Voice of America Digest, 8 December 1995

From: "Ioannis V. Bousnakis" <ivb19@nfi.com>

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] !!! VOA DIGEST - DECEMBER 8, 1995

HOLBROOKE / BOSNIA -- US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE IS FLYING TO BOSNIA TO RAISE ISSUES REMAINING FROM THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS WILL BE ON MR HOLBROOKE'S AGENDA IN SARAJEVO. (12/7)

BOSNIA / LOOTING -- AS NATO ADVANCE FORCES TRICKLE INTO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, THE WARRING FORCES ARE INVOLVED IN LOOTING, THE DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, OR ETHNIC CLEANSING. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS THE SERBS, CROATS, AND MUSLIMS ARE USING THE TIME REMAINING BEFORE NATO BEGINS TO HELP IMPLEMENT THE NEW BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT. (12/7)

BOSNIA / MINE FIELDS -- A SENIOR US GENERAL SAYS MEMBERS OF THE PEACE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH MILLIONS OF BURIED ANTI-PERSONNEL AND ANTI-TANK MINES. OPPOSING FORCES IN BOSNIA ARE BEING PRESSED FOR INFORMATION ON THE LOCATION OF MINEFIELDS. CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON. (12/7)

BOSNIA / RUSSIA -- RUSSIA IS GOING AHEAD WITH PREPARATIONS TO SEND PEACEKEEPING TROOPS TO BOSNIA, DESPITE NAGGING QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THEY WILL BE INCORPORATED IN THE NATO FORCE. STRINGER PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS THE DECISION TO WORK TOGETHER WITH FORMER ADVERSARIES IN THE BOSNIA OPERATION HAS EXPOSED DEEP DIFFERENCES AMONG RUSSIAN POLICYMAKERS. (12/7)

US / TROOPS IN BOSNIA -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' ANDREW GUTHRIE INTERVIEWS NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS ON HOW THE PEOPLE IN THEIR REGIONS FEEL ABOUT US TROOPS TO BOSNIA. (12/8)

GERMANY / FRANCE -- GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL AND FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC SAY THEY REMAIN COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A SINGLE EUROPEAN CURRENCY BY THE 1999 DEADLINE. FOLLOWING TALKS IN THE GERMAN RESORT TOWN OF BADEN-BADEN, MR KOHL ALSO WELCOMED RECENT FRENCH MOVES TO INCREASE ITS MILITARY LINKS WITH NATO. CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING REPORTS. (12/7)

FRANCE / STRIKE -- STRIKES THREATENING TO BRING FRANCE TO A STANDSTILL GREW THURSDAY, DISRUPTING AIR TRAFFIC, AND CLOSING SOME SCHOOLS. STRINGER JULIAN NUNDY IN PARIS REPORTS LABOR UNIONS STAGED MORE STREET PROTESTS AGAINST THE REFORM OF THE COUNTRY'S WELFARE SYSTEM. (12/7)

GALILEO PROBE SUCCESS -- THE US SPACECRAFT GALILEO ARRIVED AT JUPITER LATE THURSDAY AND A SEPARATE INSTRUMENT PROBE SUCCESSFULLY DOVE INTO THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE GIANT PLANET. THE PROBE'S SIGNAL WAS CONFIRMED AT MISSION CONTROL IN PASADENA, CALIFORNIA. CORRESPONDENT ALAN SILVERMAN REPORTS. (12/7)

EGYPT / ELECTIONS -- FINAL RESULTS ARE IN FOR EGYPT'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. THE INTERIOR MINISTRY SAYS THE RULING NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS WON 317 OF THE 444 SEATS. INDEPENDENTS GAINED 114 SEATS, AND FOUR OPPOSITION PARTIES GAINED 13 SEATS: THE LIBERAL OPPOSITION PARTY EL WAFD WON SIX, THE LEFTIST TAGUMMU GAINED FIVE, THE NASSERITES ONE, AND THE AHRAR PARTY ONE SEAT. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN IN CAIRO REPORTS PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK DISMISSED COMPLAINTS OF IRREGULARITIES IN THE ELECTIONS AND INSISTS THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT INTERFERE WITH THE BALLOTING. (12/7)

HUMAN RIGHTS / EUROPE -- THE NEW YORK-BASED HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH HAS ISSUED ITS ANNUAL REPORT ON THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AROUND THE WORLD. AS CORRESPONDENT NICK SIMEONE REPORTS, SOME OF THE WORST HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES OCCURRED IN EASTERN EUROPE AND THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA WHERE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE REMAIN DISPLACED BY CONFLICT. (12/7)

HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT -- A LEADING HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP SAYS ABUSES CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, BUT SOME GOVERNMENTS ARE GETTING MORE SERIOUS ABOUT STOPPING VIOLATIONS AND PUNISHING THOSE WHO COMMIT THEM. CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES LOOKS AT THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GROUP, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH. (12/7)

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH -- THE WATCHDOG GROUP HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH HAS ISSUED ITS ANNUAL REPORT ON RIGHTS ABUSES AROUND THE WORLD. THE REPORT CRITICIZES THE UNITED NATIONS, IN PARTICULAR SECRETARY GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI, FOR FAILURE TO ACT DECISIVELY IN THE FACE OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN PLACES LIKE BOSNIA AND CHECHNYA. BUT, AS CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS REPORTS, THE GROUP SAYS THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORD POINTS A WAY TO ACHIEVING BOTH PEACE AND JUSTICE. (12/7)

RWANDA / UN MANDATE -- RWANDA'S GOVERNMENT HAS AGREED TO ALLOW THE UN ASSISTANCE MISSION IN RWANDA, UNAMIR TO REMAIN IN THE COUNTRY. STRINGER SONYA LAURENCE GREEN REPORTS THE DECISION COMES AFTER RWANDA CAME UNDER PRESSURE FROM WESTERN GOVERNMENTS TO EXTEND THE UN MANDATE. (12/7)

LIBERIA / NIGERIA SANCTIONS -- LIBERIA'S INTERIM GOVERNMENT SAYS IT WILL ACTIVELY CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE INTERNATIONAL ISOLATION OF NIGERIA, WHICH IS BEING WIDELY CRITICIZED FOR ITS HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD. WEST AFRICA CORRESPONDENT PURNELL MURDOCK REPORTS THE LIBERIAN GOVERNMENT ALSO IS CRITICIZING SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA FOR SEEKING TOUGH SANCTIONS AGAINST NIGERIA. (12/7)

