Voice of America Digest, 13 November 1995

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] !!! VOA DIGEST - NOVEMBER 13, 1995

CLINTON / BUDGET -- PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS VETOED ONE LEGISLATIVE MEASURE AND HAS VOWED TO VETO ANOTHER IN THE ONGOING BUDGET BATTLE WITH THE REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED CONGRESS. ALTHOUGH THERE IS SOME CONSULTATION BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES, A SHUTDOWN OF SOME FEDERAL OPERATIONS APPEARS IMMINENT. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS. (11/13)

US DEBT CEILING -- PRESIDENT CLINTON'S VETO OF A MEASURE TO INCREASE TO SO-CALLED DEBT CEILING, PASSED BY THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED CONGRESS LEAVES THE UNITED STATES CLOSE TO THE LIMIT OF ITS BORROWING AUTHORITY. THIS RAISES THE SPECTER OF THE GOVERNMENT NOT BEING ABLE TO MEET ITS FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS. WASHINGTON REPORTER LAURI NEFF SAYS THERE ARE DIFFERING OPINIONS AS TO JUST HOW GREAT THE DANGER OF DEFAULT IS. (11/13)

BUDGET / US TRADE -- THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S TOP TRADE NEGOTIATOR WARNS INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS WILL SUFFER IF CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE CANNOT AGREE ON A BUDGET IN TIME TO PREVENT THE FIRST GOVERNMENT DEFAULT IN US HISTORY. US TRADE REPRESENTATIVE MICKEY KANTOR MADE THE COMMENT FRIDAY DURING A PORT FACILITY TOUR IN LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA. CORRESPONDENT ALAN SILVERMAN HAS THE STORY. (11/10)

US / SAUDI BLAST -- SIX PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED, FIVE OF THEM AMERICANS, IN AN APPARENT CAR-BOMB ATTACK ON AN OFFICE BUILDING HOUSING US MILITARY ADVISERS IN RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA. THIRTY-FOUR AMERICANS WERE AMONG ABOUT 60 PEOPLE WOUNDED IN THE EXPLOSION. CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT. (11/13)

SAUDI ARABIA / EXPLOSION -- AN EXPLOSION HAS ROCKED A US MILITARY TRAINING OFFICE FOR THE SAUDI NATIONAL GUARD IN RIYADH, KILLING SIX PEOPLE INCLUDING FOUR AMERICANS. AT LEAST 60 OTHERS WERE INJURED. MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (11/13)

EU / NIGERIA -- THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS FROZEN DEVELOPMENT AID TO NIGERIA AND IS CONSIDERING FURTHER SANCTIONS FOLLOWING NIGERIA'S EXECUTION OF NINE OPPOSITION ACTIVISTS. STRINGER JOHN FRASER REPORTED FROM BRUSSELS. (11/13)

NIGERIA / EXECUTION -- THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT HAS RECALLED ITS ENVOYS FROM ABROAD, RETALIATING FOR SIMILAR ACTION TAKEN BY SEVERAL COUNTRIES THAT ARE PROTESTING NIGERIA'S EXECUTION OF NINE MINORITY RIGHTS ACTIVISTS. CORRESPONDENT PURNELL MURDOCK REPORTS. (11/13)

NIGERIA / EXECUTION -- THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT HAS CONDEMNED ITS SUSPENSION FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF FORMER BRITISH COLONIES, ACCUSING THE GROUP OF TRYING TO INTERFERE IN ITS INTERNAL AFFAIRS. CORRESPONDENT PURNELL MURDOCK REPORTS. (11/13)

NIGERIA / CRASH -- A NIGERIA AIRWAYS JETLINER HAS CRASHED AT THE KADUNA AIRPORT IN NORTHERN NIGERIA, KILLING AT LEAST 50 PEOPLE. CORRESPONDENT PURNELL MURDOCK REPORTS. (11/13)

NIGERIA OIL -- HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS ARE INCREASING THEIR PRESSURE ON THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS AGAINST NIGERIA, SANCTIONS WHICH THEY SAY MUST INCLUDE AN OIL EMBARGO. IN THIS BACKGROUND REPORT FROM LONDON, CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA LOOKS AT THE PROS AND CONS OF SUCH A MOVE. (11/13)

YUGO / WAR CRIMES -- THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE HAS INDICTED SIX BOSNIAN CROATS. THEY ARE ACCUSED OF COMMITTING WAR CRIMES AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY AGAINST MOSLIMS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS. (11/13)

ZAIRE / BOMB -- ZAIREAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SAY SEVERAL BOMBS WERE DISCOVERED AT AN AIRPORT IN EASTERN ZAIRE BEFORE THEY COULD BE PLACED ABOARD AN AIRPLANE CARRYING SEVERAL TOP GENERALS. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THE ATTEMPTED BOMBING MAY BE LINKED TO PLANS TO SEND MASSES OF RWANDAN REFUGEES BACK TO THEIR HOMELAND. CORRESPONDENT PURNELL MURDOCK REPORTS. (11/13)

CHINA / TIBET -- CHINA'S REJECTION OF A BOY CHOSEN BY THE TOP TIBETAN SPIRITUAL LEADER (THE DALAI LAMA) AS THE REINCARNATION OF THE SECOND-HIGHEST TIBETAN LEADER, THE PANCHEN LAMA, CAME AS NO SURPRISE TO MOST OBSERVERS. HOWEVER, AS CORRESPONDENT STEPHANIE HO REPORTS, CHINA'S ANNOUNCEMENT SUNDAY MAY HAVE RAISED MORE QUESTIONS THAN IT ANSWERED. (11/13)

RED CROSS / SRI LANKA -- THE SRI LANKAN ARMY IS CONTINUING ITS NEARLY MONTH-LONG OFFENSIVE AGAINST TAMIL REBELS ON THE NORTHERN JAFFNA PENINSULA. A RED CROSS OFFICIAL, JUST BACK FROM THE WAR ZONE, SAYS THERE ARE SIGNS A MAJOR BATTLE FOR CONTROL OF JAFFNA TOWN COULD BE IMMINENT. CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTED FROM RED CROSS HEADQUARTERS IN GENEVA. (11/13)

PLO ELECTIONS -- PLO CHAIRMAN YASSER ARAFAT MET WITH THE PLO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SUNDAY NIGHT IN CAIRO TO COMPLETE DETAILS OF THE PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL IN GAZA AND THE WEST BANK. THOSE ELECTIONS ARE SLATED FOR JANUARY 20TH. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN IN CAIRO REPORTS THE COMMITTEE IS DIVIDED ABOUT HOW TO FAIRLY REPRESENT ALL PALESTINIAN FACTIONS ON THE COUNCIL. (11/13)

EAST GERMANY / TRIAL -- A BERLIN COURT HAS POSTPONED THE HIGH PROFILE CASE AGAINST FORMER EAST GERMAN COMMUNIST PARTY CHIEF EGON KRENZ AND FIVE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE OLD EAST GERMAN POLITBURO. THE SIX ARE BEING TRIED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INFAMOUS SHOOT-TO-KILL POLICY ALONG THE BERLIN WALL, AND FACE UP TO 15-YEARS IN PRISON IF CONVICTED. BUT AS CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BERLIN, PROSECUTORS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO HAVE AN EASY TIME. (11/13)

GERMANY / OPPOSITION -- GERMANY'S MAJOR OPPOSITION PARTY, THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS (SPD), OPENS ITS ANNUAL PARTY CONGRESS TUESDAY IN MANHEIM. THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS ALMOST UNSEATED CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL IN GERMANY'S NATIONAL ELECTIONS A YEAR AGO. BUT SINCE THEN, AS STRINGER DAGMAR BREITENBACH REPORTED FROM BONN, THE POPULARITY OF THE QUARRELSOME OPPOSITION PARTY HAS FALLEN TO A POSTWAR LOW. (11/13)

VIETNAM / CANADA -- VIETNAM AND CANADA SIGNED AGREEMENTS ON LOWERING TRADE BARRIERS AND ON CANADIAN AID TO VIETNAM IN HANOI MONDAY. STRINGER DAVID BUTLER REPORTS FROM BANGKOK. (11/13)

BULGARIA / ELECTIONS -- THE FORMER COMMUNIST PARTY IN BULGARIA HAS STRENGTHENED ITS POLITICAL POWER BY WINNING MANY LOCAL ELECTIONS DURING THE WEEKEND. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS. (11/13)

RUSSIA / YELTSIN -- RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN'S AIDES SAY HE HAS RESUMED A FULL WORK SCHEDULE AT THE HOSPITAL WHERE HE IS RECOVERING FROM A HEART AILMENT. STRINGER PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS FROM MOSCOW. (11/13)

POLAND ELECTION -- THE TWO CANDIDATES IN NEXT SUNDAY'S POLISH PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS HELD THE FIRST OF TWO NATIONALLY TELEVISED DEBATES. PRAGUE CORRESPONDENT BARRY WOOD REPORTS VIEWERS APPEARED TO CONCLUDE THERE WAS NO CLEAR WINNER FROM THE FIRST ENCOUNTER. (11/13)

JAPAN / KOREA -- A DIFFERING VIEW OF HISTORY HAS THREATENED A SUMMIT MEETING BETWEEN THE LEADERS OF JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA. STRINGER THOMAS CALDWELL REPORTED FROM TOKYO. (11/13)

BOSNIA / CROATIA AGREEMENT -- IN DAYTON, OHIO, THE PRESIDENTS OF BOSNIA AND CROATIA HAVE SIGNED AN AGREEMENT TO IMPLEMENT THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION THAT THEY SET UP IN WASHINGTON, 18 MONTHS AGO, BUT NEVER PROPERLY PUT IT INTO OPERATION. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS. (11/10)

US / NATO -- THE UNITED STATES SAYS THE SEARCH FOR A SUCCESSOR TO FORMER NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL WILLY CLAES WILL CONTINUE AND IT LOOKS FORWARD TO ADDITIONAL CANDIDATES. STAFFER VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS THE COMMENTS FOLLOW FORMER DUTCH PRIME MINISTER RUUD LUBBERS' WITHDRAWAL FROM CONSIDERATION. (11/11)

COMMONWEALTH / SUMMIT -- DEATH SENTENCES IMPOSED LAST WEEK ON HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS IN NIGERIA WERE THE TARGET OF CRITICISM AS THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENTS OPENED THEIR SUMMIT IN NEW ZEALAND. AS STRINGER JAMES WEIR REPORTED FROM WELLINGTON, FRENCH NUCLEAR TESTING IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC WAS ALSO CRITICIZED AS THE MEETING GOT UNDERWAY. (11/10)

COMMONWEALTH / NUCLEAR -- A MAJORITY OF LEADERS ATTENDING THE COMMONWEALTH SUMMIT IN NEW ZEALAND ISSUED A STATEMENT FRIDAY CONDEMNING THE CONTINUATION OF NUCLEAR TESTING. CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTED BRITAIN WAS ONE OF THE FEW COUNTRIES TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE CONDEMNATION, DESCRIBING IT AS INACCURATE AND UNBALANCED. (11/10)

NIGERIA / REACTION -- GOVERNMENTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS HAVE CONDEMNED THE EXECUTIONS FRIDAY OF PLAYWRIGHT KEN SARO-WIWA AND EIGHT OTHER DISSIDENTS BY THE NIGERIAN MILITARY GOVERNMENT. STAFFER VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT HAS RESPONDED BY ACCUSING THE WORLD COMMUNITY OF MEDDLING IN ITS INTERNAL AFFAIRS. (11/11)

US / NIGERIA -- THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS ANNOUNCING NEW STEPS IN REACTION TO NIGERIA'S EXECUTION OF NINE HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS, INCLUDING KEN SARO-WIWA. THE ACTION FOLLOWS STRONG US CONDEMNATION OF THE EXECUTIONS. CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS. (11/10)

