Voice of America Digest, 30 October 1995

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] !!! VOA DIGEST - OCTOBER 30, 1995

RUSSIA / YELTSIN -- DOCTORS ATTENDING RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN SAY HIS CONDITION REMAINS UNCHANGED FOUR DAYS AFTER BEING HOSPITALIZED FOR A HEART CONDITION. CORRESPONDENT PETER COLLINS REPORTS FROM MOSCOW THAT MR YELTSIN IS SAID TO BE RECOVERING NORMALLY FROM HIS SECOND MILD HEART ATTACK IN FOUR MONTHS. (10/29)

RUSSIA / POLITICS -- RUSSIA'S POLITICAL SCENE HAS RECEIVED ANOTHER JOLT, JUST DAYS AFTER PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH HEART PROBLEMS. CORRESPONDENT ELIZABETH ARROTT IN MOSCOW REPORTS A LEADING REFORM GROUP HAS BEEN BARRED FROM TAKING PART IN DECEMBER'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, A MOVE THE BLOC LEADER, REFORMER GRIGORY YAVLINKSY, IS CALLING A POLITICAL PURGE. (10/30)

RUSSIA / YELTSIN -- HOSPITALIZED RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS BEEN FORCED TO CANCEL HIS PLANNED SUMMIT WITH BALKAN LEADERS NEXT WEEK. MR. YELTSIN'S ILLNESS HAS CAST DOUBT ON HIS POLITICAL FUTURE. STRINGER PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS THAT AIDES SAY THE PRESIDENT REMAINS IN FULL CONTROL. (10/27)

RUSSIA YELTSIN -- DOCTORS ATTENDING RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN IN A MOSCOW HOSPITAL SAY HE MAY NOT RECEIVE ANY VISITORS FOR THE TIME BEING. CORRESPONDENT PETER COLLINS REPORTS FROM MOSCOW THAT MR. YELTSIN IS REPORTED TO BE RECOVERING NORMALLY FROM HIS SECOND MILD HEART ATTACK IN FOUR MONTHS. (10/28)

US / BOSNIA / HOLBROOKE -- UNITED STATES ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE WARNS THERE WILL BE NO PEACE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA IF THE BOSNIAN SERBS INSIST THEY BE ALLOWED TO SECEDE. STAFFER VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS MR. HOLBROOKE DOWNPLAYED A POSSIBLE BREAKTHROUGH IN TALKS, BEGINNING WEDNESDAY, AT WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE IN DAYTON, OHIO. (10/28)

US / BOSNIA -- THE UNITED STATES HAS EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT ABOUT THE CANCELLATION OF RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN'S MEETING WITH THE THREE BALKAN LEADERS. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS THERE IS NO CHANGE IN THE AMERICAN PLANS FOR BOSNIA PEACE TALKS NEAR DAYTON, OHIO. (10/27)

BILDT / BOSNIA -- THE EUROPEAN UNION'S CHIEF BOSNIAN NEGOTIATOR, CARL BILDT, SAYS THE WARRING PARTIES IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA ARE HARDENING THEIR POSITIONS AHEAD OF WEDNESDAY'S PEACE TALKS IN DAYTON, OHIO. STAFFER VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS MR BILDT, A FORMER SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER, SAYS HE WILL STAY AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO REACH AN AGREEMENT ENDING FOUR YEARS OF WAR IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. (10/29)

US / RUSSIA / BOSNIA -- THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA HAVE REACHED A PARTIAL AGREEMENT ON HOW RUSSIAN TROOPS WILL TAKE PART IN PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS IN BOSNIA ONCE A SETTLEMENT IS REACHED THERE. US DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY AND RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER PAVEL GRACHEV ANNOUNCED THE ACCORD IN THE MIDWESTERN STATE OF KANSAS, WHERE THEY ATTENDED JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES. CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS. (10/27)

CROATIA / ELECT -- CROATIAN VOTERS ARE GOING TO THE POLLS SUNDAY IN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS THAT ARE WIDELY EXPECTED TO ENHANCE THE STRENGTH OF THE RULING DEMOCRATIC UNION, LED BY PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN. THE PRESIDENT CALLED THE ELECTIONS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE TO CAPITALIZE ON A WAVE OF NATIONALIST EUPHORIA FOLLOWING THE CROATIAN ARMY'S VICTORY'S OVER REBEL SERB FORCES EARLIER THIS YEAR. CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN ZAGREB REPORTS THE RULING PARTY IS HOPING TO ACHIEVE A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY IN THE ONE HUNDRED TWENTY SEVEN SEAT LEGISLATURE. (10/29)

CROATIA / ELECTIONS -- CROATIAN VOTERS WENT TO THE POLLS SUNDAY TO ELECT A NEW PARLIAMENT. THE RULING DEMOCRATIC UNION, LED BY PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN, IS WIDELY EXPECTED TO GARNER THE MOST VOTES. ANALYSTS SAY IT COULD REACH ITS GOAL OF A TWO-THIRDS' MAJORITY IN THE 127-SEAT LEGISLATURE. CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS. (10/29)

CROATIA / ELECTIONS -- PRELIMINARY RESULTS FROM SUNDAY'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN CROATIA GIVE THE RULING DEMOCRATIC UNION A SOLID LEAD. BUT THE PARTY, HEADED BY PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN, APPEARS TO BE FALLING SHORT OF ITS OBJECTIVE OF A TWO-THIRDS' MAJORITY IN THE LOWER HOUSE OF THE LEGISLATURE, KNOWN AS THE SABOR. CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN ZAGREB HAS DETAILS OF THE EARLY VOTE COUNTS. (10/29)

CROATIA / SERBS -- CROATIAN OFFICIALS AND REBEL SERB LEADERS HAVE POSTPONED A PLANNED SESSION OF TALKS SATURDAY ON THE DISPUTED REGION OF EASTERN SLAVONIA, THE LAST STRIP OF CROATIAN TERRITORY STILL HELD BY SERB FORCES. CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN ZAGREB REPORTS IT IS NOT YET CLEAR WHEN THE TALKS WILL RESUME. (10/28)

AMMAN / ECON MEET OPENS -- JORDAN'S KING HUSSEIN HAS OPENED THE THREE-DAY MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA ECONOMIC CONFERENCE WITH A CALL FOR PEACE AND PROSPERITY. THE MEETING BRINGS TOGETHER MORE THAN TWO THOUSAND POLITICIANS AND BUSINESSMEN FROM 60 COUNTRIES TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL AND HOW MUCH IT WILL COST. IT MARKS THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MADRID CONFERENCE THAT LAUNCHED THE PEACE PROCESS. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS THE CONFERENCE WILL SET UP A REGIONAL BANK, TOURISM BOARD AND BUSINESS COUNCIL TO HELP FINANCE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS FOR A PEACETIME MIDDLE EAST MARKET. (10/29)

AMMAN ECONOMIC SUMMIT -- THE ECONOMIC SUMMIT IN AMMAN OPENS SUNDAY AND WILL BRING TOGETHER MORE THAN TWO THOUSAND POLITICAL AND BUSINESS LEADERS FROM THE MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA, EUROPE, ASIA, AND NORTH AMERICA. THE MEETING IS AIMED AT FOSTERING TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE REGION AND THE ORGANIZERS ARE EXPECTING LOTS OF DEAL-MAKING ON THE MARGINS OF THE POLITICAL SPEECHES AND WORKSHOPS. THE CONFERENCE BRINGS TOGETHER ISRAELI AND ARAB BUSINESSMEN WHO ARE TRYING TO FURTHER THE PEACE PROCESS BY CEMENTING THEIR ECONOMIC TIES. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS THE TIGHT SECURITY SURROUNDING THE CONFERENCE REFLECTS THE OTHER DIMENSION OF THE PEACE PROCESS, THE NEED FOR POLITICAL STABILITY IN A REGION THAT HAS KNOWN MOSTLY WAR. (10/28)

AMMAN / SUMMIT -- THE SECOND DAY OF THE AMMAN ECONOMIC CONFERENCE ON THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA CONCENTRATES ON THE DETAILS OF GETTING THE REGION UP TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR INVESTMENT. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS THE DAY'S DISCUSSIONS FOCUS ON HOW TO HARMONIZE TRADE POLICIES AND PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ACROSS THE REGION. (10/29)

CHRISTOPHER / ECONOMIC SUMMIT -- AT THE MIDDLE EAST-NORTH AFRICAN ECONOMIC SUMMIT MEETING IN AMMAN, SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER HAS PROMISED AMERICAN HELP IN MAKING SURE A MIDDLE EAST DEVELOPMENT BANK SUCCEEDS. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM AMMAN, MR CHRISTOPHER IS AGAIN CALLING ON ARAB GOVERNMENTS TO DO AWAY WITH THEIR BOYCOTT AGAINST ISRAEL. (10/29)

CHRISTOPHER / SYRIA -- SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER IS HOLDING TALKS WITH SYRIAN PRESIDENT HAFEZ AL-ASSAD AT THE PRESIDENT'S HILLTOP PALACE. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTED FROM DAMASCUS. (10/30)

CHRISTOPHER / SYRIA -- SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER FLIES FROM AMMAN TO DAMASCUS TODAY (MONDAY) FOR HIS FIRST VISIT WITH SYRIAN PRESIDENT HAFEZ AL-ASSAD SINCE MID-JUNE. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS MR. CHRISTOPHER IS PESSIMISTIC ABOUT HIS CHANCES OF BREAKING THE DEADLOCK. (10/29)

AZERBAIJAN / FIRE -- NEARLY 300 PEOPLE HAVE DIED AND SEVERAL HUNDRED HAVE BEEN INJURED IN AN UNDERGROUND RAILWAY FIRE IN THE AZERI CAPITAL OF BAKU. CORRESPONDENT PETER COLLINS REPORTS FROM MOSCOW. (10/29)

AZERBAIJAN / FIRE -- AZERBAIJAN HAS ENTERED A SECOND DAY OF MOURNING FOR ABOUT 300 PEOPLE KILLED IN AN UNDERGROUND RAILWAY FIRE OVER THE WEEKEND. CORRESPONDENT PETER COLLINS REPORTED MONDAY FROM MOSCOW PANIC AMONG RIDERS ABOARD THE SUBWAY TRAIN MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE HIGH DEATH TOLL. (10/30)

CLINTON / SUHARTO -- PRESIDENT CLINTON MET WITH INDONESIA'S PRESIDENT SUHARTO AT THE WHITE HOUSE FRIDAY TO DISCUSS THE UPCOMING SUMMIT OF THE ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION IN JAPAN. MR CLINTON ALSO RAISED US CONCERNS ABOUT THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN INDONESIA, PARTICULARLY EAST TIMOR. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS. (10/27)