CARTER / RIVER BLINDNESS -- A NEW INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM IS EXPECTED TO HELP MILLIONS OF AFRICANS SUFFERING FROM ONCHOCERCIASIS, THE DEBILITATING DISEASE THAT CAN LEAD TO BLINDNESS AND DISFIGUREMENT. STRINGER KIA JOHNSON REPORTS A DRUG DEVELOPED BY A US-BASED PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY MAY SOON ELIMINATE THE DISEASE IN MUCH OF TROPICAL AFRICA. (12/7)

TALIBAN / HISTORY -- AN ARMED GROUP CALLED THE 'TALIBAN' PRESENTLY CONTROLS MORE THAN HALF OF AFGHANISTAN AND IS DESCRIBED AS THE LARGEST SINGLE MILITARY FORCE IN THE COUNTRY. IN THE FIRST OF A TWO-PART SERIES, CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN EXAMINES HOW THE GROUP BEGAN, AND SOME OF THE CRITICISM IT FACES. (12/7)

TALIBAN / PAKISTAN -- THERE HAVE BEEN PERSISTENT REPORTS PAKISTAN IS LINKED TO THE ARMED GROUP 'TALIBAN' THAT NOW CONTROLS MORE THAN HALF OF AFGHANISTAN. PAKISTAN HAS REPEATEDLY DENIED THE TIE. ISLAMABAD CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN EXAMINES THE PAKISTAN-TALIBAN ISSUE. (12/7)

ANTI-FOREIGNER PROTEST -- IN CAMBODIA, A SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL SAID HE WILL SUE A US CITIZEN FOR INTERFERING WITH A WITNESS IN THE CASE OF AN ALLEGED ASSASSINATION PLOT AGAINST CAMBODIA'S SECOND PRIME MINISTER. STRINGER TRICIA FITZGERALD REPORTS FROM PHNOM PENH. (12/7)

CASTRO / VIETNAM -- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO BEGINS A VISIT TO VIETNAM. AS CORRESPONDENT DAN ROBINSON REPORTS, RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES HAVE REMAINED CLOSE DESPITE THE COLLAPSE OF COMMUNISM IN WHAT HAD BEEN THEIR MAIN ALLY, THE FORMER SOVIET UNION. (12/7)

CLINTON / BUDGET -- BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE REPUBLICAN-LED CONGRESS HAVE RESUMED, WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON PROPOSING A NEW PLAN TO BALANCE THE BUDGET. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAY THE PLAN MEETS THE REPUBLICAN GOAL OF BALANCING THE BUDGET IN SEVEN YEARS, WHILE PROTECTING SOCIAL PROGRAMS IMPORTANT TO THE PRESIDENT. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS. (12/7)

CONGRESS BUDGET -- REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS SAY THEY ARE NOT IMPRESSED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON'S NEW BUDGET PROPOSAL, WHICH IS MEANT TO REVIVE THE STALLED NEGOTIATIONS ON ENDING DEFICIT SPENDING. SENATE CORRESPONDENT DAVID SWAN REPORTS. (12/7)

LATAM TRADE -- BOLIVIA HAS TAKEN THE FIRST STEP TOWARD LINKING UP WITH ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, PARAGUAY, AND URUGUAY IN THE COMMON MARKET OF THE SOUTH, KNOWN AS MERCOSUR. BOLIVIA SIGNED AN ACCORD WITH THE FOUR NATIONS THURSDAY AT THE SUMMIT IN PUNTA DEL ESTE, URUGUAY. CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK REPORTS. (12/7)

MEXICO / SALINAS -- SWISS AUTHORITIES HAVE QUESTIONED THE BROTHER OF MEXICO'S FORMER PRESIDENT ABOUT HIS ALLEGED MONEY-LAUNDERING ACTIVITIES. AS CORRESPONDENT BILL RODGERS REPORTS, THE INTERROGATION IS PART OF AN INVESTIGATION INTO A MULTI-MILLION FORTUNE DEPOSITED INTO SWISS BANK ACCOUNTS BELONGING TO THE FORMER MEXICAN PRESIDENT'S BROTHER. (12/7)

GUATEMALA / MILITARY -- GUATEMALA'S ARMED FORCES HAVE BEEN MOBILIZED TO CRACK DOWN ON A SUDDEN UPSURGE OF CRIME. CORRESPONDENT BILL RODGERS REPORTS THAT TROOPS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED IN THE GUATEMALAN CAPITAL AND COUNTRYSIDE TO HELP POLICE CONTAIN THE CRIME WAVE. (12/7)

COLOMBIA / SCANDAL -- IN COLOMBIA, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CONGRESSIONAL ACCUSATIONS COMMITTEE IS REPORTED TO HAVE RECOMMENDED DROPPING THE PROBE OF ALLEGED CONTRIBUTIONS BY DRUG TRAFFICKERS TO THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN OF PRESIDENT ERNESTO SAMPER. SOUTH AMERICA CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK REPORTS. (12/7)

US / SWEATSHOPS -- SWEATSHOPS, WORKPLACES THAT EMPLOY WORKERS AT SUBSTANDARD WAGES AND IN SUBSTANDARD CONDITIONS, ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE UNITED STATES -- AT LEAST THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO EXIST. IN TRUTH, HOWEVER, THERE IS GROWING EVIDENCE THAT SWEATSHOPS ARE RE-EMERGING AROUND THE COUNTRY. CURRENT AFFAIRS' LINDA CASHDAN, CORRESPONDENT GREG FLAKUS AND STRINGER DINA WEINSTEIN EXAMINE THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM. (12/8)

THE END OF THE 55 MPH SPEED LIMIT -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' ANDREW BAROCH INTERVIEWS VOX POPULI AND TWO THINK-TANK ANALYSTS, ON THE LIFTING OF THE 55-MILE-PER-HOUR NATIONAL SPEED LIMIT, WHICH TAKES EFFECT FRIDAY. (12/8)

BELARUS / LUKASHENKA VOTE -- REPORTER JOAN BEECHER SAYS THE PARLIAMENTARY VOTE IN BELARUS HAS ONCE AGAIN FAILED TO FILL ALL THE AVAILABLE SEATS, AND PRESIDENT ALEXANDER LUKASHENKA IS THREATENING TO ESTABLISH PRESIDENTIAL RULE IF RUN-OFFS SUNDAY FAIL TO PRODUCE A WORKING PARLIAMENT. (12/8)

HAITI / EMMANUEL CONSTANT -- A CONTROVERSIAL AND IMPORTANT OPPONENT OF HAITIAN PRESIDENT JEAN-BERTRAND ARISTIDE TELLS REPORTER JOHN PITMAN, HE HOPES TO RETURN TO HAITI FROM THE US AND RETURN TO POLITICS IN HIS NATIVE COUNTRY. (12/8)

US / PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS -- IN TODAY'S AMERICA THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS IS A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY WHICH TAKES MANY FORMS. CURRENT AFFAIRS' ZLATICA HOKE REPORTS. (12/8)

US / CHRISTMAS / MULTICULTURAL SCHOOL -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' JUDITH LATHAM REPORTS ON A SCHOOL IN VIRGINIA WHERE STUDENTS TAKE COURSES IN WHICH THEY EXPLORE ONE ANOTHER'S RELIGIOUS FAITHS AND WHERE A MUSIC TEACHER FROM INDIA USES THE SACRED AND SECULAR TRADITIONS OF MANY COUNTRIES TO FORGE A SPIRIT OF UNITY AND UNDERSTANDING AMONG THE YOUNG PEOPLE. (12/8)

BEAT GENERATION -- CORRESPONDENT MARTIN BUSH REPORTS ON A NEW EXHIBIT ABOUT THE BEAT GENERATION AT NEW YORK'S WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART. (12/8)

CHILDHOOD / DEPRESSION -- RECENT STUDIES FIND THAT DEPRESSION AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE, OFTEN RESULTING IN SUICIDE, IS A GROWING PROBLEM IN MANY COUNTRIES. CURRENT AFFAIRS' CAROLYN WEAVER EXPLORES NEW APPROACHES TO TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF THIS OFTEN DEVASTATING ILLNESS. (12/8)

BEST BOSSES -- WHAT MAKES A GOOD BOSS? MEET SOME WORKERS WHO THINK THEY HAVE THE BEST BOSSES IN AMERICA. SOME OF THEIR REASONS WHY MAY SURPRISE YOU. CURRENT AFFAIRS' CAROL PEARSON REPORTS. (12/8)

INSIDE USA:

GALILEO / ASTRONOMER -- REPORTER TOM CROSBY TALKS WITH DR WILLIAM IRVINE, A PROMINENT ASTRONOMER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS WHO (WHILE NOT INVOLVED IN THE GALILEO PROJECT) IS WATCHING WITH A GREAT DEAL OF INTEREST TO SEE WHAT GALILEO WILL TELL EARTHBOUND ASTRONOMERS ABOUT THE PLANET AND ORIGINS OF THIS SOLAR SYSTEM. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 12/7)

JUPITER / GALILEO SPACECRAFT -- STAFFER ROGER-GUY FOLLY INTERVIEWS NASA ENGINEER CHEICK MODIBO DIARRA. M. DIARRA, WHO IS ORIGINALLY FROM MALI, WORKS CURRENTLY AT THE NASA LABORATORY IN PASADENA, CALIFORNIA. HE EXPLAINS THE MISSION OF THE SPACE PROBE GALILEO AS SCIENTISTS AWAIT ITS ARRIVAL AT PLANET JUPITER, SIX YEARS AFTER IT WAS LAUNCHED FROM THE ATLANTIS SPACE SHUTTLE. HE STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS MISSION WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF SPACE EXPLORATION AND ITS GOALS. (FRENCH 12/7)

JOHN LENNON / BEATLES -- JOHN LENNON, OF THE BEATLES, WAS MURDERED ON THIS DATE IN 1980. BUT THANKS TO COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY, THE BEATLES ARE TOGETHER AGAIN TO SHARE MEMORIES ON A TELEVISION DOCUMENTARY. CARROLL JAMES AND DEREK TAYLOR JOIN 'TALK TO AMERICA' TO DISCUSS THE ROLE THEY PLAYED DURING THE ERA OF THE BEATLES. (ENGLISH 12/8)

SENATE / SERENADE -- AN ELEGANT CAPITOL HILL CONCERT ORGANIZED BY REPUBLICAN SENATORS FROM MAINE, SNOWE AND COHEN, SHOWCASE THE VIRTUOSITY OF BULGARIAN MUSICIANS, PIANIST LORA TCHERKORATOVA AND CLARINETIST ILIAN ILIEV. STAFFER M. ATANASOVA REPORTS ON THE EVENT AND INTERVIEWS THE TWO JUILLIARD MASTER STUDENTS. (BULGARIAN 12/7)

IRANIAN / INTELLECTUAL -- FARSI STAFFER KATAYOUN BEGLARI INTERVIEWS EBRAHIM GOLESTAN, IRANIAN NOVELIST AND FILM MAKER AND ONE OF THE PIONEERS OF THE IRANIAN FILM INDUSTRY. THIS IS THE FIRST INTERVIEW MR GOLESTAN HAS GIVEN IN 25 YEARS. (FARSI 12/8, 12/9, 12/10)

COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITES -- THE FARSI PROGRAM 'ROUNDTABLE WITH YOU,' FEATURES DR ABOL GHASSEM MOGHADDAM, A FORMER SENIOR WESTINGHOUSE COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEER, AND NOW A CONSULTANT. THE TOPIC IS SATELLITE DISHES. (FARSI 12/8)

US / STOCKS -- REPORTER TERRY WING SEEKS OUT AN EXPERT FOR A LUCID COMMENT ON THE REASONS BEHIND THE RECORD-BREAKING NUMBERS ON WALL STREET. THIS TIME HE TALKS WITH FRED AMLING, PROFESSOR OF BUSINESS FINANCE AT GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY. HE SAYS THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT SHOULD BE CREDITED FOR THE RISE IN STOCK PRICES, INCLUDING CORPORATE DOWNSIZING, THE BOOM IN HIGH TECHNOLOGY, AND EVEN THE GOP. (ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS 12/7)

POLITICAL CORRECTNESS -- WHAT DOES THE TERM POLITICAL CORRECTNESS MEAN? WHERE DID IT ORIGINATE? HOW DO AMERICANS REACT TO IT? HOW DOES IT AFFECT ACADEMIA? DIALOGUE PARTICIPANTS DIMITRY SIMES, PRESIDENT OF THE NIXON CENTER FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM, LEON ARON OF THE AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE, AND STAFFER VLADIMIR MATLIN ANSWER THESE AND OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT POLITICAL CORRECTNESS IN THIS WEEK'S DIALOGUE SHOW. (RUSSIAN 12/7)

INSIDE AFRICA:

IVORY COAST / EBOLA -- THE DEADLY AND UNTREATABLE DISEASE, EBOLA, HAS MADE ANOTHER APPEARANCE IN AFRICA. THIS TIME IN IVORY COAST. REPORTER RODRICK MURRAY HAS THE DETAILS FROM D. DAVID HAMEN OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION IN GENEVA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/8)

TANZANIA / AIDS TABLETS -- TABLETS PRODUCED BY CHINA, PRESUMABLY TO CURE AIDS, ARE SELLING LIKE HOT CAKES IN TANZANIA DESPITE GOVERNMENT WARNINGS THAT THE PILLS DO NOT CURE AIDS. SWAHILI STRINGER EVEREST MWITUMBA REPORTS FROM DAR ES SALAAM. (SWAHILI 12/8)

