European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 18, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse By popular demand. Flan radio schedule see Page 27 the Sll amp a Ikic amp gripes authorized unofficial publication for the . Armed forces Good morning vol. 49, no. 34 Friday May 18, 1990 a a 2st daily and sunday d 8693 Anat to scrap spending target each nation to decide what to spend for defense by David Tarrant Brussels Bureau Brussels Belgium a nato plans to drop its Long standing goals for National defense spending As part of a Broad review of military needs in the Post cold War Era a senior nato official said thursday. Defense ministers meeting in Brussels next week will scrap the official target of a 3 percent increase after inflation for annual defense spending the official said. There Are no plans to replace it with a lower figure. A Dalliance members will need to judge on a country by country basis what they need for their own defences in the changing circumstances a he said. A a that a not to say that sometimes it May still need to increase where appropriate but As a general guideline. It is no longer the 15 nations in natos military Force had committed themselves to the 3 percent target each year since 1977. But in recent years Many nato members had weighed in with much lighter defense spending because of tight budgets and political pressures. Although the United states had favored the spending targets As a Way to push its european allies toward assuming a greater portion of the common defense budget it now believes the targets have become unrealistic. A the general feeling behind this was that it was Noa place to hang their hats an East German Soldier looks through a Hole in the Berlin Wall at hats that once belonged to his col leagues. The hats and other East bloc military items Are big Sellers in the City. Longer realistic a a . Official said. Quot we expect and Hope that countries that want to reduce their defense spending will do so in a reasonable manner As we examine what is the Lack of a common spending goal May result in wider spending gaps Between the Alliance members. But that will be the result of different risks shared by the Alliance. A the situation in individual Allied countries really does vary quite a lot Quot the nato official said. A in terms of the military risk the situation on the flanks is largely unchanged compared with the Central Region. Countries whose armed forces arc less Well developed than others May still Feci they need to spend More than the average to breakthrough reported on talks on philippine bases Manila Philippines apr . And philippine negotiators on thursday ended a fourth Day of talks on the future of american bases in the Philippines without reporting any breakthroughs. The two sides disagree on whether the United Stales failed to make full Aid payments and on when the facilities would actually have to close if the two sides cannot reach a lease agreement. After this round of talks which is to end Friday the two sides could either begin formal negotiations on a new pact or Start working on a schedule for closing the bases. Their lease expires in september 1991. The installations include Clark a the Subic Bay naval facilities and four smaller installations. The two sides met into the evening thursday to try to resolve a philippine claim that the United states owes $222 million in Back payments for use of the bases. A we Are trying to Hammer out differences a said philippine spokesman Rafael Alunan. �?o1 believe that they Are inching toward some sort of agreement Quot on the payment Issue. In 1988, the Reagan administration agreed to provide $962 million Over two years in return for use of the bases through 1991. Congress subsequently Cut the Bush administrations Aid request by $96 million. . Officials insist they promised Only Quot Best efforts to meet the target and that the Aid Cut was not a breach of Faith. A we have not conceded that there is a shortfall Quot said the spokesman for the . Delegation Stanley see talks on Back Page romanian Shalt to adoption frustrates americans by Joseph Owen Stuttgart Bureau the interim romanian government has stopped accepting applications from foreigners seeking to adopt romanian children a . Official in Bucharest said thursday. The decree has frustrated the efforts of some americans affiliated with the . Forces in Europe. Those americans Are in Bucharest romanians capital trying to adopt children with the help of romanian lawyers. The decision took effect monday and applies to everyone except prospective parents who had submitted the appropriate paperwork to the romanian presidents office by monday said Ginny Young the Consul general at the . Embassy in Bucharest. When the ruling National salvation front legalized adoptions Early this year the president re served the right to approve or deny individual applications. Young said the timing of the decision was related to the National elections scheduled for sunday. The new government leaders elected that Day will have to decide whether to resume processing adoption applications she said. A it probably wont be their first order of business but we Don t know a Young said. A spokesman at the romanian embassy in Bonn West Germain could not confirm his government s adoption ruling. Government offices in Bucharest Are almost impossible to reach by Telephone because of the upcoming election he said. Young advised americans interested in adopting a romanian child to wait until the new government acts on the see adoption on Back Page
