Voice of America Digest, 6 December 1995

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] !!! VOA DIGEST - DECEMBER 6, 1995

CLINTON / BOSNIA -- PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS THE US PARTNERSHIP WITH EUROPE WOULD BE THREATENED IF THE UNITED STATES TURNS ITS BACK ON ENFORCING PEACE IN BOSNIA. CONTINUING HIS DAILY PUBLIC CAMPAIGN ON BEHALF OF A US ROLE IN THE NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE THERE, THE PRESIDENT SAID HE IS ENCOURAGED BY WHAT HE SEES AS GROWING SUPPORT IN CONGRESS FOR THE COMMITMENT. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS. (12/6)

TUZLA / LANDING -- THE FIRST AMERICAN MILITARY PLANE HAS ARRIVED IN THE BOSNIAN TOWN OF TUZLA WHERE TWENTY THOUSAND US TROOPS WILL BE DEPLOYED AS PART OF THE NATO PEACE ENFORCEMENT MISSION IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS. (12/6)

GERMANY / BOSNIA -- THE GERMAN PARLIAMENT HAS OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED THE DISPATCH OF FOUR THOUSAND TROOPS TO SUPPORT THE NATO PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN BOSNIA. CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN. (12/6)

PERRY / RUSSIA -- US DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY SAYS THE INCLUSION OF RUSSIA IN THE NATO-LED BOSNIAN PEACEKEEPING FORCE MAY OPEN A NEW ERA OF SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE. MORE THAN FIFTEEN HUNDRED RUSSIAN COMBAT TROOPS WILL PATROL ALONGSIDE US FORCES IN EASTERN BOSNIA. CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS. (12/5)

CLINTON / BOSNIA -- PRESIDENT CLINTON WEDNESDAY MEETS WITH FOREIGN POLICY EXPERTS TO DISCUSS PLANS TO SEND TWENTY THOUSAND US PEACEKEEPING TROOPS TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. IT IS THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF WHITE HOUSE EVENTS THIS WEEK AIMED AT WINNING PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE DEPLOYMENT. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS. (12/5)

CONGRESS / BOSNIA -- TWO FORMER PRESIDENTS HAVE URGED CONGRESS AND THE NATION TO STAND BEHIND PRESIDENT CLINTON'S DECISION TO SEND TROOPS TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. CORRESPONDENT DAVID SWAN REPORTS THE SENATE IS NOW EXPECTED TO VOTE NEXT WEEK ON A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT. (12/5)

ISRAEL / RABIN -- THE CONFESSED ASSASSIN OF ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER YITZHAK RABIN WAS FORMALLY READ THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM WEDNESDAY. HIS TRIAL IS TO BEGIN IN TWO WEEKS. CORRESPONDENT AL PESSIN REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM. (12/6)

JORDAN / ISRAEL -- ISRAELI LEADER SHIMON PERES MET WEDNESDAY WITH KING HUSSEIN OF JORDAN IN AMMAN ON HIS FIRST VISIT AS PRIME MINISTER. MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS THE TWO MEN REVIEWED THE PEACE PROCESS AND CONCLUDED A TRANSPORT AGREEMENT. (12/6)

ISRAEL / SYRIA -- THE US MIDDLE EAST PEACE MEDIATOR SHUTTLED BETWEEN JERUSALEM AND DAMASCUS ON TUESDAY IN AN EFFORT TO LAY THE DIPLOMATIC GROUNDWORK FOR THE POSSIBLE RESUMPTION OF THE DEADLOCKED ISRAEL-SYRIA PEACE TALKS. CORRESPONDENT AL PESSIN REPORTS NO DETAILS OF THE MEETINGS WERE RELEASED BUT OFFICIALS IN BOTH CITIES SPOKE POSITIVELY ABOUT THE CHANCES FOR AT LEAST SOME PROGRESS. (12/5)

EGYPT / ELECTION -- EGYPTIAN VOTERS RETURNED TO THE POLLS WEDNESDAY IN THE RUN-OFF BALLOT FOR THE 444-SEAT NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. LAST WEEK THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY WON ABOUT ONE-FOURTH THE SEATS AND INDEPENDENTS GAINED THIRTEEN. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS THAT OPPOSITION PARTIES ARE STILL CHARGING FRAUD AND VOTE RIGGING. (12/6)

FRANCE / EU -- FRANCE CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE LABOR UNREST. CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM LONDON THE STRIKES AND SHUTDOWNS IN FRANCE COULD HAVE SERIOUS REPERCUSSIONS FOR EUROPEAN INTEGRATION AND THE PROJECT FOR A SINGLE EUROPEAN CURRENCY. (12/6)

RUSSIA / SECURITY -- SECURITY IN RUSSIA'S PARLIAMENT HAS BEEN SHARPLY INCREASED AFTER AN EXPLOSION DAMAGED A LAWMAKER'S OFFICE. STRINGER PETER HEINLEIN IN MOSCOW REPORTS SECURITY IS ALSO ON PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN'S MIND AS PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION DAY APPROACHES. (12/6)

TIMOR / ANNIVERSARY -- THURSDAY IS THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDONESIAN MILITARY INVASION OF THE FORMER PORTUGUESE COLONY OF EAST TIMOR. SOUTHEAST ASIA CORRESPONDENT DAN ROBINSON REPORTS FROM THE EAST TIMOR CAPITAL, DILI THAT THE SITUATION IN THE TROUBLED TERRITORY REMAINS TENSE WITH NO END IN SIGHT TO THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE PLAGUED EAST TIMOR SINCE THE START OF INDONESIAN RULE. (12/6)

US TREASURY / LATIN AMERICA -- A SENIOR US TREASURY OFFICIAL SAYS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION WILL PUSH FOR CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL TO EXPAND THE NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT, NAFTA TO CHILE. CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE REPORTS. (12/5)

MEXICO / CHALLENGES -- A RESPECTED FOREIGN POLICY ANALYST SAYS THAT MEXICO FACES ENORMOUS SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND POLITICAL CHALLENGES IN THE YEARS AHEAD. CORRESPONDENT ANDREW BAIRD REPORTS. (12/5)

US / CUBA TRANSITION -- A WASHINGTON-BASED GROUP OF CONSERVATIVES WHO MONITOR US CUBA POLICY HAS ISSUED A GUIDE RECOMMENDING A THREE-PHASED INITIATIVE TO FOSTER DEMOCRACY IN THE CARIBBEAN NATION. FLORIDA REPUBLICAN POLITICIAN JEB BUSH TOLD A WASHINGTON NEWS CONFERENCE THE INTERNATIONAL REPUBLICAN INSTITUTE IS INITIALLY DISTRIBUTING ONE THOUSAND SPANISH-LANGUAGE COPIES OF THE GUIDE INSIDE CUBA. CORRESPONDENT ERIN BRUMMETT REPORTS. (12/5)

