European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 17, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Basketball in Germany pages 14-15 d less cholesterol found in eggs Page 5 d Apple growers to drop alar Page 7 o Shakespeare site gets reprieve Page 8 the stlr4aijd$fripes authorized unofficial publication Fox the . Armed forces vol.48. No.30 wednesday May 17, 1989 ?5f daily and sunday d 8693 a Buck tops 1.90 Marks highest in Over 2 years by Randy Mcclain financial writer the value of .  dollars in West Germany topped 1.90 Marks for the first time in More than two years tuesday and some analysts arc predicting that a 2-Mark Exchange rate is within sight. The Buck was trading in the neighbor Hood of 1.9390 Marks on the Frankfurt currency Exchange late tuesday afternoon flirting with Levels that Haven t been seen since Early january 987. The Exchange rate at Community banking facilities in West Germany will he 1.91 Marks for a Dollar wednesday based on a Price fixing at midday tucs Dav. The last time  Dol Lars brought a better rate was Jan. 9. 1987, when a Buck was Worth 1.92 Marks. Americans serving in Britain also arc seeing an improvement in the buying Power of their dollars. A spokesman for american express which handles Mili tary banking operations in the United see Buck on Back Page flights from Panama offered dependents Washington a the . Government has offered evacuation flights from Panama to All military de Pendents who wish to leave starting tuesday administration officials said. The officials who insisted on anonymity said some dependents of Mili tary servicemen and . Embassy work ers already had departed Panama on space available scats on military trans ports Over the last few Days. But the sources said the defense department launched a much broader Effort starting tuesday using the military cargo planes that have been ferrying extra troops to Panama. The officials said at least some of the evacuation flights would be directed to Charleston s.c., As a Point of entry. Other cities May also receive some flights with perhaps two flights a Day being scheduled. There Are about 14.000 dependents of service personnel and defense depart ment employees living in Panama. The Pentagon and the . Southern come which is headquartered in Panama Hope to Complete the evacuation of All interested dependents no later than july 1, the officials said. One source said tuesday that military dependents arc being Given the option of leaving the country and Are not facing any Type of order to that effect As yet. This official said the administration see Panama on Back Page pvt. 1 Thomas Pandley of Covington ga., sits in a Barracks put up at Camp Russo Panama to House newly deployed . Troops. Soviets halt nicaraguan arms Aid official says Washington a soviet Leader Mikhail s. Gorbachev moving to Case superpower tension Over Cen trial America told the United states that his government has halted its weapons shipments to Nicaragua s leftist sandinista government a . Official said. Gorbachev informed president Bush of the decision in a letter this month and confirmed it in conversations with Secretary of state James a Baker Iii i Moscow last week the administration official said monday night. Before his Moscow visit Baker had cited soviet support of the sandinista As a litmus lest for . Soviet relations questioning whether Gorbachev s deeds would live up to his words of conciliation to Ward the West. Bush received Gorbachev s letter before Baker went to Moscow where the secretary1 of state met with Gorbachev and soviet foreign minister Eduard Shevardnadze. The United states estimated that the soviets provided $515 million in military Aid including weapons to the nicaraguan government last year. The most potent weapons were attack helicopters. The . Official who spoke on condition of anonymity said Gorbachev s assurances did not foreclose deliver of other forms of military assistance besides weapons. That assistance could include vehicles supplies and cloth ing. Baker did not persuade the soviet leaders to Cut off that assistance As Well the source said. Also the soviets declined to suspend their military support of Cuba the other prominent soviet client state in the Region the official said. The United states had also sought to have the soviets halt supplies to Cuba. There was no immediate breakdown of soviet Mili tary Aid to the sandinista but weapons account for much of the $515 million in support. Ernesto Palazio head of the Washington office of the nicaraguan rebels said he was not convinced that Gorbachev s reported commitment would diminish the sandinista military capability. He said press reports about Gorbachev s position indicate that Cuba May replace the soviet Union As the sandinista Amis supplier