European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 17, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday february 17, 1990 capitalizing on capitalism an East German student Jens hug tries his hand at free Enterprise by hawking chunks of the Berlin Wall outside the main Gate to Darby Cavern in Forth West Germany. He and a Friend peddled their wares including East German flags from the trunk of a trabant on thursday. Hug said he hoped to move soon from Halle to Berlin. East or West he was asked. Pretty soon he said it won t  australian Leader Hawke seeks record 4th consecutive term Sydney. Australia a prime minister Bob general election for March 24 in ourth consecutive term for his Hawk Friday called a general bid to gain a record pc labor government. Hawk said australians faced Clear and Stark alternatives in a vote Over his government s economic record. We can As a nation make the Choice to continue oni the path of steady growth or under the conserva lives we can choose to forsake the future in a1 traumatic rerun of the Laic 70s and Early 80s." he said referring to years when the opposition was in Power. The Central questions is whether we will Conlin us Forward toward a fair i society an increasingly1 efficient australian icon i  he said. Hawke Hawk spoke at a news conference after meeting with governor general Bill Hayden to get approval for the election Dale. The timing of the election comes amid widespread dissatisfaction with 17 percent interest rates which have Hurt Home buyers and Small businesses. But the opposition coalition also has suffered from internal squabbling and difficulty outlining alternative policies. Hawk. 60, said he expected to Lead the labor party to an unprecedented fifth term before retiring. Andrew Peacock the 51-year-old opposition coalition Leader also predicted Victory. It is Good news for All  he said of the election Date. This has been a government which has put average australians last. It has been a government for the very few and  the labor party under Hawk was first elected i March 1983 and won in Early elections in 1984 and 1987. The deadline for calling the next elections was May 12 with a three year term of government. Hawke is considered one of the most popular Lead ers Ever in Australia despite his tearful confessions about infidelity Many years ago his daughter s former heroin addiction and his acknowledgement that he once had a drinking  opinion polls show support for inc labor party at 45 percent compared with 42 percent for the conservative Liberal National party coalition. Labor has 85 scats in the 148-Scai House of representatives which chooses the government. The Liberal party has 45 scats and its coalition partner the National party has 18  is hoping voters will remember the govern ment s record of creating jobs while lowering personal and corporate taxes. The labor party has also de regulated the financial system and allowed foreign Banks to operate in Australia. The stars and stripes Page 3 Trade deficit posted slight decline in 89 Washington a the . Trade deficit aided by a dramatic 30 percent improvement in december narrowed to $108.58 billion last year to record the smallest yearly imbalance since 1984. The government reported Friday. While economists were pleasantly surprised by the $7.17 billion december deficit they were unimpressed by the modest decline for the year. The 8.4 percent decline in the annual deficit Down from $118.53 billion in 1988, represented a Sharp slowing in the Pace of improvement. The Defi Cit had dropped 22.1 percent in 1988. Many economists arc predicting that the coun try s Trade performance could actually Worsen this year after two years of improvements. They cite America s dependence on foreign Oil. Which has grown to record highs and Consumers appetite for foreign goods a trend that shows Little sign of Slack ening. As usual the country s largest imbalance in 1989 was with Japan a $49 billion deficit that accounted for 45 percent of the total. Another big part of the deficit came from Oil imports which surged 27.2 percent in 1989. To $48.94 billion. It was the highest yearly total since a $52.4 billion foreign Oil Bill in 1984. One of the primary reasons analysts arc looking for Little or no improvement in the Trade deficit this year is a belief that . Dependence on foreign Oil will continue to grow. The december deficit of $7.17 billion was the lowest monthly imbalance since a $6.79 billion Defi Cit in december 1984. The 30 percent improvement from november s $10.29 billion deficit occurred because exports Rose 2.4 percent to $31.11 billion. The second highest level on record. Imports fell 5.9 percent to $38.28 billion. The Trade deficit is the difference Between imports and exports. For december the $3.1 billion improvement re presented a big jump in american exports of air Craft reflecting the end of the Boeing strike and smaller increases in office equipment artwork and Antiques and Industrial machinery. The Bush administration is counting on continued improvement in he Trade deficit this year to Dampen protectionist sentiment in c ingress and to Spur Overall economic growth. For 1989. Exports climbed 13 percent to an All time High of $364.35 billion. Imports also reached a record High of $472.93 billion up 7.3 percent from 1988. The $49 billion deficit with Japan was Down slightly from a $51.8 billion imbalance in 1988. Of her Large deficits occurred with Taiwan. $13 Bil lion Canada $9.62 billion and China. $6.18 Bil lion. One of the biggest surpluses was Wilh the soviet Union. . Exports exceeded soviet imports by $3.57 billion. Sheinberg area workers worried about jobs by Rosemary Sawyer staff writer when inc Rich cd facility closes its doors this fall in Sheinberg. West Ger Many workers from three nearby sub communities could lose their jobs. Local National employees in Mun scr.  and my n Chc Gladbach will be made most vulnerable by the shut Down of the Rhein Berg military Community. Re Cinberg employs 340 local National workers and 190 . Workers. When the reorganization occurs in re Cinberg through the civilian personnel regulations that govern employment for local nationals there will be a bumping of personnel based upon social factors said it. Col. Robert c. Filby. Commander of the  sub Community about 30 Miles Southwest of Sheinberg. There Are people wondering Here in monchengladbach who feel their jobs Are vulnerable Filbey said Friday. Age marital status number of de Pendents length of service spouse s income and indebtedness arc some of the factors that will be considered when placing the employees in other Rhc Inberg area army jobs a usar eur spokeswoman said thursday. Information was not available Fri Day on whether . Workers jobs in the three sub communities could be jeopardized. Usa eur commander Gen. Crosbie Saint ordered the closure of Rich cd facility. About $135 million in operational costs is expected to be saved Between 1991 and 1996. Cancelled construction projects will save another $36 million. Re Cinberg s chief tenant unit is the 7th theater army area come he which provides support for . Forces. About 400 soldiers Are stationed there. Dissolution of the Community will also disrupt the lives of 3,600 residents of Sheinberg s sub communities who de Pend on support facilities in re Cinberg. Monchengladbach for example has no commissary and just a Small Post Exchange so residents drive to Sheinberg to shop. People in Geilen Kirchon travel either 25 minutes to the Schinnen army Community in the Netherlands or about an hour to Sheinberg to use facilities not available at Geilen Kirchon. Soldiers in inc Northwest German area depend on personnel and finance offices in Sheinberg. The closure will Force sub communities to look to other communities to Supply such items As athletic equipment and furniture. Plans arc being looked at now for How the services will be taken care of 21st theater army area come spokes Man it. Col. Robert Flocke said Friday. Planners arc looking at options such As attaching the  10 other military communities or improving other facilities in the area he said. Provisions such As a Mobile Bank and a civilian personnel Field office in monchengladbach Are in the works said Mickic Eichmeier. 21st theater army area come spokeswoman.  said there arc no plans for any closures in the sub communities. Except for the Pershing missile site in Gei Lenoir Chen which will close in 1991 in accordance with the intermediate Range nuclear forces treaty