RWANDA / TRIBUNAL -- OFFICIALS OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL SET UP TO PROSECUTE RWANDAN GENOCIDE SUSPECTS SAY THEY WILL WAIT AND SEE IF KENYA LIVES UP TO ITS LATEST PLEDGE OF COOPERATION. THAT WORD COMES AFTER TALKS IN NAIROBI BETWEEN THE TRIBUNAL'S CHIEF PROSECUTOR AND KENYA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL. NAIROBI CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS. (11/10)

KENYA / COMMONWEALTH -- OPPOSITION PARLIAMENTARIANS IN KENYA SAY PRESIDENT DANIEL ARAP MOI IS A DICTATOR AND THEY ARE URGING OTHER COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES TO PRESSURE HIM TO IMPLEMENT POLITICAL REFORMS. CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTED ON AN OPPOSITION LETTER RELEASED TO COINCIDE WITH THE OPENING OF THE COMMONWEALTH SUMMIT IN NEW ZEALAND. (11/10)

INDONESIA / ANNIVERSARY -- TODAY IS THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF A BLOODY CONFRONTATION IN THE CAPITAL OF EAST TIMOR, THE FORMER PORTUGUESE COLONY ANNEXED BY INDONESIA IN 1976. AS STRINGER DAVID BUTLER REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU IN BANGKOK, AUTHORITIES TOOK STEPS TO ASSURE THERE WOULD BE NO DEMONSTRATIONS TO MARK THE ANNIVERSARY. (11/12)

MALAYSIA / REGIONAL ENERGY -- MALAYSIA HAS EMBARKED ON A PROGRAM TO HELP VIETNAM'S INDUSTRIALIZATION PLANS. STRINGER PETER KANDIAH REPORTED MALAYSIA'S NATIONAL OIL COMPANY IS OVERSEEING A STUDY FOR A MASTER PLAN FOR VIETNAM'S PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY. (11/10)

US / CHINA TRADE -- A TOP US TRADE OFFICIAL SAYS CHINA HAS NOT DONE ENOUGH TO REDUCE THE HUGE BILATERAL TRADE IMBALANCE OR STAMP OUT RAMPANT PIRACY OF AMERICAN AUDIO-VISUAL PRODUCTS. BEIJING CORRESPONDENT STEPHANIE HO REPORTS. (11/10)

HONG KONG / US / FLIGHTS -- HONG KONG AND THE UNITED STATES SIGNED THEIR FIRST AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT FRIDAY. CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTED FROM THE BRITISH COLONY. (11/10)

KOREA / JAPAN -- A SUMMIT BETWEEN SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT KIM YOUNG-SAM AND JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER TOMIICHI MURAYAMA SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK, IS BEING RECONSIDERED AFTER CONTROVERSIAL REMARKS BY A JAPANESE CABINET MINISTER SPARKED ANGER AMONG SOUTH KOREANS. STRINGER SHIN NA REPORTS FROM SEOUL ON THE DIPLOMATIC DISPUTE. (11/11)

LANKA / BLAST -- IN SRI LANKA, AUTHORITIES SAY TAMIL SEPARATIST SUICIDE BOMBERS SET OFF TWO EXPLOSIONS THIS MORNING AT THE ARMY HEADQUARTERS IN THE CAPITAL, COLOMBO. INITIAL REPORTS SAY AT LEAST 12 PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND MORE THAN 50 INJURED. CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE HAS DETAILS. (11/11)

SRI LANKA / WAR -- THE SRI LANKAN ARMY HAS RESUMED ITS ADVANCE ON THE TAMIL REBEL STRONGHOLD OF JAFFNA CITY, ENDING A LULL IN THE GOVERNMENT'S BIGGEST-EVER COUNTER INSURGENCY OPERATION. CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE REPORTED FROM THE SOUTH ASIA BUREAU IN NEW DELHI. (11/10)

ALGERIA / VIOLENCE -- IN ALGERIA, A FRENCH NUN WAS BEEN KILLED AND HER COLLEAGUE SERIOUSLY WOUNDED IN THE KOUBA DISTRICT OF ALGIERS. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS ON THE SPIRAL OF VIOLENCE IN THE NORTH-AFRICAN COUNTRY. (11/10)

AFGHANISTAN / ADVANCE -- THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT SAYS IT HAS CAPTURED 10 KILOMETERS OF TERRITORY FROM THE OPPOSITION TALIBAN ISLAMIC STUDENT MOVEMENT TO THE SOUTHWEST OF THE CAPITAL KABUL. MEANWHILE STRINGER TIM JOHNSTON REPORTED FROM KABUL THE NUMBER OF CASUALTIES FROM THE ROCKETING OF THE CITY FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY HAS RISEN ABOVE 100. (11/12)

UNICEF / AFGHANISTAN -- THE UN CHILDREN'S FUND IS SUSPENDING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN PARTS OF AFGHANISTAN CONTROLLED BY FORCES LOYAL TO THE TALIBAN MOVEMENT. CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS UNICEF OFFICIALS SAY THE MOVE WAS ORDERED BECAUSE SOME LOCAL TALIBAN LEADERS ARE NOT ALLOWING GIRLS TO ATTEND SCHOOL. (11/10)

ISRAEL / RABIN -- TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ISRAELIS GATHERED FOR A MEMORIAL SERVICE SUNDAY EVENING AT THE SQUARE IN TEL AVIV, WHERE PRIME MINISTER YITZHAK RABIN WAS ASSASSINATED EIGHT DAYS AGO. CORRESPONDENT AL PESSIN REPORTS. (11/12)

IRISH / BOMB -- IRISH POLICE HAVE ARRESTED TWO MEN AND SEIZED A HOME-MADE BOMB IN A VAN NEAR THE BORDER WITH NORTHERN IRELAND. CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA HAS DETAILS FROM LONDON. (11/10)

INDIA / KENTUCKY -- NEW DELHI'S FIRST KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN RESTAURANT IS FIGHTING AGAINST AN ORDER TO BE CLOSED FOR PUTTING ALLEGEDLY HARMFUL INGREDIENTS IN ITS FOOD. CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE REPORTS FROM THE INDIAN CAPITAL. (11/10)

EGYPT / US -- EGYPTIAN AND US FORCES ARE STAGING ONE OF THE BIGGEST MILITARY EXERCISES IN THE REGION. TROOPS FROM BRITAIN, FRANCE, AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES ARE ALSO JOINING THE MANEUVERS, KNOWN AS BRIGHT STAR. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN IN CAIRO REPORTS. (11/10)

US / CUBA -- THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS STRONGLY DENYING A PUBLISHED REPORT THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS MADE A DEAL WITH CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO TO BLOCK CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION TIGHTENING THE US EMBARGO IN EXCHANGE FOR CUBAN RELEASE OF POLITICAL PRISONERS. CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS. (11/10)

GUATEMALA / ELECTIONS -- VOTES ARE BEING COUNTED IN GUATEMALA FOLLOWING SUNDAY'S GENERAL ELECTIONS, THE THIRD SINCE THE COUNTRY BECAME A DEMOCRACY IN 1985 FOLLOWING DECADES OF MILITARY RULE. CORRESPONDENT BILL RODGERS SAYS REPORTS INDICATE VOTER TURNOUT WAS LOW. (11/12)

MEXICO / ELECTIONS -- MEXICANS ARE GOING TO THE POLLS SUNDAY IN SIX STATES AND IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL TO ELECT LOCAL AND STATE REPRESENTATIVES. THE RULING INSTITUTIONAL REVOLUTIONARY PARTY, OR PRI, IS FACING STIFF COMPETITION BY THE TWO MAJOR OPPOSITION PARTIES, THE CENTER RIGHT NATIONAL ACTION PARTY, OR PAN, AND THE CENTER LEFT DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTIONARY PARTY, OR PRD. CORRESPONDENT CINDY LAVANDEROS REPORTS. (11/8)

ATLANTIS / PRE-LAUNCH -- NASA LAUNCHED THE SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS SUNDAY. CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE PREVIEWED THE LAUNCH FROM THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER THAT CONCERNS REMAIN OVER BAD WEATHER AT EMERGENCY LANDING SITES IN EUROPE AND AFRICA THAT CAUSED SATURDAY'S POSTPONEMENT. (11/12)

US ECON / WEEK AHEAD -- US FINANCIAL MARKETS TRADED WITH MIXED RESULTS LAST WEEK. THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE SAW SHARE PRICES SOARING TO RECORD HIGHS, WITH THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE UP 45-POINTS FOR THE WEEK. THE BOND MARKETS POSTED THE BIGGEST TWO-DAY DECLINE IN MORE THAN TWO-WEEKS THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. CONGRESS ONLY PASSING FIVE OF THE 13-SEPARATE APPROPRIATIONS BILLS NEEDED TO FUND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS. CORRESPONDENT JOE SUMMERS REPORTS ON THE BUDGET BATTLE THAT CAUSED UNCERTAINTIES IN THE MARKETS LAST WEEK AND WILL COME TO A CLIMAX THIS WEEK. (11/12)

ASIA / RISING -- IN 1960, THE INCOME OF THE AVERAGE JAPANESE WAS ONLY ONE-EIGHTH THAT OF AN AMERICAN. SOUTH KOREA WAS NO RICHER THAN SUDAN, TAIWAN ABOUT AS POOR AS ZAIRE, AND INCOMES IN CHINA AND INDIA WERE BARELY MORE THAN ONE-THIRD AS HIGH AS TAIWAN'S. TODAY THOSE ECONOMIES -- AND OTHERS IN ASIA -- ARE AMONG THE MOST SUCCESSFUL IN THE WORLD. CURRENT AFFAIRS' LINDA CASHDAN INTERVIEWS JIM ROHWER, WHOSE NEW BOOK, "ASIA RISING" DETAILS HOW THE ECONOMIC TURNAROUND CAME ABOUT. (11/13)

THE MEDICARE DEBATE -- ONE OF THE MOST CONTENTIOUS AND LEAST UNDERSTOOD ISSUES ON THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE AGENDA IS THE REFORM OF MEDICARE. KEY CONCERNS ARE: WHO WILL BE MOST AFFECTED AND WILL THEIR MEDICAL CARE PAYMENTS BE REDUCED. CURRENT AFFAIRS' ADAM PHILLIPS EXPLORES THESE AND OTHER QUESTIONS WITH DOCTORS, MEDICARE RECIPIENTS AND VARIOUS AUTHORITIES ON THE SUBJECT. (11/13)

THE CROATIAN EQUATION -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' PAMELA TAYLOR LOOKS AT CROATIA'S PART IN THE OHIO TALKS ON ENDING THE WAR IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. MANY ANALYSTS BELIEVE CROATIA WILL BE THE BIG WINNER IN THE FINAL PEACE AGREEMENT, ULTIMATELY TOTALLY DOMINATING BOSNIA MUCH AS SERBIA IS EXPECTED TO DOMINATE THE OTHER HALF OF THE DIVIDED COUNTRY. (11/13)

THANKSGIVING / FEEDING OTHERS -- THE MAIN TRADITION ASSOCIATED WITH THE AMERICAN THANKSGIVING DAY HOLIDAY IS EATING A BIG DINNER WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. BUT WHAT ABOUT POOR PEOPLE, INCLUDING THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS? CURRENT AFFAIRS' MARILYN SILVEY REPORTS THAT IN WASHINGTON, DC, AS IN MOST CITIES, THEY ARE NOT FORGOTTEN. (11/13)

INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE IN AMERICA -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' CAROL PEARSON REPORTS ON THE VIEWS OF AN INTERRACIAL COUPLE ON THEIR MARRIAGE. (11/13)

WOMEN / ADVERTISING -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' TED LANDPHAIR DESCRIBES AN EXHIBITION BY THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF ADVERTISING THAT EXAMINES THE IMAGE OF WOMEN IN AMERICAN ADVERTISING OVER THE PAST 100 YEARS -- FROM OPERA SINGERS EXTOLLING COCA-COLA IN THE 1890S TO TODAY'S WIDELY DIVERSE ADS SHOWING SUCCESSFUL WOMEN IN A MULTITUDE OF CAREERS. (11/9)

