European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 23, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday june 23, 1990 the stars and stripes a a Page 3 checkpoint becomes Page in history by Ken Clauson Bremerhaven Bureau Berlin a checkpoint Charlie was a product of the cold War politics that put a Wall around West Berlin and dropped an Iron curtain on Central Europe. That curtain now is in tatters the Wall is crumbling and checkpoint Charlie is headed for a place in history for 29 years checkpoint Charlie symbolized the allies determination to stand fast in Berlin. The 50-foot-Long building hauled away on a truck Friday is the final incarnation of the most famous military police duty station in the world. Checkpoint Charlie was created aug. 23, 1961, 10 Days after construction of the Berlin Wall started. All foreigners were required to enter East Berlin Only at Friedric Strasse or through the Friedric Strasse subway station. Gradually More than 80 Street Crossings were reduced to seven. To keep track of americans venturing into the soviet sector of the City american military policemen set up a processing Center in a trailer parked in the Middle of Friedric Strasse where it crossed Zimmer Strasse. Zimmer Strasse ceased to exist when the Berlin Wall was built Down its Center. The american maps were joined at the checkpoint in 1962 by their British and French counterparts. There was no Man called Charlie. The checkpoint was named sequentially after checkpoint Alpha at Helmstedt on the East German West German Border and checkpoint Bravo at the Berlin end of the autobahn corridor across East Germany. For a while the maps worked out of nearby offices and a wooden guard Shack not much bigger than a phone Booth in the Middle of the Street. Eventually a temporary building was erected on a traffic Island in the Middle of Friedric Strasse a  feet from the checkpoint Charlie has been the scene of tense confrontations tragedy and celebrations. Sector Border. That Structure was replaced in 1971. Finally in 1986, the last building which resembled a drive through Bank was installed. Over the last 29 years checkpoint Charlie has been the scene of tense confrontations tragedy demonstrations and celebrations. In october 1961, the world watched while the United states challenged an East German decree that Only americans in military uniforms would be allowed to enter East Berlin without showing identification. The existing policy provided that All members of the four Powers civilian and military be allowed free travel through All four sectors of the City. The Volos the East German Border guards refused to allow e. Allan Lightner jr., the assistant chief of the . Diplomatic Mission in Berlin to drive with his wife into East Berlin using Only . Forces License plates As identification. Lightner a civilian eventually drove through with an escort of armed american soldiers backed up by tanks and More troops in armoured personnel carriers waiting at the checkpoint. This game of nerves was repeated several times Over the next  Days culminating in a 16-hour standoff As 10 soviet and 10 american tanks along with infantrymen faced off near the checkpoint. The soviets blinked first and backed off. Over the years Many dramas were played out at or near checkpoint Charlie. Not All had Happy endings. One escape attempt near checkpoint Charlie in the Early Days of the Wall illustrated the cruel mentality behind the Concrete divider. The Volos shot 18-year-old Peter Fuchter As he tried to scale the Barrier on aug. 17, 1962. He fell to the ground on the cast Side and slowly bled to death before his body was removed. Other attempts came to quite different conclusions. In 1964, in separate incidents an East German Border guard and a customs officer nonchalantly walked up to checkpoint Charlie and Freedom. A year later a Young East German used a sightseeing bus As a shield. When the Barrier was raised for the bus he walked alongside the vehicle. In 1965, two East germans cruised past Border guards without arousing any suspicion. Its no wonder. They were wearing . Army uniforms. Their vehicle also carried stolen . Army automobile License plates. Allied soldiers in uniform were not inspected or processed by the East germans. Sometimes american soldiers witnessed the race to Freedom. In 1969, 32 Usa eur soldiers were on an orientation tour near checkpoint Charlie when shots rang out. They saw a Man running frantically. He made it without a scratch. Since the Berlin Wall was opened on nov. 9, 1989, the checkpoint has been the scene of tearful reunions of families Long separated. Travel restrictions have been eased to