European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 13, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday september 13, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 9 Over Here Safe now paying for Izmir move sproling rents thwart �?T60s program to economize by Ron Mckinney staff writer a decision More than 20 years ago to Cut military costs in Europe has backfired spectacularly at Izmir air station in Turkey. Air Force lease costs at Izmir have skyrocketed in the 1980s, increasing nearly 15-fold. In 1982, the military spent $400,000 leasing buildings and land. This year the rents Are nearly $6 million. Although prices have moderated somewhat the Outlook is for More of the same. Experts hired by the air Force say the . Government will pay from $41.5 million to $102.3 million Over the next five years for Izmir leases. Several factors Are responsible including rampant inflation huge increases in Izmir real estate values expansion of leased space and conversion of lease payments from Liras to dollars. The air Force was not always subject to the whims of the turkish commercial real estate Market the air station had been located at Gigli a about 15 Miles outside Izmir from 1959 to 1970. However As part of the reduction of costs in Europe plan formulated by then Secretary of defense Robert Mcnamara in the late �?T60s, the air station turned its facilities Over to the turkish air Force and moved downtown. The move proved costly. Izmir now accounts for nearly 40 percent of All lease costs for the . Air forces Europe according to figures released by Safe. About 1,000 military and 850 civilians Are assigned to the 7241st air base group at Izmir. The air station provides among other things logistical support for nato and . Units. The air station includes 36 rented facilities scattered throughout the City of 2 million people located on the shores of the Aegean sea in Western Turkey. Alsan Cak a growing tourist and commercial Center in downtown Izmir is the site of 16 leases. Capt. De Worley a Safe spokesman attributed the higher costs at Izmir to inflation increased space requirements and a higher Quality of facilities. Turkeys 70 percent inflation rate has led to spi Raling lease payments. In 1985, the government paid $10,889, or 5.3 million turkish lira for the cafes shop Pette. By 1993, private experts estimate the same lease will Cost $150,000, or 405.7 million turkish lira at the 1990 Exchange rate. The value of the turkish lira has also played a role. The currency has steadily dropped in value against the Dollar in the last decade. In september 1980, the rate was 80 turkish Liras to the Dollar. Nato announces 8-nation exercise for Southern Europe Mons Belgium a amps a eight nato nations will participate in a major air land and sea exercise sept. 28 to oct. 13 in Southern Europe nato military officials announced monday. The exercise display determination 90, is designed to demonstrate cooperation among Allied conventional forces in natos Southern Region. The nato forces will conduct amphibious training in Saros Bay Turkey. Naval and air Force operations will take place throughout the Central and Eastern Mediterranean sea while land exercises will be held in Northern Italy and Turkey. France Spain West Germany Italy Portugal Turkey the United kingdom and the United states will participate according to a statement released by the alliances military command. The exercise will be led by adm. Jonathan t. Howe commander of Allied forces Southern Europe in Naples Italy. A amps Susan Harris today it is 2,705 Liras to the Dollar. Worley said that in the Early �?T80s the leases were paid in turkish Liras. When the Economy destabilized and the lira dropped dramatically against the Dollar leases were renegotiated in dollars. A what appeared to be a tremendous increase in lease costs was actually just a return to fair Market values a Worley said. Because of the climbing costs Safe hired Lyon Yalcin teknika joint venture last year to determine whether construction of a new air base a project called Izmir 95, would be economical. The firm concluded in a preliminary March 12 report that the $150 million base would not be Cost effective. It would take up to 265 years before the facility would be cheaper than leasing the analysts said and the air Force promptly abandoned the plan. A while a new consolidated base was shown to be favourable for the Community and operability it was not economically feasible a Worley said. A Given today a declining defense budget the decision to cancel the Izmir 95 plan was based solely on  the Lyon study noted that the downtown location creates problems other than Cost for both the military Community and the Host City. According to the report a Security for the air. Station is poor even in peacetime. A schools for military family members Are housed in old tobacco warehouses which contain Asbestos. A City water is substandard. Residents must drink and Cook with fluoridated bottled water. A the air station contributes to severe traffic and parking problems in the City. Staff sgt. Michael Fletcher an Izmir air station spokesman said lease management officials Are always looking for alternative facilities at lower costs. Izmir officials also said the health risks at the a amps file turkish officials say the . Military presence is incompatible with downtown Izmir shown Here. Military a schools Are not considered an immediate danger to the students. A the Asbestos in the two school facilities is completely encapsulated and is not considered a Hazard a Fletcher said. However the Lyons study said the school buildings Are a deficient with respect to health and safety criteria and have seriously inadequate recreational and dining  it also said turkish officials including the assistant general Secretary of planning for Izmir and the director of planning for Ankara have stated that the air station is incompatible with downtown Izmir and should be moved. That seems unlikely however. Maj. Gen. Bruce Lotzbire the Safe chief of staff has pledged his support for the air station. A a there a a tremendous commitment in that part of the world a Lotzbire said in an interview in april. A based on the Mission and the support provided the decision is to continue on there. A the system that a Here has worked extremely Well and successful. To disband it now without knowing what a ahead is not a Good idea. Army of Post offices hike Security Ramstein a West Germany a amps a All people who mail packages at air Force and army Post offices in Europe Are being asked to show identification a even if they Are in uniform a As a Security tightening measure. That and other new measures Are aimed at preventing terrorists from using the military postal syst6� get dangerous cargo such As explosives aboard . Military aircraft or american Flag Carrier airlines that ferry mail Between Europe and the United states. The Federal aviation administration requested the increased Security As a a strictly precautionary measure a said maj. Paula Kougeas a . Air forces Europe spokeswoman. Safe received the request Friday and implemented the measure immediately she said wednesday. Military officials would not comment on specifics of the other new measures. Some patrons have complained about the added time needed for id checks said air Force master sgt. William Hossack postal superintendent for the three Ramstein a and Kapaun air station Post offices. A but we think its Worth the possible outcome. The Bottom line is we have an obligation to the people on those aircraft for their safety As Well As to All americans a Hossack said. Cafes Heaters to increase ticket prices Munich West Germany a amps a movie prices at army and air Force Exchange service Heaters in Europe will increase starting saturday Exchange officials said. Ticket prices will increase from $1.50 to As much As $2.50, with children a prices at one half the adult rate. The new prices will be phased in Over a six week period As new movies Are introduced. Cafes Europe lowered prices in october 1989 in an attempt to boost the number of people seeing Exchange movies but attendance continued to Flag. With lower prices and fewer customers the total Money collected at Box offices dropped by about $125,000 per month. Some of the reduced take has been made up by a 20 percent increase in refreshment stand sales officials said. The Price reduction which officials said last year was Only a test was put into effect after cafes Heaters in the United states reported attendance increases of As much As 35 percent with lower prices. When that did not happen in Europe prices had to be restored to old Levels cafes Europe spokesman it. Col. Joe Cato said. The Price change does not affect first run movies which Are $3 for adults and $1.50 for children. First run movies Are released to some cafes Heaters at the same time they Are released in the United states