DOS SANTOS / WASHINGTON -- ANGOLAN PRESIDENT JOSE EDUARDO DOS SANTOS CONTINUES HIS VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES, AND MEETS WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON. REPORTER JOE DECAPUA SPOKE WITH STAFFER ANNA GUEDES ABOUT THE VISIT. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/8)

KENYA / BY-ELECTIONS -- STAFFER TOM ATANDI SPOKE WITH JUSTICE ZAKAYUS CHESONI, CHAIRMAN OF THE KENYAN ELECTORAL COMMISSION. M CHESONI NAMED THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE ELECTIONS AS WELL AS THE RESULTS INCLUDING NUMBERS OF VOTES THEY RECEIVED. HE CONDEMNED THE VIOLENCE IN THE NYATIKE CONSTITUENCY, WHERE THE FORD KENYA CANDIDATE WAS SEVERELY BEATEN. (SWAHILI 12/8)

NIGERIA / SADC -- NEXT MONDAY, THE LEADERS OF A DOZEN AFRICAN NATIONS WILL MEET, AND THEY COULD TAKE A TOUGHER STAND ON NIGERIA. THE MEMBERS OF SADC, THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, WILL HOLD A ONE-DAY SUMMIT IN JOHANNESBURG. REPORTER JOE DECAPUA SPOKE TO SADC EXECUTIVE SECRETARY KAIRE MBUENDE. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/7)

KENYA / TEA -- KENYA'S LEADING COMMODITY IS POSSIBLY ON ITS WAY TO REACH AN ANNUAL RECORD. ELTED LEWIS, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TEA COUNCIL IN THE UNITED KINGDOM SPOKE WITH REPORTER RODRICK MURRAY, AND EXPLAINS WHY QUALITY MAY BE LACKING IN KENYA'S TEA PRODUCTION. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/7)

GHANA / CORRUPTION -- IN GHANA, A MAJOR PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO ALLEGED CORRUPTION OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. REPORTER KOFI OPARE ADO REPORTS FORM ACCRA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/7)

NIGERIA / POLITICS -- NIGERIA SAYS IT IS REVIEWING POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SUPPORT FOR AFRICAN COUNTRIES, NOW THAT MANY ARE CRITICIZING ITS HUMAN RIGHTS POLICIES. STRINGER CHINEDU OFFOR REPORTS FROM LAGOS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/8)

NIGERIA / COMMITTEE REPORT -- STRINGER BABANGIDA JIBRIL REPORTS FROM ABUJA THAT THE COMMITTEE SET UP UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF BRIGADIER GENERAL JEREMIAH USENI TO REVIEW NIGERIA DIPLOMATIC AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC SITUATION HAS SUBMITTED ITS REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS. (HAUSA 12/7)

NIGERIA / WOMEN FOR EQUALITY -- THE NIGERIAN FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS ENDED A SEMINAR IN KADUNA WITH A CALL FOR AN INCREASE IN WOMEN'S REPRESENTATION IN THE THREE COMMITTEES SET UP TO OVERSEE THE COUNTRY'S TRANSITION TO CONSTITUTIONAL RULE. STRINGER SANI ABDULLAHI REPORT THAT THE PARTICIPANTS FELT WOMEN ARE INADEQUATELY REPRESENTED IN NIGERIA'S NATIONAL LIFE AND CALLED FOR REDRESS. (HAUSA 12/7)

ETHIOPIAN JEWS / ISRAEL -- STAFFER NEGUSSIE MENGESHA INTERVIEWS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ALL ETHIOPIAN JEWISH ASSOCIATION IN ISRAEL, ADDISU MESELE. MR MESELE, WHO IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE LABOR PARTY IN ISRAEL, PLANS TO RUN IN ELECTIONS FOR THE KNESSET TO BE HELD IN NOVEMBER OF 1996. IN THIS INTERVIEW, HE TALKS ABOUT THE NEW LIFE OF THE ETHIOPIAN JEWS IN ISRAEL AND HOW THEY TRY TO KEEP THEIR ETHIOPIAN CULTURAL HERITAGE. (AMHARIC 12/8)

ETHIOPIA / ADWA VICTORY -- ETHIOPIA IS PREPARING TO CELEBRATE THE 100-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADWA VICTORY OVER THE INVADING ITALIAN ARMY. DECEMBER 8, 1896 WAS THE DAY WHEN THE ETHIOPIAN ARMY, ON ITS WAY TO THE NORTHERN CITY OF ADWA, FIRST DEFEATED THE ITALIAN ARMY IN WOREYELU, WELLO. STRINGER TAFESSE KIFLE TALKED TO ETHIOPIAN HISTORIAN ABEBE HAILE MELEKOT AND REPORTS. (AMHARIC 12/8)

BURUNDI / SITREP -- STAFFER FERDINAND FERELLA SPOKE WITH BURUNDIAN JOURNALIST ANTOINE KABURAE WHO DESCRIBES THE SITUATION IN THE CAPITAL BUJUMBURA AS VIOLENCE FLARED BETWEEN THE MOSTLY TUTSI ARMY AND HUTU REBELS. (FRENCH 12/7)

RWANDA / BIZIMANA -- STAFFER FERDINAND FERELLA INTERVIEWS RWANDA'S MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS JEAN-PIERRE BIZIMANA ABOUT THE EXPULSION FROM BURUNDI OF A NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION AND THE MANDATE OF UN TROOPS IN RWANDA. MR BIZIMANA DENIED REPORTS HIS GOVERNMENT IS TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MASSACRE IN SOUTHWEST RWANDA WHERE SOME TWENTY PEOPLE WERE REPORTEDLY KILLED IN THE NYUNGWE FOREST BY MEN DESCRIBED AS WEARING ARMY UNIFORMS. (FRENCH 12/7)

FIFA / WORLD CUP DRAW -- ON DECEMBER 12TH THE INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL FEDERATION, FIFA, WILL HOLD THE DRAW FOR THE 1998 WORLD FOOTBALL CUP QUALIFYING COMPETITION. REPORTER BARRY MAUGHAN SPOKE TO FIFA'S CHIEF PRESS OFFICER KEITH COOPER ABOUT HOW AFRICA IS LIKELY TO FARE. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/7)