ADVERTISING / CONSUMERS -- IN A CONSUMER SOCIETY ADVERTISERS TRY TO REACH THE POTENTIAL BUYER THROUGH THE MEDIA, INTERNET, POSTERS, VIDEO OR TELEPHONE. SOME VIEW THE PERVASIVENESS AND INFLUENCE OF ADVERTISING ON EVERYDAY LIFE IN AMERICA AS DETRIMENTAL, WHILE OTHERS FIND IT USEFUL. CURRENT AFFAIRS' ZLATICA HOKE REPORTS. (11/13)

NYC / MARATHON -- TWO LONG-DISTANCE RUNNERS REPEATED THEIR 1994 VICTORIES (SUNDAY) BY WINNING THE NEW YORK CITY MARATHON. CORRESPONDENT LARRY FREUND REPORTS. (11/12)

INSIDE USA:

CHRISTOPHER / BOSNIA -- SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER PRESIDED OVER THE AGREEMENT SIGNING BETWEEN THE PRESIDENTS OF CROATIA AND BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. STAFFER THABET EL-BARDICY TALKS TO KAMAL KERSPAHIC, CORRESPONDENT OF THE BOSNIAN NEWSPAPER OF "OSLOBODENIA" IN WASHINGTON ABOUT THE US ROLE IN THE TALKS. (ARABIC 11/10)

AMMAN'S SUMMIT / BROWN -- US SECRETARY OF COMMERCE RON BROWN ADDRESSED THE AMERICAN-ARAB INSTITUTE'S CONVENTION IN WASHINGTON AND EXPLAINED THE IMPORTANCE OF AMMAN'S SUMMIT CONFERENCE. STAFFER MAHA RABIE REPORTS FROM THE CONFERENCE. (ARABIC 11/10)

FLORIDA / IMMIGRATION -- ACCORDING TO RECENT STATISTICS BY THE US IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS AMONG A WAVE OF US STATES WITH AN INCREASING POPULATION OF IMMIGRANTS APPLYING FOR CITIZENSHIP. MIAMI BUREAU CORRESPONDENT JORGE WEHBY REPORTS. (SPANISH 11/10)

KANTOR / LOS ANGELES -- US TRADE REPRESENTATIVE MICKEY KANTOR SAID IN LONG BEACH, THAT ALBEIT RECENT PROBLEMS WITH THE MEXICAN PESO IN RECENT WEEKS, THE MEXICAN ECONOMY IS SHOWING SIGNS OF RECOVERY. LOS ANGELES BUREAU CORRESPONDENT HECTOR VEL?AZQUEZ MEJIA REPORTS. (SPANISH 11/13)

CALIFORNIA / PROPOSITION 187 -- AN IMMIGRANT RIGHTS GROUP INDICATED THAT THE CASES OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THE HISPANIC POPULATION IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA INCREASED RECENTLY, AFTER PROPOSITION 187 WAS APPROVED IN A STATE WIDE REFERENDUM. CORRESPONDENT HECTOR VELAZQUEZ-MEJ?IA REPORTS. (SPANISH 11/10)

LABOR UNIONS -- STRINGER CONSTANTINE SIMIS ANALYZES THE DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN US LABOR REPRESENTATIVES WHICH SURFACED AT THE RECENT AFL/CIO CONVENTION. (RUSSIAN 11/11)

ECONOMIC TALK -- IS AN EXPANSION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION LIKELY IN THE NEAR FUTURE? STRINGER VLADIMIR TREML POINTS OUT THE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS STANDING IN THE WAY OF ADMITTING 10 EAST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES INTO THIS ORGANIZATION. (RUSSIAN 11/12)

CANADA / VIET INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC -- MONTREAL STRINGER TRUONG KY DESCRIBED THE CONCERTS OF THE HONG LAC GROUP, WHICH USES TRADITIONAL VIETNAMESE INSTRUMENTS TO PLAY WESTERN MUSIC. (VIETNAMESE 11/10)

US / LAUNDROMAT MANAGER -- IN HER WEEKLY INTERVIEW WITH A VIETNAMESE AMERICAN CAREER WOMAN, NHUNG NGUYEN INTERVIEWED THE OPERATOR OF A COIN-OPERATED LAUNDROMAT IN HOUSTON. (VIETNAMESE 11/10)

US / VIETNAM / AVIATION ARRANGEMENT -- STAFFER LE LAI IN BANGKOK REPORTS ON TALKS BETWEEN SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION FREDERICO PENA TO WORK OUT AN ARRANGEMENT IN HANOI TO OBTAIN LANDING RIGHTS FOR AMERICAN AIR CARRIERS. (VIETNAMESE 11/13)

POSSIBLE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN -- RUSSIAN STAFFERS NATALIE CLARKSON AND VLADIMIR MATLIN DISCUSS THE RAMIFICATIONS OF A POSSIBLE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, CAUSED BY THE BUDGET FIGHT BETWEEN THE REPUBLICANS AND THE WHITE HOUSE. (RUSSIAN 11/13)

UN EXHIBITION -- IN CELEBRATION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED NATIONS, AN INTERNATIONAL ART EXHIBITION WAS RECENTLY HELD AT THE SILVERMINE GUILD ARTS GALLERY IN CONNECTICUT. STAFFER ABDUL WAHAB HADI INTERVIEWS MARTHA SCOTT, THE CURATOR OF THE EXHIBITION, AND AMANULLAH HAIDARZAD, A WELL KNOWN AFGHAN SCULPTOR WHOSE LATEST WORKS HAD ALSO BEEN DISPLAYED, AND DISCUSSED THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ART SHOW WHICH WAS INTRODUCED AS "ONE WORLD-MANY VISIONS." (DARI 11/8)

AMERICAN JOURNAL -- STAFFER AKMAL ALEEMI PREPARED A SPECIAL REPORT ON THE NOVEMBER SEVENTH ELECTIONS IN FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA. (URDU 11/11)

YOUTH AND EDUCATION -- STAFFER SALAHUDDIN AHMAD INTERVIEWS PROFESSOR GEORGE RICH OF CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACREMENTO WHO TAUGHT ANTHROPOLOGY AT QUAID E AZAM UNIVERSITY IN ISLAMABAD, ABOUT FIFTEEN YEARS AGO. HE SAID HE FOUND EDUCATION IN PAKISTAN MUCH MORE FORMAL THAN IN THE UNITED STATES. FOREIGN PROFESSORS TEACHING IN PAKISTAN ARE PLEASED WITH THE FORMALITY AND THE RESPECT THAT THE STUDENTS SHOW TOWARDS THEM. (URDU 11/13)

ATATURK MEMORIAL -- TURKISH-AMERICANS PAY TRIBUTE TO THE LEGACY OF KEMAL ATATURK, FOUNDER AND THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY DURING A CONFERENCE AND CONCERT IN NEW YORK. STAFFER HULYA POLAT INTERVIEWS ORGANIZERS AND PARTICIPANTS OF THE EVENT ON NOVEMBER 10, THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF ATATURK IN 1938. (TURKISH 11/10)

ETHIOPIAN ARTIST -- WOSEN KOSROV IS AN ETHIOPIAN ARTIST INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED FOR HIS PAINTINGS. HE HAS SHOWN AT LEAST SEVEN INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS IN THE USA AND EUROPE. STAFFER ADANECH FESSHAYE INTERVIEWS HIM IN FLORIDA AT THE ASA CONFERENCE. (AMHARIC 11/13)

INSIDE AFRICA:

NIGERIA / SARO WIWA REACT -- NIGERIAN ACTIVIST KEN SARO WIWA AND EIGHT OTHER ACTIVISTS WERE HANGED FOR MURDER. REPORTER WILLIAM EAGLE INTERVIEWS NIGERIAN NEWSPAPER EDITOR IFEATU AGBU, OF THE PORT HARCOURT NEWSPAPER, THE SUN RAY. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/10)

NIGERIA / SARO WIWA REACT -- SUPPORTERS OF EXECUTED NIGERIAN ACTIVIST KEN SARO-WIWA SAY THE COMMONWEALTH MUST SHARE THE BLAME FOR HIS DEATH. COMMONWEALTH MEMBERS DISAGREE. REPORTER WILLIAM EAGLE SPOKE WITH OLAWALE FAPOHUNDA OF THE CIVIL LIBERTIES ORGANIZATION, IN AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND; ENGLISH AUTHOR WILLIAM BOYD, IN LONDON; PRIME MINISTER OF BARBADOS OWEN ARTHUR, IN AUCKLAND; AND COMMONWEALTH SPOKESMAN MICHAEL FATHERS, IN AUCKLAND. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/12)

NIGERIA / GOVERNMENT REACTION -- NIGERIA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT DEFENDS THE EXECUTION OF KEN SARO-WIWA AND EIGHT OTHER OGONI ACTIVISTS. REPORTER RICHARD KOTEY TALKED WITH BRIGADIER-GENERAL FRED CHIJUKA, THE SPOKESMAN FOR NIGERIA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT, FROM LAGOS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/13)

NIGERIA / MOSOP HANGINGS -- REPORTER KEMI SOUTHEY-COLE MODERATES A PANEL DISCUSSION WITH TWO ETHNIC OGONIS AND A BRITISH BARRISTER ON FRIDAY'S EXECUTION OF NINE MOSOP ACTIVISTS BY THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT. PARTICIPANTS ARE DESMOND ORAGE, THE SON OF ONE OF FOUR OGONI LEADERS MURDERED LAST YEAR; BARIKA IDAMKWE, PUBLICITY SECRETARY FOR THE MOVEMENT OF THE SURVIVAL OF THE OGONI PEOPLE, MOSOP; AND MICHAEL BIRNBAUM, QC, A BRITISH BARRISTER AND AN INDEPENDENT LEGAL OBSERVER TO THE MOSOP TRIAL. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/11, 11/12)

NIGERIA / OGONI EXECUTION -- THE LEADER OF THE MOVEMENT FOR THE SURVIVAL OF THE OGONI PEOPLE, MOSOP, KEN SARO WIWA, HAS REPORTEDLY BEEN EXECUTED AFTER BEING CONVICTED OF MURDER. REPORTER RICHARD KOTEY SPOKE WITH MR SARO WIWA'S PERSONAL ASSISTANT, DEEBI NWIADO, FROM LAGOS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/10)

NIGERIA / CONGRESS -- US CONGRESSMAN DONALD PAYNE REACTS TO THE REPORTED HANGING OF NIGERIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST KEN SARO-WIWA AND EIGHT OTHERS CONVICTED OF MURDER. HE SPOKE WITH REPORTER DEBORAH BLOCK. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/10)

NIGERIA / EXECUTIONS -- NIGERIAN AUTHORITIES HANGED MINORITY RIGHTS CAMPAIGNER KEN SARO-WIWA AND EIGHT OTHER OGONI MILITANTS CONVICTED OF MURDER. REPORTERS SHAKA SSALI AND CATHERINE MADDUX CONDUCT AN INTERVIEW WITH HAUSA SERVICE REPORTER ALI ABBAS FOR THE LATEST. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/10)

NIGERIA / TRANSAFRICA -- REACTION CONTINUES TO THE DEATH SENTENCE FOR NIGERIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST KEN SARO-WIWA. TRANSAFRICA DIRECTOR, RANDALL ROBINSON, TELLS REPORTER DEBORAH BLOCK MR. SARO-WIWA SHOULD BE FREED. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/10)

NIGERIA / STUDENTS -- NIGERIAN STUDENTS SAY THEY PLAN A NATIONWIDE MARCH NEXT WEEK TO PROTEST THE EXECUTION OF NINE OGONI ACTIVISTS. REPORTER CHINEDU OFFOR REPORTS FROM LAGOS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/13)

