European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 14, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse Sunday August 14, 1988 the stars and stripes nato affirms its commitment to Cost sharing Brussels Belgium a the nato alliances id Friday it is committee to sharing the costs of Western defense equitably and to maintaining a fair partnership among the 16 member nations it released the statement a Day after the . Senate approved a $282.6 billion military spending Bill that includes an amendment suggesting Western european Japan do More for their own defense. The North Atlantic treaty organization statement said equitable sharing of defense responsibilities con Cerns each ally As it is in the interest of All that a distribution is there is within the Alliance continuing commit ment to this principle As Well As recognition of the need to renew efforts to maintain under evolving circumstances a fair partnership it said. There has been a growing Effort in Congress to pres Western european countries to allocate More Money for defense. Congress has asked for a report by the endow this year on . Consultations with its allies on Burden the nato statement said defense ministers have expressed their determination to improve collective defense and to ensure that each ally contributes in the most effective and equitable a european Diplomat at nato Headquarters expressed concern that the Senate measure might Lead to a reduction in the . Commitment to Western Europe and weaken the bargaining position at East West negotiations in Vienna on reduction of conventional military forces in Europe. If we Start reducing unilaterally then there is no Point in the russians giving in to Western pressure because there is no pressure said the Diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity. The Senate amendment orders a major review . Overseas commitments and limits the deployment of american troops in Japan and South Korea. It also sets a limit on spending for . Military personnel stationed overseas requiring the allies to pay the Dif Ference if deployment costs surpass 1988 Levels. A House version of the spending Bill approved two months ago has no Burden sharing amendment. The Mea sures now go to a House Senate conference sharing has been a frequent topic since nato was formed in 1949, and there have been Calls in con Gress in recent years to withdraw some of the 330,000 american military personnel in Europe. Nato figures show that the proportion of defens spending by Alliance members varies widely. Last year the United states budgeted 6.6 percent of its Gross Domestic product on defense while Luxembourg provided 1.2 percent. Military news saturday express mail available at 5 Post offices rheingau West Germany saturday express mail service to areas in the United states that Are express mail destinations is available now at five army Post offices in Germany. Accepting items on saturdays for guaranteed delivery by3 . The following monday Are Post offices at the Frank Furt shopping Center Mannheim shopping Center Robin son Barracks in Stuttgart and Patrick Henry Village an the shopping Center in Heidelberg officials said. Engineering division chief honoured at White House Washington an american civilian living i Frankfurt West Germany was among top Federal workers honoured aug. 2 by president Reagan As a win Ner of the 1988 presidential rank awards. Joe g. Higgs chief of the engineering division forthe . Army corps of engineers Europe received the award in a White House ceremony. The annual awards recognize excellence in these Nior executive service and go to Federal managers for extended exceptional performance. Career members of the ses May be granted one of two presidential ranks distinguished executive the highest rank or Merito rious executive the one Higgs received. Higgs a Tennessee native holds a master s degree from Purdue University and is a member of the Amer ican society of civil engineers and the society of american military engineers. Page 9 % a 4 ?