AFRICA / FOOTBALL VIOLENCE -- THE FIRST LEG FINAL OF THE CUP OF CHAMPION CLUBS COMPETITION BETWEEN SOUTH AFRICA'S ORLANDO PIRATES AND ASEC OF IVORY COAST WAS MARRED BY A BOTTLE AND ROCK THROWING INCIDENT BETWEEN FANS OF THE TWO CLUBS. STAFFER BARRY MAUGHAN SPOKE TO LEADING AFRICA FOOTBALL EXPERT MARK GLEESON WHO ATTENDED THE MATCH. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 12/7)

INSIDE MIDEAST:

EGYPTIAN ELECTIONS -- THE RULING NATIONAL PARTY IN EGYPT HAS WON AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE PARLIAMENT SEATS IN TWO ROUNDS OF ELECTIONS. STRINGER IBRAHIM ABDIN REPORTED RESULTS ISSUED BY THE EGYPTIAN MINISTER OF INTERIOR AND THE OPPOSITION COMPLAINT THAT THE GOVERNMENT INTERVENED IN FAVOR OF ITS CANDIDATES. (ARABIC 12/7)

MORE EGYPT / ELECTIONS -- STAFFER PIERRE POUILLON TALKS TO CAIRO CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN WHETHER THE LEGISLATIVE RUN-OFF ELECTIONS IN EGYPT BROUGHT THE SAME ACCUSATIONS OF IRREGULARITIES AS DID THE FIRST ROUND OF VOTING. MS. KASSMAN ANALYZED THE RESULTS AND HOW THEY MIGHT AFFECT THE MIDEAST PEACE PROCESS. (FRENCH 12/7)

MUBARAK / PERES -- ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER SHIMON PERES PAID A BRIEF VISIT TO CAIRO THURSDAY FOR TALKS WITH PRESIDENT MUBARAK ON THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS, AHEAD OF A VISIT TO WASHINGTON. STRINGER IBRAHIM ABDIN REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 12/7)

PERES / ARAFAT -- ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER PERES AND PLO CHAIRMAN ARAFAT ARE MEETING IN GAZA FRIDAY TO DISCUSS THE PEACE PROCESS AND OTHER ISSUES INCLUDING THE EXPANSION OF THE PALESTINIAN SELF-RULE AND THE STATUS OF JERUSALEM. STAFFER ZEINAB ABDEL RAHMAN QUESTIONED ARAFAT'S POLITICAL ADVISER, AHMED TIBI ABOUT THE MEETING AND THE TALKS. (ARABIC 12/7)

GCC SUMMIT / QATAR -- THE EMIR OF QATAR SAYS HIS BOYCOTT OF THE FINAL SESSION OF THE GULF SUMMIT IS DUE TO DIFFERENCES ON THE PROCEDURE OF ELECTING A SECRETARY GENERAL FOR THE GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL, STRINGER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS. (ARABIC 12/7)

GCC SUMMIT / IRAQ -- STAFFER MOHAMED ABDEL KARIM TALKS WITH CORRESPONDENT JUMANA TAMIMI IN AMMAN ABOUT REASONS BEHIND THE EMIR OF QATAR BOYCOTTING THE FINAL SESSION OF THE GULF SUMMIT AND BAGHDAD'S CRITICISM OF THE FINAL COMMUNIQUE OF THE SUMMIT WHICH EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ. (ARABIC 12/7)

HAMAS POLITICAL PARTY -- THE ISLAMIC MOVEMENT HAMAS SAYS IT IS NO LONGER INTERESTED IN FORMING A POLITICAL PARTY. STAFFER ZEINAB ABDEL RAHMAN INTERVIEWS HAMAS SPOKESMAN IBRAHIM GHOSHEH IN AMMAN ON THE SUBJECT AND ON THE REPORTED SPLIT IN THE MOVEMENT. (ARABIC 12/7)

AFGHANISTAN / UN -- THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT BURHANUDDIN RABBANI HAS CALLED ON THE UNITED NATIONS TO FORM A "CONTACT GROUP" FOR AFGHANISTAN TO SPEARHEAD PEACE EFFORTS IN THE STRIFE-RIDDEN COUNTRY. STRINGER ABDUL HAI WARSHAN REPORTS THE PROPOSAL NAMES MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION OF ISLAMIC CONFERENCE (OIC), EUROPEAN UNION (EU) AND THE NONALIGNED MOVEMENT (NAM) AS POSSIBLE PARTICIPANTS IN THE "CONTACT GROUP." (DARI, PASHTO 12/7)

PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN -- PAKISTAN HAS ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL EXPORT SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND BARRELS OF OIL TO AFGHANISTAN TO FIGHT THE EXPANDING BOOTLEG TRADE IN THE REGION. STRINGER ABDUL HAI WARSHAN REPORTS THAT IRAN ALSO HAS PLEDGED TO SUPPLY OIL FUEL TO KABUL TO MEET THE RESIDENTS' NEED DURING THE WINTER. (DARI, PASHTO 12/7)

KAZAKHSTAN / ELECTIONS -- VOTERS IN KAZAKHSTAN WENT TO THE POLLS THIS WEEK TO ELECT MEMBERS OF THE UPPER HOUSE OF THE PARLIAMENT OR SENATE. ELECTIONS FOR THE MAJILIS, OR LOWER HOUSE ARE SCHEDULED ON DECEMBER 9. REPORTER ALI JALALI INTERVIEWED THE HEAD OF KAZAKHSTAN'S CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION YURI KIM, OPPOSITION CANDIDATE VLADIMIR CHERNISHEV, AND ERIC RUDENSHIOLD, AN INTERNATIONAL OBSERVER FROM ORGANIZATION OF SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE). (DARI 12/7)

FIBER OPTIC COMMUNICATION -- A LEADING AFGHAN-AMERICAN COMMUNICATION EXPERT SAYS THE NEW TECHNOLOGY OFFERS UNPRECEDENTED OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES LIKE AFGHANISTAN TO MODERNIZE THEIR COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND HOOK UP WITH INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORKS AT A RELATIVELY LOW COST. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER ABDUL WAHAB HADI, ENGINEER AFZAL ASLAMI, OWNER OF SEVERAL PATENTS IN THE UNITED STATES, SAID MAJOR AFGHAN CITIES LIKE KABUL AND HERAT CAN BE CONNECTED WITH INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE SYSTEM BY USING ONLY 20-30 FIBER OPTIC-BASED WIRELESS LINKS. (DARI 12/7)