the Point of Mere formalities on both sides. The East germans vow a City reunion will follow the currency Union in july. Identity checks will become a thing or the past. The Wall will be Only a memory and All former Street Crossings will reopen. Checkpoint Charlie from this Point on is history. Contributing to this report staff writer Randy Pruitt in Darmstadt Wost Germany Mandela warns . Of racism a stronghold new York apr Nelson Mandela charmed business leaders and brought his message of liberation to the United nations Friday morning endorsing sanctions against South Africa until apartheid is abolished. A we strongly urge that there should be no relaxation of existing measures a Mandela told the . Committee against apartheid. A the sanctions that have been imposed by the United nations and by individual governments should remain in  Mandela Deputy president of the african National Congress Leader said the world should be aware there Are White racists in South Africa still Bent on the a physical liquidation of his organization. A we cannot afford to underestimate the threat that these defenders of a brutal and continuing reality pose to the whole process of working towards a just political settlement a said Mandela who was greeted at the . With two standing ovations a one on arrival and one before his speech. Mandela arrived to a standing ovation at the United nations which had demanded for years that he be released from prison where he spent 27 years for his anti apartheid struggle before he was set free this year. Among the guests invited were mayor David Dinkins Boxer Joe Frazier the Rev. Jesse Jackson boxing promoter Don King boxers Ray Leonard and Mike Tyson and theater director Joseph Papp. In Johannesburg South Africa police arrested 11 Whites in connection with a right Wing plot to assassinate Mandela president . De Klerk and other figures a newspaper reported Friday. Authorities confirmed the arrests and said All were later released. The afrikaans language weekly Ryew Ekeblad said that under the plan Mandela would have been shot at Johannesburg a Jan Smuts Airport when he returned Home july 18. Mandela a . Address was considered the most important appearance of his . Tour which began wednesday. Earlier Mandela displayed the same deft touch he a brought to stadiums and Street Corners in addressing a group of the City Stop business leaders at the world Trade Center Friday morning. The african National Congress Leader met with 150 representatives of Fortune 500 companies and other corporate executives at the lower Manhattan skyscraper to assuage their doubts about investments in his troubled Homeland. A there was a crackling excitement in the audience. And you done to usually see that in an audience of this Type. A the port authority a government Agency that runs the Trade Center was a cohost of the closed meeting. Mandela still basking from his packed receptions in Harlem and Yankee stadium a night earlier told reporters after the meeting that his new York Welcome a has been beyond my wildest  the outpouring of emotion and exuberance since his arrival Here on wednesday will Send him Home a Strong and inspired a Mandela said. Mayor David Dinkins flashed a thumbs up sign when Mandela made his comment. On thursday Mandela made exuberant and emotional appeals to a packed House at Yankee stadium and an estimated 100,000 people at a rally in Harlem. His appearances ended on a lighter note at Yankee stadium when Dinkins presented Mandela a new York Yankees warm up jacket and Cap. A now you know who i am a a beaming Mandela said. A i am a  a amps Davo Didio three West berliners hang out of a window above the adjacent checkpoint Charlie museum with a Banner that says a a it a a shame we prefer checkpoint  berlins Portal to West closes after 29 years continued from Page 1 Sion and determined to overcome the division of the cold War. And now with the help of a new generation of soviet leaders that time has  British foreign minister Douglas Hurd Drew the most applause when he said a we should not forget and our children should not forget the reasons for which checkpoint Charlie stood Here for so Many years. A at Long last we Are bringing Charlie in from the  invited guest seating and a Media gallery filled the Street on the West Berlin Side of the checkpoint and spectators were held at the intersections of the next two streets crossing Friedric Strasse. Many americans in uniform were in the crowd. Spectators waved american and West German flags during the ceremony. A Banner hanging from a window above the adjacent checkpoint Charlie museum said in German a a it a a shame we prefer checkpoint