European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 25, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 2 a a a the stars and stripes monday june 25,1990 German economic unions Impact on currency markets disputed London apr foreign Exchange dealers agree that the first trading Day after the powerful West German Mark becomes East Germany a currency should be Calm but what happens next is a matter of conjecture. July 1, when the merger takes place is a a special Day of course. In particular for the history of this country but in economic terms the world will not be so different from june 30,�?� said Peter Pietsch an economist with Commer Bank in Frankfurt. West Germany will convert East German Marks at the generous 1 -to-1 rate for the first 4,000 in individual savings and 2-to-l above that total. The government is printing 120 billion Marks $70 billion for the conversion which will increase West Germany a Money Supply by 10 percent. Recently the Mark has been Strong in relation to the Dollar and japanese yen against which it floats freely but weaker within the nine currency european Mone tary system which limits its movements. Bulls believe the Mark will be pushed higher by Germany a expected economic expansion and possible increases in interest rates to Check inflation. Bears worry about political uncertainty and inflation. Robin Aspinall director of currency economics at the London investment firm Hoare govett Ltd sees a Rise in the Marks value to 1.40 to the Dollar from the current 1.68, and perhaps even to parity in three or four years. A you have the perfect conditions for a Strong currency a he said. A a it a right out of the textbook. Of the major currencies i would Back the Deutsche Mark against All  Pietsch expects the Exchange rate to Rise to 1.60 to the Dollar within a year but no More. Stephen King International economist with the London investment firm James Capel and co., feels the Mark will weaken against the Dollar and yen but Rise against other european currencies. Army asks Congress to elevate physician assistants to officer rank by Chuck Vinch Washington Bureau Washington a the army will begin elevating its warrant officer physician assistants to full commissioned officer status next fiscal year if Congress agrees. The Secretary of the army Michael Stone and the chief of staff Gen. Carl e. Vuono recently approved the proposal to commission the physician assistants into the army medical specialist corps according to a statement released Friday in the Pentagon. The plan was developed by the services personnel and surgeon general staffs. The Pas As they Are called Are professionally trained medical personnel who serve soldiers and family members at the unit level in support of primary care and specially doctors. They Are the defense departments Only direct health care providers who Are not fully commissioned officers. A this authority will align the rank responsibility and professional recognition of the army Pas with their military and civilian counterparts a the statement said. An official with the army surgeon general a office said the service must ask Congress for the legislative changes necessary to put the plan into effect. Part of that plan involves translating the warrant officers time in service into a commensurate commissioned rank the official said. The army proposal Calls for Pas with less than four years of service to be commissioned As second lieutenants those with four to seven years As first lieutenants those with eight to 12 years As captains and anyone with 13 or More years As majors. The service is hopeful that its plan will be approved. In recent years Congress has been critical of the number of officers on Active duty but the army official said warrant officers have always been included in those counts so the numbers would not change. Commissioning eventually could affect More than 500 Pas currently on Active duty and almost 500 More in the Reserve component the army expects the transition process would take about five years for Active duty Pas and about 10 years for the Reserve personnel. The estimated Cost for the first year of the transition is $380,000. Army officials said the transition Cost for the More than 500 Active duty Pas would be $4.3 million Over the five years. A amps Jim  ape a 7-foot smiling stuffed Simian hovers Over two pedestrians waiting for the Light to change sunday at an intersection in Darmstadt West Germany. The Gorilla is poised for the annual Hei nerf est scheduled for thursday through july 2. Kissinger presents Neutral zone plan to Poland Warsaw Poland up a former Secretary of state Henry Kissinger on saturday wound up a visit to Poland where he presented his proposal for a Security system in Europe that would create a Neutral zone Between East and West. Kissinger who served under president Nixon As state Secretary and National Security adviser has proposed a Neutral Belt consisting of Poland Czechoslovakia and Hungary with a United Germany and the soviet Union retaining limited arms. The Legal framework of the plan would provide assistance by other countries to a Neutral nation that was attacked would make it More difficult technically to wage War and would provide other Means for discouraging attacks. "1 did not go around trying to sell my plan a Kissinger told a news conference at which he declined to say specifically whether he discussed it with prime minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki president Wojciech Jaruzelski a Poland located As it is. Will always have to fight for  a Henry Kissinger foreign minister Krzysztof Skubiszewski and other leaders he met with. A Poland located As it is Between Germany and the soviet Union will always have to fight for itself a he said. But he added a either sooner or later what i have proposed or a variation of it will have to be  asked what the reaction of soviet officials had been to his concept he said that it was in the interests of the soviet Union too because it would provide Protection. A i think if something is presented Early enough the soviet Union would consider it a he said. Kissinger refused to comment on the split in Poland Between Walesa and supporters of Mazowiecki. A the Unity Between Gdansk and Warsaw Between workers and intellectuals soviets say nuke Security a not a problem Washington apr the Bush administration concerned that the soviets might lose control of nuclear facilities during ethnic unrest have sought and received assurances from the Kremlin that they Are under control a senior . Official said saturday. A they Are very conscious of that problem a the official said during Secretary of state James a. Baker Illus flight Home from a 2/2-hour meeting Friday night with soviet foreign minister Eduard a. Shevardnadze in East Berlin. A this is not a problem for us a Shevardnadze told reporters who inquired about reports that tactical nuclear weapons were being withdrawn. The senior . Official who requested anonymity spoke guardedly but with authority about the problem. A i can to get into a lot of detail about what we might or might not know about it a he said. A let me simply say that we have had discussions with them in the past regarding the Security of their nuclear facilities in the event of civil unrest. A they Are very conscious of that problem and that a really All i can  pressed by a reporter to say More the official aboard bakery a plane added a they the soviet leadership Are aware of the Issue. They be told us about it. We be discussed it with them and they have assured us their facilities Are adequately and safely protected. That a the Assurance they gave  was one of the greatest inspirations to the West a he said. A i Hope however it is settled and Gdansk and Warsaw can again be unified and workers and intellectuals should once again inspire the world in a common front.As for Walesa a bid to replace Jaruzelski As president Kissinger said a anyone who has achieved what he has has the material of a National Leader a but he added that the office Walesa should occupy is up to the citizens of Poland. Kissinger a Neutral zone proposal has been attacked As a a new Yalta by critics who Point out that Czechoslovakia and Poland had Security guarantees from the nations of Western Europe before world War ii but were attacked by Germany anyway. Later they were pushed into the soviet orbit against their will m decisions made by the Allied Powers. Earlier Kissinger was in Czechoslovakia where the reception to his plan was  -90 Washington a state primaries will be held sept. 11 in Arizona and Connecticut. Service members government employees and their family members who Are residents of the two states should Contact their unit voting officers for details on How to Register and obtain Absentee ballots. A completed Federal postcard application should be mailed Early to ensure timely recent of a ballot officials said