KURDISH POETESS -- STAFFER KHALAF ZEBARI INTERVIEWS SEBRIYA HEKKARI, WHO IS FROM DUHOK, IN IRAQ. FACED WITH ETHNIC REPRESSION, SHE BEGAN WRITING POEMS AS THE ONLY WAY TO EXPRESS HER FEELINGS. SHE DEPLORES THAT KURDS ARE FIGHTING EACH OTHER, INSTEAD OF LISTENING TO THE ADVICE OF THE KURDISH WRITER AHMED-I KHANI WHO SAYS KURDS MUST ALWAYS BE UNITED. SEBRIYA HEKKARI SAYS THERE ARE MANY KURDISH WOMEN WHO ARE INTELLECTUALS BUT BECAUSE OF ECONOMIC HARDSHIP, THEY BARELY MANAGE TO MAKE A LIVING. (KURDISH 12/6)

KURDISH MUSIC -- STAFFER SERBEST MIRAN INTERVIEWS KURDO GELALI, THE LEADER OF A KURDISH MUSIC GROUP, DILOVAN, FROM CANADA, AND HIS WIFE SELMA, A TUNISIAN WHO SINGS KURDISH SONGS. (KURDISH 12/7)

INSIDE SOUTH ASIA:

HASINA CHALLENGES BANGLA PM -- SHEIKH HASINA, LEADER OF THE MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY IN BANGLADESHTOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE IN DHAKA THAT IF PRIME MINISTER KHALEDA ZIA RESIGNS AND PRESIDENT AR BISWAS APPOINTS A CABINET, THEN THE OPPOSITION PARTIES MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. SO FAR ONLY THE RULING BANGLADESH NATIONALIST PARTY HAS SAID THAT THEY WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTIONS SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 18. STRINGER MATIUR RAHMAN CHOUDHURY REPORTS FROM DHAKA. (BANGLA 12/8)

BANGLA / ILLEGAL ARMS -- THE BANGLADESH ELECTION COMMISSION IN COOPERATION WITH THE ARMED FORCES ARE GOING TO BEGIN THE CAMPAIGN TO RECOVER ILLEGAL ARMS. THE ELECTION COMMISSION BELIEVES THAT THIS WILL HELP REDUCE CLASHES AND TERRORIST ACTIVITIES AMONGST THE RIVAL POLITICAL GROUPS DURING THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN AND ON THE ELECTION DAY. STRINGER MATIUR RAHMAN CHOUDHURY REPORTS. (BANGLA 12/8)

INDIA / SATELLITE -- INDIA LAUNCHED ITS THIRD COMMUNICATION SATELLITE. BUILT IN INDIA, THE INSAT-2C SATELLITE WAS LAUNCHED ABOARD THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY'S ARIANE ROCKET. THE INTELSAT CENTER IN WASHINGTON IS HELPING IN TRACKING THE SPACE MISSION. STAFFER BHAGWAN PRAKASH REPORTS. (HINDI 12/7)

INDIA / US / TRADE -- INDIA'S COMMERCE MINISTER P CHIDAMBARAM URGES INDIAN AND AMERICAN BUSINESSMEN NOT TO LET OCCASIONAL FRICTIONS STAND IN THE WAY OF CLOSER TRADE RELATIONS BETWEEN THEM. MR CHIDAMBARAM ADDRESSED THE INDO-US BUSINESS COUNCIL MEETING. STRINGER KV RAO REPORTS. (HINDI 12/7)

INDIA / OIL EXPLORATION -- THE DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER OF INDIA'S GOVERNMENT OWNED OIL & NATURAL GAS CORPORATION, LAXAMI PRASAD TIWARI TELLS VOA THAT INDIA BUYS MORE DRILLING AND OTHER EQUIPMENT FOR OIL EXPLORATION FROM THE US THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY. STAFFER NIRMALA JOSHI INTERVIEWS MR TIWARI. (HINDI 12/7)

MEDIA CONFERENCE / INDIA -- JAYA PRASAD, A MEMBER OF THE INDIAN DELEGATION AT THE ASIAN MEDIA CONFERENCE IN BALI, INDONESIA DISCUSSES THE RAPID EXPANSION OF SATELLITE TELEVISION TRANSMISSIONS IN INDIA, BRINGING IN FOREIGN TV PROGRAMS AND THEIR IMPACT ON LOCAL MEDIA. STAFFER SUBHASH VOHRA INTERVIEWS MR PRASAD. (HINDI 12/7)

INSIDE EAST ASIA:

CHINA / PANCHEN LAMA -- CHINA ENTHRONED THE GOVERNMENT APPROVED 6 YEAR OLD GYAINCAIN NORBU AS THE NEW REINCARNATION OF THE PANCHEN LAMA, TIBET'S SECOND HIGHEST RELIGIOUS LEADER, IN A GRAND CEREMONY IN XIGAZE, TIBET. CHINESE STATE COUNCILLOR LI TIEYING PRESIDED OVER THE PROCEEDINGS. CRITICS ACCUSE THE GOVERNMENT OF VIOLATING CENTURIES-OLD TRADITION BY COMPLETELY EXCLUDING THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE DALAI LAMA. THEY SAY THE SELECTION OF PANCHEN LAMA IS A PURELY RELIGIOUS ISSUE, AND THE COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT SHOULD STAY OUT OF IT. STAFFER ZHANG NAN INTERVIEWS JIGME NGAPO, INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR TIBET. (MANDARIN 12/8)

MACAU AIRPORT / CHINA / TAIWAN -- HONG KONG STAFFER CHOU YOUKANG COVERS THE OPENING CEREMONY OF MACAU'S NEW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. HONG KONG GOVERNOR PATTEN AND CHINA'S VICE PRESIDENT ATTENDED. THE AIRPORT MARKS PROGRESS IN ESTABLISHING DIRECT TRANSPORTATION LINKS BETWEEN TAIWAN AND CHINA: PASSENGERS FROM TAIWAN CAN NOW FLY DIRECT TO THE MAINLAND WITH ONLY A BRIEF STOP IN MACAU. INTERVIEWS WITH: GOVERNOR PATTEN; THE US CONSUL GENERAL IN HONG KONG ; CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SHEN GUOFANG; SHANGHAI VICE MAYOR SHA LIN; WANG GUIXIAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, MACAU AIRLINES. (MANDARIN 12/8)

MACAO / INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT OPENED -- THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY FOR THE $800 MILLION MACAO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WAS ATTENDED BY DIGNITARIES INCLUDING CHINESE VICE PRESIDENT RONG YIREN, PORTUGUESE PRESIDENT SOARES, HONG KONG GOVERNOR PATTEN, US CONSUL GENERAL IN HONG KONG MUELLER AND SHANGHAI VICE MAYOR SHA LIN. TAIWAN PASSENGERS ARRIVING HERE CAN GO ON TO CITIES IN THE MAINLAND WITHOUT HAVING TO CHANGE PLANES. LAWRENCE NG COVERED THE EVENT ON SCENE, INTERVIEWING HONG KONG ECONOMIC SECRETARY GORDON SIU, AIR MACAO DIRECTOR WANG GUIXIANG, AND TAIWAN PASSENGERS. (CANTONESE 12/8)