BRAZIL HUMAN RIGHTS -- BRAZIL HAS PRESENTED ITS FIRST NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS AWARDS. THE AWARDS COINCIDED WITH THE FIRST INSPECTION VISIT TO BRAZIL BY THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS. CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK REPORTS. (12/5)

REEBOK / HUMAN RIGHTS -- HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS FROM THE UNITED STATES, RWANDA, MEXICO AND TIBET WERE HONORED IN NEW YORK CITY TUESDAY. CORRESPONDENT MONA GHUNEIM REPORTS. (12/5)

ISLAMIC FIGHTERS / BOSNIA -- AS US TROOPS ARE DEPLOYED IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, ONE CONCERN IS THE NUMBER OF MUSLIM FIGHTERS, OR MUJAHEDIN, WHO HAVE COME FROM OTHER COUNTRIES. REPORTER ED WARNER ASKED THREE ANALYSTS ABOUT THE INFLUENCE AND POSSIBLE DANGER FROM MUSLIM EXTREMISTS. (12/6)

US / BUDGET TALKS -- THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE REPUBLICAN-LED CONGRESS HAVE RESUMED NEGOTIATIONS ON BALANCING THE FEDERAL BUDGET. WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE SOME NEW IDEAS GOING INTO THE TALKS, AND EXPRESS HOPE THAT AN AGREEMENT CAN BE REACHED BEFORE A SPENDING RESOLUTION EXPIRES, FORCING ANOTHER GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS. (12/5)

NY / ECON / STOCKS -- STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP TUESDAY WITH MAJOR INDEXES AT RECORD HIGHS FOR THE SECOND DAY IN A ROW AND A LEADING STOCK MARKET "BEAR" HAS TURNED INTO A "BULL." CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS. (12/5)

US / ECON INDICATORS -- THE INDEX USED BY THE US GOVERNMENT TO PREDICT THE PATH OF THE ECONOMY HAS POSTED A LARGER-THAN-EXPECTED DECLINE. ECONOMICS EDITOR JOE SUMMERS REPORTS THE WEAKNESS PREDICTED FOR THE ECONOMY COULD PROMPT THE US CENTRAL BANK TO REDUCE INTEREST RATES. (12/6)

SONY RESIGNATION -- THE MAN WHO TRIED TO MOLD THE SONY ELECTRONICS CORPORATION INTO A MAJOR FORCE IN THE US ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY HAS ABRUPTLY RESIGNED. NEW YORK CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS ABOUT THE DEPARTURE OF MICHAEL SCHULHOF. (12/6)

BERLIN REVISITED -- REPORTER NINA KECK VISITED BERLIN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 1985. SHE RETURNED THERE RECENTLY TO TAKE PART IN A JOURNALISTIC FELLOWSHIP. IN HER REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK, SHE LOOKS AT SOME OF THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN BERLIN IN THE LAST TEN YEARS. USING AMBIENT SOUND AND INTERVIEWS WITH VARIOUS CITY OFFICIALS, SHE DESCRIBES THE COSTLY AND EXTENSIVE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS UNDERWAY IN THE CITY, AND EXAMINES BERLIN'S ECONOMIC FUTURE AS IT ONCE AGAIN BECOMES THE GERMAN CAPITAL. (12/6)

CHILDREN'S DAY OF BROADCASTING -- IN 1991, UNICEF FOUNDED A NEW INITIATIVE TO COORDINATE BROADCASTERS AROUND THE WORLD TO SCHEDULE PROGRAMMING DEVOTED TO CHILDREN'S ISSUES. THIS DECEMBER 10TH MARKS THE FOURTH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S DAY OF BROADCASTING. CURRENT AFFAIRS' ROBIN RUPLI REPORTS ON THE PROGRAM'S GREAT SUCCESS WHICH HAS DRAWN MEDIA PARTICIPATION FROM MORE THAN 150 COUNTRIES. (12/6)

US / TOYS -- TOY GUNS AND NINJA TURTLES ARE POPULAR TOYS IN THE UNITED STATES. BUT NOW AN AMERICAN WOMAN HAS STARTED A COMPANY TO COUNTER THE TREND TOWARD VIOLENT TOYS AND TO TRY TO PROMOTE PEACE. SHE'S MAKING ANGEL DOLLS, AND DONATING PART OF HER PROFITS TO HELP NEEDY CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD. CURRENT AFFAIRS' MARILYN SILVEY REPORTS. (12/5)

CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING -- NEW YORKERS AND OUT-OF-TOWNERS ALIKE OBSERVED A JOLLY CITY TRADITION TUESDAY, THE ANNUAL LIGHTING OF THE HUGE CHRISTMAS TREE IN ROCKEFELLER CENTER. CORRESPONDENT MARTIN BUSH REPORTS. (12/6)

INSIDE USA:

TEXAS A & M / FOREIGN STUDENTS -- DR.RAY BOWEN, PRESIDENT OF TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY IS INTERVIEWED BY STAFFER ZIAUR RAHMAN ON SPECIAL FACILITIES AVAILABLE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY, ABOUT ITS RESEARCH PROGRAMS, AND COOPERATION WITH UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTH ASIA. (BANGLA 12/5)

INDIAN WOMAN JOURNALIST -- STAFFER NIRMALA JOSHI INTERVIEWS A WORKING JOURNALIST FROM INDIA, SUREKHA VIJ WHO DESCRIBES HER EXPERIENCES AS A WOMAN JOURNALIST, A FIELD DOMINATED BY MEN UNTIL RECENTLY. (HINDI 12/5)

THE HISTORY OF BEER / TALK TO AMERICA -- FROM ANCIENT EGYPTIANS TO LATTER 20TH CENTURY FOOTBALL FANS, BEER LOVERS SPAN THE AGES. AUTHOR GREG SMITH AND BREWER BILL MADDEN JOIN 'TALK TO AMERICA' AS WE DISCUSS THE PROFOUND EFFECT THAT BEER HAS HAD ON THE HISTORY OF HUMANKIND, AND THE LATEST BREWING INDUSTRY TRENDS. (ENGLISH 12/6)

CHINESE FILM / RED CHERRY -- A CHINESE FILM SET IN RUSSIA DURING WWII, IS EXPECTED TO BE NOMINATED FOR A GOLDEN GLOBE AWARD AND POSSIBLY FOR AN ACADEMY AWARD. THE TITLE, 'RED CHERRY' SYMBOLIZES BLOOD IN THE SNOW. LOS ANGELES STAFFER KUO-FU SHU INTERVIEWS THE DIRECTOR OF THE FILM YE YING AND ACTRESS YAN LU. MOST OF THE FILM'S DIALOGUE IS IN RUSSIAN. (MANDARIN 12/6)

INSIDE AFRICA:

ANGOLA / VISIT -- ANGOLAN PRESIDENT EDUARDO DOS SANTOS ARRIVES IN THE US THURSDAY. HIS VISIT COMES AT A TIME WHEN RENEWED FIGHTING THREATENS THE PEACE PROCESS. REPORTER JOE DECAPUA SPOKE WITH GOVERNMENT INFORMATION MINISTER HENDRIK VAL NETO IN LUANDA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/6)

ANGOLA / PRESIDENT -- ANGOLAN PRESIDENT JOSE EDUARDO DOS SANTOS SAID HE HAD INVITED UNITA'S LEADER, JONAS SAVIMBI, FOR TALKS ON DECEMBER 20. STRINGER VITOR SILVA REPORTS FROM LUANDA. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 12/6)

ANGOLA PEACE / UNITA -- UNITA REBELS IN ANGOLA HAVE STOPPED THEIR DEMOBILIZATION DUE TO A GOVERNMENT OFFENSIVE. REPORTER CATHERINE MADDUX SPOKE TO UNITA'S WASHINGTON REPRESENTATIVE JARDO MUEKALIA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/5)

ANGOLA / PEACE PROCESS -- STAFFER IDRISSA FALL INTERVIEWS MARCIAL DACHALA, INFORMATION SECRETARY OF UNITA, WHO EXPLAINED WHY UNITA SUSPENDED THE DEMOBILIZATION OF ITS ARMY. UNITA ACCUSES THE GOVERNMENT OF NOT RESPECTING THE PEACE ACCORD AND ATTACKING THREE UNITA AREAS. MR FALL ALSO INTERVIEWS UN SPECIAL ENVOY TO ANGOLA, ALIOUNE BLONDIN BEYE. THE JOINT COMMISSION FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PEACE ACCORD CONDEMNED THE GOVERNMENT'S ACTIONS IN THE THREE LOCALITIES. (FRENCH 12/5)

ANGOLA / FINANCE -- DAN MCGARRI OF THE US ANGOLAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SAYS THAT BESIDES OIL AND OIL-RELATED GOODS THERE IS VERY LITTLE TRADE BETWEEN THE US AND ANGOLA. US INVESTMENTS IN ANGOLA IN NON-OIL AREAS ARE NONEXISTENT. HE SUGGESTS IN A INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER JOAO SANTARITA THAT AGRO-BUSINESS MAY BE A GOOD AREA FOR INVESTMENT. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 12/6)

NIGERIA / TRANSITION -- NIGERIA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT HAS APPOINTED THREE COMMITTEES IT SAYS ARE CRUCIAL TO ITS DEMOCRATIZATION PROCESS. HOWEVER, THE OPPOSITION CLAIMS THAT MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEES ARE PRO-GOVERNMENT. REPORTER CHINEDU OFFOR HAS DETAILS FROM LAGOS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/6)

NIGERIA / SHAGARI COMMITTEE -- FORMER NIGERIAN CIVILIAN PRESIDENT SHEHU SHAGARI CALLED A CONFERENCE TUESDAY TO DISCUSS SOLUTIONS TO NIGERIA'S POLITICAL PROBLEMS. KADUNA STRINGER SANI ABDULLAHI TSAFE INTERVIEWED TWO REPRESENTATIVES AT THE CONFERENCE WITH OPPOSING VIEWS, AMBASSADOR YAHAYA KWANDE FROM PLATEAU STATE, AND MOHAMMED ARZIKA TAMBUWAL FROM SOKOTO STATE. DELEGATES FROM SIXTEEN NORTHERN STATES ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE. (HAUSA 12/5)

NIGERIA / NORTHERN ELITES -- THE FIRST NIGERIAN EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT, ALHAJI SHEHU SHAGARI, HAS FORMED WHAT HAS BECOME KNOWN AS THE "TURAKI COMMITTEE" COMPRISED OF TOP NORTHERN NIGERIAN POLITICAL ELITES. ACCORDING TO A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE, FORMER SENATOR ADAMU AUGIE, CONTRARY TO SOME ASSUMPTIONS, THE COMMITTEE IS NOT MEANT TO COMPETE AGAINST A SIMILAR GROUP BASED IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY. NOR DOES IT AIM TO DEMONSTRATE OPPOSITION TO ABACHA'S POLITICAL TRANSITION PROGRAM. AUGIE SPOKE TO HAUSA STAFFER ALIYU MUSTAPHA. (HAUSA 12/6)

NIGERIA / SANCTIONS -- A NIGERIAN BUSINESSMAN IN LAGOS, MOHAMMED MURTALA SAYS THE THREAT OF SANCTIONS AGAINST NIGERIA IS ALREADY CAUSING PSYCHOLOGICAL JITTERS WITHIN THE PRIVATE SECTOR OF THE ECONOMY. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER ALIYU MUSTAPHA, THE BUSINESSMAN SAYS THE CONSTANT INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE TO PUNISH NIGERIA WITH POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SPORTS SANCTIONS FOR THE EXECUTIONS OF OGONI ACTIVISTS COULD EASILY TRIGGER INFLATIONARY TRENDS. (HAUSA 12/6)

FRANCOPHONE SUMMIT -- THE JUST COMPLETED SIXTH FRANCOPHONE SUMMIT HAS URGED NIGERIA TO MOVE TOWARD DEMOCRACY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. REPORTER WILLIAM EAGLE SPOKE WITH THE HEAD OF THE COTONOU-BASED STUDY AND RESEARCH GROUP ON DEMOCRACY (KNOWN BY IT'S FRENCH ACRONYM GERDDES), DIEUDONNE MONNOU. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/5)

AFRICA / RIVER BLINDNESS -- THE WORLD BANK AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL AID ORGANIZATIONS ARE MEETING IN WASHINGTON TO PLAN THE EFFECTIVE TREATMENT AND TOTAL ELIMINATION OF RIVER BLINDNESS FROM AFRICA. REPORTER COLE MALLARD INTERVIEWS BRUCE BENTON, HEAD OF THE RIVER BLINDNESS UNIT IN THE AFRICA REGION OF THE WORLD BANK. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/5)

RWANDA / INVESTIGATION -- THE GOVERNMENT OF RWANDA HAS ADMITTED ITS SOLDIERS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MASSACRE OF 20 RWANDANS IN NYUNGWE FOREST IN THE SOUTHWEST. REPORTER CATHERINE MADDUX DISCUSSED THE CASE WITH THE CHIEF OF THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS FIELD OPERATION, IAN MARTIN. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/6)

KENYA / ATTACKS ON FOREIGNERS -- SCOTLAND YARD HAS SENT TWO DETECTIVES TO KENYA TO AID IN FINDING THE ATTACKERS OF THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO KENYA. THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR IN NAIROBI WAS ALSO ATTACKED. HIS CAR WAS STOLEN AND THE ATTACKER LEFT THE AMBASSADOR NAKED. THE KENYAN GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO DENY ANY INVOLVEMENT IN THESE ATTACKS. STRINGER M G JOEL REPORTS FROM NAIROBI. (SWAHILI 12/6)

