European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 14, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The German government has sad it wants to delay a decision on the deployment of new missiles to replace the aging Lance Short Range system pictured above until at least 1991. Said Heinz Timmermann a defense and foreign policy expert at the Cologne based Institute Lor Eastern and International studies. In an Era of warming relations with the soviet bloc Many West germans cannot understand Why this strategy should  Timmermann said. Most of nato s tactical nuclear Arsenal is deployed in West Germany and would be used almost exclusively on West German and East German soil in the event of a soviet bloc attack. They Are part of what nato officials say is a vital flexible response strategy that combines conventional forces with the threat of using Battlefield nuclear weapons. But West germans View the strategy As cynical and obsolete. Responding to the mood of the Public Bonn now says it believes the Warsaw pact military threat has diminished because of the Reform and detente policies of Gorbachev. Kohl s government has also said it wants to delay a decision on the deployment of new missiles to replace the aging Lance Short Range systems until at least 1991 or after National elections scheduled for december 1990. The new rockets would have a significantly longer Range up to 300 Miles and Many West germans share the Kremlin View that deployment would constitute a rearmament step. Kohl and foreign minister Hans Dietrich Genscher have stood firm on the demand for prompt talks insisting that soviet overtures should to met with a Western readiness to Compromise. Genschow the architect of the current arms reduction Effort has won widespread Public support Lor his Contention that Gorbachev should be taken at his  the foreign minister who was born in what is now communist East Germany has argued consistently Over his 20-year Cabinet career that it is As much in the West s interest As in the East s to pursue All opportunities to improve ties Between Europe s political blocs. That View has since won Broad support in Kohl s coalition government and is Tho foundation of Bonn s steadfastness in the rocket dispute. Still. President Bush emphasized that he opposes Early Short Range talks and some us congressmen Are piqued about the German stance. Sen. William s. Cohen a a Maine and a member of the Senate armed services committee said recently that the United Stales should reconsider its commitment to a Large military contingent in West Germany in Bonn blocks deployment of new missiles i think if the West German people have come to the conclusion they can place More Lailah and Reliance on Gorbachev s words and assurances than they can upon sound nato strategy then it would be very difficult Tor me to continue to commit the size of the forces we have under those  while Kohl has said he is optimistic thai a Compromise can be Lound before a nato Summit in Brussels May 29-30, he has also made it Clear thai he wants West Germany s special situation and interests acknowledged in an Overall nato policy statement. Genscher stressed in a recent speech that the Issue should not be made into a major conflict within the Alliance. Many germans see nato s hesitation on the Short Range missile Issue As a sympton of broader reluctance to seek political solutions to East West disputes. Willfried Penner a defense expert Lor the opposition social democratic party said . And British intransigence Over the Short Range nuclear missiles makes nato look increasingly like a military Fossil " some critics have questioned Bonn s loyally Lonato. But Bonn officials strongly object to suggestions that West Germany is engaging in renegade behaviour. We Are really getting tired of being accused of betraying the Alliance simply because we have the temerity to stand up Lor what we think is important said a senior West German Olli Cial who did not want to be named. Kohl devoted a substantial part of a press statement following his recent meeting with British prime minister Margaret Thatcher to countering suggestions that West Germany had become an unreliable  but some analysts predict thai the current con lick Over Short Range missiles is Only the first Salvo in what promises to be a Long and difficult debate Over West Germany s place in the Alliance and its role in Europe a null Baring a professor at West Berlin s free University warns that the government is overestimating its clout and underestimating the damage in can do to Tho Alliance. Ii we Don t watch out we can cause a great Deal of trouble Lor ourselves and Lor our friends Baring said belter East West relations is a Lile deeply influenced by Germany s turbulent past. Genscher was born in Halle now part of East Germany and served in world War ii he was captured by Tho americans imprisoned in Britain and resumed to the soviet occupied sector of his Homeland alter the War alter studying Law at Leipzig University and growing disenchanted with the new socialist state to escaped to the West in 1952 and later joined the Small centrist free democratic party in Bremen. Genscher was elected to parliament in 1965 and became Interior minister in Brandt s social Democrat led coalition government in 1969-74. He then became foreign minister under Helmut Schmidt another social Democrat and retained the Post in 1982 when the free democrats formed a new coalition with Helmut Kohl s conservatives. Considered one of the nation s most popular politicians. Genscher has been at the lore front of a West German push to take advantage of new opportunities Lor East West cooperation brought about by soviet Leader Mikhail a Gorbachev. Genscher has advocated a new round of superpower talks aimed at removing the Short Range nuclear missiles deployed on West German territory despite warnings from critics who Point to the Warsaw pact military advantage. While american and British strategists worry that missile cutbacks May to premature Genscher has appealed to the allies to Trust Gorbachev and take him at his word on arms control. The jowly bespectacled Loreign minister has made Clear he flavors dismantling the Divide marring Europe including communist East Germany s Concrete and barbed wire barriers in a recent speech to parliament. Genscher slated that his responsibility Lor guiding German policy does not end at the Border running through the Middle of Germany. This obligation includes my Homo the City in which i was  noting that germans caused the world War that Lell the comment divided into two opposing political blocs Genscher has Ollen observed with contrition that Europe is our  critics have accused him of seeking a break with Tho Western Alliance or of trying to give Wool Germany an Edge in potential economic deals with East bloc countries. West Germany is already Tho world s biggest exporter and the primary economic Power in Europe. Jonscher has always couched his approaches to the East in statements emphasizing Wesl Germany s fundamental commitment to a peaceful and prosperous Europe and a Freer Exchange Between the two Germany Genscher has the specific interests of Western Europe in mind assorted Heinz Timmermann of Cologne s Institute for Eastern and International studies it has nothing to do with the government wanting a special path. Nothing to do with neutrality Sull ering periodic bouts of ill health including tuberculosis and three heart attacks. Genschow has rebounded irom a recent ailment and the death a Lew months ago of his 88-year-old Mother his closest adviser and confidant. Genscher was hospitalized in March Lor surgery to Correct a urinary tract problem and lost 15 pounds during a monthlong convalescence during the government s lengthy easier break but his stall reports to has returned to his grueling 16 hour a Day schedule and has shown no signs of tiring during the protracted missiles debate. Sunday May 14, 1989 the stars and stripes Page 17