NIGERIA / ABACHA MISSES SUMMIT -- NIGERIAN MILITARY RULER GENERAL SANI ABACHA WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMONWEALTH SUMMIT BEING HELD IN AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND. INSTEAD THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, TOM IKIMI, IS REPRESENTING THE COUNTRY AT THE SUMMIT. NO REASON WAS GIVEN. STRINGER BABANGIDA JIBRIN REPORTS FROM ABUJA. (HAUSA 11/9)

NIGERIA / NURSE ARRESTS -- POLICE IN KADUNA HAVE ARRESTED FORTY-ONE PEOPLE IN CONNECTION WITH THE RECENT RIOT BY NURSES AT AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL ZARIA. THE NURSES REPORTEDLY BEAT TO DEATH THE HOSPITAL DIRECTOR BAMIDELE. HAUSA STRINGER SANI ABDULLAHI SAYS THAT A PANEL WILL SOON BE SET UP TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSES OF THE INCIDENT. ( HAUSA 11/9)

TANZANIA / POLITICS -- TANZANIA'S HIGH COURT REJECTS A PETITION PUT FORTH BY OPPOSITION PARTIES TO NULLIFY LAST MONTH'S GENERAL ELECTIONS. REPORTER SHAKA SSALI SPOKE WITH JAMES MWAKISYALA, A JOURNALIST WITH THE EAST AFRICAN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER, IN DAR ES SALAAM. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/13)

UGANDA / SUDAN -- THE UGANDAN GOVERNMENT SAYS SEVERAL SUDANESE AIRCRAFT HAVE VIOLATED ITS AIR SPACE. REPORTER SHAKA SSALI SPOKE WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE UGANDAN INTERNAL SECURITY ORGANIZATION, BRIGADIER JAMES MUHWEZI, FROM KAMPALA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/10)

MALAWI / BANDA -- THE JUDGE IN THE MURDER TRIAL OF MALAWI'S FORMER PRESIDENT RULES THAT THE PROSECUTION MAY PRESENT EVIDENCE THAT WILL TRY TO SHOW THAT ASSOCIATES OF THE PRESIDENT ILLEGALLY GAINED POWER TO ARRANGE THE MURDER OF FOUR SENIOR POLITICIANS. REPORTER JULIUS KALIYA REPORTS FROM BLANTYRE. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/10)

LIBERIA / MILITARY -- THE LIBERIAN COMMITTEE FOR RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP, BASED IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, CONDUCTS A SURVEY AND STARTS A MOVEMENT AGAINST MILITARISM IN LIBERIA. THE MOVEMENT IS THE RESULT OF A VISIT TO LIBERIA BY ONE OF ITS MEMBERS, PRINCE REFFELL. HE SPOKE WITH REPORTER TED ROBERTS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/12)

AFRICA / CHILDREN SOLDIERS -- CHILDREN SOLDIERS IN AFRICA HAVE BEEN THE FOCUS OF RECENT HIGH LEVEL TALKS IN IVORY COAST. WEST AFRICA CORRESPONDENT PURNELL MURDOCK INTERVIEWED ONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS, GRACA MACHEL, THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE UN STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF ARMED CONFLICT ON CHILDREN, IN ABIDJAN. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 11/10)

ETHIOPIA / ZOOLOGIST AND PRIMATOLOGIST -- VOA AMHARIC STAFFER MIMI SEBHATU INTERVIEWED DR. SOLOMON YIRGA WHO TRANSLATED DARWIN'S ORIGIN OF SPECIES INTO AMHARIC. SHE USED IT IN HER BIWEEKLY RADIO MAGAZINE PROGRAM. (AMHARIC 11/12)

ETHIOPIAN NUN / JERUSALEM -- DURING HIS RECENT ASSIGNMENT TRIP TO ISRAEL, STAFFER NEGUSSIE MENGESHA INTERVIEWED AN ETHIOPIAN NUN WHO HAS LIVED IN THE ETHIOPIAN ORTHODOX MONASTERY IN JERUSALEM FOR OVER 30 YEARS. SHE DESCRIBED HER DAILY ROUTINE AND LIFE IN THE MONASTERY. (AMHARIC 11/12)

ETHIOPIA / FUND RAISING -- THE RELIEF ORGANIZATION OF THE AMHARA NATIONALITY DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT, THE AMHARA DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION LED BY DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TAMRAT LAYNE GOT OVER $5 MILLION DOLLARS IN A ONE DAY FUND-RAISING BY A NATION WIDE TV CAMPAIGN. THE MONEY WILL BE USED TO DEVELOP THE AMHARA REGION. STRINGER TAFESSE KIFLE COVERED THE STORY FROM ADDIS ABABA. (AMHARIC 11/13)

US / BUDGET -- HOWARD UNIVERSITY POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR LORENZO MORRIS EXPLAINED WHAT AN IMPASSE BETWEEN THE WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESS ON THE FEDERAL BUDGET WOULD MEAN FOR AMERICANS. INTERVIEW BY STAFFER IDRISSA FALL. (FRENCH 11/13)

INSIDE MIDEAST:

ISRAEL / AFRICA -- STAFFER SAMUEL KIENDREBEOGO REPORTS ON THE RELATIONS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND AFRICA WHERE SOME COUNTRIES MAINTAIN CLOSE TIES WHILE OTHERS DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM ISRAEL. SEVERAL AFRICAN HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT WERE IN ISRAEL FOR THE FUNERAL OF ASSASSINATED PRIME MINISTER YITZHAK RABIN. (FRENCH 11/10)

ISRAEL / ARABS -- STAFFER IDRISSA FALL INTERVIEWED GHASSAN SALAME, PROFESSOR AT THE POLITICAL STUDIES INSTITUTE IN PARIS ABOUT THE DANGER OF EXTREMISM WHETHER ISRAELI OR ARAB. (FRENCH 11/13)

RABIN / ASSASSINATION -- RABBI LEV KATZIN TALKS ABOUT THE RELIGIOUS AND ETHICAL ASPECTS OF ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER ITZHAK RABIN'S ASSASSINATION. (RUSSIAN 11/11)

ISRAEL AFTER RABIN'S DEATH -- IN THE WAKE OF RABIN'S DEATH, ISRAEL SHOWS UNPRECEDENTED SIGNS OF TOLERANCE AND DESIRE FOR PEACE. COMMENTATOR MENG XUAN OF WORLD JOURNAL SAYS THAT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF RABINS' DEATH IS TWO-FOLDED: IT HAS PROMOTED TOLERANCE AND PEACE BETWEEN THE ISRAELIS AND THE PALESTINIANS; ON THE OTHER HAND, IT SHOWS THAT ISRAEL'S ANTI-PEACE PROCESS EXTREMIST SENTIMENT IS GROWING STRONGER AND MORE DEADLY. STAFFERS CHIEN WEI AND XU FENG REPORT. (MANDARIN 11/11)

ARAFAT / RABIN'S WIDOW -- PLO CHAIRMAN YASSER ARAFAT HAS MADE HIS FIRST TRIP TO ISRAEL, TO VISIT THE WIDOW OF YITZHAK RABIN AND OFFER HIS CONDOLENCES. STRINGER KHALIL ASSALI REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM. (ARABIC 11/10)

GCC / MEETING -- FOLLOWING THEIR MEETING IN BAHRAIN, GCC INTERIOR MINISTERS PLEDGED TO FIGHT VIOLENCE AND ILLEGAL DRUGS. STRINGER HANA ABU HIJJEH REPORTS FROM MANAMA. (ARABIC 11/12)

DUBAI / AIR FAIR -- DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FAIR, THE BIGGEST OF ITS KIND IN THE MIDDLE EAST, OPENED SUNDAY IN DUBAI, UAE. CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS. (ARABIC 11/12)

KURDISH DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF IRAN -- FARSI STAFFER BEHRUZ NIKZAT INTERVIEWS SHAHOOR HOSSEINI, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE KDP IRAN. HOSSEINI DESCRIBES HIS PARTY'S POSITION ON THE AUTONOMY OF IRANIAN KURDISTAN WITHIN A UNITED IRAN, AND WITH THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IN POWER. (FARSI 11/12)GULF AREA, INCLUDING BAHRAIN. CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS. (ARABIC 11/12)

ARAFAT / CAIRO -- PALESTINIAN LEADER YASSER ARAFAT HAS CONVENED A MEETING OF THE PLO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE IN CAIRO TO DISCUSS WAYS TO SPEED UP PALESTINIAN AUTONOMY. STRINGER MOSTAFA LABIB REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 11/12)

EGYPT / US MILITARY EXERCISES -- THE UNITED STATES AND EGYPT ARE CONDUCTING THEIR BIGGEST EVER JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES IN EGYPT. SEVERAL HUNDRED TROOPS FROM BRITAIN, FRANCE AND THE UAE ARE JOINING THE EXERCISES. STRINGER MOSTAFA LABIB REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 11/12)

JORDAN / PEACE PROCESS -- THOUSANDS OF JORDANIANS EXPRESSED THEIR SUPPORT TO KING HUSSEIN AND THE PEACE PROCESS IN A PEACEFUL RALLY ON THE OCCASION OF THE KING'S 60TH BIRTHDAY. STRINGER SULEIMAN KHAIRALLAH REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 11/11)

RIFKIND / EGYPT -- BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY MALCOLM RIFKIND HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE IN CAIRO SATURDAY FOLLOWING HIS TALKS WITH EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK AND FOREIGN MINISTER AMR MOUSSA. STRINGER MOSTAFA LABIB REPORTS. (ARABIC 11/11)

SYRIA / ISRAEL -- SYRIA IS WAITING FOR AN AMERICAN INITIATIVE TO RESUME PEACE NEGOTIATIONS WITH ISRAEL. STRINGER SULEIMAN KHAIRALLAH REPORTS FROM. (ARABIC 11/11)

IRAN / SANCTIONS -- STAFFER BEKR REBWAR REPORTS ON A HEARING IN THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ON US POLICY TOWARDS IRAN. CONGRESS IS WORKING ON A BILL TO CURB IRANIAN TERRORISM AND DEVELOPMENT OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS. PROBLEM IS NOT ANTAGONIZING FOREIGN COMPANIES WHO DEAL WITH IRAN. US NEEDS HELP IN CONTAINING IRANIAN TERRORISM. (KURDISH 11/10 & 11)

KURDS / TURKEY / IRAQ -- STAFFER KHALAF ZEBARI REPORTS ON PKK (KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY) CHIEF OCALAN'S ACCUSATION AGAINST THE KDP (DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF KURDISTAN) THAT THE LATTER BEGAN HOSTILITIES BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES RECENTLY. KDP CHIEF BARZANI SAYS OCALAN IS CONTRADICTING HIMSELF, HAVING EARLIER ADMITTED STARTING THE FIGHTING TO PROTEST KDP'S ALLEGED COOPERATION WITH TURKEY. BARZANI INVITES OCALAN TO KURDISTAN (NO. IRAQ) TO TALK. (KURDISH 11/10)

SAKHAROV PRIZE -- STAFFER OMAR DIZEYEE REPORTS ON JAILED KURDISH MP LAYLA ZANA'S BEING AWARDED THE SAKHAROV PRIZE FOR FREEDOM BY THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT IN BRUSSELS. (KURDISH 11/10)

EYE DISEASE -- STAFFER BEKR REWAR TALKED WITH DR. BAHRE ARIF ABOUT EYE DISEASES COMMON TO MANY COUNTRIES: HOW TO PREVENT THEM AND HOW TO TREAT THEM. SHE IS BASED IN SWEDEN. (KURDISH 11/10)

IRANIAN-KURDISH SINGER -- STAFFER MOTABAR SHIRWANI REPORTED ON A RECENT CONCERT IN WASHINGTON BY A KURDISH SINGER FROM IRAN, SHAHRAM NAZERI. NAZERI PERFORMS TRADITIONAL PERSIAN AND KURDISH MUSIC. (KURDISH 11/11)

