European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 11, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Tuesday june 11, 1991 the stars and Stripe commentary Robert j. Willaard nato has set a new course determined it will not follow the path of the Warsaw pact which became history two months ago now that the cold War has produced a radically new Europe the allies say they must help shape what diplomats fondly Call a the new european a we Are engaged in a historic Endeavor a nato Secretary general Manfred Worner said Friday after the foreign ministers of the 16 member nations endorsed a new look for the Alliance that Endeavor he said is a to build a new Europe a new Security arrangement with All the countries of Europe including the soviet in the new nato the United states will continue to play a prominent role because of its global political influence and military Power but the europeans Are taking on a bigger share in defending the continent. For 42 years the North Atlantic treaty organization fulfilled a key military role keeping the soviet Union on its Side of the Iron curtain. The Alliance gave the West europeans an american a Security umbrella in the form of hundreds of thousands of gis Here and an awesome Arsenal of conventional and nuclear weapons. In return nato guaranteed Washington free prosperous and like minded economic partners on this Side of the Atlantic. The new Structure will allow the United states to withdraw up to a half of the troops it has in Europe mollify ing Domestic critics who have Long wondered Why americans should spend so much defending Rich West europeans. The allies began their discussions on How to adapt to the end of superpower rivalry at a Summit in London last july Only months after the fall of the Berlin Wall. the transformation was completed Friday when Secretary of state James a. Baker Iii and his 15 nato colleagues announced agreement on beefing up the europeans role in the Alliance while remaining tied to the United states. The allies said they will take a hand in shaping the new Europe. They also offered Broad military and political cooperation with the six nations of the dissolved Warsaw pact provided agreements can be made on reducing Patricia Koza a a a i _ a a. A. A. A a a. A a a. A. A new nato for a new Europe military establishments. The latter condition is a reminder that the soviet Union remains a military powerhouse even though it is saddled with extensive economic problems and some Independence minded republics. In both East and West Europe there Are fears hard liners might regain control in Moscow and return to the confrontational stance of the cold War. The Alliance also has some internal frictions. /. France which left natos joint military command in 1966, has Long been uncomfortable with the United states domination of the Alliance. It pushed for the european Community to forge a defense policy separate from nato. Washington and several european nations opposed that idea partly because nato members Turkey and Norway Are not in the 12-nation european Community and partly because they want to retain the ties Between Europe and North America. In the end the allies agreed on the idea of a a stronger european pillar Quot Lor nato but stressed that the Alliance a embodies the Travis Atlantic link by which the Security of North America is permanently tied to the Security of a a a a a a a a a a. A a a France which participates in political discussions in nato also endorsed that View Friday. A a the plans for transforming the Alliance from a cold War watchdog Are to be formally approved at a Summit nov. 7-8 in Rome. But while the Alliance offered Friendship and cooperation to Eastern Europe the nato foreign ministers also issued a warning Friday. Without mentioning any nation they said the Alliance would not stand for any a a coercion and a a intimidation of democratic forces in Europe. The statement referred to All european nations Baker said but he added pointedly a we had two hot wars and we had one cold War this Century and All of which i think it is fair to say started in Eastern y however Noneff the ministers would say what nato would do to prevent a co Crew on of nations that Don t belong to the Alliance. C associated press for the first time in four pilgrimages by Pope John Paul ii to his Homeland poles found his message a Little hard to take. John Paul ended a nine Day sojourn sunday in Warsaw by calling on his compatriots to guard their new found Freedom and to use it responsibly. In the bad old communist Days heeding the Pope was second nature. During his previous visits in 1979, 1983 and 1987, overwhelmingly Catholic Poland a whom Stalin once described As fitting communism like a Saddle fits a cow a turned out defiantly and joyously to Greet him. As he spoke of the need for individual Freedom Solidarity banners would Spring up like dandelions through the crowds who knew the communist state would not dare to rough up a religious rally. Now two years after the collapse of communism the crowds were still there but the tone was quieter More subdued. And the posters echoed poles concerns about the economic hard times that have accompanied their newfound Freedom. \ a president Walesa equals unemployment and poverty Quot said one poster in the Warsaw crowd a referring to the former hero of Solidarity s decade Long Battle for polish Independence. Poles concerns have shifted dramatically in the past year from acquiring Freedom to simply obtaining a decent Standard of living. At least under the communists some grumble everybody was equally poor. A their response to the papal homilies last week reflected these new concerns. The poles listened politely As the Pope exhorted against the dangers of rampant materialism and love without marriage and a the most often repeated topic a his condemnation of abortions. But surveys show a majority of poles would prefer to keep the Liberal communist Era abortion Law now on the books. And they wonder Why they make As much Money and buy As Many goods As possible after being denied them so Long. Many also openly questioned whether Poland in its current economic Straits should have been hosting the Pope at All. The Solidarity led government bought four new Western made helicopters to whisk him around As a special bulletproof Mercedes with a titanium roof and floor. At s327.00iit is the most a expensive car in the country. A can we afford such a visit a said Agnieszka Sien Kiewicz a 36-year-old economist who was at the Popes final mass. Sienkiewicz said her car was stolen thursday but police said they would not he Able to investigate until monday after the Pope leaves on Friday she was unable to obtain a medical test she needed because the staff of All the clinics she called were off for the papal visit. Yet the Popes influence on his compatriots cannot be underestimated. He even met Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski whose declaration of martial Law in 1981 was an attempt to crush Solidarity and elicited an amazing statement from the former communist Leader. A the Church Side and i personally were interested in holding such a meeting a Jaruzelski said after the unannounced event on sunday morning. A the rest was fixed by the holy More than anything else however the Pope offered spiritual encouragement for poles in difficult times. One elderly Man asked what he wants from the Pope said simply a i would like the holy f Ather to wave his hand at me once Cion my to pro v