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH REPORT / CHINA / TIBET -- IN ITS ANNUAL REPORT, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH ASIA SAYS CHINA CONTINUED TO VIOLATE HUMAN RIGHTS AND UNDERMINE THE RULE OF LAW THROUGHOUT 1995. MS. MICKEY SPIEGEL OF HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH ASIA TOLD STAFFER BAO SHEN THAT SHE BELIEVES THE ARREST OF WEI JINGSHENG WAS THE MOST SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION BECAUSE IT SHOWS THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT'S TOTAL LACK OF REGARD FOR LAW. THE REPORT AND MS. SPIEGEL ALSO SAY THAT THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S HUMAN RIGHTS POLICY TOWARD CHINA HAS LITTLE SUBSTANCE AND CLOUT. (MANDARIN 12/7)

TAIWAN ELECTIONS / ECONOMY -- TAIPEI STRINGER CHANG YUNG-TAI INTERVIEWS TAIWANESE BUSINESSMEN AND ECONOMISTS ON TAIWAN'S RECENT LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS AND THE IMPACT THE RESULTS MAY HAVE ON THE ECONOMY AND THE COUNTRY'S STABILITY. INTERVIEWS LI KAIGUANG, CHAIRMAN OF TAIWAN XINGFA TECHNOLOGY COMPANY, HUANG ZHIHUI, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMICS AND TRADE AT TAIWAN MOTOR AND ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, CHEN WENLANG, DIRECTOR OF CHINA TRUST GENERAL INSTITUTE. (MANDARIN 12/7)

TAIWAN / ELECTIONS -- STRINGER DAVID SHAMBAUGH IN LONDON, EDITOR OF CHINA QUARTERLY, COMMENTS ON TAIWAN'S ELECTIONS AND ITS DEMOCRATIZATION PROCESS. HE EXPRESSES HOPE THAT TAIWAN WILL BE ABLE TO FURTHER THE PROCESS WITHOUT CAUSING VIOLENT REACTION FROM BEIJING. (MANDARIN 12/7)

HONG KONG / VISA PROCEDURES -- WITH THE OPENING OF THE MACAO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PROVIDING CONVENIENT CONNECTIONS BETWEEN TAIWAN AND THE MAINLAND, HONG KONG AUTHORITIES SHOULD FEEL COMPELLED TO RELAX VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR TAIWAN PASSENGERS PASSING THROUGH HONG KONG. STAFFERS SHEILA TANG AND LAWRENCE NG DISCUSS THE CHALLENGES FACING HONG KONG. INTERVIEWS WITH YEN SEN LING, CHAIRMAN OF YAT YI SAN ALLIANCE; CHAN KAN LAM, HONG KONG LEGISLATOR; LAI KWANG KING, HK SECRETARY FOR SECURITY. (CANTONESE 12/8)

SOUTH KOREA / POL -- SOUTH KOREAN PROSECUTORS ARE INVESTIGATING NEW ALLEGATIONS THAT FORMER PRESIDENT ROH COLLECTED HUGE AMOUNT OF REBATE FROM GENERAL DYNAMICS. THE COMPANY WON A CONTRACT IN 1991 TO SUPPLY SOUTH KOREA WITH 120 F-16 JET FIGHTERS. THE PROSECUTORS QUESTIONED A FORMER DEFENSE MINISTER LEE JONG-KU ABOUT HIS ROLE IN THE DEAL. SOUTH KOREAN PROSECUTORS ARE ALSO INVESTIGATING FORMER PRESIDENT CHOI KYU-HA IF THE MILITARY LEADERS THREATENED HIM TO STEP DOWN FROM THE PRESIDENCY. STAFFER YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS. (KOREAN 12/8)

SOUTH KOREA / SPY -- ACCUSED NORTH KOREAN SPY KIM DONG-SIK SAID HE ASKED SEVEN DISSIDENTS TO BECOME AGENTS FOR NORTH KOREA. AMONG THEM HE NAMED MR. HUH IN-HOI, A MEMBER OF THE MAJOR OPPOSITION PARTY. THE NORTH KOREAN AGENT WAS CAPTURED IN OCTOBER AFTER A GUN BATTLE IN SOUTH KOREA. STAFFER YONG KYUN LIM REPORTS. (KOREAN 12/8)

INSIDE EUROPE:

GRANIC / YUGOSLAVIA -- CROATIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS HIS GOVERNMENT IS NOT AGAINST IDEA THAT THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA BECOMES SUCCESSOR STATE TO THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, IF ITS PROPERTY IS EQUALLY DIVIDED AMONG THE FORMER REPUBLICS. HE ALSO HINTED THAT MUTUAL RECOGNITION BETWEEN CROATIA AND SERBIA IS POSSIBLE. STRINGER STEVICA SUSA REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (SERBIAN 12/7)

MLADIC / MONTENEGRO -- THE STATEMENT MADE BY BOSNIAN SERB MILITARY LEADER R MLADIC ABOUT THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT AND THE REFERENDUM FOR THE SERB SECTIONS OF SARAJEVO EVOKED UNEASINESS IN MONTENEGRO. STRINGER BOSKO DJUKIC REPORTS FROM PODGORICA. (SERBIAN 12/7)

BOSNIA / WAR CRIMES -- THE US CONGRESSIONAL COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE HELD A HEARING ON WAR CRIMES COMMITTED IN BOSNIA, SPECIFICALLY IN SREBRENICA. ADDRESSING THE HEARING WERE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION, CONGRESSMAN CHRISTOPHER SMITH, CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR REPORTER DAVID RHODE, AND BARBARA WOLF, AN AMERICAN PATHOLOGIST WHO RECENTLY VISITED BOSNIA AND CROATIA TO HELP IDENTIFY BODIES FOUND IN MASS GRAVES. STAFFER BRANKO MIKASINOVIC REPORTS. (SERBIAN 12/6)

BULGARIA / NATO / BOSNIA -- STRINGER P SOFRONIEV REPORTS ON THE DECISION TAKEN BY THE BULGARIAN GOVERNMENT TO JOIN NATO'S PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE INITIATIVE BY SHARING IN NON-MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO BOSNIA. (BULGARIAN 12/7)

CHRISTOPHER / RUGOVA MEETING -- SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER MET WITH DR IBRAHIM RUGOVA, LEADER OF THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN YUGOSLAVIA'S TROUBLED KOSOVO REGION. DR RUGOVA IS URGING THE UNITED STATED TO MEDIATE TALKS BETWEEN SERBS AND ALBANIANS ON THE FUTURE OF KOSOVO. THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADER ALSO TALKED WITH CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS, INCLUDING SENATOR BOB DOLE. STAFFER AGIM FETAHAJ REPORTS. (ALBANIAN 12/8)