TEHRAN / OIL CONFERENCE -- FARSI STAFFER HAMID OUDJI INTERVIEWED DR. FEIROUDON FESHARAKI, DIRECTOR OF THE EAST-WEST CENTER'S ENERGY STUDIES PROGRAM. THE OIL AND GAS ECONOMIST SET THE SCENE FOR THE NOVEMBER 11-14 CONFERENCE AT WHICH REPRESENTATIVES OF FOREIGN ENERGY COUNTRIES WILL LEARN ABOUT IRANIAN OIL AND GAS PROJECTS OPEN TO FOREIGN INVESTMENT. (FARSI 11/10)

ALGERIA / PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS -- THE ALGERIAN ISLAMIC FRONT FOR SALVATION HAS URGED VOTERS TO BOYCOTT THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. ANWAR HADDAM, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FRONT IN WASHINGTON EXPLAINED TO STAFFER THABET EL-BARDICY THE FRONT'S VIEWS FOR BOYCOTTING THE ELECTIONS. (ARABIC 11/10)

BRITAIN / IRAQ / JORDAN -- BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY MALCOLM RIFKIND SAID IN JORDAN IRAQ REPRESENTS A THREAT TO PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST. SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ WILL CONTINUE FOR A LONG TIME, HE SAID. STAFFER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 11/10)

KUWAIT / RECONCILIATION -- THE AMIR OF KUWAIT SHAIKH JABIR AL-AHMAD AL-SABAH TOLD "AL-MOSAWR" EGYPTIAN MAGAZINE HIS COUNTRY SUPPORTS ARAB UNITY AND RECONCILIATION IF BASED ON CLEAR BASES AND CONDITIONS. STRINGER MOSTAFA LABID REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 11/10)

ALGERIA / KILLINGS -- A FRENCH NUN WAS KILLED AND ANOTHER SERIOUSLY WOUNDED WHEN THEY WERE ATTACKED BY TWO UNIDENTIFIED GUNMEN IN THE WORKING CLASS AREA OF THE CAPITAL, ALGIERS. STRINGER HAKIM OULD KHALED REPORTS FROM ALGIERS. (ARABIC 11/10)

LONDON FILM FESTIVAL -- STAFFER KATAYOUN BEGLARI REPORTS FROM THE LONDON FILM FESTIVAL, WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON THREE FILMS FROM IRAN. (FARSI 11/12)

INSIDE CENTRAL ASIA:

.BUSINESSMAN / CENTRAL ASIA -- STAFFER ALI B FARHOODI INTERVIEWS IRANIAN-AMERICAN BUSINESSMAN, ARMAN SAIFI, VICE-PRESIDENT OF POLYVAT INTERNATIONAL OF PENNSYLVANIA, WHICH HAS JUST LANDED A CONTRACT WITH THE KAZAKHSTAN GOVERNMENT TO BUILD A FACTORY OF MODULAR HOMES. MR. SAIFI TALKS ABOUT HIS COMPANY'S QUEST FOR A SITE AND EXPLAINS WHY KAZAKHSTAN WAS CHOSEN. (FARSI 11/12)

IRAN / RUSSIA / CASPIAN SEA -- STAFFER MANSOUR FRACYON INTERVIEWS DR MAJID TEHRANIAN OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY, WHO SPECIALIZES IN RELATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA, IRAN, AND FORMER CENTRAL ASIAN COUNTRIES ABOUT RUSSIAN AND IRANIAN POLICIES TOWARDS THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE CASPIAN SEA, INCLUDING PETROLEUM RESOURCES. (FARSI 11/11)

AZERBAIJAN / POLITICS -- STRINGER RAFAEL HUSAINOV INTERVIEWS RASIM MEHDIEV, A CANDIDATE FROM AN ELECTORAL DISTRICT WHERE SOME IRREGULARITIES WERE REPORTED. RASIM ISMAILOV, A JOURNALIST FROM BAKU WHO COVERED THE SAME DISTRICT WAS ALSO INTERVIEWED. BOTH MEN CRITICIZED THE ELECTION PROCESS AND INTERFERENCE BY THE POLICE. (AZERI 11/13)

INSIDE SOUTH ASIA:

INDIA / G-15 -- INDIAN PRIME MINISTER RAO, ON HIS RETURN HOME AFTER TAKING PART IN GROUP OF 15 SUMMIT MEETING IN ARGENTINA, SAID EFFORTS BY G-15 DEVELOPING MEMBER NATIONS ARE ONLY TO FORGE AND DEVELOP COOPERATION AMONG THEMSELVES AND NOT AGAINST ANY SINGLE COUNTRY OR GROUP OF COUNTRIES. STRINGER REPORT. (HINDI 11/11)

KASHMIR ELECTIONS / INDIAN REACTION -- SEVERAL INDIAN OPPOSITION PARTIES, INCLUDING MAIN OPPOSITION BJP, ARE WELCOMING THE ELECTION COMMISSION'S DECISION NOT TO HOLD ELECTIONS IN KASHMIR. INDIAN PM RAO HAD RECOMMENDED ELECTIONS TO BE HELD BY MID DECEMBER THIS YEAR. BOTH THE COMMUNIST PARTIES AND THE JANTA DAL HAVE ALSO JOINED BJP. HOME MINISTER CHAVHAN HAS EXPRESSED REGRETS. INDIAN NEWSPAPERS SAY ELECTION COMMISSION'S DECISION REFLECTS THE STRENGTH OF INDIAN DEMOCRACY. STRINGER REPORT. (HINDI 11/12)

INDIA / DEFENSE -- INDIAN DEFENSE SCIENTISTS HAVE REPORTED SUCCESSFUL TESTS OF ANTI-TANK GUIDED TRISHUL AND NAG MISSILES. ACCORDING TO A REPORT PUBLISHED IN DEFENSE SCIENCE, THE TESTS WERE CARRIED OUT BY SCIENTISTS AT A LABORATORY IN HYDERABAD, SOUTH INDIA. STRINGER REPORT. (HINDI 11/10)

INDIA / DISINVESTMENT POLICY -- INDIA'S POLICY OF DISINVESTMENT IN PUBLIC ENTERPRISES LIKE OIL AND NATURAL GAS COMMISSION AND STEEL AUTHORITY OF INDIA HAS BROUGHT DISAPPOINTING RESULTS. THE POLICY WAS FORMULATED TO ATTRACT PRIVATE CAPITAL TO THE VENTURES, BUT PRIVATE INVESTMENT HAS FALLEN FAR SHORT OF GOVERNMENT'S EXPECTATIONS. STRINGER REPORT. (HINDI 11/9)

BANGLA STORM -- A STORM SWEPT THROUGH THE SOUTH WESTERN COASTAL REGION OF BANGLADESH. THE STORM WITH WIND GUSTS OF MORE THAN 130 KILOMETERS PER HOUR HIT THE PORT CITY OF KHULNA. AT LEAST FIFTEEN FISHING TRAWLERS WERE REPORTED MISSING. STRINGER ZAHURUL ALAM REPORTS. (BANGLA 11/10)

BANGLA / SIX DAY STRIKE -- THE OPPOSITION PARTIES IN BANGLADESH BEGAN A SIX DAY STRIKE TO PRESS FOR THEIR DEMAND THAT PRIME MINISTER KHALIDA ZIA RESIGN AND ELECTIONS BE HELD UNDER A CARETAKER, NEUTRAL GOVERNMENT. ONE PERSON WAS KILLED AND SEVERAL INJURED DURING THE STRIKE IN DHAKA. MATIUR RAHMAN CHOUDHURY REPORTS. (BANGLA 11/11)

BANGLA STRIKE SECOND DAY -- SECURITY REMAINED TIGHT IN DHAKA WHERE AN OPPOSITION LED STRIKE ENTERED ITS SECOND DAY. POLICE AND PARAMILITARY FORCES ARE PATROLLING THE NEARLY EMPTY STREETS. MOST SCHOOLS, SHOPS AND BUSINESSES REMAIN SHUT AND GOVERNMENT OFFICES ARE ALMOST DESERTED. SEVERAL BOMB EXPLOSIONS ROCKED DHAKA ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. FOUR PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND 50 INJURED. STRINGER MATIUR RAHMAN CHOUDHURY REPORTS FROM DHAKA. (BANGLA 11/12)

25TH ANNIVERSARY OF BANGLADESH'S INDEPENDENCE -- AS BANGLADESH IS GOING TO CELEBRATE IT'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE EARLY NEXT YEAR, BANGLADESHIS LIVING IN ENGLAND ARE ALSO PLANNING TO CELEBRATE THE EVENT IN LONDON. STRINGER SHAMEEM CHAWDHURY INTERVIEWS ABDUL GAFFAR CHOUDHURY A VETERAN BANGLADESHI JOURNALIST AND ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL ORGANIZERS OF THE INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY PROGRAM. (BANGLA 11/10)

PAKISTAN / RABIN -- URDU STAFFER QAMAR ABBAS JAFRI INTERVIEWS PAKISTANI FOREIGN MINISTER SARDAR ASIF AHMAD ALI WHO TOLD HIM THAT HE WAS SHOCKED TO LEARN OF THE ASSASSINATION OF PRIME MINISTER YITZHAK RABIN. IN HIS INTERVIEW THE FOREIGN MINISTER ALSO SPOKE ON PAKISTAN'S STAND REGARDING AFGHANISTAN AND INDIA. (URDU 11/8)

KARACHI / VIOLENCE -- STRINGER QAISER MAHMOOD IS REGULARLY REPORTING VIOLENT INCIDENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE FINANCIAL CAPITAL OF PAKISTAN WHERE SO FAR THIS YEAR MORE THAN SIXTEEN HUNDRED PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN ETHNIC, RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL VIOLENCE. STAFFER RAZI RIZVI INTERVIEWS THE CHIEF OF JAMIAUTUL ULEMA E PAKISTAN, SHAH AHMAD NOORANI WHO ACCUSED THE SECURITY FORCES AND POLICE OF GROSS ABUSES AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF KARACHI, HE SAID IT IS A POLITICAL PROBLEM AND IT SHOULD BE SOLVED POLITICALLY. (URDU 11/9)

KASHMIR / ELECTIONS -- SARDAR ATIQ AHMAD, THE CHIEF ORGANIZER OF THE RULING PARTY, MUSLIM CONFERENCE IN PAKISTANI KASHMIR TOLD STAFFER QAMAR ABBAS JAFRI THAT THE WORLD IS AWARE ABOUT THE KASHMIR ISSUE AND THE RECENT MEETING OF SARDAR ABDUL QAYYUMM KHAN, PRIME MINISTER OF PAKISTANI KASHMIR WITH US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RABIN RAPHAEL WAS A SIGNIFICANT STEP IN THAT DIRECTION. HE ALSO QUESTIONED THE USEFULNESS OF ELECTIONS IN THE INDIAN PART OF KASHMIR WHERE NOTHING HAS CHANGED AND REPRESSION CONTINUES. (URDU 11/8)

INSIDE EAST ASIA:

TAIWAN / APEC -- TAIWAN HAS DECIDED TO LET GU ZHEN-FU, HEAD OF THE CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS FUND, ATTEND THE OSAKA MEETING OF APEC. AS THIS YEAR'S SUMMIT WILL FOCUS ON AN ACTION PLATFORM, TAIWAN SCHOLARS BELIEVE THAT A CONCRETE PROGRAM WILL FACILITATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF TAIWAN IN THE FUTURE AND IT WILL ALSO HAVE FAR-REACHING IMPACT ON CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS. STRINGER FAN DAOZHUANG IN TAIPEI INTERVIEWS ZENG XUERU, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, WU RONGYI, TAIWAN ECONOMIC INSTITUTE, ZHOU XU, ZHENGZHI UNIV., AND CHEN BOZHI, TAIWAN NATIONAL UNIV (MANDARIN 11/13)

