European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 02, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Lithuanians Mirror americans in individuality third in a series by Peter Honey. The Baltimore Sun after 52 unhappy years under soviet Rule lithuanians Are returning to nationhood with an Affinity for european and even american values that is unmatched by their former communist neighbors a times Mirror Survey has found. Quot in Lithuania history is finally catching up with reality a the researchers wrote. Political turbulence in the Wake of the failed Kremlin coup has brought the country and its two sister states on the Baltic sea Estonia and Latvia the International recognition for Independence they had Long been seeking including the nod from Moscow. The poll found that most lithuanians share the values and attitudes of Central and Eastern Europe especially Germany. In terms of individualism though Quot the lithuanians stand out from the other people we surveyed in Europe because of their striking similarity to americans a the researchers added. For example 96 percent of lithuanians say that they Admire people who get Rich by working hard a More than the 92 percent of americans or the 82 percent of germans who feel that Way. Just like americans however a third of lithuanians concede that Quot hard work does no to guarantee  nonetheless they re More optimistic than their russian and ukrainian cousins 60 percent of whom Are sceptical of the work ethic. Almost half of lithuanians see themselves As individualistic while Only 10 percent of russians and 12 percent of ukrainians do. Similarly half believe that people get ahead mainly because of their own ability and ambition a View shared Only by a Quarter of the russians and less than a third of  action line nonetheless 65 percent of ethnic lithuanians still think that Success in life is largely determined by forces beyond their control a a fatalism shared by a similar proportion of ukrainians and russians. The lithuanian Survey was conducted in May As part of a study of Public attitudes and values in nine Eastern european countries and three soviet republics. Only 12 percent of lithuanians favored a socialist Over a free Market system a far fewer than the 46 percent of russians and 38 percent of ukrainians who said they did. Of those who picked capitalism Only 17 percent of russians and 23 percent of ukrainians chose the . System while 29 percent of lithuanians did. While Many agreed that shops restaurants and farms should be privately owned they generally wanted the state to continue controlling Banks telephones radio and television schools transport and heavy Industry. Quot in almost every Case the pro capitalist tendencies of the ethnic lithuanians Are watered Down by the More socialist ideas of the russians and poles living in the Republic a the researchers state. Ethnic lithuanians make up about 80 percent of the almost 4 million inhabitants of the West Virginia sized country. The next largest minorities a russians 9 percent and poles 8 percent a live mainly in and around the capital Vilnius. Byelorussian ukrainians and jews make up most of the remaining 3 percent. Lithuanians have a Low tolerance for minorities the Survey found which could aggravate tensions As ethnic rivalries and Border issues spread throughout the soviet Union. Quot certainly those who Are not in the majority in Lithuania May Well feel increasingly nervous with increased interest in nationalist causes a the Survey said. People in Lithuania however Are less anti semitic than those in Russia and the Ukraine ten percent of lithuanians had a Low regard for jews compared with 26 percent of russians and 22 percent of ukrainians the study found. The polish Community May have the most to worry about More than three out of 10 lithuanians have a Low opinion of the poles and Little More than half regard them favourably. Mon than 50,000 hoopla demonstrated Tor lithuanian Inda Ananca in january in tha Center of  pays for . Forces in Germany a i am an american working on the German Economy. Every Day i have to listen to the remarks of some of my co workers of How much the germans have to pay Lor the americans. They claim they pay Lor our houses utilities renovations and even for the salary of american and local workers i have been told the German government is paying billions of Marks to Washington every year to pay Lor the salary of the troops and now they have to pay for our moves As Well i would like to know who pays for what and How much the americans pump into the German Economy every year most Amei icons done to understand German and done to hear and see the Nasty remarks that you get constantly from the German Media Annamaria Drummond Munich Germany col. John c. Mutarelli chief manpower budget division office of the Deputy Chiel of Stalf resource management Usa eur replies in your Short paragraph you ask a lot of complicated questions. Lets see if some simple answers will uncomplicated the issues for you and your co workers. If you had lived in Berlin your co workers would be close to being Correct. All expenses for the . Forces in Berlin with the exception of uniformed military members pay and their War fighting equipment Are paid by the German government. In the remainder of Germany the United states pays for All the expenses both military and civilian salaries housing utilities maintenance and repair of facilities Etc for having . Forces stationed in Germany. Some benefits such As vat Relief Are provided under the status of forces agreement. The German government makes no direct payment to the United states government for the salary of  nor Lor the civilian work Force both  and foreign National which supports the  forces in Germany to do however receive some support we do not own the land we use nor in general do we pay for Many facilities we use except for their maintenance and repair that were built by the German government and we do not pay to use the Road system As Tor our economic Impact on Germany we would Best leave that question to the economists who study tilings like direct indirect and induced economic Impact on an Economy and simply answer that the . Army makes payments in excess of 6 billion Marks per year to contractors vendors and individuals. This does not include individual expenditures for private House rentals utilities car purchases travel etc., made on the local Economy. I Trust this answer will satisfy your curiosity but i m not sure it will Settle your disagreement with your co workers. Everyone needs to understand we have a collective Security agreement with our nato friends and the Cost of this agreement is borne by All members As agreed by each head of  write us readers action line is the readers Quot court of last resort striving to answer some of the questions about life overseas in a military environment or questions about policies and guidelines when other avenues for answers Are not readily available. If you have a question and Don t know where to turn for the answer write to readers action line co the stars and stapes. Apo 09211-4211. All letters must be signed and preference will be Given to those seeking information of general interest to our readers Page 16 a the stars and stripes wednesday october 2, 1991