European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 02, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 2 the stars and stripes Friday june 2,1989 France reportedly to drop visa requirement by Norm Zeigle travel outdoor writer France will Stop requiring visas for americans As soon As the details of a reciprocal agreement with the United states can be worked out a spokeswoman at the French foreign ministry in Paris said thursday. The development follows a state department announcement wednesday that the United Stales would soon Stop requiring visas for residents of France West Germany Italy the Netherlands swe Den and Switzerland. The foreign ministry spokeswoman who spoke on the condition that her name not be used said the change Likely would be made sometime in july. The Only thing that is official is that there is a verbal agreement to drop the visa requirement she said. Francois cans a spokeswoman at the French ministry of tourism said the United states and France would Issue a joint statement in a few weeks but we can t confirm anything  on the . Side Rex hims Consul at the . Embassy in Paris said the timing of the visa change depends on the agreements worked out Between each government. We Hope to be Able to announce a Date  France began requiring visas for americans and citizens of other non european Community coun tries in 1986 following a series of terrorist attacks in Paris. The French dropped the visa requirement for Citi Zens of some countries last year but made it Clear that it expected a reciprocal move on the part of the United states before it would do so for americans. Currently a three year visa costs 30 Marks about news updates Cardinal s visit new York a Cardinal John o Connor said he cancelled a visit to meet moslem leaders in West Beirut Lebanon because of a warning that he might be kidnapped and taken hostage. At a news conference at Kennedy International Airport upon his return to the United states on wednesday the Cardinal called his three Day visit to Leb anon a Success because it focused Atten Tion on the fighting there. Lie called for a Vatican sponsored peace conference supported by the United Stales and other major Powers to end the fighting and said Pope John Paul ii had agreed to support the idea. Soviet withdrawals Moscow a the withdrawal of soviet troops from Eastern Europe and Mongolia is on schedule with the pullout of More than 10,850 soldiers As of thurs Day the official Tass news Agency said. Tass quoted col. Gen. Bronislav ome i Chov As saying that As of june 1, More than 3,350 soviet officers and men had returned to the soviet Union from East Germany 1,000 from Czechoslovakia 4.500 from Hungary and Over 2,800 from Mongolia. The soviet Force withdrawal from Al lied countries has been proceeding strictly according to schedule Omeli Chev a first Deputy chief of the general staff was quoted As saying. Tanks and artillery pieces were also withdrawn Tass said including 1,650 tanks and 120 artillery pieces from East Germany 150 tanks and artillery pieces from Czechoslovakia 320 tanks and 160 artillery pieces from Hungary and 200 tanks about 170 artillery pieces and 14 aircraft from Mongolia. Mitchelson cleared by the los Angeles times los Angeles celebrity los an Gles divorce lawyer Marvin Mitchelson did not rape a client in his office eight years ago a jury concluded wednesday. Naturally i m pleased that the sys tem works said Mitchelson after the Superior court jury of six men and six women ruled for him in a $6.5 million civil lawsuit filed by Patricia French 42, a former Christian radio station talk show Host who claimed the attorney at tacked her in 1981. French retained Mitchelson in August 1981 to represent her in a Alimony suit against to evangelist William Mcbirnie. Mitchelson said he determined that it was an extortion attempt and refused to file the action. Extradition sought Bern Switzerland a the United states has asked Switzerland to extradite financier Adnan Khash Oggi to face racketeering and other charges related to alleged thefts from the philippine government by Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos. The Swiss Federal police office received the 243-Page extradition request wednesday and was studying it. Khash Oggi 54, a saudi financier and arms dealer has been imprisoned in Bern since he was arrested april 18 at the request of the . Embassy. Hospital program offers child care to parents tied up by appointments by Daryl e. Green Kaiserslautern Bureau Lan Stuhl West Germany lands Uhl army regional medical Cen Ter began testing a program thursday designed to provide child care for parents who have Hospital appointments. Hospital appointments Are very stressful and a lot of parents find that it s really hard to go and concentrate and relax for their appointment if they also have to worry about their children said Pamela l. Mueller one of the program s organizers. So what we do is we provide a Safe environment for their children so the parents can take care of their Hospital business and hopefully help relieve them of the  parents of children Between the Ages of six weeks and 12 years can take part in the six month test program. They can arrange for the child care through lands Tull s appointment desk. The Cost for leaving a child is $ 1.40 per hour and 25 cents for snacks. Five experienced child care providers arc on the staff and two arc always on duty when the room in Ward 1ic is open from 7 30 . To 4 30 . Weekdays. The