US / SRI LANKA -- THE UNITED STATES HAS CONDEMNED TAMIL TIGER SEPARATIST ATTACKS AGAINST SINHALESE CIVILIANS IN VILLAGES IN EASTERN SRI LANKA. CORRESPONDENT VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS WASHINGTON HAS CALLED THE GOVERNMENT'S AUGUST THIRD ANNOUNCEMENT OF PROPOSALS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM A BASIS FOR NEGOTIATION TO END 13 YEARS OF CONFLICT. (10/27)

LANKA FIGHTING -- ACCORDING TO MILITARY SOURCES, FIERCE FIGHTING BETWEEN SRILANKAN SECURITY FORCES AND THE TAMIL TIGERS HAS LEFT MORE THAN 70 REBELS AND SOLDIERS DEAD. AS STRINGER JENNIFER MORROW REPORTS FROM NEW DELHI, TROOPS ARE ENCOUNTERING STIFF RESISTANCE AS THEY MOVE FURTHER INTO REBEL-HELD TERRITORY IN THE NORTHERN JAFFNA PENINSULA. (10/29)

INDIA / POL -- INDIA HAS PLACED ITS BIGGEST STATE UNDER FEDERAL RULE AFTER A POLITICAL CRISIS THAT UNSEATED THE UTTAR PRADESH STATE CHIEF MINISTER. CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE REPORTS FROM NEW DELHI. M(10/28)

AFGHAN / RAPHEL VISIT -- ROBIN RAPHEL, THE US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR CENTRAL ASIA IS DUE TO ARRIVE IN AFGHANISTAN MONDAY FOR TALKS WITH PRESIDENT BURHANUDDIN RABBANI AND OTHER LEADERS. TIM JOHNSON REPORTS THERE ARE TWO ITEMS THAT TOP THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT'S AGENDA FOR THE TALKS. (10/29)

PAKISTAN / LEGHARI -- IN PAKISTAN THE OPPOSITION HAS WALKED OUT OF THE PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT, BUT TIGHT SECURITY KEPT PROCEEDINGS PEACEFUL. THIS CONTRASTS WITH LAST YEAR'S SESSION IN WHICH VIOLENCE BROKE OUT INSIDE THE PARLIAMENT BUILDING ITSELF. ISLAMABAD CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN WAS ON HAND FOR THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS AND FILED THIS REPORT. (10/29)

NORTH KOREA / DENIAL -- NORTH KOREA HAS CLAIMED THE LATEST INFILTRATION INCIDENT REPORTED BY SOUTH KOREA WAS A FABRICATION. AS STRINGER SHIN NA REPORTS FROM SEOUL, PYONGYANG'S DENIAL COMES AFTER THE SHOOTING OF A SUSPECTED NORTH KOREAN SPY FRIDAY. (10/28)

KOREA / POLITICS -- SOUTH KOREA'S PRESIDENT TRIED MONDAY TO DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM A SCANDAL OVER A LARGE SECRET FUND KEPT BY FORMER PRESIDENT ROH TAE-WOO. AS STRINGER SHIN NA REPORTED FROM SEOUL, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME PRESIDENT KIM YOUNG-SAM HAS SPOKEN OUT IN AN ATTEMPT TO DISPEL SUSPICIONS HE MAY BE INVOLVED IN THE SCANDAL. (10/30)

CHINA / AIDS -- CHINA IS GETTING SET TO LAUNCH A NATIONWIDE CAMPAIGN TO TRY TO HALT THE SPREAD OF AIDS IN THE WORLD'S MOST POPULOUS COUNTRY. CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER REPORTS FROM BEIJING, THE CAMPAIGN WILL INCLUDE EDUCATION AND TIGHTER SCREENING OF BLOOD SUPPLIES. (10/28)

CHINA ECONOMIC ROUND-UP -- A SENIOR CHINESE ECONOMIC PLANNER HAS INDICATED THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO END PREFERENTIAL TAX POLICIES FOR THE SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES THAT HAVE FUELED CHINA'S BOOMING ECONOMY. MEANWHILE, CHINESE AUTHORITIES CRACK DOWN ON SPECULATION IN THE COUNTRY'S FLEDGLING FUTURES EXCHANGE MARKETS. CORRESPONDENT STEPHANIE HO REPORTS FROM BEIJING. (10/30)

CHINA / CITIBANK -- CITIBANK, THE LARGEST AMERICAN BANK, ANNOUNCED THE OPENING OF ITS FIRST BRANCH BANK IN CHINA'S CAPITAL. CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER REPORTED FROM BEIJING, THE BANK IS STILL PROHIBITED FROM TAKING LOCAL CURRENCY DEPOSITS. (10/30)

CHINA / DISSIDENT'S WIFE -- THE WIFE AND SISTER OF A LEADING CHINESE DISSIDENT HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM POLICE CUSTODY BUT ARE UNDER VIRTUAL HOUSE ARREST IN BEIJING. CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER HAS A REPORT FROM THE CHINESE CAPITAL. (10/28)

ASIA FLOODING -- LARGE SECTIONS OF BANGKOK WERE UNDER WATER TODAY AS THE CHAO PRAYA RIVER, WHICH RUNS THROUGH THE THAI CAPITAL, REACHED ITS HIGHEST LEVEL IN DECADES. FROM BANGKOK, STRINGER DAVID BUTLER REPORTS ON THE FLOODING IN THAILAND AND IN NEIGHBORING CAMBODIA AND VIETNAM. (10/28)

VIETNAM ASSEMBLY -- VIETNAM'S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY APPROVED A NEW CIVIL CODE TODAY (SATURDAY) SPELLING OUT RIGHTS ON CONTRACTS, THE USE OF LAND AND INHERITANCE. AS STRINGER DAVID BUTLER REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU IN BANGKOK, THE SWEEPING NEW LEGISLATION IS DESIGNED IN PART TO ACCOMMODATE VIETNAM'S MOVE TO A MARKET ECONOMY AND ITS INTEGRATION INTO THE REGIONAL AND WORLD ECONOMIES. (10/28)

ISRAEL / ISLAMIC JIHAD -- THE PALESTINIAN AUTONOMY AUTHORITY HAS URGED RESTRAINT, BUT THE MILITANT PALESTINIAN GROUP, ISLAMIC JIHAD, HAS VOWED TO TAKE REVENGE ON ISRAEL FOR THE KILLING LAST THURSDAY OF ITS LEADER, FATHI SHQAQI, DURING A VISIT TO MALTA. ISRAEL HAS DENIED ANY INVOLVEMENT IN THE SHOOTING. CORRESPONDENT AL PESSIN REPORTS. (10/29/95)

ISRAEL / ISLAMIC JIHAD -- THE MILITANT PALESTINIAN GROUP ISLAMIC JIHAD HAS THREATENED TO TAKE REVENGE ON ISRAEL FOR THE KILLING LAST THURSDAY OF ITS LEADER DURING A VISIT TO MALTA. ISRAEL HAS DENIED ANY INVOLVEMENT IN THE SHOOTING. CORRESPONDENT AL PESSIN REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM. (10/29)

SYRIA / JIHAD -- THE MILITANT GROUP ISLAMIC JIHAD HAS APPOINTED A NEW LEADER TO REPLACE ITS ASSASSINATED LEADER WHILE PROMISING TO CARRY OUT DEADLY ATTACKS AGAINST ISRAEL AND ITS INTERESTS WORLDWIDE. STRINGER PEYMAN PEJMAN HAS THE DETAILS FROM CAIRO. (10/29)

ARAB LEAGUE / BUDGET -- THE 22-NATION ARAB LEAGUE IS COMPLAINING THAT IT IS JUST ABOUT BANKRUPT BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS IN COLLECTING MEMBER DUES. STRINGER PEYMAN PEJMAN REPORTS. (10/29)

THREE GORGES TIGHTROPE -- A CANADIAN-BORN TIGHTROPE WALKER HAS SUCCESSFULLY CROSSED CHINA'S YANGTZE RIVER AT THE SCENIC THREE GORGES, SETTING A NEW RECORD FOR THE LONGEST AND HIGHEST COMBINATION TIGHTROPE WALK. CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER HAS A REPORT. (10/28)

THIRD BOMB / AUSTRALIA -- AUSTRALIA HAS ADDED ITS VOICE TO THE INTERNATIONAL CHORUS OF PROTEST FOLLOWING THE CARRYING OUT BY FRANCE OF A THIRD NUCLEAR TEST IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. THE ACTING MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, BOB MCMULLAN, SUMMONED THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR TO PARLIAMENT, AND RECEIVED BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. STRINGER ROBIN POKE REPORTS FROM CANBERRA. (10/28)

FRANCE NUCLEAR -- THE EXPLOSION OF THE THIRD FRENCH NUCLEAR DEVICE IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC IN TWO MONTHS BRINGS FRANCE'S LAST SERIES OF TESTS TO ITS HALF-WAY MARK. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS. (10/28)

BRITAIN / CHIRAC -- FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC HAS FLOWN TO LONDON FOR TALKS WITH BRITISH PRIME MINISTER JOHN MAJOR, ONE OF THE FEW WORLD LEADERS WHO DOESN'T CONDEMN HIM FOR ORDERING A NEW ROUND OF NUCLEAR TESTS IN THE PACIFIC. DAVID WEBER REPORTS THAT BRITISH ANTI-NUCLEAR GROUPS ARE STAGING LARGE PROTEST DEMONSTRATIONS DURING THE CHIRAC VISIT. (10/29)

QUEBEC REFERENDUM SCENESETTER -- VOTERS IN THE PREDOMINANTLY FRENCH SPEAKING CANADIAN PROVINCE OF QUEBEC ARE DECIDING MONDAY WHETHER TO SEEK INDEPENDENCE OR STAY WITHIN THE CANADIAN FEDERATION. CORRESPONDENT ROGER WILKISON REPORTED MONDAY FROM MONTREAL, THE SECESSIONISTS ARGUE THE TIME HAS COME FOR QUEBECKERS TO TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR OWN DESTINY AS A UNIQUE PEOPLE. (10/30)

CANADIAN REFERENDUM -- IN CANADA, THE FRENCH SPEAKING PROVINCE OF QUEBEC IS PREPARING FOR A LANDMARK REFERENDUM MONDAY WHICH COULD RESULT IN ITS BREAKING-AWAY FROM THE REST OF ENGLISH SPEAKING CANADA. CORRESPONDENT PAUL FRANCUCH REPORTS FROM OTTAWA THAT FORCES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE REFERENDUM ARE BUSY TRYING TO SWAY MANY REMAINING UNDECIDED VOTERS IN THE FINAL HOURS BEFORE QUEBEC RESIDENTS GO TO THE POLLS. (10/28)

