European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 05, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 28 news Brief the stars and stripes Friday january 5,1990 no Date set for new talks Between merchants Union Frankfurt West Germany is no Date has been set Tor continued talks betwee merchants National Bank and its employees Union a Bank spokeswoman said thursday. There have been no talks since before the Christmas Holiday in the negotiations betwee the Bank and the West German Commerce banking and insurance Union. Since talks began in Early december Union members have gone on occasional strikes at the Headquarters and several branches. However there Nas been no evidence of a strike this week said Bank spokeswoman Yvonne Wise. A major sticking Point in the negotiations is a request by the Bank that Union members be Al Lowed to work on sundays to resupply automatic Teller machines. The Union s stand is that Sun Day work is illegal in West Germany. Prisoner from Page 1 is anything but a Normal drug suspect. We cannot submit to the jurisdiction of this court. Gen. Noriega will stand mute at the arraignment defense attorney Frank Rubino said As he and co coun Sel Steven Kollin waited to see their client for the firs time since his surrender. Exactly a year ago Hoeveler ruled that the United states has jurisdiction Over Noriega rejecting defens claims of immunity for a head of state. The judge said the . State department never recognized Noriega s political legitimacy. Kollin has noted other potential Legal Pitfalls in therase including extreme pretrial publicity and Noriega s links with . Intelligence agencies but . At Torney general Dick Thornburgh said he was confident the Case was solid. Noriega s surrender was met with joyous celebrations in the streets of Panama City and Miami. The general who had ruled for six years thumbed his nose at two . Presidents and annulled a 1989 election his candidates apparently were losing gave up still wearing his military uniform after realizing even his supporters had turned against him said Arch Bishop of Panama Marcos Mcgrath. The people feel a sense of peace knowing that the monster is leaving our land said panamanian presi Dent Guillermo Endara who was installed when . Troops invaded the country dec. 20 to capture the general. An indictment accuses Noriega who is in his 50s, of accepting $4.6 million in bribes from colombian drug cartels to Aid and protect their smuggling and process ing charges that carry maximum penalties of 145years in prison and $ 1.1 million in fines. He is not covered by the new . Law allowing execution of drug Kingpins an Assurance Noriega reportedly demanded before turning himself in. He also faces drug charges in another indictment. The indictment names 15 other people including the reputed head of the Medellin cocaine Cartel Pabl Escobar Gaviria who is being hunted by colombian authorities. One of Noriega s right hand men it. Col. Luis Del Cid surrendered to . Troops after the invasion of Panama and has pleaded innocent. Prosecutors have refused to say if he will testify against his former Boss. . Troops who seized Noriega s military Headquarters in Panama City reportedly found documents and files supporting the prosecution Case. The seized evidence along with the arrests of Del Cid and other minor figures has made the Case stronger than it was when the indictment was issued two years ago said Richard Grcgorio who headed the investigation until he left the . Attorney s office a year ago. A Roadblock to prosecuting Noriega is his right to demand classified information stemming from his past cooperation with the Cia Legal experts have said. Noriega reportedly worked closely with the Cia and the defense department while he served As the head of Panama s military intelligence service and after he be came commander in chief. According to authorities about 290 panamanian soldiers 300 civilians 23 . Troops and three Ameri can civilians died in the . Invasion. Bush said the four objectives of the . Invasion capturing Noriega installing the Endara government safeguarding american lives and ensuring continued Safe operation of the Panama canal had been met. Punitive damages ruled out for Kin of flight 103 victims new York a families of the victims of pan am flight 103, which was blown up Over Scotland a year ago have no right to sue for millions of dollars i punitive damages a judge has ruled. . District Thomas c. Platt ruled wednesday that the Warsaw convention governing International flights bars such claims whether or not wilful mis conduct  More than i so lawsuits each seeking $5 million to $25 million in compensatory damages and s3 Millionth $25 million in punitive damages have been filed in the crash. We re disappointed with the result but this is not going to be the last word on the matter said Steve pounian a lawyer for the victims. He said he would Likely tile an immediate Appeal of the ruling by Platt. Under the terms of the Warsaw convention compensatory damages due survivors Are generally limited to $75,000. In his ruling Platt criticized the treaty s monetary limits saying the limit adds insult to  James m. Shaughnessy a lawyer for pan american world airways said Platt was eminently Correct with his ruling and we Are very pleased with it. Lawyers for the victims families had argued that even if punitive claims were generally barred a provi Sion of the treaty article 24, provides that when will Ful misconduct exists the liability limits of the Warsaw convention arc inapplicable and thus. Punitive damage claims should be determined by referring to local Law according to court papers. In his 16-Page ruling Platt agreed with pan am lawyers