European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 23, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8. The stars and stripes tuesday october 23,1990 German unification to slow Economy report concludes Bonn Germany up a five leading German economic research institutes said in their annual report monday that Germany a economic growth will slow Down in the next few years burdened by the economic costs of German unification. The report said the growth of Germany a Gross National product will slip to a worse than expected 1.5 percent in 1991 from an annual average of 2 percent to 3 percent while unemployment will jump to 10 percent from an average of 6 percent this year. The report sharply contradicted government speculation that the German Economy will continue to grow by an annual rate of 2 percent to 3 percent. It said production and demand in the former West German part of the nation will continue to Rise but higher spending to rebuild the Economy in the former East German Section will Dampen the effect. A the economic situation in unified Germany is deeply divided a a it said. The report said the Eastern German Economy will continue its Steep decline in 1991, which began with the introduction of the German Mark july 1 As part of monetary and economic Union and in Advance of the oct. 3 German unification. The East German markets were flooded with Western imports and the once state controlled East German companies unable to compete with the High Quality goods faced bankruptcies and liquidations. Unemployment Rose to 800,000. A by taking Over the Legal and institutional framework of the Federal Republic the centrally planned Economy was replaced by a Market Economy from one Day to the next. In addition the German Mark was introduced As the Legal currency a the report said. A that such a change in system would bring about enormous transformation difficulties was expected although maybe not the extent to which they appeared now a said the report by the leading economic institutions often dubbed a the five Wise  a decline in foreign demand because of a slump in the world Market higher interest rates because of the rising Public debt and an increase in prices will depress Market dynamics in Germany the report said. A economic growth in West Germany is anyway less robust than the current development of demand and production seems to indicate. Long term interests Rose to a rather High level so that investment financing has become More expensive and Security investment More attractive a the report said German exports have largely stagnated this year because important foreign markets a especially the United states a Are experiencing recessions the report said. A foreign countries have vanished As the engine for economic growth in Germany a it said. The report indicated the . Economy is falling because of monetary restrictions in 1989 and the continuous crisis in the Gulf this year. A the Gulf crisis poses new risks for world economic growth a the report said. A the general insecurity already showed in the recent Price drops on Stock  the report was issued by economic research institutes in Berlin Hamburg Munich Essen and the University of Kiel. Israeli Folk hero is unveiled Jerusalem a a motorcyclist suspected in 22 daring Bank robberies that made him a National Antihero is an heir to millions who allegedly turned to crime to pay off his debts police revealed sunday. Many israelis were shocked to learn that the suspect nicknamed a Obi Karbank a who police say has confessed to taking some $175,500 from Banks was Roni Leibovitz a 37-year-old socialite. He comes from the Leibovitz family famous for the Large israeli food products company Etz qazait or Olive tree. The family also has businesses in new York City that do hundreds of millions of dollars in sales yearly according to news reports. The police decision to unveil Leibovitz a identity appeared to end much of the Public a sympathy for the Bandit whose Cool precision allowed him to elude police for 21 months. Leibovitz allegedly would walk into a Bank wearing a crash helmet and fire one shot in the air from a .38-caliber Smith amp Wesson pistol. He always would Rob the Teller nearest the door then disappear on a High powered motorcycle. No one was Ever Hurt in the heists. Dozens of israeli press and broadcast reports were devoted to his exploits and his helmeted image adorned to shirts and decal stickers. But the bearded somewhat plump Leibovitz is not the tall Young Blond sex commando that some witnesses and press reports had described. Buki Nash an israeli reporter who wrote More than 30 articles on Bike Bank lamented the loss of the heroic image in the daily had Ashot on Friday a big eyes. Apart from the eyes you Are nothing. You have smashed the tall Blond Blue eyed myth. You Are a spoiled kid who was raised in Rich surroundings and looked for new challenges in life. Farewell you aging  military Roundup army amp Navy Union honors 