AIR CAMPAIGN UNTIL THE SERBS COMPLY WITH ALL U-N DEMANDS. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM ZAGREB.

TEXT: U-N OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS STILL _NO_ SIGN THE BOSNIAN SERBS ARE MAKING ANY EFFORT TO PULL THEIR BIG GUNS OUT OF THE 20-KILOMETER EXCLUSION ZONE AROUND SARAJEVO.

BECAUSE THEY HAVE _NOT_, U-N SPOKESMAN MAJOR DONALD ROY SAYS NATO PLANES HAVE BEEN BUSY IN THE PAST 24 HOURS.

NATO AIR STRIKES CONTINUED AGAINST AMMUNITION DUMPS, KEY BRIDGES, LOGISTICS, COMMUNICATIONS AND AIR DEFENSE FACILITIES.

NEWS AGENCY REPORTS FROM THE U-S AIRCRAFT CARRIER "THEODORE ROOSEVELT" SAY NATO JETS HIT AT LEAST TWO KEY BRIDGES DURING THE LATEST WAVE OF STRIKES.

NATO PLANES HAVE NOW FLOWN MORE THAN TWO-THOUSAND SORTIES (MISSIONS) SINCE THE CAMPAIGN BEGAN ON AUGUST 30TH, BUT OFFICIALS ACKNOWLEDGE THEY HAVE BEEN SLOWED SOMEWHAT BY BAD WEATHER AND A DESIRE TO AVOID DAMAGE TO CIVILIAN FACILITIES.

MANY TARGETS ARE BEING REPEATEDLY REVISITED BECAUSE THEY WERE _NOT_ HIT THE FIRST TIME OR BECAUSE THEY HAVE SEVERAL SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES -- WHAT MILITARY PLANNERS CALL FIRING POINTS. (SIGNED)

NEB/KBK/JWH/ART
08-Sep-95 8:36 AM EDT (1236 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[04] BOSNIA / BOMBING (S UPDATE) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: NATO JETS ARE CONTINUING TO BLAST BOSNIAN SERB TARGETS AROUND SARAJEVO, AND U-N ARTILLERY HAS SHELLED A SERB ANTI-AIRCRAFT SITE AFTER A MISSILE WAS FIRED AT A NATO PLANE. DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS THE OFFICIALS SAY NATO HAS WIDENED ITS TARGET LIST, AND ROADS AND BRIDGES ARE NOW BEING HIT.

TEXT: U-N MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY NATO BOMBING COULD CONTINUE "FOR WEEKS" UNTIL AS THEY SAY, "THE PAIN THRESHOLD OF THE BOSNIAN SERB ARMY IS REACHED."

NATO JETS HAVE BEEN IN OPERATION AGAIN AROUND SARAJEVO, REPEATING THURSDAY'S ATTACKS ON THE SERBS' LUKAVICA BARRACKS COMPOUND WEST OF THE CITY, AND U-N ARTILLERY HAS ALSO BEEN IN ACTION, AFTER A BOSNIAN SERB ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILE WAS FIRED AT A NATO AIRCRAFT OVER SARAJEVO. THE JET WAS NOT HIT BY THE MISSILE, AND U-N ARTILLERY FIRED ALMOST 40 SHELLS AND MORTARS AT THE SITE.

U-N MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY NATO HAS "ESCALATED" ITS BOMBING CAMPAIGN TO INCLUDE ATTACKS ON BOSNIAN SERB ROADS AND BRIDGES. THE OFFICIALS SAY THIS WILL DISABLE THE SERBS' LOGISTICS AND RESUPPLY NETWORK THAT SUPPORTS THE SERB ARMY AROUND SARAJEVO.

