European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 5, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 2 the stars and stripes tuesday november 5,1991 at a glance laser surgery to Correct nearsightedness is being tested and results so tar have been called encouraging. See Story on pages 14 and 15.diplomats snub fines diplomats for some of the worlds wealthiest countries routinely Roll up Mammoth parking fines in Washington then thumb their noses at the City when it tries to collect. A Page 4�?~scarlett coming to to Scarlett the Best Selling sequel to gone with the wind will appear As a television miniseries in 1993. A Page 5smoke hampers firefighters officials said blinding smoke Frost and a Lack of rain Are thwarting their efforts to fight blazes that have ravaged More than 200,000 acres in Eastern sections of the United states. 1 a Page 6more questions on Halcyon an ailing woman who killed herself with or. Jack Kevorkian s controversial suicide machine was reportedly taking the sleeping Pill Halcyon now under International scrutiny for alleged detrimental Side effects. A Page 7silent revolution pay soviet president Mikhail s. Gorbachev has All but cancelled thursday s official revolution Day Holiday. A Page 8caterpillar workers strike up to 2,400 workers at two Caterpillar inc. Plants in Illinois went on strike at Midnight sunday after their Union scaled Back plans for a National walkout against the maker of construction machinery. A Page 17 Index Abby Ann Landers .20 comics. 18-20 commentary. .13 faces no places .10 letters. .12 Money matters .17 sports. 21-28 to listings. .27 weather. .11 Man stabs Afghanistan s exiled King Rome apr a the exiled former King of Afghanistan mentioned As a possible transitional Leader for his War torn country was stabbed monday at his Home police said. Mohammed Zaref Shah 77, was stabbed three times by a portuguese Man who posed As a journalist to enter the former Kings Villa on the Northern Edge of Rome police said. Police arrested the attacker immediately and Zaher Shah was listed As out of danger in a Hospital police and the Kings spokesman said. A there is no danger thank god he a recovering Quot said Gen. Abdul Wali the spokesman and son in Law of the former Monarch. The italian news Agency Ansa said Zaher Shah waa stabbed in the Finger the Mouth and the Abdomen. Wali said the wounds were All superficial. The former King has been living in exile in Rome since he was overthrown in 1973 while in Italy for medical treatment. It has been suggested frequently that he should play a role in any transitional afghan government. Peace talks Are under Way to end the nations Long civil War in which Muslim guerrillas Are fighting to dislodge the marxist government. A police spokesman said the assailant identified As Jose Santo Paolo de Alme Dia of Portugal was arrested immediately. Afghanistan president Najibullah has repeatedly offered the former Monarch a position in his government but the offers have been refused. Zaher Shah a name has surfaced in connection with a peace settlement possibly to head a transitional government that could pave the Way for elections. The former Monarch and his family stripped of their afghan citizenship after the communist revolution of april 1978, live in a Villa outside Rome. Afghanistan a government restored their citizenship in August. Zaher Shah was overthrown by his Cousin Mohammed Daoud. Daoud abolished the monarchy and instituted constitutional measures that Many afghans believe led to the revolution the 1979-1989 occupation by the soviet troops and 13 years of War with the   from Page 1 it was a breakthrough simply because the sides met for the first time without mediators to talk about peace. A we have to Register the fact with some satisfaction Quot Ben Aharon said. However he continued a this whole meeting to a Large extent is cause for much frustration on our part because we raised a Host of issues for the purpose of beginning a process of negotiations toward accommodation understanding Trust Confidence and  there was virtually no personal Contact and no handshakes or even smiles Ben Aharon said. Ben Aharon said the syrians a kept referring again and again and again to Only withdrawal from territories. They said a before you withdraw from territories from the Golan Heights we cannot discuss  a a Israel captured the strategic plateau from Syria in 1967, annexing it in 1981. Ben Aharon said the israelis suggested establishing lines of communication defining the objective of the talks As a peace treaty agreeing to refrain from acts of violence during the negotiations and negotiating regional issues such As arms control and water conservation simultaneously with bilateral talks. On All these suggestions according to Ben Aharon a they said no Quot or a they said this is irrelevant Quot on the other hand Al Sharaa accused Israel of  they a spoke empty words about peace Only he said. Al Sharaa said both sides would await suggestions from the United states regarding a possible location for future talks. He declined to discuss options. . Officials say the United states will offer its suggestions within two to three weeks. Israeli sources speaking on condition of anonymity said the syrians opened by Reading the text of the invitation to the peace conference which states the location As Madrid and from . Resolution 242, which Calls for israeli withdrawal from occupied territories. The israelis urged the syrians to read further from the . Resolution which Calls on the arabs to make peace with Israel. One israeli source quoted the syrians As telling the israelis that withdrawal had to come first and that by raising other issues a you Are putting the Carriage before the horse.