European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 16, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 28 news briefs the stars and stripes tuesday. May 16,1989 soviet troops begin mongolian reduction Moscow a trains loaded with tanks and missile systems began leaving Mongolia on monday in the second stage of a partial withdrawal of soviet troops officials and the Tass news Agency said. The withdrawal began on the first Day of soviet president Mikhail s. Gorbachev s visit to China in a bid to improve relations in the first chinese soviet Summit in 30 years. Soviet troops were sent into Mongolia to patrol the Border with China in the mid-1960s when relations Between the two communist giants had broken Down and the so called cultural revolution in China was in full swing. The withdrawal of the troops is part of the Overall reduction of 500.000 soviet troops announced by Gorbachev at the United nations last december. Slovenian economist 39, now yugoslav president Belgrade. Yugoslavia a a 39-year old economist monday became the youngest president in Yugoslavia s history taking Over As head of a collective presidency that faces unprecedented economic woes and ethnic tensions. Jane Drnovsek a virtually unknown Law maker from Northern Slovenia won 56 percent of votes in his Republic in a watershed ballot in april that gave Yugoslavia its first directly elected president. Previously presidents were chosen by Region Al parliaments and just one candidate was put Forth by communist authorities. Under the country s rotating presidency introduced in 1974, the country s six republics and two autonomous provinces take turns every year filling the top Post. This time the highest office went to Slovenia. Peronis candidate wins Argentine presidency Buenos Aires Argentina a thou Sands of pro lists danced in the streets Early monday to celebrate Carlos Mcneme s election to the presidency the return to Power of the party of labor and the working poor. Sunday s election marked Argentina s first Transfer of Power Between civilian governments in 61 years and capped a Long comeback for the populist pro lists who had been banned for 25 of the past 34 years. Wilh 90 percent of the vote counted Menem received 7,206.916, or 47.2 percent to the 5,663,175, or 37 percent garnered by Mcneme s strongest competitor Eduardo Angelou of the ruling Radical civic Union. There were 12 candidates in All. Those votes earned Menem 309 of the 600 electoral College votes eight More than needed according to projections by the Independent news Agency Dianos y Noticia. Angelou Menam s former Law school class mate conceded defeat. Baker hails soviet reforms but downplays missile offer Washington a Secretary of state James a. Baker i on monday called the changes taking place in the soviet Union truly revolutionary and said soviet leaders arc now singing out of our hymn  Baker also said the West has nothing to fear from a warmer relationship Between the Sovil Union and China adding that this could enhance world stability. But Baker also said the soviets proposal to make unilateral reductions in Short Range nuclear arms i Europe announced during his talks in Moscow last week with soviet president Mikhail s. Gorbachev represent Only a very Small  this is something the United states has been want ing the soviets to do for a very Long time Baker said noting a significant imbalance in such weapons be tween nato and the Warsaw pact. He faulted Gorbachev s proposal for failing to include the dismantling or destruction of the 500 Short Range mis Siles involved or even to take them out of Europe he said that while they will be pulled out of War saw pact nations they will take new positions in the european part of the soviet Union. Commenting in an appearance on Capitol Hill be fore a forum sponsored by sen. Christopher Dodd d conn., Baker said the significance of his Moscow meetings is that the United states is now re engaged with the soviets across the spectrum of issues facing the two superpowers. During a three hour meeting with Baker last thurs Day Gorbachev outlined at length his plans for re structuring the soviet Economy and the difficulties he is encountering. Baker s Praise for those reforms appeared significantly less restrained than his somewhat guarded approach earlier in the Bush administration. What is going on in the soviet Union is truly revolutionary when you consider the economic and political system they have had for the last 70 years Baker said. It s Light years away from where they were a few years ago he continued. It s important to recognize that what is going on is  Baker again cautioned that the Success of change in the soviet system rests not on what the West can do to help but on How soviet citizens respond to what is really fundamental  he said the West should conduct Normal two Way Trade with the soviets but should not subsidize it in any Way. Baker was asked Why the United states is not responding More fully to Gorbachev s foreign policy initiatives but is instead waiting to Sec what  i would argue with you that we Are not just waiting Baker  speaking we have re Conga cd across the full Range of issues. The russians arc coming our Way. They re singing out of our hymn  said the soviets Are unilaterally reducing military forces adding that we be been calling on them to do this for years. They re saying that their economic and political system has failed. They re having elections. They re trying to open up politically and economically. Clearly Baker said they Are coming in our direction and we ought to Welcome that provided we Don t let Down our  asked about Gorbachev s current Summit