TAIWAN / PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION -- HAO BOCUN AGREED TO RUN WITH LIN YANGGANG IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT TAIWAN WILL USE A REFERENDUM TO ELECT A PRESIDENT. AT PRESENT, THERE WILL BE FOUR PAIRS COMPETING IN THE ELECTION FOR PRESIDENT. CORRESPONDENT TIEN KANGLIN IN TAIPEI COVERS ACTUALITIES OF LIN YANGGANG, JIAN HANSHENG, AND CHEN KUIMIAO. (MANDARIN 11/13)

VETERANS VILLAGE / ELECTION POLITICS -- SOME OF TAIWAN'S MILITARY SERVICEMEN'S FAMILIES LIVE IN "JUANCUN" (VETERANS VILLAGES). THE HOUSES ARE OLD AND IN BAD SHAPE. SOME MILITARY SERVICEMEN AND VILLAGERS TOLD VOA THAT THE "JUANCUN" NEED RECONSTRUCTION BADLY. IT HAS BECOME A POLITICAL ISSUE IN THE COMING ELECTION. CORRESPONDENT TIEN KANGLIN IN TAIPEI INTERVIEWS VETERAN VILLAGERS AND A NEW PARTY OFFICIAL. (MANDARIN 11/ 12)

TAIWAN / APEC -- TAIWAN'S HIGH RANKING OFFICIAL ON MAINLAND AFFAIRS, KU ZHEN-FU, WILL ATTEND THE APEC MEETING IN JAPAN AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF PRESIDENT LEE TENG-HUI. LENG RUO-SHUI, THE SPOKESMAN OF TAIWAN'S FOREIGN MINISTRY SAID THE SELECTION WAS MADE BY PRESIDENT LEE TENG-HUI. XIAO WAN-CHANG WAS TAIWAN'S REPRESENTATIVE ATTENDING PREVIOUS APEC MEETINGS. STRINGER ZHANG YONGTAI INTERVIEWS LENG RUOSHUI AND PROF. CHANG LINGZHEN, TAIWAN UNIV. (MANDARIN 11/12)

CHINA / TAIWAN / PALACE MUSEUMS -- STRINGER SHI LEI IN HONG KONG REPORTS ON THE INVITATION BY THE BEIJING PALACE MUSEUM TO THE TAIPEI PALACE MUSEUM TO HOLD AN EXHIBITION IN CHINA. TAIWAN OFFICIALS HESITATE TO ACCEPT, FEARING ITEMS MAY BE CONFISCATED BY MAINLAND AUTHORITIES. INTERVIEWS WITH YANG XIN, DEP. DIR. OF BEIJING PALACE MUSEUM, ZHANG LINSHENG, DEP. DIR. OF TAIPEI PALACE MUSEUM, AND PROF. CHEN PENGREN, UNIV. OF CULTURE, TAIPEI. (MANDARIN 11/11)

TAIWAN / SHAANXI PERCUSSION INSTRUMENT TROUPE -- THE CHINESE SHAANXI PERCUSSION INSTRUMENT TROUPE IS VISITING TAIWAN. THE TROUPE IS PARTICIPATING IN ARTISTIC EXCHANGES WITH MUSICIANS IN TAIWAN. SHAANXI IS PLANNING TO ISSUE A CD OF PERCUSSION INSTRUMENT MUSIC TO INTRODUCE ITS ARTISTS TO THE WORLD. CORRESPONDENT TIEN KANGLIN IN TAIPEI INTERVIEWS AN ZHISHUN, HEAD OF THE TROUPE. (MANDARIN 11/11)

CHINA / TAIWAN / WWII -- A HALF-CENTURY-OLD DISPUTE RE-EMERGED BETWEEN COMMUNISTS IN THE CHINESE MAINLAND AND NATIONALISTS ON TAIWAN AS PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TAIWAN STRAIT MARK THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VICTORY OVER JAPAN IN WWII. STAFFER ZHANG NAN INTERVIEWS YU MAOCHUN, US NAVAL ACADEMY, YANG KUISONG, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, TILLMAN DURDIN, NYT CHINA CORRESPONDENT IN WWII, JIN YAORU, FORMER STUDENT ACTIVIST, JOHN SERVICE, US OFFICIAL IN CHINA IN WWII, AND ZHANG HAIPENG, DIR. OF THE INSTITUTE FOR MODERN CHINESE HISTORY. (MANDARIN 11/11)

CHINA / US / TAIWAN -- STAFFER CHOU YUNTING INTERVIEWS ZHU YONGDE, DEPT OF EAST ASIAN STUDIES CHAIR AT ROCHESTER UNIV., AND PING KEFU, COMMENTATOR, WHO COMMENT ON A NYT INTERVIEW WITH PLA LIEUT. GENERAL XIONG GUANGKAI. THE LIEUT. GENERAL WARNED OF EVEN STRONGER REACTION FROM CHINA SHOULD LEE TENG-HUI BE ALLOWED TO VISIT THE US AGAIN. (MANDARIN 11/11)

TAIWAN / CHINA / MILITARY -- IN THE HEAT OF TAIWAN'S LEGISLATIVE ELECTION CAMPAIGN, TAIWAN'S MILITARY ANALYSTS ARE INTENSELY WATCHING THE MILITARY MOVEMENTS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TAIWAN STRAITS. SOME MILITARY PUNDITS HOPE CHINA WILL NOT ATTACK TAIWAN BECAUSE OF THE ENORMOUS RISK AND CASUALTIES, BUT OTHERS ARE LESS OPTIMISTIC, BELIEVING BEIJING TO BE UNPREDICTABLE. STRINGER ZHANG YONGTAI IN TAIPEI INTERVIEWS LIU XIANGBING, DIR. OF SAN JUN UNIV. MILITARY INST., AND MILITARY COMMENTATORS ZHANG YOUHUA AND CHEN GUOXIONG. (MANDARIN 11/10)

CHINA / ECONOMY -- MR. TIANYOU LI, PH. D. OF ECONOMICS, UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, AND MR. YIJIANG WANG, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, WERE GUESTS ON THE CHINA FORUM CALL-IN SHOW. THEY DISCUSSED ISSUES IN ECONOMIC REFORM AND DEVELOPMENT OF CHINA'S INLAND PROVINCES. SEVEN CALLS FROM CHINA WERE TAKEN DURING THE SHOW. (MANDARIN 11/13)

CHINA / US / WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION -- THREE DAYS OF SINO-US TRADE TALKS ENDED WITHOUT PROGRESS ON FRIDAY, WITH CHINA REFUSING TO BUDGE ON ITS WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIP DRIVE AND THE US SAYING COMPROMISE WAS ESSENTIAL. STAFFER CHIEN WEI INTERVIEWS LUO XIAOPENG, HARVARD UNIV. ON CHINA'S WTO ENTRY CONTROVERSY. (MANDARIN 11/10)

CHINA / HIGHER EDUCATION -- TWO EDUCATORS FROM CHINESE UNIVERSITIES TELL STAFFER CHOU YOUKANG THAT EVEN THE BEST CHINESE UNIVERSITIES HAVE A LOT TO LEARN FROM THEIR US COUNTERPARTS. THE CHINESE EDUCATORS SAY THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHINESE STUDENTS TO BE MORE INDEPENDENT IN THEIR THINKING AND MORE ORIGINAL IN ACADEMIC RESEARCH. INTERVIEWS WITH S.W. YU, VICE PRESIDENT, QINGHUA UNIV., AND PROF. SI CHUNG MOU, HK UNIV. (MANDARIN 11/10)

LA / FORUM ON THE FUTURE OF CHINA, HONG KONG & TAIWAN -- THE UPCOMING ELECTION IN TAIWAN, THE HANDOVER OF SOVEREIGNTY OF HONG KONG TO CHINA IN 1997 AND THE LEADERSHIP POWER STRUGGLE IN CHINA WERE AMONG TOPICS DISCUSSED BY EXPERTS AT A LOS ANGELES FORUM ON CHINA. STAFFER KUO-FU SHU COVERED THE FORUM AND INTERVIEWED JIN YAORU, FORMER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF WENHUI DAILY, MA DAWEI, PRESIDENT OF CHINESE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES ORGANIZATION, HUANG GUOCHUANG, OVERSEAS REPRESENTATIVE OF CONGRESS IN TAIWAN, AND LIN ZHONGSHAN, PRESIDENT OF BEYONG PARTISAN ASSOCIATION. (MANDARIN 11/11)

CHINA / US / UN DUES -- WANG XUEXIAN,BEIJING'S AMBASSADOR TO UN, HAS ADMONISHED THE UN FOR LAVISHING POOR MEMBERS' SCARCE FUNDS ON A GROWING NUMBER OF ILL-MANAGED PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS AND ATTACKED THE US FOR REFUSING TO PAY ITS UN DUES. ONE EXPERT SAYS THIS MAY BE A PREEMPTIVE MOVE BEFORE THE US ASKS BEIJING TO INCREASE ITS UN CONTRIBUTION. STAFFER CHIEN WEI INTERVIEWS DR. SHI TIANJIAN, DUKE UNIV. (MANDARIN 11/11)

CHINA / APEC -- A SENIOR US OFFICIAL REJECTED CALLS FROM ASIA-PACIFIC COUNTRIES TO EXEMPT AGRICULTURE PRODUCTS FROM BROAD TRADE LIBERALIZATION. STAFFER XIA QING AND CHIEN WEI REPORT. INTERVIEW WITH DR. WEN GUANZHONG, TRINITY COLLEGE. (MANDARIN 11/11)

CHINA / TIBET / PANCHEN LAMA -- CHINA HAS FORMALLY REJECTED DALAI LAMA'S CHOICE OF THE REINCARNATION OF THE LATE PANCHEN LAMA. BEIJING NARROWED THE LIST OF NOMINEES FOR THE FUTURE TIBETAN SPIRITUAL LEADER TO THREE FINAL CANDIDATES. A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DALAI LAMA AND A PRO-TIBETAN ANALYST TOLD VOA CHINESE AND TIBETAN SERVICES THAT TIBETAN BUDDHISTS WOULD NOT ACCEPT BEIJING'S CHOICE AND CHINESE-TIBETAN RELATIONS WOULD SOUR IF BEIJING DOES NOT ADOPT A MORE CONCILIATORY POLICY. STAFFERS WANG ZE AND CHEN JIAN REPORT. INTERVIEWS WITH JIGME NGAPO, POLITICAL ANALYST AT INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR TIBET, LODI GYARI, DALAI LAMA'S ENVOY IN WASHINGTON (COURTESY OF TIBETAN SERVICE), DR. RICHARD SMITH, RICE UNIV., AND CHEN YOUWEI, RETIRED SENIOR CHINESE DIPLOMAT. (MANDARIN 11/12)

CHINA / PANCHEN LAMA -- STAFFER CHIEN WEI INTERVIEWS NGAPO JIGME, INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR TIBET, AND ZHAO SUISHING, COLBY COLLEGE, MAINE, ABOUT THE DISPUTE BETWEEN BEIJING AND TIBET OVER SELECTING THE NEW PANCHEN LAMA. MORE THAN 70 TIBETAN LAMAS ARE IN BEIJING FOR THE SELECTION RITUAL. BEIJING HAS DECLARED THE DALAI LAMA'S CHOICE OF A SIX-YEAR-OLD BOY AS THE PANCHEN LAMA NULL AND VOID. THE GOVERNMENT INSISTS IT ALONE HAS THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE THE NEW PANCHEN LAMA. EXILED TIBETANS HAVE WARNED OF BLOODSHED IF THE REINCARNATION IS CHOSEN IN A SECRET SESSION IN BEIJING. (MANDARIN 11/10)

MACAO -- STAFFER CHOU YOUKANG IN HONG KONG REPORTS ON THE PORTUGUESE COLONY OF MACAO, WHICH WILL REVERT TO CHINA IN 1999. A MAJORITY OF THE 500,00 POPULATION ARE IMMIGRANTS AND THE MOST OF MACAO'S REVENUE COMES FROM CASINOS. INTERVIEW WITH LI KAIYAN, A MACAO BUSINESSMAN IN THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY. (MANDARIN 11/12)