interpretation that article 24 actually seems to be persuasive evidence that the Warsaw convention intended to bar punitive damage  the pan am flight originated in Frankfurt West Germany and changed in London to a larger Boeing 747. The jetliner was in route from London to new York when it exploded Over Lockerbie Scotland on dec. 21, 1988, killing 259 passengers and Crew Mem Bers and 11 people on the ground. The lawsuits allege that pan am and its Security service Alert management systems inc., did not adequately protect flight 103 and its passengers from a terrorist bomb attack and were negligent in not Alert ing passengers to Telephone threats against the airline. Investigators in Europe have found evidence linking a Radical palestinian faction to the bombing govern ment officials have said. According to news reports investigators believe a bomb was hidden in a bag checked on a flight that originated in Malta and connected with the pan a jetliner in Frankfurt. The Luggage was reportedly allowed on the plan even though it was apparently not checked in by any passenger aboard the plane. Shipper bankruptcy delays delivery of some food items to commissaries by Ron Jensen staff writer Zweir Focken West Germany soft drinks dog food and american Beer May be in Short Supply for army commissary and cafes customers in Ger Many and Belgium. The items arc among those shipped in vans that arc being held under bankruptcy rules at ports in Rotter dam Netherlands and Bromer Haven Germany officials with the troop support Agency and cafes said thursday. Commissary officials emphasize that while partic ular Brand name items May not be available other brands of similar products should be. Food shortages arc not expected to occur and merchandise will be moved among commissaries if necessary. Cap. Wes Davis an cafes spokesman said the delay of More than 300 containers carrying cafes merchandise May possibly cause some shortages  and exchanges. Top Gallant the shipper of the vans has filed for reorganization under chapter ii which requires that All assets be held until certain Legal actions Are taken. Davis said soft drinks May be in Short Supply at commissaries and cafes outlets. Other product being held include dog and cat food Candy especially Valentine s Day Candy american Beer and canned fruit juices. Ninety five of the vans contain merchandise Des tined for 28 army commissaries and one commissary warehouse in West Germany Belgium and Berlin said Denise Gomes a spokesperson for the troop support Agency. Transportation officials of the Agency said this represents about a one week Supply and should not pose a Long term problem. The items on the 95 vans arc headed for Mainz Erlanger Furth Parma sons Munich Robinson bar Racks Darmstadt Kelly Barracks Patch Barracks Wiir Burg kit Zingen Augsburg. Grafe Wohr Neu Ulm Berlin Ansbach  bad Kissinger sch Winfun Berchtesgaden Frankfurt Bremerhaven Hanau Gln Hauson Fulda Gic Ssan Baum older Chick res in Belgium and the Spinglli Barracks Ware House that supports Heidelberg Mannheim Worms and Karlsruhe. The merchandise contains products from such companies As Borden Hulz Ragu. General Mills general foods Del Monte Campbell soups and others. When the vans arc released the merchandise will be shipped directly to the commissaries. Powell from Page 1 very pleased. He s fairly upbeat about the entire  but the president was staying out of the Public Eye thursday and Fitzwater said Bush and other White House officials would be careful about what they say lest they prejudice Noriega s trial. Attorney general Dick Thornburgh appearing car Lier on lbs said the United slates did not san pc a Deal with Noriega. He explained Noriega s surrender this Way i think he saw the handwriting on the  he said Noriega s decision to leave the Vatican embassy clears up a Host of Legal questions that could have complicated his prosecution. We have a Good Case Thornburgh said on Abc. If we can make it better we won t hesitate to do  defense Secretary Dick Cheney also appearing on lbs said Gen. Powell and Gen. Thurman would Worktop develop a plan for withdrawing those troops sent to Panama Over the next several  Cheney called Noriega s surrender the icing on the cake for operation just cause the military invasion the United states mounted on dec. 20 to drive Noriega from Power. Bush said the remaining . Troops in Panama will be withdrawn As quickly As the local situation will permit although Thurman stressed wednesday night that no deals Haa been made administration officials said the United states promised Noriega that he would receive a fair trial and would not be prosecuted under a new Federal Law allowing the death penalty for drug  the United states also agreed to meet three last minute conditions by Noriega the officials said thai he be allowed to make a few phone Calls that his Deci Sion be held secret until his arrest and that he be allowed to Wear his  said in his to announcement that the United slates is committed to provide Noriega a fair trial. Nevertheless Bush added his apprehension an return to the United states should Send a Clear signal that the United states is serious in its determination that those charged with promoting the distribution of drugs cannot escape the scrutiny  Noriega s return to the United states ended a two year Effort by the United states to bring him to Justice and eliminated the source of what Bush called the major frustration of his first 11 months in office. But i opened the Book on a whole new set of Legal problems. A mints thecia Mam. They expect he might try to derail his prosecution by seeking disclosure of information that would be embarrassing to Bush a former Cia director and the United states