meeting in Beijing the first such event in three decades. Baker said he docs not believe it represents a threat to West Ern  Don t Sec the risk of a rapprochement of the Type that took place years ago when the chinese and the soviets were pretty much in opposition to the United states he  think it could be healthy for world stability he said of the meeting. It helps to remove troops from either Side of the sino Soviel Border. Noriega from Page 1 is the problem and that it May be up to progressive Clements within the forces to take care of  meanwhile american children at military bases re turned to school monday but work was suspended for panamanian teachers preparing for the opening Day of the school year. The . Schools had been closed Friday while de Pendents were moved on Post at Bush s order and resumed monday. A message from the . Southern come said parents who had moved from their Homes to the base would be responsible for getting their children to classes. The school year was scheduled to begin May 22 in Panama for 660,000 primary secondary and univer sity students and teachers were to report monday until the school year was postponed for Security Rea sons. The most cautiously Independent newspaper. La Estrella took the Opportunity to publish an editorial that said the annulment of last week s elections had provoked a series of discomforts which does not permit classes to begin in a Normal  the newspaper also published a front Page picture of Ford entering Church to applause from members of the congregation. The caption did not mention that the service turned into a virtual opposition rally with the congregation chanting Justicia Justicia and passing out leaflets calling for a 24-hour general strike on wednesday against Noriega s regime. The caption did say such scenes were repeated ail Over  opposition Leader sunday rejected proposals for a Junta saying that the opposition won the May 7 elections and the Victory should be recognized. Exit polls by the roman Catholic Church and sur Veys by opposition poll watchers had opposition Candi Date Guif Lermo Endara ahead 3-1 Over Carlos Duque when the count was stopped. At Panama City s Cristo key Church a militant opposition stronghold the congregation jumped to it feet and cheered when opposition vice presidential candidates Ford and Ricardo Arias Calderon walked in to Lake scats in front pews. Endara s condition was greatly improved monday and he will probably be released from the Hospital tuesday a medical bulletin said. Bush from Page 1 we do know about these assault weapons is that they invariably Are equipped with unjustifiably Large magazines he said in a speech at a police memorial service at the Capitol. An administration official who briefed reporters on the package earlier shrugged off questions about Why the Domestic Market was being treated differently than the imports when the weapons have the same fir Power. The official who spoke on condition of anonymity said Only that existing import Laws provide for a crackdown on the foreign made models while new legis lation which would Likely involve a thorny and drawn out congressional Bat the would be needed for the Domestic guns. In trying to determine what set Semi automatic assault weapons apart administration officials found the Large detachable magazines Are a common fac Tor. Thus Domestic weapons while not banned from Sale would be restricted by the 15-round Magazine ban. The fact of the matter is nearly half the households in this country have  guns Are already out there. And the overwhelming majority Are legitimately owned for legitimate prep orcs Bush said in his speech. However he said 80 percent of All firearms used by felons Are stolen or otherwise obtained unlawfully. So let me be very Clear about our response the right to own guns is not a License to harm  the president s anti crime package contained several measures aimed a stiffer enforcement More Federal officers and a crackdown on gun use among criminals. Among the provisions he proposed doubling the current five year mini mum sentence for using a semiautomatic firearm in commission of a crime. The math is simple Bush said. Anyone who uses a semiautomatic for crime or so much As has one on them during a crime will do an automatic 10 extra years in Federal prison. No pro Bation. No  implementing the death penalty and designating the use of a firearm As an aggravating Factor for determining whether the death penalty should be imposed. Spending $1 billion for new prison construction. Authorizing 825 new Federal agents and staff in the Bureau of alcohol to Bacco and firearms . Marshal serv ice and Fri. Bush said our police need More help. And i m Here today to Tell you that we re prepared to match rhetoric with resources and Call on our cities and states to do the  blocking the practice of plea bar gaining away charges of using a gun in commission of a Federal Cnoc. Bush urged state and local governments to similarly Reform their Laws so that any one using a gun would be prosecuted for that charge. Requiring juveniles to be tried As adults for cases considered serious drug offences under the armed career Crimi Nal statute. Strengthening Laws against criminal Access to firearms by expanding the existing ban on sales to people convicted of violent crimes to cover anyone convicted of violent Misdemeanour offences. Adding 1,600 positions in the . Attorneys office. Identifying government properties and facilities that can be converted to jails and prisons. Offering a 5 percent Bonus to drug Law enforcement Grants to states that Fol Low his standards on stiffening penalties for use of a gun in committing a crime