HONG KONG STOCK MARKET / CHINA STOCKS -- CHINESE H STOCK, THE STOCK OF CHINESE STATE ENTERPRISES, HAS BEEN DOWN DRASTICALLY IN THE HONG KONG MARKET FOR SEVERAL DAYS. HK STOCK MARKET ANALYSTS BELIEVED THAT H STOCK'S FALLING REFLECTED THE CHANGES OF CHINESE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TOWARDS STATE ENTERPRISES AND THE FOUNDERING OF STATE ENTERPRISES. STAFFER HE PING IN HONG KONG INTERVIEWS LUNG HAOJEI, HK SUN HONG-KAI, AND ZHOU BAJUN, ECONOMIST. (MANDARIN 11/10)

US / HK / AVIATION -- THE US AND HONG KONG SINGED A MEMORANDUM FOR A BILATERAL AVIATION AGREEMENT ON FRIDAY AFTER EIGHT YEARS OF HARD NEGOTIATIONS. US AND HONG KONG OFFICIALS SAY THAT THE AGREEMENT WILL PROVIDE THE TWO SIDES WITH DIRECT AVIATION LINKS WHICH WILL BENEFIT BOTH SIDES AND THE ENTIRE REGION. STAFFER CHOU YOUKANG IN HONG KONG INTERVIEWS FEDERICO PENA, US SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION, JIONG -ZU SIU, HK SECRETARY OF ECONOMICS, PETER LOB, HK CIVIL AVIATION DIRECTOR, AND GILBERT CHOW, GENERAL MANAGER OF NORTHWEST AIRLINES HK OFFICE. (MANDARIN 11/10)

CHINA / PALEONTOLOGISTS FIND FOSSIL BIRD BONES -- THE COMMUNITY OF PALEONTOLOGY WAS THRILLED AND ASTONISHED WITH A RESEARCH REPORT PUBLISHED IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF NATURE MAGAZINE BY TWO CHINESE AND TWO AMERICAN PALEONTOLOGISTS. THE AUTHORS REPORT THAT THEY HAVE FOUND IN THE EASTERN PART OF CHINA FOSSIL BIRD BONES WHICH SHOW THAT THE EARTH SAW THE FIRST BEAKED, TOOTHLESS BIRD AS WE KNOW IT AT LEAST AROUND 137 MILLION YEARS AGO, OR 70 MILLION YEARS EARLIER THAN THE PREVIOUSLY OLDEST KNOWN TOOTHLESS BIRD, GOBI-PTERYX, FROM MONGOLIA. STAFFER QI FENG INTERVIEWS ZHONGHE ZHOU, PHD STUDENT AT UNIV. OF KANSAS-LAWRENCE, ONE OF THE SCIENTISTS WHO FOUND THE FOSSILS. (MANDARIN 11/10)

COMMENTARY / THE DANGER OF CHINESE NATIONALISM -- ORVILLE SCHELL OBSERVES THE RISE OF THE SO-CALLED "MUSCULAR NATIONALISM" IN THE POST-COLD WAR ERA, AND URGES THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP TO RESIST THE TEMPTATION OF MANIPULATING THIS ULTRA-NATIONALIST SENTIMENT TO SERVE ITS OWN POLITICAL PURPOSES. THE AUTHOR POINTS OUT THAT, JUST AS CHINA'S ECONOMIC SUCCESS IS ACHIEVED BY THE CHINESE THEMSELVES, ITS PROBLEMS ARE ALSO LARGELY OF ITS OWN MAKING. BLAMING CHINA'S PROBLEMS ON FOREIGN CONSPIRACY, THE AUTHOR ARGUES, WILL NOT ONLY FAIL TO SOLVE THEM, BUT BRING FURTHER HUMILIATION TO CHINA. (MANDARIN 11/10)

CHINESE LEADER / SOUTH KOREA -- CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN ARRIVED IN SEOUL MONDAY FOR A FIVE-DAY STATE VISIT TO SOUTH KOREA. HE WILL MEET HIS SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT KIM YOUNG SAM TUESDAY AND HOLD A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE. KOREAN CORRESPONDENT LIM YONG KYUN REPORTS THAT THEIR TALKS ARE EXPECTED TO FOCUS ON CLOSER ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES AS WELL AS THE STABILITY OF THE KOREAN PENINSULA. MR. JIAN WILL ADDRESS THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND TOUR FACTORIES BEFORE HE LEAVES FOR THE ANNUAL APEC SUMMIT IN OSAKA. (KOREAN 11/13)

SOUTH KOREA / JAPAN -- A JAPANESE CABINET MINISTER RESIGNED MONDAY OVER HIS CONTROVERSIAL REMARKS THAT JAPAN HAD DONE SOME GOOD THINGS DURING ITS COLONIAL RULE OF KOREA. THE RESIGNATION OF MR. TAKAMI ETO AS THE GENERAL ADMINISTRATION MINISTER IS EXPECTED TO END A TENSE DIPLOMATIC FEUD BETWEEN SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN. THE SOUTH KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTRY WELCOMES THE TOKYO MOVE AND SAYS SEOUL HOPES AN UPCOMING SUMMIT BETWEEN PRESIDENT KIM YOUNG SAM AND PRIME MINISTER TOMIICHI MURAYAMA WILL BE HELD IN OSAKA AS SCHEDULED. CORRESPONDENT YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS FROM SEOUL. (KOREAN 11/13)

ANTI-CHINESE DEMONSTRATION / AUSTRALIA -- THE AUSTRALIAN TURKISTAN ASSOCIATION INC IN SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA RECENTLY HAD A DEMONSTRATION TO PROTEST THE CONTINUATION OF CHINESE NUCLEAR TESTS IN LOP NUR, XINJIANG-UIGHUR AUTONOMOUS REGION OF CHINA. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER ABDUL MANNAN KAISKEN FROM BLAIR ATHOL S. AUSTRALIA, THE PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTRALIAN TURKISTAN ASSOCIATION, AHMAD EGAMBERDI, SAYS TWO MEMBERS OF THE AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT, ONE FROM EACH PARTY PARTICIPATED IN THE DEMONSTRATION. (UZBEK 11/10)

US FIRM / VIETNAM / WATER -- STAFFER THONG DUC TRINH INTERVIEWED AMYN DAHYA, CEO OF VECTOR ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC., WHICH IS INSTALLING PURIFICATION UNITS IN VIETNAM, INCLUDING NEW PROCESSES USED ABOARD THE SPACE SHUTTLE TO PROVIDE CREWS WITH POTABLE WATER. (VIETNAMESE 11/11, 11/12)

INSIDE EUROPE:

DAYTON / BOSNIAN-CROAT AGREEMENT -- STAFER ZDENKO NOVACKI REPORTS FROM THE PRESS CONFERENCE IN DAYTON, OHIO, WHERE THE PRESIDENTS OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AND CROATIA COMMENTED ON THE NEW AGREEMENT TO IMPLEMENT THE FRAMEWORK FOR FEDERATION OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA. (CROATIAN 11/11)

BOSNIAN-CROAT AGREEMENT / BOSNIAN PM -- IN AN STAFFER INTERVIEW, HARIS SILAJDZIC, PRIME MINISTER OF THE FEDERATION OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA SAID THAT HE IS OPTIMISTIC REGARDING THE BOSNIAN-CROAT AGREEMENT TO STRENGTHEN THE BOSNIAN FEDERATION. (CROATIAN 11/11)

CROAT-MUSLIM MILITARY ALLIANCE / REACTIONS -- CROATIAN MILITARY ANALYST FRAN VISNAR FINDS THAT AGREEMENT ON STRENGTHENING MILITARY ALLIANCE OF CROATS AND MUSLIMS REPRESENTS AN UNUSUAL SOLUTION. JOINT ARMY AND MILITARY COMMAND STRUCTURES ARE ON AND ABOVE CORPS LEVEL WHICH WAS NEVER APPLIED IN ANY FEDERATION BEFORE. STRINGER ZELJKO MATIC REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (CROATIAN 11/12)

DAYTON / TALKS -- IN THE PRESENCE OF US SECRETARY OF STATE W CHRISTOPHER, PRESIDENTS OF CROATIA AND BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA SIGNED AGREEMENTS AIMED AT STRENGTHENING OF BOSNIAN-CROAT FEDERATION AND RE-UNIFICATION OF THE CITY OF MOSTAR. SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER SAID THAT THE AGREEMENTS REPRESENT A CORNERSTONE OF THE FUTURE PEACE IN THE AREA. (SERBIAN 11/10)

BOSNIAN FEDERATION / AGREEMENT -- AT THE BOSNIAN PEACE TALKS IN DAYTON, OHIO, A NEW CROAT-MUSLIM AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED ON STRENGTHENING THE BOSNIAN FEDERATION. STAFFER ZDENKO NOVACKI REPORTS LIVE FROM WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE IN DAYTON, OHIO. (CROATIAN 11/10)

BOSNIAN PRIME MINISTER / FEDERATION AGREEMENT -- BOSNIAN PRIME MINISTER HARIS SILAJDZIC COMMENTS ON THE NEW AGREEMENT ON BOSNIAN FEDERATION. HE PROCLAIMS MOSTAR A CITY NO LONGER DIVIDED, AND HE SAYS HE IS LESS PESSIMISTIC ON A POSSIBILITY OF THE FEDERATION WORKING AND SAYS THE SELF-PROCLAIMED CROAT STATE WILL CEASE TO EXIST AS SOON AS FEDERATION GOVERNMENT TAKES OVER THE DUTIES FROM THE BOSNIAN-HERZEGOVINA GOVERNMENT. (CROATIAN 11/10)

DAYTON TALKS / KOSOVO REACT -- ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADER, IBRAHIM RUGOVA PRAISED THE US PLAN INTRODUCED IN DAYTON TALKS AND PRESIDENT CLINTON'S CONTINUING EFFORTS TO CONVINCE US CONGRESS FOR ALLOWING AMERICAN TROOPS TO IMPLEMENT A PEACE AGREEMENT IN BOSNIA. STRINGER AFERDITA KELMENDI REPORTS FROM PRISHTINA. (ALBANIAN 11/10)

DAYTON TALKS / ALBANIA -- ALBANIAN PRESIDENT BERISHA PRAISED THE AGREEMENT ON THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION REACHED IN DAYTON, OHIO. PRESIDENT BERISHA ALSO CALLED ON THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NOT TO FORGET KOSOVO, THE PREDOMINANTLY ALBANIAN-INHABITED PROVINCE, WHOSE AUTONOMY WAS SUSPENDED BY SERBIA IN 1990. STRINGER MERO BAZE REPORTS FROM TIRANA. (ALBANIAN 11/11)

EAST SLAVONIA / AGREEMENT / YUGO REACTION -- STRINGER JADRANKA KRONJA REPORTS ON BELGRADE REACTION TO THE AGREEMENT TO REINTEGRATE EAST SLAVONIA REGION TO CROATIA. WHILE THE RULING PARTY AND MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY PRAISED THE AGREEMENT AS THE STEP TOWARD PEACE, LEADERS OF THE EXTREME RIGHT CONDEMNED IT AS ONE OF THE WORST SERBIAN DEFEATS. (CROATIAN 11/13)

EASTERN SLAVONIA / AGREEMENT -- CHIEF OF STAFF TO CROATIAN PRESIDENT HRVOJE SARINIC WELCOMED THE AGREEMENT TO RETURN EASTERN SLAVONIA UNDER CROATIAN CONTROL. INTERNATIONAL MEDIATORS SAY THE AGREEMENT PROTECTS HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE AREA AND REPRESENTS THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF BALKAN CONFLICT. STRINGER LINDA MILISA REPORTS. (CROATIAN 11/12)