QUEBEC VOTER APPEALS -- VOTERS IN CANADA'S QUEBEC GO TO THE POLLS MONDAY IN A REFERENDUM WHICH COULD RESULT IN THAT FRENCH SPEAKING PROVINCE BREAKING AWAY FROM THE COUNTRY. CORRESPONDENT PAUL FRANCUCH REPORTS THAT GROUPS BOTH IN FAVOR AND OPPOSED TO THE REFERENDUM QUESTION STAGED EMOTIONAL APPEALS SUNDAY TO SWAY THE 10 PERCENT OR SO OF QUEBEC VOTERS WHO SAY THEY'RE STILL UNDECIDED. (10/29)

US / CANADA / QUEBEC -- THE UNITED STATES IS WATCHING WITH INTEREST THE VOTE MONDAY IN THE CANADIAN PROVINCE OF QUEBEC ON A REFERENDUM TO SEPARATE FROM CANADA. STAFFER VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS US OFFICIALS ARE DISMISSING ALLEGATIONS BY SEPARATIST LEADERS IN QUEBEC THAT THE UNITED STATES IS INTERFERING IN CANADA'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS. (10/28)

SLOVAKIA / ACCIDENT -- SOME TWO THOUSAND RESIDENTS OF VILLAGES IN EAST SLOVAKIA HAVE RETURNED TO THEIR HOMES AFTER BEING EVACUATED SATURDAY FOLLOWING A GAS PIPELINE EXPLOSION AT THE EAST SLOVAK IRON WORKS. CORRESPONDENT BARRY WOOD REPORTS. (10/29)

US / SLOVAKIA -- THE UNITED STATES HAS JOINED THE EUROPEAN UNION IN WARNING THE SLOVAK GOVERNMENT THAT ITS POLICIES ARE DAMAGING ITS CHANCES OF JOINING WESTERN INSTITUTIONS. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS. (10/27)

US / IRELAND -- THE LEADER OF A PRO-BRITISH PARTY IN NORTHERN IRELAND MET WITH CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND URGED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION NOT TO MEDDLE IN THE AFFAIRS OF NORTHERN IRELAND. IAN PAISLEY, HEAD OF THE DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY, MADE HIS COMMENTS ONE MONTH BEFORE PRESIDENT CLINTON IS TO PAY A VISIT TO NORTHERN IRELAND. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS. (10/27)

CHILE / SENTENCE -- CHILE'S SUPREME COURT HAS UPHELD THE LIFE PRISON SENTENCES OF FOUR FORMER MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL POLICE, OR CARABINEROS, AND ONE CIVILIAN. THEY WERE CONVICTED OF MURDERING THREE COMMUNIST LEADERS. CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK REPORTS. (10/27)

CENTAM EPIDEMIC -- HEALTH OFFICIALS IN SEVERAL CENTRAL AMERICAN NATIONS ARE WARNING AGAINST THE POSSIBLE SPREAD OF A MYSTERIOUS DISEASE FROM NICARAGUA, WHICH HAS KILLED AT LEAST 12 PEOPLE. CORRESPONDENT BILL RODGERS REPORTS THE VIRUS CAUSING THE DISEASE STILL HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED. (10/27)

HONDURAS / EXHUMATION -- AN INTERNATIONAL TEAM OF FORENSIC SCIENTISTS HAS TENTATIVELY IDENTIFIED THE REMAINS OF FOUR BODIES AS BEING VICTIMS OF HONDURAS' DIRTY WAR OF THE 1980'S. CORRESPONDENT BILL RODGERS REPORTS THE FORENSIC TEAM WAS IN HONDURAS TO HELP AUTHORITIES BUILD THEIR CASE AGAINST THOSE BELIEVED RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MURDERS. (10/29)

TANZANIA / ELECTION EVE -- TANZANIANS VOTE SUNDAY FOR A NEW PRESIDENT AND PARLIAMENT IN THE COUNTRY'S FIRST MULTI-PARTY ELECTIONS SINCE INDEPENDENCE. EAST AFRICA CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS THE MAIN CANDIDATES HELD THEIR FINAL CAMPAIGN RALLIES SATURDAY AMID LINGERING CONTROVERSY OVER LAST WEEK'S LOCAL ELECTIONS ON THE INDIAN OCEAN ISLANDS OF ZANZIBAR. (10/28)

ZIMBABWE / VOTE -- IN ZIMBABWE, VOTERS ARE GOING TO THE POLLS THIS WEEKEND IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS TO CHOOSE MAYORS AND REPRESENTATIVES ON CITY COUNCILS. BUT AS LAWRENCE BARTLETT REPORTS FROM HARARE, THE ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN MARRED BY CLAIMS OF IRREGULARITIES. (10/.28)

SAF / MALAN -- SOUTH AFRICA'S FORMER DEFENSE MINISTER AND DEFENSE FORCE CHIEF, MAGNUS MALAN, WILL APPEAR IN COURT NEXT WEEK ON CHARGES OF MURDER. DELIA ROBERTSON REPORTS TEN FORMER SECURITY FORCE OFFICERS OF SENIOR RANK WILL ALSO BE CHARGED. (10/29)

SAF / ARRESTS -- THE IMPENDING ARREST OF SOUTH AFRICA'S FORMER DEFENSE FORCE MINISTER AND SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIALS ON MURDER CHARGES HAS PROMPTED IMMEDIATE REACTION. CORRESPONDENT MALLORY SALESON IN JOHANNESBURG REPORTED NEWS OF THE ACTION HAS SENT SHOCK WAVES THROUGH THE COUNTRY AND PROMPTED ALLEGATIONS OF POLITICAL MOTIVATION. (10/30)

US BUDGET -- US TREASURY SECRETARY ROBERT RUBIN HAS URGED CONGRESS TO EXTEND THE GOVERNMENT'S DEBT CEILING AUTHORITY BY NOVEMBER 15TH WHEN A 25-BILLION DOLLAR INTEREST PAYMENT ON THE NATIONAL DEBT IS DUE. STAFFER VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS SAY THE NEXT MOVE IS UP TO PRESIDENT CLINTON WHO THEY SAY SHOULD NEGOTIATE A COMPROMISE BUDGET DEAL. (10/29)

SENATE / BUDGET -- THE US SENATE HAS PASSED WHAT THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY CALLS A RADICAL BUDGET BILL, DESIGNED TO DO AWAY WITH DEFICIT SPENDING IN SEVEN YEARS. THE MARGIN, IN A MIDNIGHT VOTE, WAS 52 TO 47. CORRESPONDENT DAVID SWAN REPORTS THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS ALREADY APPROVED A SIMILAR PROPOSAL. (10/28)

CLINTON / BUDGET -- PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS HE WILL MAKE GOOD ON HIS VETO THREAT WHEN HE RECEIVES THE BUDGET PACKAGE JUST PASSED BY THE REPUBLICAN-LED CONGRESS. IN HIS SATURDAY RADIO ADDRESS, MR. CLINTON INDICATED THAT ONCE HE TAKES THAT ACTION, HE WOULD STAND FIRM AGAINST REPUBLICAN PLANS FOR DEEP CUTS IN SPENDING FOR SOCIAL PROGRAMS. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS. (10/28)

CONGRESS / WEEK IN REVIEW -- IN THE US CONGRESS, BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE ENDED THE WEEK WITH VOTES ON THE REPUBLICAN BALANCED BUDGET PLAN. (THE HOUSE PASSED THE MEASURE THURSDAY WITH SENATE APPROVAL EXPECTED LATE FRIDAY OR SATURDAY) CORRESPONDENT PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS, IN THE DAYS AHEAD, NEGOTIATORS WILL BE WORKING OUT DIFFERENCES IN THE TWO VERSIONS OF THE LEGISLATION. (10/27)

US ECON / WEEK AHEAD -- US FINANCIAL MARKETS RALLIED ON FRIDAY TO RECOVER GROUND LOST EARLIER IN THE WEEK. ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINED 38 POINTS ON FRIDAY, BUT ENDED THE WEEK OFF 53 POINTS. BOND MARKETS RECOVERED SOME OF THEIR LOSSES AT WEEK'S END. MARKET TRADING IS UNEVEN DUE TO THE BITTER POLITICAL DEBATE BETWEEN PRESIDENT CLINTON AND CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS OVER THE NATION'S BUDGET. BUT LAST WEEK'S RALLIES CAME AFTER THE GOVERNMENT REPORTED A FOUR-POINT-TWO PERCENT ANNUALIZED ECONOMIC GROWTH RATE FOR THE THIRD QUARTER, ALMOST TWICE WHAT MOST ANALYSTS HAD BEEN EXPECTING. CORRESPONDENT JOE SUMMERS REPORTS. (10/29)

DOW SUIT -- A JURY IN THE US WESTERN STATE OF NEVADA HAS AWARDED A WOMAN NEARLY FOUR MILLION DOLLARS IN DAMAGES AND HER HUSBAND 200-THOUSAND DOLLARS FOLLOWING HER LAWSUIT AGAINST THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY. STAFFER VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS IT IS THE FIRST OF WHAT COULD BECOME SCORES OF SUCCESSFUL LAWSUITS OVER DAMAGES FROM FAULTY BREAST IMPLANTS. (10/29)

WORLD SERIES -- THE ATLANTA BRAVES ARE THE 1995 WORLD CHAMPIONS OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL WINNING THE WORLD SERIES FOUR GAMES TO TWO WITH A 1-0 VICTORY OVER THE CLEVELAND INDIANS. STRINGER LARRY BANDY REPORTS FROM ATLANTA. (10/29)

INSIDE USA AND CANADA:

RAIN FOREST PRESERVATION -- 'TALK TO AMERICA' OPENED WITH A REPORT FROM MONTREAL ON THE INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM UNDERWAY MONDAY. JEAN LATIERRE AT CKAC REPORTED A STRONG TURNOUT. THE AMAZON RAIN FOREST IS CONSIDERED THE MOST BIOLOGICALLY DIVERSE REGION ON EARTH. RAIN FOREST PLANTS HAVE POTENTIAL TO TREAT MANY DISEASES, BUT, IF TRENDS CONTINUE, THE RAIN FOREST WILL SOON VANISH. RAIN FOREST EXPERTS MARK PLOTKIN AND ROGER MUSTALISH DISCUSS THE THREATS AND PROMISE IN RAIN FORESTS. (TTA 10/30)

