European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 20, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Tuesday August 20, 1991 the stars and stripes b Page 3germans wary in Wake of soviet move by de Reavis staff writer Bonn Germany a the removal of Mikhail Gorbachev caught . Ambassador Vernon Walters during travels in Krakow Poland a spokesman for the embassy said monday. A a it a too Early to react. Well have to wait for further developments a the ambassador said through an embassy spokesman. A government source in the embassy did say a it looks like the soviets Are headed for civil a correspondent for the official soviet news Agency Tass in Bonn who did no to want his name mentioned said a the news was a Shock to me and i think to the whole world. Many of us had placed a lot of Hope in Gorbachev a Reform policy of a spokesman for the German defense ministry said there were no reports of unrest among the 300,000 soviet troops stationed in the former East Germany. Alfred Dregger chairman of the Christian demo crat Christian social Union Alliance ruling Germany in coalition with the free democrats issued a statement on monday. Dregger said the German government is depending upon the veracity of two statements issued by the new soviet leadership. Quot one was that the downfall of Gorbachev did not mean the new leaders were leaving the course of the Reform of soviet life. The second statement was that the change did not mean that the soviet Union would not Honor International treaties signed by the Gorbachev government. Quot. The German government Dregger said appeals to the current soviet leadership for a peaceful devel _ Ozment of the important treaties in its own interest and in the interest of Good cooperation with its neighbouring states. Quot. Bjorn Engholm chairman of the opposition social democratic party in Germany called the events in the soviet Union a coup against the democratization process and the new Constitution there. The spa manager Karlheinz Blessing said a it seems conservative elements together with the military Are trying to Stop the wheels of Blessing added that his party expects the soviet Union to Honor All foreign policy agreements including the scheduled withdrawal of All soviet troops from German soil. Blessing said it was very important at this time for the West to Send the Correct signals to the soviet Union. He named seven such signals a the Peoples of the soviet Union should know that a return to the old system will Only make matters All the More difficult for the country itself. A Western sympathy is with those on the Side of perestroika a for a policy of openness pluralism and democratization. A a the West should not Over dramatize the events in Moscow but they Are certainly alarming for International politics. We must pay particular attention to the events in Yugoslavia and the Baltic states. There is the danger of intervention there to solve these problems to the satisfaction of the conservative soviets. A we want to warn particularly about the situation in the Baltic states. The conference on Security and cooperation in Europe and the european Community must be prepared to make Quick decisions and to speak with one a German politics must pay particular attention to the situation of the soviet forces stationed on German soil. The return to a dictatorial system in the soviet Union raises serious questions about the credibility of the soviets As a treaty partner. Under such conditions the German government cannot tolerate the presence of soviet troops on German soil any longer and should demand their immediate withdrawal. A a we also demand Moscow inform us of the Fate of Mikhail Gorbachev. The official soviet statements about his health have been totally a a we must keep in constant Contact with the soviets during these critical hours to prevent mishaps. In particular we must keep in Contact with the soviet during this difficult time the spa is for total cooperation of All German political parties and offers it cooperation to ensure the country Speaks with one voice. The associated press contributed to this report . Service members fear threat will return View pullout As too fast Rivera 1 by the stars and stripes the ouster of Mikhail s. Gorbachev has americans tied to the military in Europe wondering whether there will be a reversal in the trend of the past two years. When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, lessening the threat of War in Europe american military planners began turning their attention to a massive reduction of troops including the announcement last week that two entire divisions would be removed. Now people affected by those moves Are wondering if the threat will return. A they Drew Down too fast a said staff sgt. Paul Lyons a physical Security specialist for the Nurnberg military Community Headquarters. He said he Isnit sure what the immediate military Impact will be but it will be hard for the soviet Union to reverse political changes. A a they la have to take care of internal problems first. But too Many things have happened with perestroika and so Forth a Lyons said. A if whoever is taking Power is like the pre Gorbachev regime the . Should think twice about moving troops from Europe a said spec. Ivan Rivera of he co 16th corps support group in Hanau Germany. Lige Richardson a family member from Langen Germany agreed. A i think we have to be very cautious a she said. A we have to be cautious in How our troops maj. Terrance Dykes who is with the Headquarters of the . Air forces in Europe at Ramstein Germany said a i wonder How this will affect the draw Downs whether occur or whether Well rebuild forces in Europe a a i think the draw Down is too soon a said master sgt. Ronald Ballard of the 5th Sig come in Worms Germany. A those decisions were based on Initia Tives that Gorbachev made. With him removed in some sort of political takeover things could go Back to the Way they were everyone thought the cold War was Over. Now we need to Stop look East and reassess the cold War chief warrant officer 2 Jose Robertson of the 32nd army air defense come in Darmstadt Germany echoed similar sentiments. A i have a feeling that because of this sudden change in the soviet Union things Yare going to change for us the military in Europe a Robertson said. A i Hope they done to continue the downsizing As quickly As they had planned. We should slow Down Back off just a Little bit and see what happens a i think its very sad a said Bill Johnson an employee of the department of engineering and housing at v corps Headquarters in Frankfurt. A a it a also a Little bit scary. I wonder How it will affect All the treaties. He was their Best Hope. I Hope he Wasny to their Only Hope for continuous expansion into democratic a right now there could be a lot of turmoil because he a out of Power a said spec. Brian Borrego of he co 23rd engr in in Hanau Germany. People want a lot Richardson Muic than they were getting. They expected a lot More faster. They thought that the change from communism. Would make it happen spec. Crystal Spiess with the 47th support in 3rd inf div in Erlanger says a it might bring Back the Wall. It might heat up the cold War a it might be world War contributing to this report Teft writers Oftle Bathen Peggy Davidson Crystal Laureano Gary Pomeroy and Brent Stan ski is uhf Yana Yevu a statement to soviet Union Heads of state at the instruction of the soviet leadership i thereby notify that a state of emergency is introduced in individual localities of the Union of soviet socialist republics for a period of six months from aug. 19,1991 in keeping with the Constitution and Laws of the .s.r. All Power in the country is transferred for this period to the state committee for the state of emergency in the .s.r. The measures that Are being adopted Are temporary. They in no Way mean renunciation of the course toward profound reforms irl All spheres of life of the state and society. These Are forced measures dictated by the vital need to save the Economy from ruin and the country from hunger to prevent the escalation of the threat of a Large scale civil conflict with unpredictable consequences for the Peoples of the .s.r. And the entire International Community. The most important objective of the state of emergency is to secure conditions that would guarantee each citizen personal safety and the safety of his or her property. It is envisaged to liquidate anti constitutional ungovernable and essentially criminal military formations spreading moral and physical terror in several regions of the .s.r. And serving As a catalyst for disintegration processes. The entire Range of measures adopted is directed at the earliest stabilization of the situation in the .s.r., the normalization of socioeconomic life the implementation of transformations and the creation of conditions for the country s All round development. Any other Way would Lead to enhanced confrontation and violence to the innumerable suffering of our Peoples and the creation of a dangerous focus of tension from the viewpoint of International Security. The temporary emergency measures in no mean affect International commitments assumed by the soviet Union under existing treaties and agreements. The .s.r. Is prepared to develop further its relations with All states on the basis of universally recognised principles of Good neighbourliness Equality Mutual Benefit and non interference in internal affairs of each other. We Are convinced that our current difficulties Are transitory in character and the soviet Union s contribution to preserving peace and consolidating International Security will remain leadership of the .s.r. Hopes that the temporary emergency measures will find proper understanding on the part of the Peoples and governments and the United nations organization. Gennady Kanayev acting president of the .s.r. Aug. 18, 1991