U-N OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS NO SIGN THE BOSNIAN SERBS ARE WITHDRAWING THEIR HEAVY WEAPONS FROM AROUND SARAJEVO. AND ON THURSDAY NIGHT, THE BOSNIAN SERB PARLIAMENT VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO REJECT THE NATO AND U-N DEMANDS THAT THE SERBS MOVE THEIR HEAVY WEAPONS OUT OF THE 20 KILOMETER EXCLUSION ZONE AROUND THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL. (SIGNED)

NEB/DF/JWH/MMK
08-Sep-95 12:40 PM EDT (1640 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[05] BOSNIA / PEACE (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: WHILE DIPLOMATS AND POLITICIANS TALK PEACE IN GENEVA, THE EFFECT OF WAR CONTINUE TO BE FELT AROUND SARAJEVO. DAVID FOLEY HAS BEEN ASKING CITIZENS OF THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL ABOUT THE PROSPECTS FOR PEACE, AND HE FILED THIS REPORT.

TEXT: IT WAS ALMOST TWO WEEKS AGO THAT A SHELL LANDED OUTSIDE SARAJEVO'S MAIN MARKET, KILLING 37 PEOPLE AND PROMPTING THE LATEST ROUND OF NATO AIR ATTACKS ON THE BOSNIAN SERBS. OVER THE SPOT WHERE THE MORTAR FELL, A TABLE RESTS, COVERED WITH FLOWERS, AND IT IS THERE THAT I ASKED PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR HOPES FOR PEACE, AND WHETHER THEY EXPECT ANYTHING TO COME FROM THE LATEST PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.

MIRZA AGIC, A 29-YEAR-OLD AID WORKER, THINKS PEACE IS COMING SOON, AND IT IS THE NATO AIRSTRIKES THAT HAVE MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

SASHA KRDZALIC, A YOUNG SOLDIER, THINKS PEACE IS COMING, BUT HE TOLD ME THE WAR WILL BEGIN AGAIN IN A FEW YEARS. I ASKED HIM WHAT HAD CHANGED THAT MADE PEACE POSSIBLE NOW?

BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD WAR FOR THREE AND HALF YEARS THAT'S WHY, THESE PEOPLE ARE TIRED, TOO MUCH TIRED. THREE YEARS IN PRISON, IN GHETTO. IT IS TOO MUCH.

BUT SEVERAL PEOPLE TOLD ME THEY HAD NO HOPES FOR PEACE. NINETEEN YEAR OLD ELMA HASKOVIC SAID THE SERBS WOULD NEVER AGREE TO A PEACE DEAL.

BECAUSE SERBS ARE LIKE THAT, THEY ARE PEOPLE LIKE THAT, THEY JUST WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THE WAR, TO KILL PEOPLE AND IT WILL BE LIKE THAT. WHATEVER EVERYONE ELSE THINKS, IT WILL BE LIKE THAT, FOR SURE. I MEAN THEY DON'T HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE RIGHT NOW, SO THAT'S FOR SURE, IT WILL BE MORE MASSACRE. LOOK AT THE PEOPLE ON THE STREET. TOO MUCH PEOPLE, THAT'S FOR SURE. THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO LOSE, EXCEPT TO WIN, AND WIN HOW, EXCEPT TO KILL SOME CIVILIAN HERE.

BAJBUTOVIC: PEACE AND LIVING TOGETHER COULDN'T COME JUST AFTER BEGINNING PEACE. WE MUST LIVE AND FORGET, AND THERE IS MANY FAMILIES WHO LOSE SONS, MOTHER, CHILDREN, AND THEY MUST FORGET THAT. FOLEY: CAN THEY FORGET THAT? BAJBUTOVIC: I MEAN THAT'S POSSIBLE.