CANADA VOTE / IMPLICATIONS -- PROF. OZAY MEHMET OF OTTAWA UNIVERSITY GIVES THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE SEPARATIST MOVEMENT IN QUEBEC AND SAYS THE RESULT OF MONDAY'S VOTE WILL HAVE MAJOR INTERNATIONAL IMPLICATIONS. INTERVIEWED BY TURKISH STAFFER HALE EBIRI, THE EXPERT SAYS THE HIGH RATE OF ECONOMIC GROWTH IN QUEBEC WITHIN THE LAST FIFTEEN YEARS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE INCREASED POPULARITY OF SEPARATISM. (TURKISH 10/30)

CANADA / QUEBEC VOTE / IMMIGRANTS -- THE BATTLE OVER WHETHER QUEBEC LEAVES CANADA IS BELIEVED SO CLOSE THAT THE VOTE OF IMMIGRANTS WILL BE DECISIVE. THE LARGEST IMMIGRANT GROUPS ARE ITALIANS AND GREEKS, BUT THERE ARE ALSO VERY BIG ASIA AND BLACK COMMUNITIES. EXPERTS BELIEVE A LARGE NUMBER OF RECENT IMMIGRANTS WILL FAVOR STAYING IN CANADA. STAFFER CHIEN WEI INTERVIEWS TIAN GUANG, IMMIGRATION EXPERT, NEW YORK. (MANDARIN 10/27)

QUEBEC / REFERENDUM -- STAFFER HABIB AZARSINA INTERVIEWS TWO AZERBAIJANI-CANADIANS IN MONTREAL ABOUT THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE REFERENDUM AND THEIR REACTION TO POSSIBILITY OF CESSATION OF QUEBEC. (AZERI 10/30)

AMERICAN REGIONALISM -- REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS WANT TO TRANSFER A SIZABLE SHARE OF RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO THE STATES IN ORDER TO MOVE POWER CLOSER TO PEOPLE. ARE AMERICAN STATES AND REGIONS READY TO FULFILL THAT OBLIGATION? WHAT ARE THE MAIN REGIONAL DIVISIONS WITHIN THE AMERICAN SOCIETY TODAY, AND HOW ARE THEY REFLECTED IN THE POLITICAL AND COMMUNITY LIFE.? STAFFER ANDRZEJ ZWANIECKI TALKS ON THE SUBJECT WITH A SPECIALIST IN LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT FROM RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, JOANNA REGULSKA. (POLISH 10/27)

IMPACT OF US BUDGET CUTS IN FLORIDA -- CUTS IN THE FEDERAL BUDGET WILL HAVE AN IMPACT IN THE ECONOMY OF FLORIDA STATE. CORRESPONDENT JORGE WEHBY REPORTS FROM MIAMI. (SPANISH 10/30)

HISPANIC STUDENTS HUNGER STRIKE -- FIVE HISPANIC STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT IRVINE CONTINUE THEIR 13-DAY HUNGER STRIKE PROTESTING TERMINATION OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAMS. CORRESPONDENT HECTOR VELAZQUEZ MEJIA REPORTS FROM LOS ANGELES. (SPANISH 10/30)

SOUTHERN FLORIDA / CHINESE COMMUNITY -- ALTHOUGH THE MAJORITY OF CHINESE AMERICANS LIVE IN NEW YORK, SAN FRANCISCO AND LOS ANGELES, THERE IS A NEW CHINESE COMMUNITY DEVELOPING IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA. STAFFER KUO-FU SHU INTERVIEWS WEN CAI-DI, PRESIDENT OF CHINESE AMERICAN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA ABOUT THE CHINESE AMERICAN COMMUNITY THERE. (MANDARIN 10/29)

US-HUNGARIAN ART MANAGEMENT -- REPORTER EUGENE DETHASSY INTERVIEWS JOAN JEFFREY, PROFESSOR AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY ABOUT THE HISTORY AND THE FUTURE OF THE 'US-HUNGARIAN ART MANAGEMENT PARTNERSHIP' PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDES CONFERENCES, EXHIBITS, AND ART COURSES IN HUNGARY AND IN THE US. (HUNGARIAN 10/30)

US / EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE -- NEW YORK TIMES SCIENCE WRITER DANIEL GOLEMAN IN HIS NEW BOOK 'EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE: WHY IT CAN MATTER MORE THAN IQ?' DEFINES EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AS 'KNOWING AND MANAGING ONE'S EMOTIONS, EMPATHIZING WITH OTHERS AND HANDLING RELATIONSHIPS EFFECTIVELY.' STAFFER RUOSI WU TALKED TO PETER SALOVEY, PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR, YALE UNIVERSITY, AND PAUL MCHUGH, DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, ABOUT THE BOOK. (MANDARIN 10/29)

INSIDE AFRICA:

TANZANIA / ELECTIONS -- STAFFER AIKHA ELINEWINGA SPOKE WITH REPORTER NSUBISI MWAKIPUNDA ON THE POSTPONMENT OF VOTING IN TANZANIA. MR. MWAKIPUNDA SAID MOST OF THE VOTERS SAY THEY DESTROYED THEIR VOTING CARDS AFTER VOTING AND ARE NOW COMPLAINING THAT THEY WONT BE ABLE TO VOTE NEXT WEEK. THEY ALSO SAID THEY DID NOT SEE ANY IRREGULARITIES WHILE VOTING. (SWAHILI 10/30)

TANZANIA / ELECTION AFTERMATH -- THE VOTING HAS ENDED IN TANZANIA'S FIRST MULTIPARTY ELECTIONS. REPORTER SCOTT STEARNS TALKS WITH TANZANIA'S REGIONAL COMMISSIONER, PHILLIP MONGULA, ABOUT THE POLLING AREAS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/30)

TANZANIA / ELECTIONS REACTION -- STAFFER JEROME KASSEMBE SPOKE WITH MR. SENGO IN DAR ES SALAAM,TANZANIA'S CAPITAL, ON THE PEOPLES REACTION TO THE POSTPONEMENT. MR. SENGO SAID THAT PEOPLE REMAINED CALM AND WERE NOT BLAMING ANY PARTY AT THIS TIME. (SWAHILI 10/30)

KENYA / ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT -- AN UNIDENTIFIED GUNMAN FIRED SHOTS AT THE HOUSE OF NAIROBI MAYOR JOHN KINGORI, INJURING HIM. TWO OTHER PEOPLE WHO TRIED TO APPREHEND THE ATTACKER WERE WWOUNDED. (SWAHILI 10/30)

RWANDA / SECURITY -- UNIMIR SPOKESMAN ZOUAOUI BENAMADI IN KIGALI DESCRIBES THE SECURITY SITUATION IN RWANDA AS CALM, EXCEPT FOR DAILY SKIRMISHES ALONG THE ZAIREAN BORDER BETWEEN GOVERNMENT TROOPS AND HUTU REBELS. HE SPOKE TO REPORTER JOE DECAPUA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/30)

KENYA OPPOSITION / RWANDA -- EIGHT KENYAN OPPOSITION MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT MADE A TWO-DAY FACT-FINDING TRIP TO RWANDA. REPORTER SHAKA SSALI SPOKE WITH A MEMBER OF THE DELEGATION, DEMOCRATIC PARTY DELEGATE PETER NDWIGA, FROM NAIROBI. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/30)

KENYA / OPPOSITION TRIP -- SAFFER TOM ATANDI SPOKE WITH RAILA ODINGA, ONE OF THE OPPOSITION MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT WHO VISITED RWANDA. MR. RAILA SAID THE RWANDESE GOVERNMENT GAVE THEM A LIST OF PEOPLE WHO IT CLAIMS WERE INVOLVED IN THE KILLINGS. HE ALSO SAID THAT PRESIDENT BISIMUNGU HAS INVITED KENYA'S PRESIDENT DANIEL ARAP MOI TO VISIT RWANDA. (SWAHILI 10/30)

NIGERIA / POLITICS -- NIGERIA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT SAYS IT WILL APPOINT A COMMITTEE TO RECONCILE THE COUNTRY'S VARIOUS ETHNIC GROUPS. REPORTER CHINEDU OFFOR REPORTS FROM LAGOS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/27)

SOUTH AFRICA ELECTIONS / ORGANIZATION -- SOUTH AFRICA'S LOCAL ELECTIONS ON WEDNESDAY ARE READY TO GO. VIC MILNE, NATIONAL COORDINATOR OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS TASK GROUP, TOLD REPORTER DEBORAH BLOCK ABOUT COORDINATING SOME 700 LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/30)

SOUTH AFRICA / VOTE -- ON WEDNESDAY, SOUTH AFRICANS WILL GO TO THE POLLS TO VOTE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. REPORTER DEBORAH BLOCK SPOKE WITH PAUL GRAHAM, THE JOHANNESBURG DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE FOR DEMOCRACY FOR SOUTH AFRICA, WHICH HAS A TOLL-FREE HOTLINE TO GIVE UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON THE VOTING. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/28)

SOUTH AFRICA / CAMPAIGNING -- IN SOUTH AFRICA, CAMPAIGNING IS IN FULL SWING FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS ON WEDNESDAY. PAUL GRAHAM IS THE JOHANNESBURG DIRECTOR FOR THE INSTITUTE FOR DEMOCRACY FOR SOUTH AFRICA, IDASA. THE GROUP PROMOTES DEMOCRATIZATION IN THE COUNTRY. REPORTER DEBORAH BLOCK ASKED HIM IF POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS CAMPAIGNING IN CERTAIN AREAS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/27)

UGANDA / MUSEVENI -- UGANDA'S PRESIDENT YOWERI MUSEVENI CALLS ON KENYA TO JOIN IN EFFORTS TO REVIVE THE DEFUNCT EAST AFRICAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY. HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES IN WASHINGTON. ENGLISH TO AFRICA REPORTER RICHARD KOTEY COVERED THE SPEECH. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/27)

NAMIBIAN ASSSESSMENT / UN AT 50 -- REPORTER KEMI SOUTHEY-COLE DISCUSSES THE ROLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN AFRICA WITH THEO BEN-GURIRAB, FOREIGN MINISTER OF NAMIBIA, THE UN'S MOST RECENT AFRICAN MEMBER STATE. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/28, 10/29)

MALAWI / BANDA TRIAL -- A STATE WITNESS MAKES STARTLING REVELATIONS AT THE ON-GOING TRIAL OF FORMER PRESIDENT KAMUZU BANDA IN BLANTYRE. REPORTER JULIUS KALIYA REPORTED FROM BLANTYRE. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/29)