UGANDA / STREET VENDORS -- THE GOVERNMENT HAS EVICTED ALL STREET VENDORS FROM KAMPALA. THE VENDORS, MANY OF WHOM ARE HANDICAPPED VETERANS, PROTESTED THE ACTION WHICH RESULTED IN CLASHES WITH THE POLICE. STRINGER MIKE ARERENG REPORTS FROM KAMPALA. (SWAHILI 12/6)

AFRICA / ONCHOCERCIASIS -- A NEW PROGRAM TO FIGHT ONCHOCERCIASIS IN AFRICA WAS RECENTLY LAUNCHED BY THE WORLD BANK. STAFFER ELIZABETH MONNAC INTERVIEWS JEAN-LOUIS SARBIB, DIRECTOR OF THE WEST AFRICA DEPARTMENT AT THE WORLD BANK. MR SARBIB TALKED ABOUT HOW THIS ERADICATION CAMPAIGN, WHICH IS ALSO SPONSORED BY THE UNDP, FAO, AND WHO, WILL BE IMPLEMENTED WITH THE HELP OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. (FRENCH 12/5)

SAO TOME / POLITICS -- IN SAO TOME, OPPOSITION POLITICAL PARTIES CONTINUE TO CRITICIZE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE RULING PARTY. THEY CHARGE THAT BY ANNOUNCING HIS CANDIDACY TO THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS AND THEN LEAVING ON A TRIP, THE PRIME MINISTER, CARLOS DA GRACA MISUSED THE PUBLIC FUNDS. STAFFER OVIDIO PEQUENO REPORTS. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 12/6)

CAPE VERDE / LOSS -- HE NATIONAL BANK OF CAPE VERDE HAS LOST ABOUT 20 MILLION US DOLLARS IN INVESTMENTS. THE MONEY WAS MOSTLY FROM CAPE VERDEAN IMMIGRANTS AND WAS DEPOSITED IN A US BASED FINANCIAL CORPORATION, TOWERS FINANCIAL, THAT FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY. STAFFER NELSON HERBERT REPORTS. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 12/6)

MOZAMBIQUE / WORLD BANK -- THE WORLD BANK HAS RELEASED 88 MILLION DOLLARS IN AID TO MOZAMBIQUE TO HELP REBUILD THE COUNTRY'S HEALTH SECTOR. THE AGREEMENT WAS FORMALLY SIGNED IN WASHINGTON BY MOZAMBIQUE'S AMBASSADOR AND THE WORLD BANK'S VICE PRESIDENT FOR AFRICA. STAFFER LUISA PIETTE INTERVIEWS WORLD BANK OFFICIAL RICARDO SILVEIRA. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 12/6)

AFRICA / STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT -- MALI'S FORMER PRESIDENT AMADOU TOUMANI TOURE TOLD STAFFER MAIMOUNA MILLS THAT PRIORITY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS DESPITE HARDSHIPS RESULTING FROM IMF AND WORLD BANK-IMPOSED STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT PROGRAMS. MR. TOURE WAS IN THE US TO TAKE PART IN A CARTER CENTER MEETING TO EVALUATE THE ALMOST COMPLETE SUCCESS OF EFFORTS TO ERADICATE THE GUINEA WORM IN AFRICA. (FRENCH 12/5)

TANZANIA / PRESS CONFERENCE -- IN A PRESS CONFERENCE HELD AFTER RETURNING FROM THE CAIRO SUMMIT, URBAN NDUNGURU ANNOUNCED THAT THE OAU AND THE EUROPEAN UNION ARE WORKING ON A REPATRIATION PLAN TO RETURN THE RWANDAN REFUGEES IN THREE MONTHS. STRINGER PASCAL SHIJA REPORTS FROM DAR ES SALAAM. (SWAHILI 12/6)

NIGER / SPORTS -- FIFA HAS BANNED NIGER FROM TAKING PART IN THE DECEMBER 12 DRAW FOR THE 1998 WORLD CUP PRELIMINARY MATCHES BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S INTERFERENCE IN SPORTS, WHICH FIFA SAYS IS PURELY FOR POLITICAL REASONS. STAFFER ALIYU MUSTAPHA SPOKE TO LAWAL BOUCAR ABOUT THE PUBLIC REACTIONS IN NIGER TO THE FIFA ACTION. (HAUSA 12/5)

SCIENCE / HEALTH -- STAFFER JEROME KASSEMBE PREVIEWS THE NINTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AIDS AND STD IN AFRICA, SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN KAMPALA DECEMBER 10TH. THE PROGRAM FEATURES DR SAM OKWARE, CHAIRMAN OF THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE WHO SAID THAT AFRICA STILL FACES MANY CHALLENGES SUCH AS MANAGEMENT OF AIDS PATIENTS' BEHAVIOR CHANGE, VACCINE DEVELOPMENT, AND THE MAGNITUDE OF THE AIDS PROBLEM. (SWAHILI 12/6)

INSIDE MIDEAST:

ELECTIONS / EGYPTIAN PRESS -- AS EGYPT PREPARED FOR THE RUNOFF ELECTIONS WEDNESDAY, THE EGYPTIAN PRESS PUBLISHED ACCOUNTS AND REACTIONS OF THE FIRST ROUND OF ELECTION. STRINGER IMAN RAFI IN CAIRO HAS A SPECIAL REVIEW OF THE PRESS REACTION. STAFFER ABDIN INTERVIEWED IBRAHIM SHUKRI, LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION AL WAFD PARTY WHO FAILED TO KEEP HIS SEAT IN PARLIAMENT WHICH HE HELD FOR DOZENS OF YEARS. (ARABIC 12/5)

ASSAD / ROSS MEETING -- STRINGERS JUMANA TAMIMI IN AMMAN AND THABET SALEM IN DAMASCUS REPORT THAT US ENVOY TO THE MIDDLE EAST, DENNIS ROSS BRIEFED SYRIAN LEADER PRESIDENT ASSAD ON HIS TALKS WITH ISRAELI OFFICIALS ON PROSPECTS OF MOVING THE STALLED PEACE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. (ARABIC 12/5)

GCC / IRAQ -- RESPONDING TO A CALL BY IRAQ TO REVIEW THEIR STAND FROM BAGHDAD, GULF STATE LEADERS MEETING IN MUSCAT, INSISTED THAT IRAQ MUST IMPLEMENT ALL UN RESOLUTIONS AND DEMANDS BEFORE THEY COULD CONSIDER LIFTING SANCTIONS IMPOSED IN 1990. STRINGER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS. (ARABIC 12/5)

PALESTINIAN CONSTRUCTION BANK -- A PALESTINIAN OFFICIAL DISCLOSED THAT THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY IS PLANNING TO SET UP A SPECIAL BANK TO FINANCE CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN GAZA. STRINGER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS FROM THE JORDANIAN CAPITAL. (ARABIC 12/5)