IF IT COMES, THAT PROCESS WILL SURELY TAKE TIME. THE PEOPLE OF SARAJEVO HAVE SEEN MANY NEGOTIATIONS AND MANY AGREEMENTS, AND THEY ARE UNDERSTANDABLY CYNICAL, BUT MOST PEOPLE HERE STILL MANAGE TO KEEP THEIR HOPES FOR PEACE ALIVE. (SIGNED)

NEB/DF/JWH/MMK
08-Sep-95 11:29 AM EDT (1529 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[06] BOSNIA / SERB REACT (L) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: YUGOSLAV AND BOSNIAN SERB NEGOTIATORS SAY THE AGREEMENT ON BASIC PRINCIPLES OF A POSSIBLE BOSNIAN PEACE ACCORD TREATS THE SERBS EQUALLY WITH THE MUSLIMS AND CROATS FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE NEGOTIATORS SAY THE BOSNIAN SERB REPUBLIC IS NOW ENTITLED TO FORM A CONFEDERATION OR UNION WITH YUGOSLAVIA. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER MILAN MILUTINOVIC SAYS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS RECOGNIZED THE BOSNIAN SERB REPUBLIC AS ONE OF TWO EQUAL ENTITIES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. IN REMARKS REPORTED BY THE YUGOSLAV NEWS AGENCY, TANJUG, THE FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS THE AGREED KEY PRINCIPLES OF A POSSIBLE BOSNIAN PEACE SETTLEMENT PROVIDE THE BASIS FOR CONFEDERAL LINKS BETWEEN THE SERBS AND YUGOSLAVIA. MR. MILUTINOVIC HEADED A JOINT YUGOSLAV/BOSNIAN SERB DELEGATION AT THE GENEVA TALKS. ONE OF THE BOSNIAN SERB NEGOTIATORS, NIKOLA KOLJEVIC, ALSO WELCOMES THE AGREEMENT ON BASIC PRINCIPLES. ACCORDING TO TANJUG, HE SAYS THE WORLD HAS RECOGNIZED AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE EXISTENCE OF THE BOSNIAN SERB STATE FOR THE FIRST TIME. MR. KOLJEVIC, WHO IS CLOSE TO THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADER, RADOVAN KARADZIC, ALSO SAYS THE SERBS HAVE THE VITAL RIGHT TO FORM A UNION WITH YUGOSLAVIA. THE BOSNIAN SERBS APPEAR TO BE PUTTING THE BROADEST POSSIBLE INTERPRETATION ON WHAT THE VAGUELY-WORDED GENEVA AGREEMENT MEANS. IT IS NOT CLEAR IF THE SERBS HAVE GIVEN UP OR MERELY POSTPONED THEIR GOAL OF HAVING A FULLY INDEPENDENT STATE OR FORMALLY HAVING THEIR TERRITORY BECOME PART OF YUGOSLAVIA. THE EXACT NATURE OF LINKS THAT THE SERBS CAN HAVE WITH YUGOSLAVIA IS LIKELY TO BE AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT ISSUE TO NEGOTIATE. THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT HAS REPEATEDLY RULED OUT A SERB CONFEDERATION WITH YUGOSLAVIA, SIMILAR TO THE MUSLIM AND CROAT CONFEDERATION WITH CROATIA. AMERICAN PEACE ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE, WHO GOT THE WARRING FORCES TOGETHER IN GENEVA, HAS REPEATEDLY SAID THERE WOULD BE NO SERB CONFEDERATION. WHAT THE SERBS ENDORSED IN GENEVA MUST BE ACCEPTED BY THE BOSNIAN SERB ARMY COMMANDER, GENERAL RATKO MLADIC. THIS MEANS THE ARMY WILL HAVE TO GIVE UP NEARLY 20 PERCENT OF THE TERRITORY IT HAS CAPTURED DURING THE WAR IN BOSNIA. WHETHER OR NOT GENERAL MLADIC'S SPLIT WITH THE SERB POLITICAL LEADERSHIP HAS HEALED IS A CRUCIAL QUESTION. THE ANSWER COULD DETERMINE THE COURSE OF PEACE TALKS ON BOSNIA, AND IT COULD AFFECT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ANY PEACE AGREEMENT. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/SKH
08-Sep-95 6:15 PM EDT (2215 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[07] CHRISTOPHER-BOSNIA (S-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES WILL RESUME ITS SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY NEXT WEEK TO TRY TO TRANSLATE THE PRINCIPLES OF THE BOSNIA PEACE TALKS INTO PRACTICAL AGREEMENTS. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER HAS A WARNING FOR THE BOSNIAN SERBS.