LIBERIA -- THE CHAIRMAN OF LIBERIA'S TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT, WILTON SANKAWOLO, SAYS LIBERIANS SHOULD TAKE THE LEAD IN THEIR COUNTRY'S RECONSTRUCTION. PROFESSOR SANKAWOLO RECENTLY ADDRESSED LIBERIANS IN WASHINGTON, DC. AFTER THE MEETING, SOME LIBERIANS SHARED THEIR VIEWS WITH REPORTER JAMES BUTTY. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/29)

ETHIOPIA / NEW MUSLIM COUNCIL -- ETHIOPIAN MUSLIMS HAVE ELECTED A NEW SUPREME MUSLIM COUNCIL WHICH INTERPRETS ISLAMIC LAW FOR THE COUNTRY'S MOSLEMS. AMHARIC STRINGER TAFESSE KIFLE SENT A REPORT FROM ADDIS ABABA. (AMHARIC 10/30)

MOROCCO / HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH REPORT -- HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH-MIDDLE EAST SAYS DESPITE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN MOROCCO'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS, THE TRANSITION TO A DEMOCRATIC STATE IS FAR FROM COMPLETE. STAFFER TIZITA BELACHEW REPORTS. (AMHARIC 10/28)

MOZAMBIQUE / ANNIVERSARY -- MOZAMBIQUE CELEBRATED ITS FIRST YEAR OF DEMOCRACY ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28. REPORTER WILLIAM EAGLE TALKS WITH CARLOS CARDOSO, THE EDITOR OF MEDIAFAX DAILY NEWSWIRE AND POLITICAL ANALYST MIGUEL DE BRITO, NOW ON ASSIGNMENT WITH THE WAR-TORN SOCIETIES PROJECT WITH THE UN RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 10/27)

GHANA PRESIDENT / WASHINGTON -- GHANA'S PRESIDENT IS CURRENTLY VISITING WASHINGTON, MEETING WITH BUSINESS COMMMUNITY AND THE GHANAIAN COMMUNITY RESPECTIVELY. STAFFER ALI ABBAS COVERED BOTH OCCASIONS. MAYOR MARION BARRY ALSO COMMENTED ON LINKS BETWEEN GHANA AND AFRICAN AMERICANS. (HAUSA 10/27)

INSIDE MIDEAST:

AMMAN SUMMIT -- SOME TWO THOUSAND GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS LEADERS FROM 63 COUNTRIES ARE GATHERED IN AMMAN, JORDAN FOR A ME ECONOMIC CONFERENCE. CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS. (ARABIC 10/29)

AMMAN ECONOMIC CONFERENCE / EXPECTATIONS -- PARTICIPANTS ARE EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE THE CREATION OF A ME REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT BANK WITH US, CANADIAN AND JAPANESE PARTICIPATION. STAFFER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS. (ARABIC 10/29)

AMMAN SUMMIT / OPENING -- AMMAN'S ECONOMIC SUMMIT WAS OPENED BY JORDAN'S KING HUSSEIN WHO URGED DELEGATES TO CREATE A STRONG ECONOMIC BASE IN THE MIDDLE EAST. ADDRESSING THE SUMMIT, US SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER ANNOUNCED THE CREATION OF A MIDEAST-NORTH AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK. CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS. (ARABIC 10/29)

AMMAN SUMMIT -- GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR IBRAHIM OWEISS, A SPECIALIST IN THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF THE MIDDLE EAST, DISCUSSES THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT BANK ANNOUNCED AT THE SUMMIT SUNDAY. IN THE INTERVIEW WITH LAURI NEFF, PROFESSOR OWEISS ALSO EXPLAINS WHO BENEFITS, WHY ISRAEL AND THE UNITED STATES SUPPORT IT AND WHY GULF STATES ARE OPPOSED. (ENP 10/29)

CHRISTOPHER / PRESS CONFERENCE -- SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER SAID, IN A PRESS CONFERENCE HELD IN AMMAN, THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST HAS CHANGED BEYOND EXPECTATIONS AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE. CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTED FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 10/29)

ECONOMIC SUMMIT / AMMAN -- GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS LEADERS FROM 63 COUNTRIES ARE ARRIVING IN JORDAN TO PARTICIPATE IN AMMAN'S ECONOMIC CONFERENCE, STRINGER SULEIMAN KHAIRALLAH REPORTED FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 10/28)

AMMAN ECONOMIC CONFERENCE -- JORDAN IS READY FOR THE OPENING SUNDAY OF AMMAN'S ECONOMIC CONFERENCE IN WHICH SOME 2000 PARTICIPANTS WILL REPRESENT 63 COUNTRIES. CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 10/28)

AMMAN ECONOMIC SUMMIT -- TALKING ABOUT THE SUMMIT WHICH OPENS IN AMMAN ON SUNDAY, DR. IBRAHIM HAYANI, PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS AT TORONTO UNIVERSITY, CANADA, SAYS MIDEASTERN COUNTRIES DID NOT OVERCOME ALL THEIR DIFFERENCES, AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS ARE VERY IMPORTANT IN SOLVING POLITICAL ISSUES. (ARABIC 10/27)

MAURITANIA / SUMMIT -- PRESIDENT MAOUYA OULD SIDI AHMED TAYA OF MAURITANIA DECIDED NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN AMMAN'S SUMMIT DUE TO INTERNAL PROBLEMS IN HIS COUNTRY. STRINGER MOHAMED BENDEDDOUCHE REPORTS FROM RABAT. (ARABIC 10/27)

PALESTINIANS / US EMBASSY -- THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY WARNED AGAINST MOVING THE US EMBASSY IN ISRAEL FROM TEL AVIV TO JERUSALEM. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AUTHORITY SAID SUCH A MOVEMENT MIGHT LEAD TO VIOLENCE, STRINGER KHALIL ASSALI REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM. (ARABIC 10/28)

US / JERUSALEM -- THE ISRAELI MAYOR OF JERUSALEM, EHUD OLMERT, SAYS PLANS ARE BEING PREPARED FOR A SPECIAL FOREIGN EMBASSY DISTRICT IN WEST JERUSALEM. DR. GHASSAN EL-KHATIB, DIRECTOR OF THE PUBLIC OPINION STUDIES CENTER IN JERUSALEM, TOLD STAFFER MOHAMED EL-SETOUHI THE PALESTINIANS STRONGLY SUPPORT THE PEACE PROCESS, BUT MOVING THE US EMBASSY TO JERUSALEM WILL CREAT PROBLEMS AND HURT THE PEACE PROCESS. (ARABIC 10/27)

SYRIA / ISRAEL -- TWO DAYS BEFORE SECRETARY WARREN CHRISTOPHER'S VISIT TO DAMASCUS IN A BID TO REVIVE ISRAELI-SYRIAN PEACE TALKS, SYRIA HAS BLAMED ISRAEL FOR COMPLICATING THE PEACE PROCESS. CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS. (ARABIC 10/28)

US / SYRIA -- US SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER'S VISIT TO SYRIA FOR TALKS WITH PRESIDENT HAFEZ AL-ASSAD, IS DISCUSSED WITH DR ASAD ABU KHALIL, PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, UCLA. HE TOLD STAFFER MOHAMED EL-SETOUHI IN AN INTERVIEW THAT HE DOES NOT EXPECT A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH FROM MR. CHRISTOPHER'S VISIT. (ARABIC 10/27)

CHRISTOPHER / SYRIA / ISRAEL -- SYRIAN OFFICIALS DID NOT COMMENT ON WARREN CHRISTOPHER'S UPCOMING VISIT TO SYRIA. MEANWHILE, ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER SHIMON PERES SAYS HE DOES NOT EXPECT MUCH FROM THE VISIT. CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS FROM AMMAN, AND STRINGER KHALIL ASSALI FROM JERUSALEM. (ARABIC 10/27)

IRAQI OFFICERS FLEE -- TWO HIGH-RANKING IRAQI OFFICERS ESCAPED FROM IRAQ, ONE TO IRAN AND THE OTHER TO KUWAIT. STRINGER SULEIMAN KHAIRALLAH REPORTS. (ARABIC 10/28)

SAUDI MOSQUE BOMBER -- SAUDI OFFICIALS SAY A SAUDI CITIZEN SUSPECTED OF BOMBING A CROWDED MOSQUE IN SAUDI ARABIA LAST FRIDAY HAS KILLED HIMSELF. STRINGER SULEIMAN KHAIRALLAH REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 10/27)

RAPHEL/ AFGHANISTAN -- ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATES FOR SOUTH ASIA RABIN RAPHEL RETURNED TO PESHAWAR AFTER BRIEF VISITS TO THE AFGHAN CITIES OF KABUL, MAZAR-E-SHARIF AND JALALABAD WHERE SHE MET WITH LEADERS OF SEVERAL AFGHAN FACTIONS. STRINGER ABDUL HAI WARSHAN REPORTS THAT THE US OFFICIAL ALSO PLANS TO HOLD TALKS WITH THE PESHAWAR-BASED AFGHAN LEADERS THIS WEEK. (DARI 10/30)

REFORMERS / OFFICIAL CLERGY / IRAN -- STAFFER FARAH JAHANGIRI INTERVIEWS SCHOLAR DR. MOHAMMAD BORGHEHI ABOUT A STATEMENT LAST FRIDAY BY AYATOLLAH JANNATI, A SENIOR IRANIAN CLERIC, WHO DENOUNCED ISLAMIC REFORMERS AS TRAITORS FOR SOWING DISCORD WHEN INTERNAL UNITY WAS NEEDED. HIS ATTACK APPEARED TO BE DIRECTED AGAINST ABDOLKARIM SORUSH, A UNIVERSITY LECTURER. BORGHEI DISCUSSED SORUSH'S IDEAS. (FARSI 10/30)

ISLAMIC JIHAD / CHIEF -- THE MILITANT PALESTINIAN GROUP ISLAMIC JIHAD HAS THREATENED TO TAKE REVENGE ON ISRAEL FOR THE KILLING LAST THURSDAY OF ITS LEADER, FATHI SHAQ, IN MALTA. THE ISLAMIC JIHAD SAID ISRAELI INSTITUTIONS WORLDWIDE WILL BE POSSIBLE TARGETS FOR IT REVENGE. STAFFER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS. (ARABIC 10/29)

ISLAMIC JIHAD LEADER / ASSASSINATED -- CAIRO STRINGER PEYMAN PEJMAN EXAMINES THE LIFE OF ISLAMIC JIHAD LEADER, FATIH SHAQAQI, WHO WAS KILLED IN MALTA. (FARSI 10/29)