ALGERIA / JOURNALIST KILLING -- MAHFOUZ NAHNAH, LEADER OF THE ALGERIAN HAMAS MOVEMENT SAYS THE MURDER OF JOURNALIST KHADIJA DAHMANI AND OTHERS IS AIMED AT SILENCING THE INTELLIGENTSIA AND PREVENTING THEM FROM DISSEMINATING THE TRUTH AND INFORMATION. HE WAS INTERVIEWED BY STRINGER ZEINAB ABDDELRAHMAN. (ARABIC 12/5)

EGYPT / RUSSIA / ISRAEL -- EGYPT HAS EXPRESSED DISSATISFACTION OVER THE RUSSIAN-ISRAELI AGREEMENT OF MILITARY COOPERATION SIGNED DURING THE FIRST VISIT EVER BY A RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER TO ISRAEL. STAFFER USAMA FARAG INTERVIEWED MUSTAFA KAMEL, PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT CAIRO UNIVERSITY. (ARABIC 12/5)

FRANCE / ZEROUAL -- FRENCH PRESIDENT CHIRAC, WHO REFUSED TO MEET WITH ALGERIAN PRESIDENT ZEROUAL BEFORE THE ELECTIONS IN ALGERIA, HAS EXPRESSED READINESS TO MEET WITH THE ALGERIAN LEADER NOW THAT HE WAS REELECTED. STAFFER USAMA FARAG INTERVIEWS SHERIF EL SHOBASHI OF AL AHRAM NEWSPAPER IN PARIS. (ARABIC 12/5)

IRAQ / UN -- STAFFER MOHAMED ATTIA REPORTS FROM NEW YORK THAT IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TAREQ AZIZ IS EXPECTED IN THE UN NEXT WEEK TO DISCUSS WITH SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS IRAQ'S IMPLEMENTATION OF RESOLUTIONS. (ARABIC 12/5)

UNGA / JERUSALEM -- THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS CRITICIZED COUNTRIES WHICH MOVED THEIR EMBASSIES TO JERUSALEM, AND REAFFIRMED ITS DECISION DECLARING ALL ISRAELI STEPS TO ANNEX JERUSALEM NULL AND VOID. MOHAMED ATTIA REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (ARABIC 12/5)

INSIDE CENTRAL ASIA:

AZERBAIJAN / AIR CRASH -- STRINGER RAFAEL HUSAINOV REPORTS FROM BAKU ABOUT THE PLANE CRASH ON TUESDAY IN WHICH 49 PEOPLE WERE KILLED. HE SAYS FOUR MORE PEOPLE HAVE DIED SINCE YESTERDAY. (AZERI 12/6)

AZERBAIJAN / OIL -- STRINGER RAFAEL HUSAINOV INTERVIEWED LATIF SULTANOV, DEPUTY HEAD OF THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY WORKERS' UNION IN AZERBAIJAN, ON VARIOUS WAGE AND LABOR DISPUTES BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE WORKERS. FOR THE LAST FIVE MONTHS THESE DISPUTES HAVE BEEN CONTINUING AND SULTANOV SAYS THAT A RESOLUTION MIGHT BE REACHED VERY SOON. (AZERI 12/6)

GEORGIA / NEW PARLIAMENT -- IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW TO STAFFER ETERY PICHKHADZE, A MEMBER OF GEORGIA'S NEW PARLIAMENT, MICHAEL SAAKASHVILI, CHARACTERIZED THE NEW PARLIAMENT AS " YOUNG, DEVOTED, AND VERY DIFFERENT" FROM THE PREVIOUS ONE. WHEN NEW MEMBERS ENTERED THE PARLIAMENT BUILDING, NONE OF THEM WERE INTERESTED IN SEEING HOW COMFORTABLE THE ACCOMMODATIONS WOULD BE-THEY SAT AMONG COMPUTERS COVERED WITH DUST-THE VERY SAME ONES THAT AMERICANS SENT TO GEORGIA YEARS AGO. (GEORGIAN 12/4)

TBILISI JOURNALIST / ATLANTA -- THE DIRECTOR OF THE GEORGIAN TV RADIO INFORMATION CENTER, GOGI CHOKOSHVILI, IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER ETERY PICHKHADZEHE, DISCUSSED HIS FRIENDSHIP FORCE EXCHANGE PROGRAM IN ATLANTA. HE PRAISED AMERICAN MEDIA AND TV AND SAID THAT THOSE THREE WEEKS WERE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR HIM TO IMPROVE THE PROFESSIONAL SKILLS. MR.CHOKOSHVILI LIKES AMERICANS FOR THEIR HOSPITALITY AND WARMTH. (GEORGIAN 12/5)

INSIDE SOUTH ASIA:

US / INDIA / KASHMIR -- INDIA'S HOME MINISTER CHAVAN, ADDRESSING THE INDIAN PARLIAMENT, ACCUSED PAKISTAN ALONG WITH HE US OF INSTIGATING TROUBLE IN KASHMIR TO PREVENT INDIA FROM HOLDING ELECTIONS IN THE STATE. A US EMBASSY SPOKESMAN IN NEW DELHI DISMISSED THE CHARGES SAYING THAT THE US URGES AN IMMEDIATE END TO THE VIOLENCE IN THE STATE AND IS ENCOURAGING INDIA AND PAKISTAN TO NEGOTIATE A SETTLEMENT OF THE DISPUTE, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE WISHES OF THE KASHMIRI PEOPLE. STRINGER ASHOK SARIN REPORTS. (HINDI 12/5)

INDIA / SATELLITE -- INDIA IS PREPARING TO SEND ITS THIRD SELF-BUILT COMMUNICATION SATELLITE INTO SPACE ABOARD A EUROPEAN AGENCY'S ARAINE ROCKET. STRINGER KV RAO REPORTS ON FINAL PREPARATIONS FOR TRACKING THE LAUNCH, SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 6TH. (HINDI 12/5)

BANGLA DEATHS -- A FIRE ABOARD A BUS IN BANGLADESH KILLED AT LEAST 24 PASSENGERS AND INJURED DOZENS OF OTHERS. THE BUS CAUGHT FIRE ON A HIGHWAY JUST OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL, DHAKA. BECAUSE OF COLD WEATHER THE ONLY DOOR OF THE BUS AND ALL THE WINDOWS WERE CLOSED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. STRINGER ZAHURUL ALAM REPORTS FROM DHAKA. (BANGLA 12/5)