TEXT: SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER SAYS THE BOSNIA PEACE TALKS HAVE TAKEN AN IMPORTANT STEP BUT HE TELLS REPORTERS AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE BOSNIAN SERBS FACE CONTINUED NATO AIR STRIKES UNLESS THEY AGREE TO WITHDRAW THEIR HEAVY WEAPONS FROM SARAJEVO.

UNLESS GENERAL MLADIC TAKES THE STEPS THAT ARE NECESSARY, THE BOMBING WILL CONTINUE AND AS I'VE SAID IT'S REALLY IN HIS HANDS TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT IT (THE BOMBING) WILL CONTINUE BUT WE NEED A COORDINATED RESPONSE FROM THE BOSNIAN SERBS ON THE MILITARY FIELD JUST AS WE'VE HAD A COORDINATED RESPONSE FROM THEM TODAY AT THE GENEVA MEETINGS.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAYS THE AMERICAN TEAM WILL RESUME ITS SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY IN THE BALKANS NEXT WEEK. MR. CHRISTOPHER ALSO USED THE PEACE AGREEMENT TO PRESSURE CONGRESS, WHERE A SENATE COMMITTEE HAS ORDERED SHARP CUTS IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT BUDGET. HE SAYS THE CONGRESS MUST BE READY TO FINANCE AMERICAN DIPLOMATIC LEADERSHIP. (SIGNED)

NEB/RP/SKH
08-Sep-95 4:06 PM EDT (2006 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[08] CLINTON-BOSNIA UPDATE (S ONLY) BY DAVID BORGIDA (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS THE AGREEMENT REACHED IN GENEVA BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVES OF BOSNIA, CROATIA, AND THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA IS AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE ON THE ROAD TO PEACE IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. BUT HE SAYS THERE IS STILL MUCH WORK TO BE DONE. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS.

TEXT: THE AGREEMENT ON BASIC PRINCIPLES AROUND WHICH A FINAL PEACE ACCORD CAN BE FRAMED WAS QUICKLY WELCOMED AT THE WHITE HOUSE. CLINTON SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY SAYS WHILE THE PRESIDENT IS VERY SATISFIED, ACHIEVING A DURABLE PEACE WILL REQUIRE FLEXIBIITY AND STATESMANSHIP BY THE PARTIES.

WE NEED TO EMPHASIZE AT THIS POINT THAT IN A SENSE WE'VE REACHED THE FIRST STEP OF A PROCESS THAT WE HOPE WILL LEAD TO A PEACE SETTLEMENT. THERE IS A LOT OF HARD WORK AHEAD.

THEY NEED TO QUIT KILLING EACH OTHER. THERE'S NOT THAT MUCH LAND INVOLVED, AND THERE'S NOTHING IN THEIR DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS FAITHS THAT DICTATES THAT KIND OF BLOODLETTING.

PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL CONTINUE HIS ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT ON THIS FRONT. HE IS TO BE BRIEFED HERE MONDAY BY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE, WHO LED THE U-S DIPLOMATIC EFFORT IN GENEVA. (SIGNED) NEB/BORG/MMK 08-Sep-95 2:51 PM EDT (1851 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[09] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL ADDRESSES HUMANITARIAN CONCERNS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA; THE COUNCIL ORDERS AN INVESTIGATION INTO REPORTED ARMS FLOWS TO THE FORMER GOVERNMENT OF RWANDA; AND, SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ WILL REMAIN INTACT. VOA CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REVIEWS THE MAIN DEVELOPMENTS OF THE PAST WEEK:

TEXT: UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR NATO BOMBING IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, ASSERTING THAT THE AIM OF THE ATTACKS IS TO PRESSURE THE BOSNIAN SERBS TO NEGOTIATE PEACE. THE SECURITY COUNCIL, TOO, REMAINS FIRM. DIPLOMATS RESISTED RUSSIAN DEMANDS TO ORDER A HALT TO THE BOMBING. MEANWHILE, THE COUNCIL SOUGHT TO RESOLVE SOME HUMANITARIAN QUESTIONS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. IT ISSUED TWO STATEMENTS -- ONE CONDEMNING BOSNIAN SERBS FOR DENYING ACCESS TO MUSLIM PRISONERS CAPTURED DURING THEIR RECENT SEIZURE OF U-N PROTECTED ENCLAVES IN SREBRENICA AND ZEPA.

THE UNITED STATES ALSO MAINTAINS THE SERBS EXECUTED OVER TWO THOUSAND CIVILIANS AT THE TIME. BUT INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS HAVE NOT BEEN ALLOWED TO VISIT SUSPECTED GRAVE SITES.

ANOTHER STATEMENT CRITICIZED CROATIA FOR ITS BEHAVIOR TOWARD REBEL SERBS WHEN THE CROATIAN ARMY RE-CAPTURED TERRITORY SEIZED DURING THE 1991 CROATIAN WAR. OBSERVERS HAVE REPORTED KILLINGS AND LOOTING OF SERB PROPERTY. A MASS EXODUS FOLLOWED. THE SECURITY COUNCIL REMINDED CROATIA THAT THE SERBS HAVE A RIGHT TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES SAFELY.

-0-

IN AN EFFORT TO PREVENT MORE MASS KILLINGS IN RWANDA THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAS ORDERED AN INVESTIGATION INTO REPORTED ARMS FLOWS TO EXILED HUTU BLAMED FORTHE GENOCIDE THAT KILLED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MOSTLY TUTSI RWANDANS LAST YEAR. HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS HAVE WARNED HUTU MILITIAS ARE RECEIVING WEAPONS AND TRAINING AND APPEAR TO BE PREPARING FOR A VIOLENT RETURN TO POWER.

THE HUTU FLED TO ZAIRE AND OTHER NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES WHEN A TUTSI-DOMINATED GOVERNMENT TOOK OVER LAST JULY. ZAIRE PROPOSED THE CREATION OF A COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO ARMS SALES IN CENTRAL AFRICA AND PLEDGED ITS SUPPORT. THE SECURITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY ENDORSED THE PLAN. THE NEW BODY WILL BE COMPRISED OF BETWEEN FIVE AND TEN EXPERTS WHO WILL BE EXPECTED -- AMONG OTHER THINGS -- TO VISIT REFUGEE CAMPS IN ZAIRE WHERE THE HUTU MILITANTS WIELD POWER.

-0- FOR THE 27TH TIME SINCE 1991 -- THE SECURITY COUNCIL DECIDED THIS PAST WEEK TO LEAVE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON IRAQ BECAUSE IT HAS FAILED TO FULFILL ALL U-N DEMANDS RELATED TO ITS EARLIER OCCUPATION OF KUWAIT. THE UNITED STATES -- THE MOST CONSISTENT OPPONENT OF GIVING IRAQ SANCTIONS RELIEF -- NOTED IN A PRIVATE MEETING IRAQI INCONSISTENCIES ON WEAPONS.

IRAQ RECENTLY ADMITTED IT HAD CONCEALED THE EXTENT OF ITS PAST BIOLOGICIAL WEAPONS PROGRAMS AND TURNED OVER TO THE UNITED NATIONS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THE UNITED STATES ARGUED THAT IRAQ IS UNTRUSTWORTHY AND UNDESERVING OF ANY CHANGE IN THE SANCTIONS REGIME.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL SUMMONED THE IRAQI AMBASSADOR AND URGED HIM TO PERSUADE HIS GOVERNMENT TO SELL THE LIMITED AMOUNTS OF OIL THE COUNCIL HAS ALREADY APPROVED TO HELP BAGHDAD PAY FOR HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES. IRAQ STILL REFUSES, SAYING IT WANTS THE ENTIRE EXPORT BAN LIFTED. (SIGNED)