ALGERIA / VIOLENCE -- A TRUCK BOMB EXPLOSION EAST OF ALGIERS HAS KILLED SIX PEOPLE AND WOUNDED MORE THAN EIGHTY OTHERS. STRINGER HAKIM OULD KHALED REPORTS FROM ALGIERS. (ARABIC 10/29)

INSIDE CENTRAL ASIA:

OSCE OFFICE / UZBEKISTAN -- VLADIMIR DURANOV, THE POLITICAL ADVISER TO THE OSCE SECRETARIAT IN VIENNA TOLD STAFFER ABDUL MANNAN KAISKEN THAT THE BRANCH OFFICE OF THE OSCE WHICH HAS BEEN FORMALLY OPENED IN TASHKENT ON OCTOBER 10TH, DOES NOT HAVE A MONITORING COMPONENT IN ITS MANDATE, THEREFORE, IT IS NOT A FULL MISSION. ITS PRIMARY GOAL AND OBJECTIVE IS TO ACCELERATE INTEGRATION OF THE COUNTRIES IN THE REGION INTO THE MAIN-FRAME OF THE OSCE. (UZBEK 10/28)

CENTRAL ASIA POLL -- IN AN OPINION POLL COMMISSIONED BY THE INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR ELECTION SYSTEMS, A MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION IN KAZAKHSTAN AND KYRGYZSTAN EXPRESSED DISSATISFACTION WITH THE OVERALL STATE OF THEIR COUNTRIES HAVE NOT BENEFITED FROM INDEPENDENCE. REPORT BY STAFFER GEORGE ZORIN. (RUSSIAN 10/29)

BAKU / SUBWAY FIRE -- STAFFER HABIB AZARSINA INTERVIEWS TWO AZARBAIJANI IMMIGRANTS ABOUT THE SUBWAY FIRE TRAGEDY IN BAKU. (AZERI 10/30)

INSIDE SOUTH ASIA:

INDIA / MAURITIUS -- THE PRIME MINISTER OF MAURITIUS ANIRUDH JUGNAUTH, WHO IS ON A FIVE DAY STATE VISIT TO INDIA, SAYS INDIA SHOULD BE MADE A PERMANENT MEMBER OF AN EXPANDED UN SECURITY COUNCIL. HE SAYS HE DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITIES OF JOINT VENTURES IN THE AREAS OF TRADE, TECNOLOGY, TOURISM, INFORMATION AND PRINTING WITH INDIAN OFFICIALS DURING HIS VISIT. STRINGER REPORT. (HINDI 10/30)

INDIA / EXPORT-IMPORT -- INDIAN MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMERCE P CHIDAMBARAN SAYS INDIA'S FEDERAL RESERVE BANK WILL INTERVENE TO STOP FURTHER FALL OF INDIAN RUPEE AGAINST THE AMERICAN DOLLAR. HE SAYS INDIA HAS ENOUGH FOREIGN CURRENCY RESERVES AND THAT IMPORTERS AND EXPORTERS NEED NOT PANIC. HE WAS INAUGRATING A BANK IN NEW DELHI WHICH HAS A MAJOR CAPITAL INVESTMENT BY NON-RESIDENT INDIANS. STRINGER REPORT. (HINDI 10/30)

BANGLA POL -- THE GOVERNMENT OF BANGLADESH HAS ANNOUNCED IT'S DETERMINATION TO STOP FURTHER STRIKES BY THE OPPOSITION WHICH ACCORDING TO THE ADMINISTRATION IS HURTING THE ECONOMY OF THE COUNTRY. FROM BANGLADESH STRINGERMATIUR RAHMAN CHOUDHURY REPORTS THAT PRIME MINISTER KHALIDA ZIA MAY PROPOSE TALKS WITH THE OPPOSITION BEFORE THE 7 DAY STRIKE BEGINNING ON NOVEMBER 11. (BANGLA 10/28)

KHALIDA ZIA'S LETTER TO HASINA -- BANGLADESH PRIME MINISTER KHALIDA ZIA WROTE A LETTER TO THE OPPOSITION LEADER SHEIKH HASINA INVITING HER TO HAVE FORMAL TALKS TO RESOLVE THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN BANGLADESH. THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE RESPONSE FROM THE OPPOSITION. BUT STRINGER MATIUR RAHMAN CHOUDHURY REPORTS FROM DHAKA THE LETTER IN ITSELF IS CONSIDERED TO BE A MAJOR STEP FORWARD IN RESOLVING THE 19 MONTH OLD CRISIS. (BANGLA 10/28)

INDIA / BANGLADESH BORDER -- THE SITUATION IN THE INDIA-BANGLADESH BORDER NEAR SYLHET IS REPORTED TO BE TENSE DUE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUNKER AND A CUSTOM'S HOUSE BY THE INDIAN AUTHORITIES. MEANWHILE, THE REGULAR BORDER MEETING BETWEEN BANGLADESHI AND INDIAN BORDER SECURITY FORCES IS NOW TAKING PLACE IN DHAKA. STRINGER MATIUR RAHMAN CHOUDHURY REPORTS FROM DHAKA. (BANGLA 10/30)

BANGLA CLASH -- OPPOSITION POLITICAL PARTIES, INCLUDING THE AWAMI LEAGUE AND JATIYA PARTY STAGED A DEMONSTRATION AND TRIED TO SURROUND THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF DHAKA. STRINGER MATIUR RAHMAN CHOUDHURY REPORTS THAT POLICE TRIED TO BREAK UP THE DEMONSTRATIONS. AT LEAST 50 PEOPLE WERE INJURED AND 12 ARRESTED. MEANWHILE THE OPPOSITION AWAMI LEAGUE HAS PREPARED A REPLY TO THE LETTER FROM THE PRIME MINISTER REGARDING THE CURRENT POLITICAL CRISIS. (BANGLA 10/30)

INSIDE EAST ASIA:

CHINA / RUSSIA / TAIWAN / WEAPONS -- CHINA HAS PROCURED TWENTY FOUR ADDITIONAL SOPHISTICATED SU-27 FIGHTERS FROM RUSSIA. MEANWHILE, CHINESE MEDIA REPORTED THURSDAY THE VISIT OF A HIGH-LEVEL RUSSIAN AIR FORCE DELEGATION HEADED BY GENERAL PYOTR DEINEKIN, WHO MET AMONG OTHERS WITH GENERAL LIU HUAQING, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF CHINA'S CENTRAL MILITARY COMMISSION. STAFFER QI FENG INTERVIEWS LIN CHANGSHENG, RESEARCH FELLOW, CLAREMONT INSTITUTE WHO COMMENTS ON RECENT WEAPONS DEALS WITH CHINA AND TAIWAN. (MANDARIN 10/27)

SOUTH KOREA / RECORDING OF KIM JONG IL -- A SOUTH KOREAN MAGAZINE PUBLISHED A TRANSCRIPT OF THE FIRST RECORDING EVER OF KIM JONG IL'S SPEECH. THE 55 MINUTE-LONG SPEECH WAS SECRETLY RECORDED BY A SOUTH KOREAN COUPLE. PSYCHIATRISTS ANALYZED THE TAPE AND DREW SOME INTERESTING CONCLUSIONS ON THE PERSONALITY OF THE RECLUSIVE LEADER. STAFFER CHIEN WEI INTERVIEWS JIANG YUANZHENG, CHINA TV, SEOUL REPORTER. (MANDARIN 10/27)

HONG KONG / FINANCE -- CHEN YUAN, VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE PEOPLE'S BANK OF CHINA, SAYS THAT AFTER 1997 HONG KONG WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE FINANCIAL CENTER FOR CHINA AS WELL AS FOR THE WORLD, WHILE SHANGHAI WILL FUNCTION MAINLY AS THE FINANCIAL CENTER FOR MAINLAND CHINA. STAFFER DING LI IN HONG KONG INTERVIEWS LIU PEIQING, HK POLYTECHNIC UNIV., AND ZHOU BAJUN, RESEARCHER, HK XIN HONGJI INVESTMENT CO. (MANDARIN 10/27)

CHINA / TIBET / PANCHEN LAMA / SELECTION -- BEIJING HAS CRITICIZED THE DALAI LAMA FOR IGNORING THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT'S AUTHORITY IN SELECTING THE REINCARNATION OF THE PANCHEN LAMA. BEIJING INSISTS ON USING LOTTERY TO SELECT THE REINCARNATION. SOME SCHOLARS AND NGAPO NGAWANG JIGME, THE MOST IMPORTANT TIBETAN WITHIN THE CHINESE POLITICAL SYSTEM, DISAGREE WITH BEIJING. STAFFER ZHANG NAN INTERVIEWS JIGME NGAPO, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR TIBET. (MANDARIN 10/28)

PHILIPPINES / REGIONAL SECURITY / CHINA -- PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT FIDEL RAMOS SAYS HE REMAINS WARY ABOUT THE POTENTIAL THREAT CHINA POSES TO THE SECURITY OF THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION. STAFFER CHOU YUNTING INTERVIEWS MENG XUAN, COMMENTATOR, WORLD JOURNAL, WHO BELIEVES THAT AS THE FILIPINO ELECTIONS APPROACH, RAMOS COULD BE USING CHINA'S POTENTIAL THREAT AS A MEANS TO INCITE XENOPHOBIC SENTIMENT AMONG FILIPINOS, A COMMON CAMPAIGN TACTIC IN THE PHILIPPINES. (MANDARIN 10/28)

CHINA / AIDS -- BEIJING ANNOUNCED A BOLD NEW SCHEME TO COMBAT AIDS AND ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE IN CHINA WAS PROBABLY FAR WIDER THAN OFFICIALS HAD BEEN WILLING TO ADMIT. THE OFFICIAL FIGURE FOR HIV CARRIERS IS ABOUT 2,000. ZHANG KONGLAI, MEMBER OF NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR AIDS PREVENTION, TOLD STAFFER CHIEN WEI THAT THE ACTUAL FIGURE IS PROBABLY TEN TIMES THAT. (MANDARIN 10/28)

CHINA/ CULTURAL IMPACT ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT -- A PROMINENT SOCIAL SCIENTIST AND A WELL KNOWN CHINESE ENTREPRENEUR BOTH BELIEVE THAT CULTURAL AND SOCIAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SOCIETIES ARE IMPORTANT FACTORS IN DETERMINING WHETHER NATIONS ARE ECONOMICALLY SUCCESSFUL. COMPARISONS ARE MADE BETWEEN CHINA AND JAPAN. STAFFER CHIEN WEI INTERVIEWS WEN YUANKAI, VICE PRES., ROOSEVELT-CHINA INVESTMENT CO. (MANDARIN 10/28)

