European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 10, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Cheney says eased threat won t Speed defense cuts Washington up defense Secretary Dick Cheney dismissed suggestions monday that the political upheaval in the soviet Union and easing of East West tension made it possible to accelerate cutbacks in the . Military. A a there a still enormous uncertainty out there a Cheney said on the can television network. A there Are military requirements we face around the world that have nothing to do with the soviet  on the Abc network Cheney said a i think a Little caution is in order before we automatically assume based on one weeks news that we can now dismantle our own  Cheney went further on the Abc network suggesting that a Strong military was needed to confront circumstances such As iraqi president Saddam Hussein a invasion of Kuwait last year which prompted a massive . Military response. A there Are people in the world who do not wish us Well a Cheney said. A just because the soviet threat is significantly reduced or goes away does no to mean there wont still be the need for . Military forces in the  the Secretary said the administration s six year plan to trim the military anticipated easing of East West tension that have reduced a need for deployments in Europe. Cheney said major cutbacks including the closure of 200 bases overseas and elimination of 70,000 civilian jobs in the past 18 months was proceeding on schedule and should not be accelerated. A we be got to build Long Range defense plans a Cheney said. A you can t turn our military forces on and off overnight. We be got a Good plan in place and we ought to stick to  in the interviews Cheney said . Forces which Are already at the lowest level since world War 11, have other roles beyond repulsing a soviet led attack in Europe which is no longer a threat. A we have an interest in keeping our forces Forward deployed maintaining a system of alliances of the free worlds democracies and having the kind of ability to respond when american interests Are threatened Quot he  flares Between serbs croats macedonians celebrate vote for Independence Belgrade Yugoslavia a heavy fighting raged Between serbs and croats across Croatia on monday As the first european Community observers arrived to Monitor a tattered truce Accord in the republics Eastern Region. In Macedonia meanwhile 100,000 people spent the night celebrating sundays vote on Independence in Yugoslavia s southernmost Republic. Although no official results were expected before today pre election opinion polls predicted the vote would be overwhelmingly in favor of Independence. In another development a Leader of serbian rebels in Western Croatia was reported arrested in neighbouring Bosnia Herze Govina overnight increasing fears that hostilities could spread from Croatia. The worst fighting in Croatia was reported in the strategically important towns of to Stanica on the Border with Bosnia and Pankrac in the ethnically mixed Slavonia Region. Croatian Security forces and serbian see fighting on Page 2macedonia capital Skopje population 2,090,000 1988 Economy Industrial and agricultural. History originally settled by slavs conquered by Bulgari forming the Macedo bulgarian Empire. Conquered by Serbia and then the turks it was divided following the Balkan wars Between Serbia Bulgaria and Greece. In 1918, yugoslav Macedonia was incorporated into Serbia Slovenia Bosnia Herzegovina aps amp Baltic throngs rejoice Over their new Freedom three look alikes of former soviet leaders a from left Josef Stalin Leonid Brezhnev and Vladimir Lenin a perform a Freedom song during a musical festival held sunday in Tallinn Estonia. Vilnius Lithuania apr tens of thousands of lithuanians gave thanks for their new found Freedom sunday at an outdoor mass that became a joyous Celebration of the Long awaited soviet recognition of their Independence. President vytautas Landsbergis told the crowd at the shrine of our lady of Silva about 175 Miles Northwest of Vilnius that sept. 8 would be a state Holiday of thanksgiving for the restoration of Independence. In Estonia Many thousands of people braved howling winds and rain to celebrate Independence around an outdoor stage on the outskirts of Tallinn. Choirs Rock bands and other performers entertained during the four hour rally. The Kremlin agreed Friday to recognize the Independence of Lithuania Latvia and Estonia More than a half Century after they were forcibly incorporated into the soviet Union. In the Small town of Silva about 30, pm to 50,000 lithuanians filled the walled courtyard of their 18th-Century Cathedral and spilled into the streets. Many wore traditional Tolk costumes or carried the yellow Green and red mags of the lithuanian Republic. Quot the 50 years of communist slavery see Baltic on Page 2