�?�. The source said the israelis asked whether the syrians were prepared to recognize Israel and a syrian Delegate replied a i done to know which Israel to recognize Quot a a reference to the undetermined nature of israelis Borders. Syria contends that holding further direct talks in Israel would be tantamount to recognizing the jewish state before it has yielded territory. Israel claims such a move would prove the arabs Good  from Page 1 the Hammer was cocked Back on the thing Quot Field said. A in that Case had it jarred the wrong Way it would have gone  All boxes leaving Europe bound for the United states Are a Rayed by a machine similar to the ones used at airports to screen carry on Luggage Field said. The a Ray requirement was imposed by the Federal aviation administration in january because of increased terrorist threats during the persian Gulf War. There is no indication that the requirement will be dropped Field said. Officials done to know Why the increase in attempted illegal mailing has occurred nor do they know Why people think they can get away with trying to mail weapons and explosives. A none of these things Are Ever listed on the customs Label Quot he said which seems to indicate that the sender knows the items should not be mailed. Also Many people May not realize the capability of the a Ray machines he said citing an instance of someone mailing a .45-caliber pistol containing a loaded Magazine inside a Metal ammo Box. A the color machines at the Airport Are capable of Reading through any Metal Box because they look for shapes and they look for density Quot he said. And a weapon or pistol is a whole lot heavier and More dense than a tin Box  the Monitor identifies Metal in one color and explosive powder or plastic explosives in a different color. A you can look at the machine and see that there is a weapon that is loaded in a Metal Box Quot he said. Postal officials May open space Avail a Airlift packages that appear to contain contraband. A search Able and parcel warrant easily obtained from local army customs Field office is required for priority mail Field said. After the item is removed the package is re wrapped and a letter is placed inside telling the receiver what item was removed and Why. Explosives and ammunition Are handed Over to the local explosive ordnance unit and handguns Are picked up twice weekly by investigators from the Frankfurt Field office of the 42nd my group Field said. A letter is then sent to the commander of the person who mailed the package and Legal action becomes the commanders responsibility. Rifles and shotguns May be mailed to the United states but Only if accompanied by a form 6 import document from the Bureau of alcohol tobacco and firearms. No other weapon or explosive May be mailed. Attempting to mail weapons or explosives to the states is a felony. Violators can be charged with attempted smuggling making a fraudulent customs declaration and misuse of the Apo system said investigator Ben Crooks of the Frankfurt customs office. Theft charges would be added if military weapons or ammunition were involved. Even if a commander decides against taking Legal action customs agents Forward a copy of their investigation to the criminal records Center in the states giving the violator a permanent criminal record that could prevent efforts to obtain a Security clearance or be hired for a Federal Job Crooks said. In a related matter the american flagged commercial airlines that carry mail to the United states have refused to take packages that contain electronic equipment. Anything identified As electronic containing wiring or batteries during the a Ray procedure is diverted to a cargo airline. There the package is put in a decompression chamber where it undergoes a process that simulates the length of time and Altitude pattern of the flight to the packages destination in the states Field said. This process could delay a packages departure from Europe for 24 to 48 hours he  from Page 1 treaty was signed by Only eight republics. All 12 republics have implemented increasingly Independent economic policies since the failed coup and the collapse of the communist regime and its centrally planned command Economy. There has been Little coordination of these plans leading to a breakdown in the soviet unions already crumbling food distribution system further devaluation of the Ruble and a paralysis of economic Reform. A we Are in a most critical situation Quot Gorbachev said. The president said that while artificial government controls on prices would soon be lifted no Steps have been taken to stimulate productivity or to protect Low income groups. It was not immediately Clear whether he was referring to Yeltsin a program or was proposing similar nationwide Price reforms. The state Council meeting was attended by presidents prime ministers or legislative leaders of 10 of the remaining 12 republics. Moldavia refused to Send a representative and armenian president Levon Ter Petrosian said he had to attend a session of the legislature in his caucasus mountains reply Lic