European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 20, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page Al the stars and stripes Friday March 20,1987 prospects for arms pact much better envoy says Moscow a . And soviet official Are optimistic they can work out an agreement cutting medium Range nuclear missiles in Europe and possibly it tiding to a Summit in the United states a stale department official said wednesday. Michael Armacost  of state for Politi Cal affairs told reporters in Moscow thai the United slain sees improvement in Many areas of .-soviet relations. Me said solutions to issues other than arms control particularly the afghan conflict Are As important As disarmament for Long term improvements in .-so Viet relations. A Giacthi me with soviet foreign minister Eduard Shevardnadze and other foreign ministry officials in his two Day visit to Moscow. He discussed he april 13-16 visit of . Secretary of stale George Shultz to Moscow and .-soviet disagreements on regional conflicts. He spoke to reporters Ai Moscow s Sheremetyev Airport before returning 10 the United slates. Armacost said soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev s decision to seek a separate agreement to eliminate medium Range nuclear missiles from Europe and a draft trealy presented by . Arms negotiators in Geneva Switzerland were a very important potential break  problems remain to be solved including the Issue of verification but i sense the spirit on both sides to work out those details he said. I would Hope that if those can be completed that would open the door to a Summit in he United Stales he said. President Reagan and Gorbachev have met twice before at Geneva in 1985 and Reykjavik Iceland in 1986. Since the Reykjavik Summit the soviets had insisted on a comprehensive agreement covering medium Range missiles in Europe strategic missiles and space weapons. But Gorbachev Lasi month said the soviets were wilting to forego that linkage in order to break a deadlock in the Geneva arms talks. Armacost said the soviets arc looking Forward to Shutlz s visit and the Secretary of state will be pre pared to move ahead in .-soviet eclat ions. In the afghan conflict the United slates views the withdrawal of the estimated 115,000 soviet soldiers and National reconciliation at the key issues he said. I come away with the impression that they have been wrestling with Core issues in recent months thai s a hopeful sign Armacost said he said recent statements indicate the soviet vie of reconciliation lakes into account refugees in Paki Stan and those still actively fighting the government. . Officials also noted during february and the first part of March a modest but steady increase in the number of people allowed to emigrate Armacost said. The .Sov it consultations on regional differences in Central America the Middle East Asia Southern Africa and Afghanistan were Frank Friendly and constructive Armacost said. More such talks Are Likely to be scheduled he said. Soviet foreign ministry spokesman Gennady Cera Simov said prior to the meeting Between Armacost and Shevardnadze that the soviets regarded Armacost visit As very useful 1 however the soviets issued no inter statement earthquake strikes Japan App bom a Man examines the damage to roofing tiles on his Bouse in Yoshima in Japan s Ruthem a win Island of Kyushu after Strong earthquake on wednesday. The tremor measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale hit the Island and other Western japanese areas. One Man was killed and landslide damage was reported. World lot a Jet s exhaust hits car killing greek policeman Athens Greece up one policeman  and one injured wednesday when heir car Wai struck by the exhaust of an olympic airways Jet engine. Police said. The Accident happened when an olympic airways air bus tested its engines As the police car was driving past police said. Several police cars including armoured vehicles Ore patrolling Athens Airport to prevent hijacking or attack by terrorists. Police airs accompany airliners to Takeoff Points id ensure they arc not attacked by a random terrorist with a machine gun or an anti tank launcher. In 1968, a passenger was killed and several injured when a terrorist armed with a sub machine gun opened tire against an Al Al Airliner taxiing far Takeoff. A jordanian airlines Jet was damaged during Takeoff in1985 when unknown attackers fired a rocket at it. Car bomb in East Beirut kills Driver passenger Beirut Lebanon up a bomb planted under car blew up near a Bank in Christian East Beirut thursday killing two people and wounding five others police sources said. The sources said the bomb hidden under a German made Sedan was parked in front of the Universal Bankin East Beirut when it went off at 1 45 . Police sources said the Driver and his companion who were inside the car when the bomb exploded were killed instantly while five other people were wounded. The explosion set afire he car and shattered glasses in nearby shops. It is the fifth explosion in Lebanon this year. Al least 27 people have been killed and 92 wounded in car bomb blasts in Beirut since Jan. 7. 1 1 die 14 Hurt in Turkey when bus truck collide Mardin Turkey a eleven people were killed and 14 injured when a passenger bus collided with a truck wednesday in this Southeastern province near the syrian order he Huir yet news Agency reported. It said the collision took place when a Tanker truck attempted to overtake another vehicle wednesday morn ing near the Village of Akinci on the Highway Between Mardin and nusa bin slamming into the oncoming bus. The Anker truck was not carrying any fuel Ai the Lime Hurr yet said. Six people were declared dead on the scene and five others died Bier in the Hospital Hurr yet added. Swissair to replace Fleet with ,-built 3-engine jets Zurich Switzerland a Switzerland s National airline Swissair announced thursday it has chosen Mcdonnell Douglas corp s new my ii three engine Jet to replace is aging Fleet of Long Range do 10s in the 1990s, the company said it has ordered six md-1 is to be delivered in 1990 and has options on another 12. It said it has set aside a total 1.2 billion Swiss francs about j785 million for the replacement of the i do ios. The my i i is an updated and extended version Orthe dc-1o, also built by the St. Louis based aircraft manufacturer. Tip leads police to explosives in Paris office Tower Paris a police acting on a lip found 24 pounds of explosives wednes Day behind the false ceiling of a lavatory in a Paris office lower authorities said and a news report linked the find 10 a terrorist group. The explosives were placed in Mont Parnasso Tower several months ago by Max of Scrol a leading member of ill extreme icel wig terrorist group direct action the French news Agency Agency France press reported quoting authorized sources. The Agency reported the explosives were to be ignited at a future Date to protest French policy in new Caledonia. Police were directed to the site by Joel in Crepet a suspected member of the Lyon Branch of direct action under arrest since March 3d, 1936, according to the news Agency. Police Headquarters and lower officials said he explosives were behind the false ceiling in a lavatory on the 53rd floor. Police acting on a lip discovered them wednesday afternoon. The Lypp of explosives was not immediately known. The news Agency reported Ferrol currently at Large placed the explosives inthe lavatory of the san company which develops new Caledonia s important Nickel resources. The Agency said of Scrol intended to set them offal a later Dale to protest French policy in the Pacific Terri tory of new Caledonia. However strict Security controls adopted by the company prevented Fri rot from carrying out his plan the news Agency said citing the authorised sources. The Mon Marnaise Tower a huge of fice and shopping Complex in Southern Paris is minutes away from the Rue de Kennos where seven people were killed in one of several bombings in septem Ber. New Caledonia has been the scene of a sometimes violent struggle Between native Melanc sians seeking Independence and european settlers who Wunt to re main  is preparing to hold a referendum in the Pacific Island group some time this summer to determine whether it should have Independence in association with France. Police dealt a heavy blow to direct action on feb. 21. When they arrested four of its top members at a hideout in the Loire Valley. Police say direct action is made up of a National and an International Branch that works with other european terrorist groups