BANGLA / POLITICAL -- THE POLITICAL PARTIES AND THE MEDIA IN BANGLADESH CALL FOR AN EARLY SETTLEMENT OF THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN BANGLADESH TO AVOID DISASTER FOR THE COUNTRY. THE ELECTION COMMISSION HAS SCHEDULED PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS FOR JANUARY 18, 1996. PRESIDENT A R BISWAS HAS DISSOLVED THE PARLIAMENT, AND ASKED PRIME MINISTER KHALEDA ZIA TO CONTINUE AS INTERIM PM UNTIL THE ELECTIONS. THE OPPOSITION PARTIES SAID THEY WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY ELECTIONS UNDER ZIA AND WANT A NEUTRAL CARETAKER GOVERNMENT TO CONDUCT THE ELECTIONS. STRINGER ZAHURUL ALAM REPORTS. (BANGLA 12/5)

AFGHANISTAN / PAKISTAN EMBASSY -- PAKISTAN HAS TEMPORARILY TRANSFERRED ITS EMBASSY TO JALALABAD. QUOTING PAKISTANI NEWS SOURCES, STRINGER EKRAM SHINWARAI REPORTS THAT PAKISTANI AMBASSADOR QAZI HUMAYUN AND A NUMBER OF HIS STAFF WILL OPERATE FROM THE PAKISTANI CONSULATE IN JALALABAD. QAZI HUMAYUN WAS WOUNDED IN SEPTEMBER WHEN AN ANGRY MOB ATTACKED AND BURNED THE PAKISTANI EMBASSY IN KABUL. (PASHTO, DARI 12/6)

INSIDE EAST ASIA:

CASTRO VISITS SHENZHEN / WORKERS AND POLICE CLASH -- HONG KONG STAFFER CHOU YOUKANG REPORTS ON FIDEL CASTRO'S TOUR OF SHENZHEN AND A CLASH BETWEEN POLICE AND WORKERS IN THAT CITY. (MANDARIN 12/5)

CHINA / HONG KONG INVESTMENT / INFRASTRUCTURE -- BEIJING HAS ISSUED A LIST OF PREFERRED PROJECTS FOR FOREIGN INVESTORS. CHINA WILL CURB THE EXCESS OF FOREIGN INVESTMENT AND, BY PROVIDING TAX BREAKS, CHANNEL FOREIGN FUNDS INTO INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. HONG KONG STRINGER SHI LEI INTERVIEWS CHEN WENHONG, DIRECTOR OF CHINA EXCHANGE CENTER, HONG KONG, DR. WANG DONGXIAO, HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, AND TANG MINGYAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG TRADE UNION. (MANDARIN 12/6)

US / CHINESE IMMIGRANTS -- A CASUAL CONTENT ANALYSIS OF MAJOR NEWSPAPERS IN THE US SHOWS THAT RECENT COVERAGE OF IMMIGRANT ISSUES HAS BEEN PREDOMINANTLY NEGATIVE. AMONG ILLEGAL ALIENS, THOSE FROM CHINA SEEM TO HAVE ATTRACTED MORE ATTENTION THAN OTHERS. HONG KONG-BASED JAPANESE WRITER AND JOURNALIST HIFUMI ARAI RECENTLY COMPLETED, IN COOPERATION WITH JAPAN'S NIPPON HOSO KYOKAI TV, AN IN-DEPTH REPORT ON CHINESE IN NEW YORK AND THEIR FAMILIES IN FUJIAN, CHINA. STAFFER QI FENG INTERVIEWS HIFUMI ARAI AND LILY CHEN, IMMIGRANT RIGHTS ADVOCATE AND FORMER MONTEREY PARK MAYOR. (MANDARIN 12/6)

SHADOW GOVERNMENT / HONG KONG -- CHINESE OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED THAT THE PREPARATORY COMMITTEE, TO BE SET UP IN JANUARY 1996, FOR THE FUTURE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION, WILL NOT BECOME A SHADOW GOVERNMENT. THE PREDOMINANT VIEW IN HONG KONG, HOWEVER, IS THAT IT WILL BECOME EXACTLY THAT. STRINGER LAWRENCE NG INTERVIEWED CHENG HON-LEUNG, CHIEF, CHINA TIMES BUREAU; CHOI CHI KEUNG, LECTURER, CITY POLYTECHNIC; CHEUI JAK-WING, CHAIRMAN, SOCIAL SCIENCE SERVICE CENTER. (CANTONESE 12/5)

REPORT CARD ON PWC -- TWO RECENT SURVEYS HAVE FOUND A WIDESPREAD DISSATISFACTION WITH THE PRELIMINARY WORKING COMMITTEE FOR HONG KONG, WHICH IS NOW 30 MONTHS OLD AND WILL SOON BE REPLACED BY THE FORMAL PREPARATORY COMMITTEE. THE SURVEYS, ADMINISTERED BY THE HONG KONG POLICY MONITOR AND THE ASIA-PACIFIC RESEARCH CENTER AT CHINESE UNIVERSITY, SHOWED THAT PEOPLE ARE MOST UNHAPPY ABOUT THE PWC'S STAND ON THE BILL OF RIGHTS. LAWRENCE NG INTERVIEWED TIMOTHY WONG OF THE ASIA-PACIFIC RESEARCH CENTER; WONG WAI KWAN OF HK POLICY MONITOR, AND PWC MEMBERS AMBROSE LAU AND PAUL CHENG. (CANTONESE 12/6)

TAIWAN LEGISLATIVE ELECTION / MAINLAND -- TAIPEI STRINGER CHANG YUNG-TAI INTERVIEWS PROFESSOR ZHU YUNHAN, POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT, TAIWAN UNIVERSITY, AND QU HAIYUAN, DIRECTOR OF THE TAIWAN CENTRAL ACADEMY INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, ON THE RESULTS OF TAIWAN'S LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS. (MANDARIN 12/5)

WHO IS WEI JINGSHENG? -- STRINGER JOHN KHAM, US BUSINESSMAN AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST, SPEAKS OUT FOR CHINA'S PROMINENT DISSIDENT WEI JINGSHENG AND THE VALUE OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH. (MANDARIN 12/5)

CHINA / TIBET DOSSIER -- STAFFER CAMILLE GROSDIDIER HAS A SPECIAL REPORT ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TIBET AND CHINA. SHE REVIEWS THE HISTORY OF TIBET'S STRUGGLE AND CHINA'S ATTEMPT TO IMPOSE ITS RULE OVER THE DALAI LAMA. THE LATEST CONTROVERSY INVOLVES THE DESIGNATION OF THE NEXT PANCHEM LAMA AND WHETHER CHINA OR TIBET HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DESIGNATE THE SECOND MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN TIBETAN RELIGION. INTERVIEWED WAS JOURNALIST ANTONIA DE LEON, WHO HAS SPENT MANY YEARS TRAVELLING THROUGH CHINA AND TIBET. THE REPORT INCLUDES STATEMENTS BY SHEN GUOFANG, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE CHINESE FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER ON THE ISSUE. (FRENCH 12/5)