105-year-old vet new York a the army amp Navy Union .a., the oldest veterans organization in the United states has named 105-year-old Nathan e Cook As its honorary National commander. A Cook is believed to be the last surviving Veteran of the Spanish american War. He lives in a a nursing Home in Phoenix known As fort courage. Cook enlisted in the Navy in 1901 and Rose to the rank of lieutenant during his 44-year career. He served during China a Boxer rebellion the philippine insurrection the Pancho Villa Border raids and world wars i and ii. Thomas p. Galloway from the groups Apache Garrison in Apache Junction ariz., presented the award thursday. One of Cooke a eight grandchildren James Cook is a commander in the  presents awards to 2 from combat Wing Sembach a Germany a two members of the 66th electronic combat Wing have earned top honors from . Air Force Europe. Senior airman Terry Carver a finiels storage attendant was named a Safe a fuels technician of the year. Gary Dickey Stock control officer earned the commands Junior Supply manager of the year award. Both will Advance to the air Force level Competition. Roni Leibovitz left is handcuffed to a police detective while reconstructing one of his Bank robberies. As a socialite Leibovitz a non combat israeli army major turned businessman has unsuccessfully tried to run family ventures in Israel according to the israeli Media. A the envied his brother who was their fathers favorite and had repeated conflicts with his parents Over his squandering lifestyle a a Leibovitz acquaintance Yigal Lviv wrote in had Ashot. The daily Edioth Ahro Noth said the suspect a loved the Beautiful life his background and surroundings could offer. A luxurious car a car phone and a boat a he was arrested last thursday at his parents israeli Home after he allegedly attempted to Rob a Bank in suburban Tel Aviv. Police said they found the motorcycle and pistol apparently used in the robberies in the Garden. It turned out Leibovitz also did not have the Superior motives for robbery that press reports suggested. A when asked what his motive was he said  he said he did not want to take revenge against police or the Banks he did not want to be a National hero but needed the Money because of his debts a said Tel Aviv police spokeswoman Dalia Gilad. Deputy superintendent Chaim Pinchas who headed the investigation said Leibovitz planned the robberies a was an army operations officer a but was not so meticulous in his financial affairs. He owed More than $1 million the police official said. The suspects relatives said they doubted a Money motive because of the family a wealth. A i done to believe my father is the motorcycle Bandit but if he is the robber in a proud of him and i love him very very much a Maaris quoted the suspects 14-year-old son As saying. Even with the arrest the myth did not die completely. As Leibovitz was taken to a Haifa Bank Friday to recreate a robbery hundreds of israelis gathered outside and  Renews Call to abolish Warsaw pact Prague Czechoslovakia president Vaclav Havel renewed his Call monday for the abolition of the Warsaw pact As an a outdated tool of stalinist  in a broadcast on state radio Havel said Czechoslovakia would reiterate its proposal to abolish the pacts joint military command at a Summit meeting of the military Alliance in Budapest Hungary nov. 3-4. A the Warsaw pact is outdated and it has lost its meaning. It was created As a tool of stalinist expansion a Havel said. He said he opposed the fact that about two thirds of Czechoslovakia a army would be subordinated to the joint military command in Case of War. A at the Budapest Summit. We will reiterate our proposal to liquidate or cancel the joint command a Havel added. The Summit is set to determine the future of the pact formed in 1955 As the soviet blocks answer to nato. Waning soviet influence and the withdrawal of soviet troops from Eastern Europe has also prompted Calls for the pacts dissolution from other former soviet satellites such As Hungary. Hungary has said it will withdraw from the military part of the Warsaw pact next year if it is not dissolved before then. In a bid to Reform Czechoslovakia a army and break from its communist past Havel last week dismissed defense minister Gen. Miroslav Vacek and appointed a civilian Lubos Dobrovsky in is place. Havel acknowledged the need for the  s but i pact to continue in existence As a a up Cal tools in arms reduction talks stressed that full abolition of the Alliance should be the final objective. A sweeping East West conventional arms reduction agreement is expected to be signed at a Paris Summit of the 34-nation conference on Security and cooperation in  mid november. But Havel indicated Steps could be taken before that to begin the pacts dissolution. A something must happen and if we manage to take the first step before. Paris it will be a historical event a possibly As important As the recent reunification of Germany a he said