SERBS / EASTERN SLAVONIA -- SOME INDEPENDENT NEWS MEDIA IN SERBIA AND REPRESENTATIVES OF UNPROFOR CLAIM THAT SITUATION IN EASTERN SLAVONIA IS BECOMING MORE TENSE. AT THE SAME TIME, US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS J SHATTUCK VISITS BANJALUKA TO VERIFY REPORTS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN THE AREA. STRINGER MILICA KUBUROVIC REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (SERBIAN 11/10)

MONTENEGRO / WAR CRIMES -- DEMOCRATIC PUBLIC OPINION IN MONTENEGRO GENERALLY SUPPORTS WAR CRIMES INDICTMENTS AGAINST THREE SERB ARMY OFFICERS. SOME MEMBERS OF THE OPPOSITION IN THE PARLIAMENT ALSO SUPPORT THE DECISION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COURT WHILE OTHERS CONDEMN IT AS A HOSTILE ACT AGAINST SERBS. STRINGER BOSKO DJUKIC REPORTS FROM PODGORICA. (SERBIAN 11/10)

GERMANY / YUGOSLAVIA -- THE SPEAKER OF THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF GERMANY HAS APPEALED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF RELATIONS WITH SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO. GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER KLAUS KINKEL IS ALSO STRESSING THAT SERBIA MUST FIND IT'S PLACE IN EUROPE. STRINGER DRAGAN BISENIC REPORTS FROM BONN. (SERBIAN 11/12)

GERMANY / BOSNIA -- GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER KLAUS KINKEL WELCOMES THE BOSNIAN-CROAT AGREEMENT ON STRENGTHENING THE BOSNIAN FEDERATION. STRINGER IVICA LOVRIC REPORTS FROM BONN. (CROATIAN 11/11)

GERMANY / MACEDONIA -- GERMANY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ECONOMIC PARTNER OF MACEDONIA AMONG THE MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. HOWEVER, BONN STRESSED SEVERAL TIMES THAT THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT DOES NOT CONSIDER COMMERCE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF BILATERAL RELATIONS. STRINGER ZELJKO BAJIC REPORTS FROM SKOPJE. (SERBIAN 11/11)

MACEDONIA / NATO -- MACEDONIA HAS RECEIVED AN OFFICIAL INVITATION TO JOIN NATO PROGRAM PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE. THE INVITATION CAME MUCH EARLIER THAN THE GOVERNMENT IN SKOPJE EXPECTED. STRINGER ZELJKO BAJIC REPORTS FORM SKOPJE. (SERBIAN 11/10)

MACEDONIA / NATO -- MACEDONIA IS THE LATEST BALKAN COUNTRY TO JOIN NATO'S PROGRAM PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE. STRINGER DIANA TOSKA REPORTS FROM SKOPJE. (ALBANIAN 11/10)

MONTENEGRO / USA -- THE PRIME MINISTER OF MONTENEGRO, MILO DJUKANOVIC HAS PROPOSED THAT NATO PEACE FORCES AND SUPPLIES BE TRANSPORTED THROUGH THE MONTENEGRIN PORT OF BAR. THE MONTENEGRIN OPPOSITION REJECTED THE OFFER. STRINGER BOSKO DJUKIC REPORTS FROM PODOGRICA. (SERBIAN 11/12)

KOSOVO ALBANIANS / EXODUS -- ALBANIAN POLITICAL FORCES AND HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT LARGE NUMBERS OF ALBANIANS LEAVING KOSOVO. ALBANIANS FEAR THAT IF THIS TREND CONTINUES THE ETHNIC STRUCTURE OF KOSOVO'S POPULATION COULD CHANGE. STRINGER IBRAHIM OSMANI REPORTS FROM PRISHTINA. (ALBANIAN 11/10)

ALBANIA / RELIGION -- THE NORTHERN CITY OF SHKODRA CELEBRATED THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST MASS IN ALBANIA, WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT THAT LED TO THE COLLAPSE OF THE COMMUNIST REGIME. STRINGER PELLUMB SULO REPORTS THOUSANDS PARTICIPATED IN THE CELEBRATIONS. (ALBANIAN 11/11)

INDEPENDENT MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES -- THE WORLD JOURNALIST ASSOCIATION HAS ORGANIZED A TWO DAY MEETING IN LJUBLJANA. INDEPENDENT MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES FROM FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS INTERESTED IN THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS IN THAT REGION WERE ALSO PRESENT. STRINGER DUSAN MASIC REPORTS FROM LJUBLJANA. (SERBIAN 11/11)

NATO / BOSNIA -- BRUSSELS CORRESPONDENT LADA STIPIC NISETEO REPORTS ON NEW DETAILS OF DEPLOYMENT OF A NATO MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE TO IMPLEMENT FUTURE PEACE IN BOSNIA. SHE REPORTED THAT 10 NON-MEMBERS OF NATO HAVE OFFERED TO TAKE PART IN NATO FORCE SO FAR WHEN PEACE IN BOSNIA IS REACHED. (CROATIAN 11/10)

UN / BOSNIA CRIMES -- UN SECURITY COUNCIL ADOPTED A RESOLUTION CONDEMNING SERBIAN WAR CRIMES IN NORTH-WEST BOSNIA. STRINGER IVICA PULJIC REPORTS THE RESOLUTION ALSO CONDEMNED HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN CROATIA. (CROATIAN 11/10)

CROATIA / PRIVATIZATION -- ZAGREB CORRESPONDENT ZELJKO MATIC REPORTS ON THE AMERICAN-CROATIAN INVESTMENT GROUP BUYING A HOTEL IN ZAGREB. MATIC QUOTES SEVERAL CROATIAN NEWSPAPERS CRITICIZING THE MOVE, SAYING THAT THIS INVESTMENT GROUPS OFFER WAS THE WORST ONE, BUT IT WAS STILL ABLE TO PURCHASE THE HOTEL FOR A VERY LOW PRICE. (CROATIAN 11/10)

US / TURKEY / HUMAN RIGHTS -- CONGRESSMAN CHRISTOPHER SMITH IS INTERVIEWED ON THE RECENT HUMAN RIGHTS DEVELOPMENTS IN TURKEY. IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS BY STAFFER HAKKI OCAL, MR. SMITH EXPRESSED RELIEF THAT AMERICAN JOURNALIST ALIZA MARCUS WAS ACQUITTED BY A STATE SECURITY COURT IN ISTANBUL. (TURKISH 11/10)

TURKEY / ELECTIONS -- CONSTITUTIONAL COURT OF TURKEY WILL SOON ANNOUNCE ITS RULING ON THE RECENT ELECTION LAW WHICH SETS DECEMBER 24 FOR EARLY ELECTIONS. A GROUP OF PARLIAMENTARIANS OBJECTED THE EARLY ELECTION DATE ON GROUNDS THAT SOME LEGAL REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE RECENT DEMOCRATIZATION PACKAGE HAVE NOT BEEN FULFILLED. TURKISH STAFFER HALE EBIRI INTERVIEWED PROFESSOR AHMET MUMCU OF ANKARA UNIVERSITY ON POSSIBLE OUTCOME OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT DELIBERATIONS. (TURKISH 11/10)

US / TURKEY / ENERGY -- US DEPUTY SECRETARY OF ENERGY CHARLES CURTIS, HOLDS TALKS WITH TURKISH OFFICIALS IN ANKARA. IN A NEWS CONFERENCE CURTIS SAYS THE US GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS TURKEY'S PROPOSALS FOR THE TRANSFER OF OIL PRODUCED IN AZERBAIJAN'S CASPIAN SEA FIELDS TO THE INTERNATIONAL MARKETS. TURKISH PROPOSALS INCLUDE BUILDING A PIPELINE THROUGH TURKEY AND COOPERATION WITH RUSSIA ON OIL RELATED ISSUES. STRINGER ZEYNEP TINAZ REPORTS. (TURKISH 11/11)

US / RUSSIA / BOSNIA -- DR. THOMAS REMINGTON OF EMORY TALKS TO STAFFER NATALIE CLARKSON ABOUT THE US-RUSSIAN AGREEMENT ON RUSSIAN TROOPS IN BOSNIA. (RUSSIAN 11/12)

BRITAIN / CURRENCY -- ACCORDING TO A RECENT POLL BY THE BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND MOST OF THE NATIONAL INDUSTRIES, BOTH SECTORS WOULD LIKE TO KEEP AN OPEN DOOR FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN EUROPEAN UNION CURRENCY SYSTEM. STRINGER HUMBERTO CASTELLANOS REPORTS FROM LONDON. (SPANISH 11/13)

VIET STREET VENDORS IN PRAGUE -- STRINGER VAN TRANG REPORTS THAT THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES HAVE BUILT A NEW MARKETPLACE TO HOUSE VIETNAMESE VENDORS WHO PREVIOUSLY HAD DIFFICULTY WITH THE POLICE BECAUSE OF THEIR STREET STALLS. (VIETNAMESE 11/10)

INSIDE EURASIA:

MOSCOW / VIET MUSIC -- STRINGER HA GIANG REPORTS THAT TWO VIET SINGERS FROM THE US, NGOC LAN AND DUC HUY, STAGED A SUCCESSFUL MUSIC NIGHT IN THE RUSSIAN CAPITAL. HE ALSO HAD A REPORT ON THE CHANGED LIFESTYLE OF AFFLUENT VIETNAMESE RESIDENTS OF MOSCOW. (VIETNAMESE 11/10)

HUMAN RIGHTS -- STRINGER LUDMILA ALEXEYEVA REPORTS ON THE LATEST 11/12)

INSIDE LATIN AMERICA:

[02] U-S/SAUDI BLAST (S-ONITER) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

INTRO: U-S F-B-I AGENTS INCLUDING EXPLOSIVES EXPERTS HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO SAUDI ARABIA TO JOIN IN THE INVESTIGATION OF A BOMBING ATTACK ON AN OFFICE BUILDING IN RIYADH HOUSING AMERICAN MILITARY ADVISERS. SIX PEOPLE WERE KILLED -- FOUR OF THEM AMERICANS -- AND SOME 60 WOUNDED. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS PROMISING AN ENORMOUS EFFORT TO FIND THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TERRORIST BOMBING HE DESCRIBES AS A HIDEOUS ACT.

THE BOMB BELIEVED HIDDEN IN A VAN DETONATED IN A PARKING LOT OUTSIDE AN OFFICE BUILDING HOUSING U-S MILITARY AND CIVILIAN ADVISERS TO THE SAUDI ARABIAN NATIONAL GUARD.

THE BLAST BROUGHT DOWN THE FACADE OF THE THREE-STORY STRUCTURE AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO OTHER BUILDINGS IN A WIDE AREA OF THE CITY. THE BOMB WENT OFF CLOSE TO A FIRST-FLOOR SNACK BAR, AND THE MOST SERIOUS CASUALTIES IN THE PRE-NOON EXPLOSION WERE IN THAT AREA OF THE BUILDING.

CLAIMS OF RESPONSIBILITY IN THE NAME OF TWO GROUPS OPPOSING THE U-S MILITARY PRESENCE IN SAUDI ARABIA WERE TELEPHONED TO NEWS AGENCIES, BUT NEITHER HAS BEEN VERIFIED.

OFFICIALS HERE CONCEDED THE BUILDING WAS ONLY LIGHTLY-GUARDED, AND REVIEW OF SECURITY FOR ALL FACILITIES HOUSING U-S MILITARY AND RELATED CIVILIAN PERSONNEL HAS BEEN ORDERED.

IT WAS THE FIRST KNOWN ATTACK AGAINST THE U-S MILITARY IN THE GULF KINGDOM SINCE 1991, WHEN A SHUTTLE BUS WAS SPRAYED WITH GUNFIRE IN JEDDAH, SLIGHTLY INJURING TWO AMERICANS AND A SAUDI NATIONAL. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAG/LWM
13-Nov-95 6:47 PM EST (2347 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America