European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 16, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 2 the stars and stripes thursday march16.1989 soviet Economy will influence West s Security Worner says by d by  pics Ard a rowing resistance to change ment now More tolerated under t stiff writer several speakers said Chey s regime has begun to focus y David Tarra sniff writer Brussels Belgium the future feast West relations will depend As much on the us Cecis of economic Reform in the soviet Union m on the country s Mili tary and social changes nato Secre tary general Manfred Warner said wednesday. The Atlantic Alliance must devise strategy for dealing with those reforms. Werner added since they will play a major pan in determining the future stability of Europe the economic dimensions of Security will play a much greater role in the next decade than they played in the last said Warner speaking at the opening of a nato forum on soviet economic re forms. So far the economic reforms begun by soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985 have achieved Only marginal Suc is according to several speakers at the forum. -.  of the nato forum required that Only written versions of speakers comments be quoted Gorbachev has been Able to consolidate his hold on Power and provide new Imp Cius for Reform. However major crises have emerged As a result of Short Ages of consumer goods an escalation in problems among the different nationalities and a growing resistance to change several. Also the soviet Standard of living has improved very Little and inflationary pressures Are threatening to cause further deterioration in lifestyle. The main cause of soviet inflation Isth financing of part of the stale budget deficit according to a paper by Michael Ellman professor of economics at the University of Amsterdam. Budget shortfalls under Gorbachev Stem from such things As inherited deficits the chernobyl nuclear Plant disaster and a decline in world Energy prices As Well As the soviet anti alcohol Campaign which drove a robust segment of the Economy underground there have been some positive results of the reforms however including an increase in housing lower infant Mortali by Rales and decreases in Overall death rates. There is also More Freedom of speech and association and greater Toler Ance by authorities of formerly taboo Western exports such As pop music. The consensus among speakers at the forum was that no one can be certain As to where the reforms if successful will Lead for example it has been extremely difficult for the soviets to change from a centrally administered Economy to Amore Market mended Economy. Ironically criticism of the govern ment now More tolerated under Gorba Chest s on the soviet Leader and his economic reforms As part of the program of  the mixed results of reforms and the intensifying conflicts Over future solutions and vehement controversies Over soviet history arc rendering both the past and the future Uncertain wrote Hans Hermann Huhmann of he Feder Al Institute for soviet and East european studies in Cologne West Germany. In any event the speakers said the re form movement will need the backing Ofa sceptical populace who now can Only Sec limited benefits from the reforms. If the uneasy society of the  to get on Board the untested per Stroika flying machine an escalation of conflicts is inevitable Huhmann said. While the outcome of the Gorbachev economic revolution is essentially a Domestic question its Success could present to the West a wealth of prospects Wymer said including More Trade and More dialogue with the East and ultimately an easing of tensions. We Are very much interested in the stability of Europe not just military but political and economic he said. Success would mean opening up of so Viet society.1. I. ". For that reason we mar added the West is watching the development closely. Fatal crash involving missile transport spurs Bonn data Exchange demand by Kosem a by Sawyer staff writer members of the West German parliamentary defense committee wednes Day demanded an improved flow of in formation Between . And West German officials in the Wake of any Acci dents involving hazardous materials. The meet ing in Bonn was promote div monday s fatal head on collision of a . Army missile transporter with a civilian car near will Burg at question was whether German Citi Zens near Accident Silas Are subjected 10 undue worry and concern because the .military is Loo slow in passing accurate in formation to German authorities about the potential danger flee materials involved. Through he slow and inaccurate in formation How the impression is give that a catastrophe is at hand commit tee chairman Alfred Bichle said. The Accident monday involved three non nuclear Hawk air defense artillery weapons on a 52nd air. Defense. Arty truck. The vehicle was travelling North in a Convoy on Highway d-19 near we Irmburg when it was hit head on by a southbound car that crossed the Enterline. The car s Driver a 22-year-old Ger Man woman died at the scene. Two sol Diers in the truck were slightly injured. Civilian authorities receive official word on the safety of the missiles at about 8 30 ., following the s 30  Accident -. Said maj. David Hartman 32nd army air defense come spokesman a qualified technician from the con Voy was a the scene immediately to examine he intact missiles enl Eranfly and provide authorities fairly Good conclusions about the condition of the mis Siles Hartman  an Accident fire is the primary concern but the missiles were not cracked open and no rocket propel land was released it ii almost impossible for a warhead to be