KOREAN SCANDAL / PUBLIC OPINION -- A RANDOM TELEPHONE SURVEY WITH 1001 KOREANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY CONDUCTED BY A MAJOR NEWSPAPER IN SEOUL SHOWS THAT ALMOST HALF (49 PER CENT) OF THE RESPONDENTS ARE DISSATISFIED WITH THE INTERIM INVESTIGATION REPORT RELEASED BY PROSECUTORS IN CONNECTION WITH FORMER PRESIDENT ROH TAE WOO'S SLUSH FUNDS, WHILE 45 PER CENT OF INTERVIEWEES SAY THEY ARE SATISFIED WITH THE REPORT. CORRESPONDENT YONG KYUN LIM ALSO ROUNDED UP KOREAN PRESS EDITORIALS AND COMMENTARIES THAT GENERALLY DISPLAYED SUSPICION AND DISPLEASURE ABOUT THE PROSECUTORS' REPORT. MAJOR DAILY NEWSPAPERS INDICATED THAT THE INVESTIGATION WAS NOT INTENSIVE NOR THOROUGH IN DIGGING OUT HOW THE ROH'S FUND HAD BEEN USED, PARTICULARLY IN THE 1992 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. (KOREAN 12/6)

JAPAN / FINANCIAL SCANDAL -- A MEMBER OF JAPANESE PARLIAMENT WAS ARRESTED ON CHARGES OF A FINANCIAL WRONGDOING INVOLVING HIMSELF AND HIS RELATIVES. STRINGER CHOO KWANG HO REPORTS FROM TOKYO THAT MR. YAMAGUCHI TOSHIO WAS DETAINED AFTER THE PARLIAMENT APPROVED HIS ARREST EARLIER WEDNESDAY. HE IS THE THIRTEENTH MEMBER OF DIET TO BE ARRESTED IN JAPAN SINCE WORLD WAR II. (KOREAN 12/6)

INDONESIA / PRESS -- THE COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS, A US BASED GROUP, WILL PRESENT ITS INTERNATIONAL PRESS AWARDS AT CEREMONIES IN NEW YORK. ACCORDING TO ISA ISMAIL, A JAILED INDONESIAN JOURNALIST, AHMAD TAUFIK, IS AMONG THE FIVE WINNERS. TAUFIK IS SERVING A THREE-YEAR JAIL SENTENCE FOR VIOLATING INDONESIA'S PRESS LAW AND EXPRESSING ALLEGED FEELINGS OF "HOSTILITY, HATRED OR CONTEMPT" TOWARD THE GOVERNMENT. (INDONESIAN 12/6)

INDONESIA / POLITICS -- INDONESIA HAS APPOINTED ITS AMBASSADOR TO FRANCE AS THE COUNTRY'S NEW AMBASSADOR TO AUSTRALIA. IN ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT, INDONESIA'S MINISTER OF TRADE WAS OUSTED FROM HIS POSITION IN A CABINET RE-SHUFFLE. STRINGER YENNI DJAHIDIN REPORTS FROM JAKARTA. (INDONESIAN 12/6)

EAST TIMOR / BISHOP -- EAST TIMOR'S BISHOP CARLOS BELO EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE FORMER PORTUGUESE COLONY DURING A MEETING WITH UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, AYALA LASSO, WHO IS VISITING EAST TIMOR. STAFFER ANA GUEDES REPORTS. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 12/6)

INDONESIA / ENVIRONMENT -- STAFFER TARI GREGORY INTERVIEWS DR SETIATI SASTRAPRADJA OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BOGOR ABOUT BIODIVERSITY ISSUES. (INDONESIAN 12/4)

CAMBODIA / ANTI-HANOI ARMED GROUP -- IN THE SECOND OF A SERIES ON THE BANDS LED BY VIET-AMERICANS IN CAMBODIA, REPORTER LE LAI IN BANGKOK TALKED TO EDITOR SON NGUYEN ABOUT THE INFORMATION HE GATHERED IN PHNOM PENH SUNDAY. (VIETNAMESE 12/6)

STRIKE CRISIS IN FRANCE -- PARIS STRINGER PHAN NGOC REPORTS ABOUT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE LABOR STOPPAGE WHICH HAS PARALYZED THE CITY. (VIETNAMESE 12/6)

AIDS / VIETNAM -- FROM BANGKOK LE LAI HAD AN ACCOUNT OF ACTIVITIES IN HANOI MARKING THE OBSERVANCE OF WORLD AIDS DAY. THE SPREAD OF THIS DISEASE IS OF MOUNTING CONCERN FOR SRV PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS. (VIETNAMESE 12/5 & 12/6)

INSIDE EUROPE:

EU / BOSNIA -- NATO FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTERS SEND A MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE OF BOSNIA, EXPRESSING THEIR WILLINGNESS TO HELP IN THE RESOLUTION OF BOSNIAN CRISIS. THEY ALSO NAMED SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER J SOLANA AS A NEW GENERAL SECRETARY OF NATO. STRINGER DRAGAN BLAGOJEVIC REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS. (SERBIAN 12/5)

UN TROOPS / BOSNIA -- SARAJEVO STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTS ON UN OFFICIALS STATEMENT THAT THE MAJORITY OF FRENCH AND BRITISH TROOPS IN BOSNIA WILL STAY AND THE REST WILL START LEAVING AFTER THE FINAL BOSNIAN AGREEMENT IS SIGNED ON DECEMBER 14 IN PARIS. HE ALSO REPORTED ON THE BOSNIAN SERB DECISION TO HOLD A REFERENDUM ON WHETHER THEY WANT TO COME UNDER BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT CONTROL IN SERB-HELD PARTS ON SARAJEVO. HOWEVER, UN OFFICIALS SAID THIS REFERENDUM WILL NOT ALTER THE DAYTON AGREEMENT. (CROATIAN 12/5)

NATO / BOSNIA -- WHILE THE PEOPLE OF SARAJEVO FOCUS THEIR ATTENTION TO THE ARRIVAL OF NATO UNITS IN BOSNIA, BOSNIAN SERB MEDIA CONTINUE THEIR CALL FOR GUARANTEES FOR THE SERBIAN-HELD SUBURBS OF SARAJEVO WHICH ARE TO REVERT TO BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT CONTROL. AT THE SAME TIME, A UN REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THE SERB REFERENDUM, SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 12TH, WAS NOT IMPORTANT. STRINGER BORO KONTIC REPORTS. (SERBIAN 12/5)

US EXPERTS / BOSNIA -- A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY EXPERTS HAVE JOINED TO FORM THE COMMITTEE FOR AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN BOSNIA. THE COMMITTEE SUPPORTS PRESIDENT CLINTON'S DEPLOYMENT OF US TROOPS TO BOSNIA AND SENT AN OPEN LETTER TO US CONGRESS ASKING FOR CLEAR EXPRESSION OF SUPPORT FOR THE MISSION. STAFFER ZDENKO NOVACKI REPORTS. (CROATIAN 12/5)