CHINA / IMPORTED FOOD -- A WIDE VARIETY OF IMPORTED FOODS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE CHINESE MARKET. BUT DESPITE THEIR GOOD IMAGE AND POPULARITY, MORE AND MORE IMPORTED FOOD PRODUCTS ARE FAKE OR OF POOR QUALITY. EXPERTS CALL FOR TIGHTER REGULATIONS, STRICTER SUPERVISION AND A HIGHER LEVEL OF BUSINESS ETHICS. STRINGER SHI LEI IN HONG KONG INTERVIEWS WANG LUOXIN, MARKETING DIRECTOR OF YINZHIJIE-GUANGHE IMPORTED WINE CO, SHANGHAI, LU TAIHONG, SUN YATSEN UNIV., AND GUANGJUN, JINAN UNIV. (MANDARIN 10/29)

TAIWAN / SHINCHU SHELTER FOR MAINLAND CHINESE -- SHINCHU SHELTER IS THE LARGEST OF THE SEVERAL SHELTERS TAIWAN GOVERNMENT SET UP TO ACCOMMODATE THE SURGE OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM MAINLAND CHINA.STRINGER TIEN KANGLIN IN TAIPEI INTERVIEWS TAN MINGQI, DIRECTOR OF SHINCHU SHELTER, AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ZHANG KAI AND ZHOU YANLI. (MANDARIN 10/29)

CHINA / BUSINESS / SALES COMMISSIONS -- SALES COMMISSIONS IN MANY BUSINESS DEALS, ONCE CONSIDERED ILLEGAL IN CHINA, NOW PREVAIL. AS RESULTS, CORRUPTION BECOMES EASIER AND THE STATE LOSES TAX REVENUE. STAFFER HE PING IN HONG KONG INTERVIEWS PROF. WANG DINGDING, HK UNIV., AND PROF. XIANG BING, HK SCIENCE & TECH. UNIV. (MANDARIN 10/29)

CHINA / CULTURAL CHINA AND DEMOCRACY -- PANEL DISCUSSION IN WASHINGTON WITH DR. CHEN KUI-DE, CHIEF EDITORIAL WRITER FOR DEMOCRAT CHINA AND COORDINATOR, DEPT OF HUMANITIES, CENTER FOR MODERN CHINA, AND HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY PROFESSOR TU WEIMING, HARVARD UNIV. STAFFER RUOSI WU COVERS THE DISCUSSION. (MANDARIN 10/29)

HONG KONG / DEVELOPMENT OF THE ADVERTISING INDUSTRY -- IN A LOOK AT THE DEVELOPMENT AND HISTORY OF THE ADVERTISING INDUSTRY, STAFFER HE PING IN HONG KONG INTERVIEWS PROF. YANG YIKAI, CHINESE UNIV., HONG KONG, ON ADVERTISING'S IMPORTANCE IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY AND INTERNATIONAL ADVERTISING. (MANDARIN 10/29)

HONG KONG QUESTIONAIRE DECRIED -- IN HONG KONG, MANY ARE CRITICIZING QUESTIONS POSED IN A RECENT HK GOVERNMENT QUESTIONNAIRE ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION AS BIASED, ARBITRARY, AND COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. THE GOVERNMENT CLAIMS THE QUESTIONAIRE IS NECESSARY FOR DETERMINING THE NEED TO ADOPT LEGISLATION COUNTERING ANTI-GAY AND BISEXUAL DISCRIMINATION. LAWRENCE NG INTERVIEWS FELIX WONG, FOUNDER OF "TEN PERCENT SOCIETY"; ELIZABETH WONG, LEGISLATOR; MATTHIAS WOO, ZUNI ICOSEHEDRON; TSE WING LING, DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATOR; ERICA HUI, PRINCIPLE ASSISTANT SECRETARY, HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT. (CANTONESE 10/30)

TAIWAN / MAINLAND CHINA RELATIONS -- MR. WEN-LANG LI, HISTORY PROFESSOR AT OHIO STATE UNIV. AND MEMBER OF TAIWAN'S LEGISLATIVE YUAN, AND MR. HSUAN MENG, DEPUTY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF WORLD JOURNAL, PARTICIPATED IN THE CHINA FORUM CALL-IN SHOW PANEL DISCUSSION ON TAIWAN-MAINLAND RELATIONS. (MANDARIN 10/30)

TAIWAN / INTERVIEW WITH DPP CHAIR PENG MINGMIN -- THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TAIWAN DPP PENG MINGMIN SAYS THAT CHINA SHOULD NOT INTERFERE WITH TAIWANESE PEOPLE'S RIGHTS TO PURSUE DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM. HE POINTS OUT THAT SINCE 1949, TAIWAN HAS BEEN ENJOYING ACTUAL INDEPENDENCE AND THAT THE CURRENT PROBLEM IS HOW TO FORMALLY ESTABLISH INDEPENDENCE. THE US WON'T SUPPORT THE TAIWAN INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT, BUT INSISTS THE ISSUE BE SETTLED PEACEFULLY. PENG IMPLIES THAT THE DPP WON'T RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF TALKING WITH CHINESE AUTHORITIES. INTERVIEW BY TIEN KANGLIN. (MANDARIN 10/27)

NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR / KEDO -- NORTH KOREA AND THE KOREAN PENINSULA ENERGY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION (KEDO) ARE REPORTED TO MAKE SUBSTENTIAL PROGRESS IN DISCUSSING THE TERMS OF SUPPLYING TWO LIGHT-WATER REACTORS TO THE COMMUNIST COUNTRY. A SOUTH KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL SAID THE ADVANCE WAS POSSIBLE SINCE PYONGYANG HAS WITHDRAWN ITS REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL FUND FOR INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC SUPPLY SYSTEM, ROADS AND PORT FACILITIES. CORRESPONDENT YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 10/30)

NORTH / SOUTH KOREA / TRADE -- THE MINISTRY OF NATIONAL UNIFICATION DISCLOSED THAT TRADE BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA RECORDED 217 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS AS OF AUGUST, MARKING A 60 PERCENT INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR. STAFFER YONG KYUN LIME REPORTS THAT INTER-KOREAN TRADE IS EXPECTED TO REACH OVER 300 MILLION DOLLARS BY THE END OF THIS YEAR IF THE CURRENT PACE SUSTAINS. (KOREAN 10/30)

NORTH KOREA / TRADE OFFICE -- NORTH KOREA IS REPORTEDLY ESTABLISHED A TRADE OFFICE IN KUANG-CHOU, KWANGTUNG PROVINCE, CHINA, TO PROMOTE FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN ITS RAJIN-SONBONG FREE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ZONE. YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 10/30)

FORMER PRESIDENT / SLUSH FUND -- SOUTH KOREAN PROSECUTORS RECEIVED A LETTER OF EXPLANATION FROM FORMER PRESIDENT ROH TAE WOO ABOUT DETAILS OF THE SLUCH FUND ALLEGEDLY ACCUMULATED BY HIM WHILE HE WAS IN OFFICE. CORRESPONDENT YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS THAT THE PROSECUTORS ARE LIKELY TO SUMMON MR. ROH AS EARLY AS TUESDAY TO INTERROGATE ABOUT THE SIZE AND USE OF THE SECRET FUND. MEANWHILE, PRESIDENT KIM YOUNG SAM REAFFIRMED A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION INTO THE SCANDAL, BUT DID NOT CATEGORICALLY DENIED ALLEGATIONS BY THE OPPOSITION PARTIES THAT HE WAS INVOLVED IN THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S SLUSH FUND. (KOREAN 10/30)

PERRY / ASIAN SECURITY -- SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WILLIAM PERRY SAYS THAT THE NEW POWER STRUCTURE IN NORTH KOREA HAS EMBRACED THE OLD THINKING AND THE RHETORICE OF THE COLD WAR, WHILE THE COMMUNIST COUNTRY HAS GRAVE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. IN HIS KEYNOTE SPEECH TO A WASHINGTON SEMINAR, MR. PERRY SAID, 'OUR BEST RESPONSE IS THAT WE REACH OUT A HAND OF HELP, BUT THE OTHER HAND HOLDS FIRMLY ON TO THE FOUNDATION BEING OUR ALLIANCE WITH SOUTH KOREA.' HE SAID MAINTAINING THE PEACE ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA IS THE MOST PRESSING SECURITY PROBLEM IN THE REGION. STAFFER SI CHANG NOH HAS DETAILS. (KOREAN 10/26)

AMERICANS / VIETNAM -- STAFFER LE LAI REPORTS FROM BANGKOK THAT THREE AMERICANS, WHO WERE FIRST THE FIRST TO CONTACT HO CHI MINH AT THE END OF WW II, CHARLES FAN, TRANKIE TAN, AND NICK AGLESON, ARE VISITING VIETNAM AFTER 50 YEARS. (VIETNAMESE 10/30)

HUMAN RIGHTS IN VIETNAM -- AUSTRALIAN STRINGER NGOC HAN REPORTS THAT VIETNAMESE RESIDENTS MET IN NEW SOUTH WALES TO EXAMINE THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN VIETNAM. SPEAKERS INCLUDED THE VEN. THICH QUANG BA, REV. CHU VAN CHI AND WRITER DOAN QUOC SY. (VIETNAMESE 10/30)

INSIDE EUROPE:

BOSNIAN PEACE DELEGATION -- THE SARAJEVO GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED THE NAMES OF OFFICIALS WHO WILL BE PART OF THE BOSNIAN DELEGATION ON PEACE TALKS TO BE HELD IN DAYTON, OHIO. SARAJEVO STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTS PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVI?C WILL BE HEADING THE SEVEN MEMBER NEGOTIATING TEAM. (CROATIAN 10/29)

UN GENERAL SECRETARY SPECIAL ENVOY / BOSNIA -- BEFORE TAKING HIS POST MR. KOFI ANAN MET WITH BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT MINISTER HASAN MURATOVIC. IF A PEACE AGREEMENT IS REACHED, ONLY THE CIVILIAN ELEMENT OF UNPROFOR IS TO STAY IN BOSNIA DEALING WITH HUMANITARIAN PROBLEMS. IF NOT, THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT WOULD SUPPORT EXTENSION OF UNPROFOR MANDATE IN BOSNIA. STRINGER IVICA PULJIC REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (CROATIAN 10/28)