NEB/EJ/GPT
08-Sep-95 3:14 PM EDT (1914 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[10] YUGO SITREP (L) (WAYNE COREY) BY VIENNA

INTRO: BOSNIAN, CROATIAN AND YUGOSLAV OFFICIALS HAVE AGREED ON THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF A POSSIBLE ACCORD TO END THE WAR IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. WHILE THE BASIC PRINCIPLES WERE BEING WORKED OUT, NATO HAS CONTINUED TO ATTACK BOSNIAN SERB MILITARY TARGETS. V-O-A CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS.

TEXT: DIPLOMATS SAY THE AGREEMENT ON BASIC PRINCIPLES PROVIDES FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA TO REMAIN A SINGLE STATE AND TO RETAIN ITS CURRENT BORDERS. UNDER THE PROPOSAL, BOSNIA WILL CONSIST OF TWO PARTS, THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION AND THE SELF-DECLARED SERB REPUBLIC.

THE AGREEMENT ON BASIC PRINCIPLES WAS REACHED AFTER AMERICAN PEACE ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE MET WITH THE BOSNIAN, CROATIAN AND YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTERS IN GENEVA. IT WAS FIRST HIGH-LEVEL DIPLOMATIC GATHERING OF THE WARRING FORCES IN MORE THAN A YEAR. MEANWHILE, NATO HAS LAUNCHED MORE AIR ATTACKS AGAINST BOSNIAN SERB MILITARY TARGETS, INCLUDING TARGETS NEAR THE SERB STRONGHOLD AT PALE, OUTSIDE SARAJEVO.

HEAVY ARTILLERY OF THE INTERNATIONAL RAPID REACTION FORCE IN BOSNIA HAS ALSO BEEN IN ACTION. THE ARTILLERY SHELLED A SERB ANTI-AIRCRAFT SITE AFTER A MISSILE WAS FIRED AT A NATO WARPLANE.

THE BOSNIAN SERBS SAY NATO PLANES ARE HITTING CIVILIAN TARGETS. NATO SAYS EVERY EFFORT IS BEING MADE TO AVOID CIVILIAN CASUALTIES.

THE COMMANDER OF THE NATO OPERATION -- ADMIRAL LEIGHTON SMITH -- SAYS HE HAS NOT YET TAPPED THE ALLIANCE'S FULL CAPABILITY. HE WOULD NOT SAY WHEN OR HOW THE OPERATION MAY BE INTENSIFIED. BUT, HE SAYS HE THINKS THE SERBS WILL COMPLY WITH UNITED NATIONS AND NATO DEMANDS TO STOP THREATENING SARAJEVO AND OTHER U-N- DECLARED SAFE AREAS IN BOSNIA. IN MOSCOW, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN WARNED RUSSIA MIGHT DO MORE MORE THAN JUST GIVE HUMANITARIAN AID TO THE BOSNIAN SERBS. IF THE NATO BOMBING CONTINUES.

AT THE SAME TIME, THOUGH, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ANDREI KOZYREV SAYS -- DESPITE THE NATO BOMBING -- THERE IS AN UNPRECEDENTED CHANCE TO FIND A POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS IN THE BALKANS. (SIGNED) NEB / WC / WOD / GPT 08-Sep-95 11:16 AM EDT (1516 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[11] YUGO TALKS (L) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (GENEVA)

INTRO: EVEN AS NATO CONTINUED ITS AIRSTRIKES ON BOSNIAN SERB TARGETS, THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF BOSNIA, CROATIA AND YUGOSLAVIA REACHED AGREEMENT ON A SET OF PRINCIPLES FOR AN OVER-ALL SETTLEMENT OF THE CONFLICT. THE AGREEMENT CAME (FRIDAY) AFTER A DAY OF TALKS IN GENEVA AMONG THE THREE FOREIGN MINISTERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BIG POWER CONTACT GROUP ON BOSNIA. V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN GENEVA REPORTS U-S ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE, THE CHIEF ARCHITECT OF THE ACCORD, CALLED IT AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE ON THE ROAD TO PEACE, BUT HE STRESSED THAT DIFFICULT NEGOTIATIONS LIE AHEAD.