HUMAN RIGHTS / CROATIA -- THE UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES SADAKO OGATA CONFERRED WITH CROATIAN PRESIDENT TUDJMAN AND FOREIGN MINISTER GRANIC ABOUT PLANS TO RETURN REFUGEES TO THEIR HOMES. MS OGATA AND THE CROATIAN PRESIDENT ALSO RAISED THE ISSUE OF THE MUSLIM REFUGEES, FOLLOWERS OF THE MUSLIM RENEGADE FIKRET ABDIC. THE REFUGEES ARE NOW IN THE KUPLENSKO CAMP ON THE NORTHERN BORDER BETWEEN CROATIA AND BOSNIA, AND REFUSE TO GO BACK TO BOSNIA. STRINGER LINDA MILISA REPORTS. (CROATIAN 12/5)

TUDJMAN / OGATA -- CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN MET WITH UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, S OGATA. CROATIAN AUTHORITIES URGED THAT THE RESETTLEMENT OF BOSNIAN REFUGEES BEGIN WITH THOSE THAT ARE STILL IN CROATIA. STRINGER STEVICA SUSA REPORTS FORM ZAGREB. (SERBIAN 12/5)

CROATIA / ZAGREB MAYOR -- THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT DISMISSED THE MOVE BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN ZAGREB TO NAME THE NEW MAYOR OF THE CAPITAL CITY. STRINGER ZELJKO MATIC INTERVIEWED THREE OPPOSITION LEADERS AND ALL OF THEM INSIST THAT THEIR COALITION WON SIXTY FIVE PERCENT OF THE VOTE IN THE CROATIAN CAPITAL, AND THEY WILL NOT ALLOW THE RULING PARTY TO NAME THE NEW MAYOR OF ZAGREB. (CROATIAN 12/5)

SERBS / DAYTON -- THE DAYTON AGREEMENT BRING CHANGES NOT ONLY TO BOSNIA, BUT ALSO TO THE NEIGHBORING STATES OF CROATIA AND SERBIA, ACCORDING TO SOME POLITICAL ANALYSTS. THE CHANGES INCLUDE BOTH POLITICAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THOSE COUNTRIES. STRINGER MILICA KUBUROVIC REPORTS. (SERBIAN 12/5)

BOSNIA / US INFANTRY -- REPORTER TOM CROSBY TALKED WITH RETIRED US ARMY COLONEL HARRY SUMMERS. NOTING THAT US ARMORED UNITS ARE HEADING INTO BOSNIA FOR PEACEKEEPING, COLONEL SUMMERS SAID HE CONSIDERS BOSNIA'S TERRAIN UNSUITABLE FOR ARMOR. HE BELIEVES THIS SHOULD BE AN INFANTRY OPERATION. HOWEVER, HE ALSO THINKS THE US WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF IF PEACEKEEPERS FROM DEVELOPING COUNTRIES HAD BEEN SENT UNDER UN AUSPICES INTO BOSNIA INSTEAD OF PEACEKEEPERS FROM THE MAJOR POWERS, SUCH AS THE US AND RUSSIA. (ENP 12/5)

FRANCE / STRIKE -- REPORTER JOHN PITMAN SPEAKS TO JEAN-FRANCOIS BRIERE, AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF FRENCH STUDIES AT SUNY-ALBANY, ABOUT THE PUBLIC SECTOR STRIKE IN FRANCE. HE SAYS PRESIDENT CHIRAC'S AUSTERITY PACKAGE HAS ITS ROOTS IN THE 1992 MAASTRICHT TREATY, WHICH ESTABLISHES A COMMON EUROPEAN CURRENCY BY 1998. FRANCE APPROVED THE TREATY BY A NARROW MARGIN, BUT IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMON BANKING SYSTEM, IT MUST REDUCE ITS BUDGET DEFICIT BELOW THREE PERCENT OF GNP. THAT'S WHY CHIRAC DECIDED TO ACT NOW, HE SAYS. PUBLIC OPINION, HE SAYS, WILL PROBABLY TURN ON THE STRIKERS FIRST, BUT IN THE LONG-TERM, THE GOVERNMENT WILL SUFFER MORE. (ENP 12/5)

INSIDE EURASIA:

RUSSIA / ELECTIONS -- THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN RUSSIA AND ITS POSSIBLE OUTCOME DISCUSSED BY ANDREI KORTUNOV OF THE INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF US AND CANADA, ARIEL COHEN OF THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION, AND STAFFER NATALIE CLARKSON. (RUSSIAN 12/5)

US / RUSSIA / EDUCATION -- HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS FROM THE CIS TALK ABOUT EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS AND DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS AND COMPARE THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS OF THEIR COUNTRIES AND THE US IN A ROUNDTABLE HOSTED BY AVIVA LEKUCH. PARTICIPANTS ARE HERE ON A USIA EXCHANGE PROGRAM. THEY ARE RUFINA KRIZHANOVSKY FROM UKRAINE, ANNA DANILOVA AND EVGENIY PROTASOV FROM RUSSIA, AND ZHIBEK AKASHEVA FROM KAZAKHSTAN. (RUSSIAN 12/5)

INSIDE LATIN AMERICA:

NICARAGUA / NEW KEY LAWS -- IN A SPEECH TO A CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND INVESTMENTS IN LATIN AMERICA, NICARAGUA'S PRESIDENT VIOLETA CHAMORRO SAID APPROVAL OF LAWS TO PRIVATIZE THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY AND TO SOLVE PROPERTY CLAIMS FOR EXPROPRIATIONS UNDER THE SANDINISTA REGIME, WILL CONTRIBUTE TO HER COUNTRY STABILITY. CORRESPONDENT JORGE WEHBY REPORTS. (SPANISH 12/6)

"TELEMEDICINE" FOR THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE -- A PROJECT TO CREATE A HEALTH NETWORK IN THE AMERICAS WAS PRESENTED TO THE 19TH CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND INVESTMENTS IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN. CORRESPONDENT JORGE WEHBY REPORTS FROM MIAMI. (SPANISH 12/5)

UN / GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTIONS -- THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED NATIONS APPROVED A SERIES OF RESOLUTIONS DEALING WITH THE MIDDLE EAST AND BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, FOCUSING ON THE PLIGHT OF THE REFUGEES. CORRESPONDENT LUIS TAMAYO REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (SPANISH 12/5)

PROPOSITION 187 ECHOES -- THE ARCHBISHOP OF LOS ANGELES, ROGER MAHONEY, ACCUSED GOVERNOR PETE WILSON OF BEING COLD AND CALCULATING FOR ORDERING AN AUDIT TO DETERMINE IF A CHURCH SOCIAL PROGRAM USED GOVERNMENT FUNDS FOR A CAMPAIGN AGAINST PROPOSITION 187 RESTRICTING SERVICES TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. CORRESPONDENT HECTOR VELAZQUEZ MEJIA REPORTS. (SPANISH 12/5) 06-Dec-95 4:47 PM EST (2147 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America