European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 3, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday february 1989 the stars and stripes sex hostage unsure of role North played in his release Page 3 by Janet d Agostino staff writer Heidelberg West Germany when former hostage Benjamin Weir was released from Captivity one of the first people who greeted him on his return to the United states was it. Col. Oliver North. Weir who was held captive for 495 Days by shiite moslem in Lebanon is not sure what role North played in his release although the lieutenant colonel was assigned As the Contact person Between Weir family and the National Security Council. Weir a presbyterian minister was guest speaker at a Heidelberg prayer breakfast thursday at Patrick Henry Village. A news conference was held afterwards. Weir was one of several hostages held by the shiites at the time of his release on sept. 14, 1985. He said he "1 can t say i Ever slipped Over the Edge of being completely hopeless or  Benjamin Weir r is Uncertain if he was Given his Freedom in connection with the Iran Contra affair during which arms were sold to Iran in Hope of securing the release of hostages. The Money paid by Iran was then funnelled to the contras in Nicaragua. North faces 12 felony charges for his role in the Iran Contra affair including lying to Congress and then attorney general Edwin Meese Iii about his role in the affair and illegally using a tax exempt foundation to help finance a secret War against Nicaragua s government. Jurors Are now being selected for the re tired Marine lieutenant colonel s trial. Weir received a Telegram from president Reagan a year after his release stating that no Ransom was paid for your release. The Long standing policy of our government has been to make no concessions to the de mands of  however Weir said about 100 tube launched wire guided missiles were shipped from Israel to Iran shortly before his release according to information from the Tower commission report and Tes Timony before the Senate. What i Don t know is what connection that had with my  he said. That is very ambiguous but there May be a  Weir was snatched by shiite extremists while he and his wife Carol were walking Down a West Beirut Leb anon Street near their Home on May 8, 1984. Weir said his belief in god sustained him during his 16 months of Captivity and kept him from giving up Al Hope of Ever being released. I Felt i was buoyed along by an unseen resource or presence that was tar beyond myself he said. That was a very profound  although there were times when he was frustrated and discouraged i can t say i Ever slipped Over the Edge of being completely hopeless or despairing he said. I never got to that  his captors gave him arabic and English versions of the new testament which he voraciously read and reread using specific psalms and passages to give him inspiration. Weir had Learned to speak and read arabic during the 31 years he and his wife spent in the Middle East. This enabled him to talk with his guards most of whom spoke Little English. But his relationship with his captors remained very Distant because they did t want him to know who they were Weir said. Throughout the ordeal Weir was blindfolded when Ever he was around his captors. While he occasionally was punished for trying to peek out at his surroundings from under his Blindfold his captors did not demean him. Two of his captors told him we know you believe in god. We believe in god and Well respect you for  they also said they respected him because hews older than they were. On the whole i was not badly treated in the sense of being beaten or tortured or regularly abused he said. His Faith and hopefulness May have helped him weather the stress of being a captive he said. Weir did not develop any serious health problems during his Captivity although his living quarters were dirty and opportunities to Bathe irregular. He also had an easy readjustment to Freedom he said. Weir was chosen to be released from among fellow hostages associated press correspondent Terry Ander son the Rev. Lawrence Martin Jenco a Catholic priest David Jacobsen administrator of the americans a Lynda w. Sparks the Rev. Benjamin Weir. There May be a connection University Hospital in Beirut and Thomas Suther land Dean of the school of agriculture at the Ameri can University of Beirut. Jenco and Jacobsen have since been released while Anderson and Sutherland remain in Captivity. The five were allowed to live to Gether in one room during the last two months of Weir s Captivity. Weir who is currently on the faculty at san Francis co theological Seminary told the stars and stripes that he does not know Why the shiites decided to re lease him. While Weir believes the hostage Issue has been de valued by the state department he said there is More Hope of the hostages being released now that the . Government is working toward better communication with the Palestine liberation organization and the iranian government. Meat War heats up As Grace period ends Brussels Belgium up the meat War Between the european Community and the United states began wednesday with the implementation of an dec ban on imports of . Hormone treated meat and . Retaliation against some imports from Europe. The Community had asked the Amer ican government to postpone the implementation of its retaliation measures a Community spokesman said. The . Administration did not accept the request. That Means that the one month period of Grace granted for imports of american hormone bred meat also expires  the Community ban on imports of . Meat was to begin Jan. 1, As were the american retaliatory measures which include 100 percent tariffs on imports of seven european goods Worth about $ 100 million a year. But both parties had agreed to a one month Grace period. The Community s executive commis Sion has proposed to the Council of ministers that similar 100 percent tariffs on european imports of . Walnuts and dried fruits be applied but the Council last month postponed the decision until its next meeting feb. 20. Meanwhile the ministers instructed the commission to continue bilateral efforts with the american authorities to reach an amicable settlement to the  the dec spokesman said the Community has lodged a complaint with the general agreement on tariffs and Trade against the american retaliatory Mea sures which it charges Are incompatible with Gatt International trading rules. The Gatt Council is to examine the complaint feb. 8 in Geneva. The spokesman also commented on statements by Texas authorities that they might provide certificates for non Hor Mone beef exported to Europe. If the state of Texas is Able to deliver such certificates legally that would meet the requirements of our european legis lation he said. Other exporting countries like austra Lia new zealand and Argentina have advised the Community that they will certify that meat exported to Europe has not been treated with hormones. The spokesman also welcomed Calls by . Consumer groups for a Cooling off period in the dispute allowing negotiators to seek a solution. Representatives of the consumer groups told a news con Ference in Washington on monday that concerns Over food safety should be respected. The spokesman said the Call by . Consumer groups showed their full understanding for the european  the Community s meat legislation also has been applied to Domestic production following demands by european con Sumer organizations and the european parliament. Marcos Bacic on Respirator in Honolulu Hospital  1 to 1 t / to \ to a j t i Honolulu a Ferdinand Marcos has been placed Back on a Respi Rator and has taken a definite turn for the worse and his wife is recovering after fainting while accompanying him to the operating room officials said. The 71-year-old ousted philippine president who underwent emergency surgery wednesday at St. Francis medi Cal Center was in critical but stable condition thursday said a Hospital operator who refused to give her name. Philippine prime minister Salvador Laurel left for Hawaii on thursday for a meeting requested by Marcos wife Imelda because doctors reportedly had advised Marcos that he has t much time left to live. Marcos underwent an emergency tracheotomy Early wednesday because of fluids building up in his lungs nursing supervisor Cindy Miller said. During the 40-minute operation a tube was inserted into Marcos Throat to make it easier for him to breathe and to Clear his lungs. He was hooked to a Respi Rator and had a slight fever she said. Mrs. Marcos 59, fainted while accompanying her husband As he was being wheeled to surgery and fell and Witherhead Miller said. No one caught mrs. Marcos As she fell face Forward onto the floor because every one was walking behind her As Marcos was being wheeled to surgery Miller said. An aide who answered the phone in her Hospital room said mrs. Marcos was resting comfortably but unable to take Calls. Marcos was admitted to the Hospital on Jan. 15 for treatment of pneumonia and bronchial asthma. In december he was hospitalized twice for treatment of congestive heart failure. A Federal judge in new York is to de cide this month whether Marcos is healthy enough to stand trial on criminal racketeering charges accusing him of plundering his Homeland and stashing much of the Money in the United states. Mrs. Marcos pleaded innocent to the charges and is free on $5 million bail