CROATIAN ELECTIONS / PRELIMINARY RESULTS -- ZAGREB STRINGER ZELJKO MATIC REPORTS ON THE PRELIMINARY COUNT OF THE VOTES AT CROATIAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. THE RULING CROATIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION WON AROUND 48 PERCENT OF THE VOTES ON THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, WHILE THE COALITION OF FIVE OPPOSITION PARTIES SEIZED AROUND 19 PERCENT OF VOTES. (CROATIAN 10/30)

CROATIAN ELECTIONS -- UNDER SUPERVISION OF MONITORS FROM 28 COUNTRIES, ELECTIONS ARE HELD IN CROATIA FOR THE LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT. ACCORDING TO STRINGER FROM ZAGREB ?ZELJKO MATIC, THE VOTING WAS BEING CONDUCTED WITHOUT BIGGER PROBLEMS, EXCEPT IN CASES OF VOTING FOR CANDIDATES OF SERB NATIONALITY. (CROATIAN OCT. 29)

BOSNIA / CROATIAN ELECTIONS -- STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC LOOKS FROM SARAJEVO AT THE IMPACT OF THE FORTHCOMING PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN CROATIA ON GENERAL SITUATION IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED ABOUT WHERE TO STATION AMERICAN TROOPS ONCE THEY BECOME PART OF THE PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN BOSNIA. (CROATIAN 10/27)

CROATIA / ELECTIONS -- POLLING STATIONS OPENED AT 7:00 AM SUNDAY IN CROATIA. THE FIRST UNOFFICIAL RESULTS ARE EXPECTED HALF AN HOUR AFTER MIDNIGHT. MORE THAN 40 PERCENT OF THE ELECTORAL BODY CAST THEIR BALLOT BEFORE NOON. STRINGER DUSAN MASIC REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (SERBIAN 10/29)

CROATIA / ELECTIONS -- THE PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN CROATIA IS OVER. THE POLLING STATIONS WILL OPEN SUNDAY AT 7 AM. THE FIRST UNOFFICIAL RESULTS WILL BE PUBLISHED AFTER MIDNIGHT. AFTER A VERY AGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN CROATIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION IS THE BIGGEST FAVORITE. STRINGER DUSAN MASIC REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (SERBIAN 10/28)

BOSNIA / SARAJEVO BRIDGE -- THE MAIN BRIDGE LINKING THE SERB HELD PART OF SARAJEVO WITH THE PART OF THE CITY UNDER GOVERNMENT CONTROL WAS OPENED FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1992. STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTS. (CROATIAN 10/28)

CROATIA / EASTERN SLAVONIA -- CROATS AND THE SLAVONIAN SERBS ARE ACCUSING EACH OTHER FOR THE FAILURE TO REACH AGREEMENT ABOUT EASTERN SLAVONIA. INTERNATIONAL MEDIATORS PETER GALBRAITH AND THORVALD STOLTENBERG REVEALED THE PLAN WHICH IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR THE SERBS. THE PLAN IS CALLING FOR REINTEGRATION OF THE EASTERN SLAVONIA INTO CROATIA AND THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE CROATIAN FORCES ALONG THE BORDER WITH YUGOSLAVIA. STRINGER MILICA KUBUROVIC REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (SERBIAN 10/29)

CROATIA / EASTERN SLAVONIA TALKS -- PLANNED TALKS BETWEEN CROATIAN GOVERNMENT AND SERBS FROM EASTERN SLAVONIA, TO,HAVE BEEN HELD IN OSJEK, WERE CANCELLED. MEANWHILE, THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT PROTESTED TO THE UNITED STATES OVER THE COMMENTS OF THE CONGRESSMAN FRANK WOLF ABOUT THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT AND PRESIDENT TUDJMAN. STRINGER STEVICA SUSA REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (SERBIAN 10/28)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIATORS / SLAVONIA -- AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO CROATIA PETER GALBRAITH AND THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIATOR THORVALD STOLTENBERG SAID THAT AN AGREEMENT ON EASTERN SLAVONIA HAS NOT BEEN REACHED. THAT QUESTION, THEY SAID, IS GOING TO BE INCLUDED IN THE NEXT WEEK'S NEGOTIATIONS IN DAYTON, OHIO. STRINGER STEVICA SUSA REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (SERBIAN 10/29)

EUROPEAN UNION / AID FOR FORMER YUGOSLAVIA -- STRINGER LADA STIPIC NISETEO REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS ON THE EUROPEAN UNION DECISION REGARDING ECONOMIC AID TO STATES OF FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. THE AID IS GOING TO BE DELIVERED ONLY IF THE PEACE PROCESS IS SUCCESSFUL, AND COUNTRIES IMPROVE THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD. (CROATIAN 10/29)

EUROPEAN UNION / FORMER YUGOSLAVIA -- FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ARE TO MEET MONDAY IN LUXEMBOURG. IT IS EXPECTED THAT THEY WILL ENDORSE THE POLITICAL PLATFORM FOR HELP AND COOPERATION WITH THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLICS. THE MAIN GOAL IS THE RETURN OF ALL REFUGEES. STRINGER DRAGAN BLAGOJEVIC REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS. (SERBIAN 10/29)

MACEDONIAN PARLIAMENT / NEW LAW -- MACEDONIAN PARLIAMENT PASSED THE BILL ON THE LOCAL SELF-MANAGEMENT. THAT LAW IS CONSIDERED THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE FOR THE INTER-ETHNIC RELATIONS IN THE REPUBLIC. THE SAME LAW IS LAYING THE GROUND FOR THE FIRST LOCAL ELECTIONS WHICH COULD NOT TAKE PLACE BEFORE SPRING. STRINGER ZELJKO BAJIC REPORTS FROM SKOPJE. (SERBIAN 10/28)

WORLD BANK / ALBANIA -- WORLD BANK PRESIDENT JAMES WOLFELSOHN HAS PRAISED ALBANIA'S EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH A FREE MARKET ECONOMY. IN A NEWS CONFERENCE AT THE END OF A TWO-DAY VISIT TO TIRANA, WOLFESOHN SAID THE WORLD BANK WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO ALBANIA, EUROPE'S POOREST COUNTRY. STRINGER MERO BAZE REPORTS. (ALBANIAN 10/30)

EU / TURKEY -- THE GENERAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION MEETS IN LUXEMBOURG, TO DISCUSS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, TURKEY'S ACCESSION TO THE CUSTOMS UNION. TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER COSKUN KIRCA BRIEFED EU FOREIGN MINISTERS ON RECENT POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN TURKEY, INCLUDING THE AMENDMENT OF ANTI-TERROR LAW. THE COUNCIL RECOMMENDED TO THE EU PARLIAMENT APPROVAL OF THE CUSTOMS UNION AGREEMENT WITH TURKEY. IF APPROVED, THE AGREEMENT IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE EFFECT ON JANUARY 1, 1996. (TURKISH 10/30)

POLISH PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN -- DESPITE EARLIER FORECASTS, THE POLISH PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN SCENE HAS ALL BUT CLARIFIED EVEN BEFORE THE FIRST ROUND WITH TWO SERIOUS CONTENDERS, PRESIDENT WALESA, AND FORMER COMMUNIST KWASNIEWSKI. CORRESPONDENT WOJCIECH MINICZ TALKS TO A POLITICAL OBSERVER CZESLAW BIELECKI ABOUT FORCES THAT SHAPE POLISH ELECTORAL ATTITUDES. (POLISH 10/27)

HUNGARIAN GOVERNMENT MODERNIZATION PROGRAM -- REPORTER EUGENE DETHASSY INTERVIEWS ALMOS KOVACS, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE HUNGARIAN NATIONAL BANK ABOUT PLANS TO MODERNIZE HUNGARY. (HUNGARIAN 10/30)

SPANISH FILM FESTIVAL -- YUGOSLAV WINNER -- THE FILM 'THE OTHER AMERICA' OF THE YUGOSLAV DIRECTOR GORAN PASKALJEVIC WON THE FIRST PRIZE ON THE PRESTIGIOUS SPANISH FILM FESTIVAL IN VALLADOLID. THE SPANISH PRESS CONSIDERS THIS A WELL DESERVED PRIZE. STRINGER DRAGAN BLAGOJEVIC REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS. (SERBIAN 10/29)

AAASS / ROMANIAN INTERVIEWS -- ROMANIAN STAFFERS INTERVIEW AMERICAN SPECIALISTS IN ROMANIAN STUDIES G. KLIGMAN, N. HARSANYI, L. ZANCU, R. BOTOMAN, AND FROM ROMANIA, PARLIAMENTARIANS ION RATIU AND STELIAN TANASE, POLITICAL SCIENTISTS DAN PAVEL, DANIEL DAIANU, AND DOREL SANDOR -- ALL PARTICIPANTS OF AAASS IN WASHINGTON. (ROMANIAN 10/29)

INSIDE LATIN AMERICA:

ARGENTINE TERRORIST CAPTURED -- MEXICAN AUTHORITIES HAVE EXTRADITED FUGITIVE ARGENTINE TERRORIST ENRIQUE GORRIARAN MERLO, CAPTURED IN MEXICO CITY DURING THE WEEKEND. STRINGER GUSTAVO LEVENE REPORTS FROM BUENOS AIRES. (SPANISH 10/30)

FALKLAND / MALVINAS OIL -- THE BRITISH GAS COMPANY HAS DENIED REACHING AN AGREEMENT TO EXPLORE FOR GAS FROM THE SUBMARINE PLATFORM OFF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS, BUT INDICATED THAT IT MAY BE INTERESTED IN THE FUTURE. STRINGER HUMBERTO CASTELLANOS REPORTS FROM LONDON. (SPANISH 10/30)

URUGUAY'S VICE PRESIDENT / UNEMPLOYMENT -- VICE PRESIDENT HUGO BATALLA OF URUGUAY IS INTERVIEWED ABOUT THE CRITICAL ISSUE OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN HIS COUNTRY DURING A BRIEF VISIT TO WASHINGTON DC. STAFFER GUSTAVO WIN REPORTS. (SPANISH 10/27)

CORRUPTION / URUGUAY -- A FORMER PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BANCO DE SEGUROS DEL ESTADO WERE SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR CORRUPTION. STRINGER JORGE MONSALVE REPORTS FROM MONTEVIDEO. (SPANISH 10/27)

SOCIO ECONOMIC GROUPS / LATIN AMERICA -- AN ANALYTIC REPORT ON FIVE LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES PREPARED BY THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION FOUND EIGHT SOCIO-ECONOMIC GROUPS IN TE REGION. CORRESPONDENT JORGE WEHBY REPORTS. (SPANISH 10/27) 30-Oct-95 6:30 PM EST (2330 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America