European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 1, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Superpowers to press Mideast talks this fall Moscow apr president Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev signed a treaty that would shrink their countries arsenals of Long Range nuclear weapons then concluded their Summit wednesday with a bold Effort to Convene Middle East peace talks this fall. A by reducing arms we reverse a Hal Century of steadily growing strategic arsenals a Bush said in the treaty signing ceremony. A but More than that we take a a significant step Forward in dispelling a half Century of  Gorbachev said that signing the treaty to reduce by about a third the superpowers strategic nuclear weapons meant the arms race is Over. A thank god a As we say in russian a that we stopped this and turned it Back a he said. Yet for All the reductions both sides will be left with More than enough firepower to wipe each other out a 9,000 warheads on the . Side and about 7,000 for the soviets. Gorbachev also said the Accord should be quickly followed by the relaxation of barriers Between the two nations that Are now outdated. A we Are talking about removing barriers which Are connected with decisions taken during the cold War during the arms race a Gorbachev said. A this is a different time. Different winds Are  the presidents sought jointly to end hostilities in a Region that has experienced five wars since 1948. Bush said that although Israel has yet to agree to take part the superpowers will work together to bring the jewish state Arab nations and the palestinians see pact to Page 2 president Bush and soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev Exchange copies of the strategic arms reduction treaty under the watchful Eye of soviet translator Pavel Pula Chunko. The two leaders signed the historic pact in Moscow on wednesday. A a base closures win a Quot with House vote Washington a the House approved a list of 34 military bases recommended for closure effectively ending debate Over an Issue that forced lawmakers to throw thousands of people out of work in Exchange for billions of dollars in savings. By a 364-60 margin lawmakers agreed late tuesday to the Cost cutting recommendations. See related Story on Page 3 made by the defense base closure and realignment commission. The panel also called for realigning 48 facilities. A Senate vote is optional because both houses of Congress had to disapprove the package in order to kill it. Senate majority Leader George Mitchell a Maine has not decided whether to bring the Issue to the floor an aide said. A the House vote was on a motion to reject the package. ,.the base closure commission estimated that shutting bases will save $1.5 billion annually after 1997 but there will be a one time Cost of about. See bases on Page 2 annual Cash to Spur Volunteer separations by Chuck Vinch a a Washington Bureau Washington a the Pentagon has asked Congress tool prove a Cash incentive plan to persuade service members to leave the military voluntarily during the draw Down. R in. But the idea faces an Uncertain future in Congress where some lawmakers would like the Pentagon to explore an alternative a allowing service members to become vested in the military retirement system if they leave before attaining 20 years of service meaning they would get a some form of pension upon retirement. The voluntary separation incentive or Vii is billed by military officials As a a reverse re enlistment  it would authorize the services to offer the financial incentive to enlisted personnel and officers with at least six but less than 20 years of service who Volunteer to leave. If Congress approves the proposal authority to offer Vii would last Only until fiscal 1995, when the Force draw Down should be completed a military official said. Pentagon officials wanted to get the proposal to Capitol Hill in time to have it considered for inclusion in the next defense authorization Bill. The annual payment of Vii would be based on length of service and pay Grade at the time of separation. It would equal 2.5 percent of annual base pay multiplied by years of service. The payments would be made in equal annual instalments for twice the number of years that a service member was on Active duty a major with 12 years of service for example would receive $11,517 a year for 24 years after separation. The Pentagon proposal would give the services Broad latitude to decide who would be offered the Bonus. The services have already developed tentative plans on How they would use the Vii. One aspect that is Likely to be controversial is a proposal to make the payments transferable meaning that a  could direct the payments to someone else or leave them to heirs in a will. Service members also would have the option of Selling some or All of the annual payments to a third parly in Exchange for a Lump sum a to Start a business buy a House or for any other purpose officials said. But the Senate armed services committee has already Given the proposal a less than enthusiastic reception and sen. John Glenn a Ohio advocates a study instead of vesting personnel in the regular military retirement system. A a it san inequity that military personnel arc not vested in their retirement system until after they be served 20 years while in Many private sector jobs you re vested in the company retirement plan after As Little As five years a said a committee staffer. A you re not talking a lot of Money with vesting a its really a modest income for old age. But if you serve seven years in the military your time. Ought to count. See Cash on Page 2