KOSOVO LEADER / US -- THE LEADER OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN YUGOSLAVIA'S TROUBLED KOSOVO REGION, IBRAHIM RUGOVA HAS CALLED ON THE UNITED STATES TO GET INVOLVED TO HELP NEGOTIATE KOSOVO'S FUTURE. DR RUGOVA TOLD VOA THAT HE SUPPORT THE US BROKERED BALKAN PEACE ACCORDS, BUT IS DISAPPOINTED THAT THE FUTURE OF KOSOVO HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED. HE SAID THE UNITED STATES SHOULD MEDIATE THE SERB-ALBANIAN DISPUTE OVER KOSOVO. STAFFER AGIM FETAHAJ REPORTS. (ALBANIAN 12/7)

ALBANIA / HUMAN RIGHTS -- THE NEW YORK-BASED HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH HAS SHARPLY CRITICIZED THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN ALBANIA. IN ITS ANNUAL REPORT, THE HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION SAID ALBANIA HAS YET TO ESTABLISH A DEMOCRACY WITH FULL RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. STAFFER ISABELA COCOLI REPORTS. (ALBANIAN 12/8)

ALBANIA ANNIVERSARY -- STRINGERS MERO BAZE AND ILIRIAN AGOLLI REPORT ON THE CELEBRATION OF THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONS WHICH FORCED ALBANIA'S COMMUNIST REGIME TO SANCTION POLITICAL PLURALISM IN DECEMBER 1990. (ALBANIAN 12/8)

ALBANIA / POLICE -- ALBANIAN AUTHORITIES HAS DISMISSED NUMEROUS POLICE OFFICIALS IN THE CITY OF GJIROKASTER ON CHARGES OF CORRUPTION AND OTHER VIOLATIONS. STRINGER RAYMOND KOLA REPORTS. (ALBANIAN 12/8)

ALBANIA / BULGARIA -- THE PRESIDENT OF BULGARIA, ZHELYU ZHELEV, CONFERRED IN TIRANA WITH HIS ALBANIAN COUNTERPART, SALI BERISHA. IN A JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE, THE TWO BALKAN LEADERS CALLED FOR FURTHER STEPS TO RESTORE PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE TROUBLED BALKANS. STRINGER ILIRIAN AGOLLI REPORTS. (ALBANIAN 12/7)

MACEDONIA / POLITICS -- STRINGER DIANA TOSKA REPORTS THAN IN AN UNUSUAL DEVELOPMENT, THE LEADER OF THE LARGEST ETHNIC ALBANIAN PARTY IN MACEDONIA, A HALITI, HAS MET WITH THE LEADER OF THE EXTREMIST MACEDONIAN PARTY VMRO. (ALBANIAN 12/7)

LEFTIST GOVERNMENT REJECTED IN LATVIA -- HAVING REJECTED A RIGHT-WING COALITION GOVERNMENT TWO WEEKS EARLIER, THE LATVIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS ALSO VOTED NO CONFIDENCE IN A LEFT-WING BLOC. THE PRESIDENT OF LATVIA MUST NOW CHOOSE ANOTHER PRIME MINISTER CANDIDATE. STRINGER AIDIS TOMSONS REPORTS FROM RIGA AFTER THE VOTING, WHICH FAILED BY JUST ONE VOTE. (LATVIAN 12/7)

POLAND / EDITOR OF LEADING DAILY FIRED -- TOMASZ WOLEK, THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE WARSAW DAILY "ZYCIE WARSZAWY" WAS FIRED BY THE ITALIAN OWNER, NICOLO GRAUSO. ZYCIE WARSZAWY RAN A STORY ON CORRUPTION INVOLVING THE PRESIDENT-ELECT'S WIFE AND THE WIFE OF THE PRIME MINISTER OF POLAND. STAFFER WOJTEK MINICZ REPORTS FROM WARSAW. (POLISH 12/8)

NATO MINISTERS MEETING -- LEOPOLD UNGER, AN INTERNATIONAL REPORTER FOR THE BELGIAN DAILY "LE SOIR" TALKS ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THE LAST SESSION OF THE NATO MINISTERS HELD IN BRUSSELS. INTERVIEW BY STAFFER MACIEJ WIERZYNSKI. (POLISH 12/8)

GERMANY / FRANCE -- STRINGERS MAREK ORZECHOWSKI AND JAN GRUZEWSKI DISCUSS THE KOHL-CHIRAC MEETING IN A PANEL DISCUSSION WITH STAFFER MARK K PARKER. (POLISH 12/8)

POLISH POLITICAL SCENE -- ALEKSANDER HALL, THE LEADER OF THE POLISH CONSERVATIVE PARTY DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY OF THE REUNIFICATION OF POST-SOLIDARITY PARTIES IN THE NEXT POLISH PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION. INTERVIEW BY WARSAW REPORTER WOJTEK MINICZ. (POLISH 12/8)

INSIDE LATIN AMERICA:

GUATEMALA / VIOLENCE -- THE INCREASE OF VIOLENCE IN GUATEMALA AFFECTS EVEN UNITED NATIONS STAFFERS ASSIGNED TO THAT COUNTRY. CORRESPONDENT LUIS TAMAYO REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (SPANISH 12/7)

SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS / ONE YEAR LATER -- AMBASSADOR RICHARD BROWN, STATE DEPARTMENT'S SENIOR COORDINATOR FOR THE SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS, TALKED ABOUT ACHIEVEMENTS AND REMAINING PROBLEMS SINCE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED LEADERS OF 34 WESTERN HEMISPHERE MET IN MIAMI A YEAR AGO, DURING THE CALL-IN PROGRAM "HABLEMOS CON WASHINGTON." (SPANISH 12/7)

UN / ENVIRONMENTAL SHORTCOMINGS -- ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISTS SAID THE UN CONFERENCE FOR PROTECTION OF THE ATMOSPHERE IS NOT REACHING THE RESULTS EXPECTED BY THEIR ORGANIZATIONS. CORRESPONDENT LUIS TAMAYO REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (SPANISH 12/7)

GALILEO'S SPACE ODYSSEY -- SPACE PROBE GALILEO REACHED JUPITER TO DO THE FIRST DETAILED STUDY OF THE BIGGEST PLANET IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM. CORRESPONDENT HECTOR VELAZQUEZ MEJIA REPORTS FROM LOS ANGELES. (SPANISH 12/7) 08-Dec-95 4:16 PM EST (2116 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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