TEXT: THE AGREED SET OF PRINCIPLES STIPULATES THAT BOSNIA WILL CONSIST OF TWO SELF-GOVERNING ENTITIES -- THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION ESTABLISHED LAST YEAR, AND THE REPULICA SRPSKA, THE SELF-PROCLAIMED BOSNIAN SERB REPUBLIC THAT IS MENTIONED BY NAME IN FRIDAY'S STATEMENT.

BUT MR. HOLBROOKE STRESSED THIS DOES NOT IMPLY A PARTITION OF THE COUNTRY. AND HE POINTED TO THE FIRST LINE OF THE AGREEMENT WHICH STATES THAT BOSNIA WILL CONTINUE TO EXIST WITHIN ITS INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED BORDERS.

BUT I REPEAT AGAIN, THERE IS NOTHING IN THIS PLAN THAT WOULD SUGGEST IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM THAT BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA WOULD BE DIVIDED INTO TWO COUNTRIES.

FRIDAY'S AGREEMENT ENDORSES A TERRITORIAL COMPROMISE THAT WOULD GRANT 51 PERCENT OF BOSNIA TO THE MUSLIMS AND CROATS, WITH THE REMAINDER GOING TO THE SERBS. BUT THE PRECISE DEMARCATION OF THE INTERNAL BORDERS HAS BEEN LEFT TO FUTURE NEGOTIATIONS.

THE DOCUMENT ALSO STATES THAT BOTH THE MUSLIM-CROAT ALLIANCE AND THE BOSNIAN SERBS WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO FORGE WHAT ARE CALLED SPECIAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES.

THE MUSLIMS AND CROATS HAVE ALREADY AGREED TO A CONFEDERATION WITH NEIGHBORING CROATIA. BUT FRIDAY'S ACCORD DOES NOT ADDRESS A BOSNIAN-SERB DEMAND TO ESTABLISH A SIMILAR LINK WITH SERB-DOMINATED YUGOSLAVIA. THAT ISSUE AS WELL WAS CONSIGNED TO A LATER STAGE IN THE NEGOTIATIONS.

MR. HOLBROOKE CALLED FRIDAY'S AGREEMENT A LIMITED BUT SIGNIFICANT MOVE TOWARD A SOLUTION OF THE BOSNIAN CONFLICT. BUT HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT MUCH REMAINS TO BE DONE.

THE STATEMENT TAKES US AN IMPORTANT STEP CLOSER TO PEACE. YET, IMPORTANT AS IT IS, THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE END OF THE TRAGEDY IN THE BALKANS. FAR FROM IT. SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES EXIST BETWEEN THE SIDES -- DIFFERENCES THAT WILL REQUIRE CONTINUED AND INTENSE NEGOTIATIONS.

THE U-S ENVOY AND EUROPEAN UNION MEDIATOR CARL BILDT PLAN TO RETURN TO THE BALKANS LATE NEXT WEEK TO CONTINUE THEIR DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS. FURTHER MEETINGS OF THE CONTACT GROUP HAVE ALSO BEEN SCHEDULED OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS IN GENEVA, MOSCOW AND ROME.

BUT NO DATE OR PLACE HAS YET BEEN SET FOR A PLANNED INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE TO WORK OUT DETAILS OF A BOSNIAN SETTLEMENT. MR. HOLBROOKE SAID IT WOULD BE COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE TO SCHEDULE THAT SESSION WITHOUT FURTHER PREPARATIONS. (SIGNED)

NEB/DBR/JWH/MMK
08-Sep-95 2:54 PM EDT (1854 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America