European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 31, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 10 the stars and stripes Robert j. Mccartney Kohl Gorbachev chemistry improved by visit in a formal speech at a slate banquet Wel coming West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl in Moscow last week soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev cited four German politicians who had contributed significantly to improving soviet West German relations. Kohl s name was not on the list. Included were the Chancellor s foreign minister Hans Dietrich guns Char former Chancellor Willy Brandt and two West German stale premiers Johannes Rau and Laihar up sch who had met Gorba Chev on earlier visits to Moscow. Nearly two years ago. Kohl committed a major diplomatic Gaffe when he offhandedly compared Gorba Chev s Public relations talents to those of nazi propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels. Gorbachev was not amused West German officials acknowledged the snub delivered to the Chancellor during his Moscow visit. Bui they added that Gorbachev had treated Kohl cordially in private and that the Goebbels incident finally had been put to rest. The chemistry is excellent now Between them. This was the main intention of the trip to improve the chemistry said a senior foreign policy adviser to Kohl. The visit established the foundation for a Broad improvement in West Germany s bilateral tics with the soviet Union. Six government agreements and 30 business contracts were signed and Gorbachev said the ice has been the soviet agreed to Patch up relations principally because they want West German investment and technology to help Gorbachev s Campaign for economic Reform. West German officials said. Moscow apparently also concluded that it was counterproductive to maintain frosty relations with one of the most important West european countries especially when Gen Schur has been one of the most outspoken proponents in the West of taking Gorbachev at his Kohl had the satisfaction finally of following in the footsteps of president Reagan British prime minister Margaret Thatcher and French president Francois Mitterrand in having a personal meeting with Gorba Chev. The two met for a total of id hours including a private dinner with their wives at Gorbachev s Dacha. Kohl sensitive to concerns among the Western Al lies that Bonn was getting too cozy with Moscow stuck closely to nato Security positions in the talks. He used nearly every Opportunity he had in Public to mention that West Germany belonged to nato and shared the Alliance s views. It was the first Point he made in an interview with soviet television at the close of the talks. To have intensified contacts with the soviets does Ruth Sinai Duke i had us null Pudge ofaue6wce seem to raise doubts among our friends so it seems to be necessary always to spell out that we remain firmly on the Western Side said a West German official who spoke on condition that he remain unidentified it is wrong to see relations As a Zero sum game to assume that if we have belter relations with the Sovi ets then we have to have worse relations with the allies he said. Nevertheless Wesl Germany May find itself isolated within the Western Camp in coming months on iwo critical issues affecting relations with inc soviets Kohl reaffirmed thai he will seek revisions in a list of High technology products that Western nations have agreed not to provide to the Eastern bloc because of Security concerns. Gorbachev urged Kohl to oppose a modernization of arms in Europe. In was a Clear reference to West Germany s resistance to . And British desires to commit nato As soon As possible to deploying a new generation of Short Range nuclear weapons on the comment. The americans and British Hope that a decision on the arms Issue May be possible next year. But the Sovi ets and Wesl germans Are planning a return Visil by Gorbachev to Bonn in May or june. West German acceptance of modernization could Cloud that Visil or cancel trip had been carefully prepared and the Only Surprise was Kohl s announcement that the Kremlin had declared its readiness to release by the end of the year All persons considered by the West to be political appeared that Kohl who relayed information provided to him by Genscher May have overstated the soviet position. The United slates and some other Western countries say Moscow currently is holding hundreds of political prisoners. The soviet foreign ministry said thai Only dozens fall in that category. West German officials were at pains to emphasize that they Are concerned less with the number of persons to be freed than with inc soviets acceptance of the principle that political prisoners should be released. A the Wshington poll philippine bases pack ends unthinkable notion the difficulty of reaching a Short term agreement under which the United states keeps its military bases in the philippine raises what was once an unthinkable notion an eventual american pullout from Subic Bay naval facilities and Clark a. The agreement signed last week after six months of sometimes bitter negotiations coven Only the use of the bases until 1991, providing for $962 million in economic and military Aid for the Philippines Over the next two years. In is a Sharp increase but Many filipino politicians say it s far from enough. If the americans Are to remain beyond sept. To 1991, the negotiators probably will face difficulties which were Only hinted at in this year s talks according to analysts. Fred Brown a Southeast Asia scholar said until the talks brought to the fore the Specter of a . Pullout from the Philippines it was sort of an unlink Able unmentionable As the talks were going on both Secretary of slate George Shultz and defense Secretary Frank Cartucci said the United slates could move its bases if the Philippines demanded Loo much. Brown who is with the Carnegie endowment for International peace an in Dependently funded think Lank predicted that if nationalist forces continue to shape the debate in the Philippines Over the bases negotiators for Bolh sides will consider a phase Oul of the .presence in the Philippines. The debate in the Philippines also will a affected by How Well the current agreement is implemented. The funds promised in the agreement while falling Short of the annual s1.2 Bil lion sought by the Philippines arc still substantially higher than the . Aid a Propri Ald by Congress in previous years for use of the bases. And in Light of the . Budget crunch the difference is significant. Sen. Bob Dole Leader of the re publican minority in the Senate raised a warning Flag just How that Money is going to be found in a foreign operations budget already carved to the Bone _ 10 meet other base rights and peacekeeping commitments is not readily apparent u this Bui an influential legislative aide who spoke Only on condition of anonymity said that there is enough bipartisan sup port for the Philippines so that there Are ways the Money could be he conceded this would mean Short Chang ing of Herald recipients or wrangling with it defense department for some of its Money. In won t be easy he said. Anole or struggle is expected Over a . Contribution to a 15 billion Multi National Aid program to help Case the Philippines 128 billion debt. Although the package is unrelated Resolution of the base pact was expected to boost sup port in Congress for the International initiative. The United slates is spearheading he Effort although Japan will foot most of the Bill. The International Aid package if it is approved and funded will Grant legitimacy to the -.-Philippinc bases agreement in the eyes of the filipino Public and leadership said John Bres Nan a senior research associate Al the school of East Asia of Columbia univer sity so far president Corazon Aquino is facing a hard Lime Selling the new agree men to intellectuals and Manila s Urban Middle class who accuse her government of Selling out their country sovereignty. But some analysts said that if Aquino wants the americans to stay she must bring the debate before the Broad Public and take a position herself. She has to Lake a stand and begin to shape opinion said Brosnan. Brent scowcroft Farmer National Secu Rity adviser who headed a study of the bases Issue for the Council on foreign relations in new York said what we have to Hope for is that the filipino peo ple weigh in on this because there is overwhelming support among them for the the filipinos who oppose the continued . Presence feel that As Long As we re there they can t Cut the umbilical Cord with the United states said scowcroft and nothing we can do will change