armed in an Acci Dent Hartman said. However the area Hill had to be secured unlit warrant officers could test the missiles with mechanical devices to further verify their Safe condition Hart Man  -. -. V1, while the defense committee acknowledged that the . Military followed regulations in their handling of the Acci Dent  concerned Alx u the three hour delay in receiving notification of the missiles safety. Committee member Walter Dulbow a social Democrat said that substantial problems remained to be solved. Ameri cans should have to notify German officials before they transport missiles Kul Bow said As they arc already required to do when moving certain other hazardous a i trials. -. Bichle a Christian socialist cautioned against trying to turn inc incident into a question of sovereignty saying that German Law was followed by the americans. Hartman explained that some delay inthe missiles testing resulted from the fact that each platoon has just two test ing devices. In the Rush to Clear the area trucks carrying the devices were sent ahead to the held exercise site North of Schweinfurt however after a device was retrieved brigade and battalion level warrant officers tested the missiles arid reported their Safe condition to the brigade commander who informed Ger Man police. The Ruck s Driver sgt. Erna it Thom As was released from the army Hospital in will zbig tuesday. The alternate in Var sgt Ion Porter was treated and released monday. Both soldiers Are As signed 10 Btry a file in s2nd air de sense arty Hindon to hippie a farm Audi allies abolish never used death penalty for crimes committed by civilians in w. Berlin 8 the slurs and stripes the never imposed death penalty in Wesl Berlin for crimes against the allies by civilians was abolished this week a spokesman for the French forces said wednesday. The Law known As Rule 511, was purely theoretical the spokesman said. It was applicable in a number of cases such As illegal Possession of weapons tracts against the in Crest of the allies but no Berliner or any other civilian has Ever received a death sentence sincere be been  the French forces Are currently serv ing As spokesman for the Allied forces inthe divided City. In 1984, the allies and the civilian ruling body the Berlin Senate announced their intention to abolish a number of antiquated Laws from the Early Post world War 11 Era the spokesman said. By abolishing the death penalty the allies wanted to show their awareness of concerns expressed by Berlin residents he said. The decision docs not affect death penalties that might be imposed on serv  in military courts the spokesman said. A French military spokesman also told the associated press hat France Britain and the United states were abolishing the death penalty in West Berlin to bring their regulations Lino accordance with German  West Germany has no death penalty. News updates Hijacker convicted Washington not in the first trial under Long urm statutes that apply american Lawslo terrorist acts against american occurring anywhere in the world a Federal jury convicted a lebanese. Militiaman tuesday in the Hijack ing of a jordanian jetliner in 1985. After deliberating for nearly three Days the jury found Fawaz Yunis guilty of conspiracy hos Tage taking and air plane piracy. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. No Dale was set for sentencing. Yunis was acquitted of three other charges relating to the destruction of the plane and violence against passengers. Yunis has been held in solitary confinement at an undisclosed location since september 1987, when the Fri lured him into inter National Waters and arrested him. Although government officials acknowledged that Yunis 30, was Only a bit player in the world of terrorism they said the Case has symbolic significance. He is the first person prosecuted under a 1984 Law that makes hold ing american citizens hostage any where in the world a crime. Two americans Landry. Slade and his son William were aboard the plane when it was hijacked. Francis d. Carter Yuni Smaw yer said he plans to Appeal. Vote on Cheney Washington a the chairman of the Senate armed services committee said wednes Day that the panel would Vole thursday on inc nomination of rep. Dick Cheney As defense Secretary and said he expected unanimous support for president Bush replacement for John Tower. I Don t know of any opposition now said sen. Sam Nunn d-ga., As he announced that the commit tee had completed its hearings on he nomination and would vote thursday morning the Georgia Democrat said he would vote for Cheney saying he saw no impediments to confirmation of inc nominee in an Fri background Check financial re ports from the White House and Pentagon and medical records. Nunn said the six term Wyom ing Republican congressman is Well qualified and called him Aman of  g1 Dies of injuries in forklift Accident Friedberg Wesl Germany is a s9lh Ord brigade Soldier died tucs Day of injuries suffered when a forklift he was driving overturned pinning him underneath brigade officials said wednes Day. Chief warrant officer 3 Stephen b. Hawkins 36, was resuming the vehicle to in parking area when it apparently hit a soft spot in the ground causing it to overturn said sgt. 1st class Nancy a Bouchard a spokeswoman at brigade Headquarters in Parma sons. The Accident occurred about 4 45  At an ammunition storage area near Friedburg Hawkins was taken by a Ger Man ambulance to Frankfurt army regional medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Hawkins of Colorado Springs cola is survived by his wife Valerie and two children. A memorial service will be held Al 10 30 . Monday 31 the  Chapel