biggest problem the program May face Mueller said is the size of the facility. The room can hold Only seven Chil Dren at any one Lime. The key to this whole program and the key to expanding it is the usage she said. The More people we get to use the faculty the better off Well be to prove that yes we really do need a bigger space. Parents must sign a statement of understanding agreeing to remain in the Hospital while their children Are in the room. They can t go to the Exchange or anywhere after their appointment Mueller said. The service is strictly for people who have appointments and it is not intended to be a substitute for drop in care or any full time  problems with regulations almost pre vented the program from getting started. The people looking for a place always ran into a Roadblock with our regulations in finding a place that meets the Stan Dards said Mueller who added that it took nine years to develop the program. But a new provision in the army s child development services regulation Al lows waivers on certain safety standards to allow alternative child care Sites aimed at hourly care while parents re main on the premises. The regulation allows the appointment care site to waive Square footage require ments and Case the restrictions on having electrical outlets in reach of children. These kinds of things arc waived As Long As someone does come in examine the site and deem it Safe for child care Mueller said. Safety has t been  the service is limited to three hours per child. During that time the children take part in programs designed to stimulate their growth. In fact there won t even be a to in the room Mueller said. It s not a custodial care service it is a purely a child development  infants and toddlers will be encouraged to explore parts of the room. Older children will solve puzzles play games and read. Some Dodds schools closing Early Bidav Walczak education writer Frankfurt West Germany More than 6,000 students attending overseas schools in West Germany will begin their summer vacations earlier than scheduled. Seven schools including five Csc Man Starics will cease classroom instruction before june 16, the official end of the 1988-89 school year. Six of the seven arc in the Frankfurt District. The scheduled fall opening of a mid dle school prompted the three Hanau arca schools to close june 13, said Frank Hill the Frankfurt District s superintendent. Hanau Middle school designed for grades six seven and eight will draw students who attend argon or Elemen tary sports iced elementary and Hanau High schools. From june 14 to 16, faculty and staff at the three schools will Transfer Materi als to the Middle school Hill said. It s Best to do this before the end of the school year Hill said. We can t do this during the summer because no one is  construction at Frankfurt Middle school and Frankfurt elementary will Force those schools to cease classes june 14, Hill said. Middle school students will be excused at noon and Frankfurt elementary children will be dismissed atthe end of the Day. The construction at Frankfurt Middle school includes renovation of class rooms and science labs at a Cost of about $400,000. Students at Frankfurt High school also will be excused june 14 around noon. Hill said the school s faculty and staff need time to move equipment and classroom materials from an Annex to the main building. Children attending Patrick Henry Vil Lage elementary in Heidelberg also will be excused from classes june 15 and 16 because of construction. Atlantic and Mediterranean Region officials said schools in those areas will remain in session until june 16 with the exception of Bahrain elementary High school. The facility which operates on a special schedule will remain open until june 27. Classes began at the school sept. Ii. 2 arts officials removed from posts by Chuck Vinci Washington Bureau Washington two top military officials with the armed forces radio and television service in los Angeles have been removed from their positions because of allegations of misconduct by a former employee under their command. Jordan Rizor director of the Ameri can forces information service took the action March 31 against Navy capt. John Martin and air Force it. Col. Law rence Pollack the commander and Dep Uty commander of the arts broadcast Center. Martin and Pollack were removed be cause they did not promptly report to Rizer or the defense criminal investigative service allegations of misconduct and misappropriation of government funds and equipment by a former arts civilian employee said Mel Russell assistant director of the Ameri can forces information service. As a result or. Rizor lost Confidence in their judgment and ability to serve in positions of command Russell said. He would not comment on How much Money or what Lypp of equipment was involved because the defense criminal investigative service is looking into the allegations. No one has been charged yet Russell said and there is no evidence at this time that Martin and Pollack were involved in the misconduct in any Way. Russell emphasized that the two offi cers have been removed from their Job Sand returned to their military services for reassignment rather than relieved of command which is a More serious action. They now Are working in los Angeles with the West coast regional Public affairs offices for their respective services. They declined to comment wednes Day on the investigation As did army col. Joseph Cook the current commander of arts