European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 22, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8 b the stars and stripes Friday november 22,1991u.s. Halts pullout plans from s. Korea Seoul South Korea apr the United states on thursday stepped up pressure on North Korea to Stop developing nuclear weapons by postponing plans to withdraw thousands of troops from South Korea. The announcement by defense Secretary Dick Cheney indicated increasing impatience in Seoul and Washington Over North koreans refusal to open its secretive nuclear and reprocessing facilities to inspections. Communist North Korea denies it has any nuclear weapons program but . Officials say Pyongyang is nearing completion of an atomic bomb. A we Are convinced that North Korea is developing the capability to build a nuclear weapon a Cheney said. North Korea reportedly agreed in principle wednes Day to a Call to rid the korean Peninsula of nuclear weapons. But the reported Accord in working level talks Between the two Korea was not binding. About 40,000 . Troops Are stationed in Korea under a Mutual defense pact. A plan to reduce troops to 36,000 by the end of 1992 will continue Cheney said. But reductions for 1993-1995 will be postponed he said. The number of troops to be pulled out in 1993-95 was to be discussed during Cheney a visit. The number suggested was Between 5,000 and 7,000. A postponement of . Troop reductions shows Washington a commitment to its ally South Korea and its resolve in pressuring North Korea which has Long demanded a . Withdrawal. Major Powers have expressed grave concerns Over in enjoying fair weather hordes of contented looking camels Dot the dunes outside the camels and 400,000 merchants and tourists a Many or them town of Pushkar in Western India As the annual Pushkar coming from faraway places a took part in this year s festive Camel fair gets off to a Gritty Start tuesday. More than 15,000 ties which were winding up thursday. Kuwait . Complete joint War games Dubai United Arab emirates up1 a Kuwait and the United states finished a 10-Day joint military exercise thursday their first under the terms of a postwar defense agreement signed in september it was announced. A fall the objectives of the exercise have been met a said it. Cmdr. Tim of Leary spokesman for the . Navy Central come. Of Leary said that on the final Day of the exercise . Marines were Clearing amphibious gear from Kuwait a beaches where on nov. 11 they simulated a Beach assault and later carried out live firing exercises with kuwaiti troops. Kuwait a defense cooperation agreement with the United states is its first postwar Security arrangement with the allies who helped drive Iraq out of the emirate in february. Kuwaiti officials have said they plan to sign similar pacts with Britain and France possibly before the end of the year. Tell gence reports that North Korea is nearing capability to produce crude nuclear weapons. Cheney and South korean defense minister Lee Jong Koo said they would a pursue All available Means to halt North korean nuclear development. Lee ruled out military action but said multinational diplomatic political and economic pressure would greatly increase. Cheney said that of particular concern is North koreans suspected construction of a nuclear reprocessing Plant. A such a facility would give Pyongyang the capability to produce weapons Grade plutonium a he said. Cheney said the Plant was unnecessary if the objective of North koreans nuclear development was peaceful. He said other nations have proven that reprocessing is not a necessary prerequisite to a civilian nuclear Energy program. Workers find airman dead Pitburg Germany a a Pitburg airman was found dead in a wooded area near the Motsch water Annex about a half mile North of Pitburg a on nov. 18, said capt. Mike Caldwell a Pitburg Public affairs spokesman. He was found around noon by two Pitburg City workers. The victim was identified As master sgt. Sammy Mendez Herandez of the 36th component repair so. According to the Pitburg a office of special investigations Mendez Herandez died of an apparent suicide by hanging. The Osi is investigating. A base spokesman said no additional details could be released. A memorial service will be held at 3 30 . Today at the Pitburg a housing Chapel. Veteran employee for Safe Dies Ramstein a Germany a a German employee of . Air forces Europe died nov. 9 in a German Hospital in Lan Stuhl following a Brief illness. The family did not specify the exact cause of death a Safe Public affairs spokesman said. Herwig j. A is Mitty Schmitt worked for 19 years for Safe including 17 As an assistant in the commands protocol office. He was a Driver and tour guide for hundreds of distinguished visitors to Safe Headquarters Over the past 17 years serving each of the past 11 commanders. Schmitt also coached the base soccer team and was an avid Tennis player. He is survived by his wife Maria also a longtime Ramstein employee and his daughter Doris. A memorial service was held nov. 15 at the bases Northside  denies role in stepdaughter s death by Edrea vis staff writer Mainz Germany a Christine Valdez denied any role in the beatings that led to the death of her 8-year-old stepdaughter Michele. Valdez a German citizen faces a possible 15-year sentence for physical abuse and the unpremeditated murder of Michele what a died March 28, 1990, of pneumonia which medical experts said was induced by abuse related injuries. Valdez sex husband Ricardo Valdez a former staff sergeant is serving a life sentence handed Down by a military court in bad Kreuz Nach in August 1990 for the maiming and unpremeditated murder of Michele. The family was living in the Fin then army Airfield housing units in Mainz when Michele died. Last week Nelleke Valdez 12 Charlene Valdez 8 and Senetra Valdez 10, told the court that Michele was beaten with a Belt and shoes by both parents. Michele and Nelleke were brought into the marriage by Ricardo Valdez when he married the divorced Christine. Charlene and Senetra Are her children. Christine Valdez in her first appearance on the witness stand said thursday that her former husband advocated physical punishment but that she did not. A when i told him Ricardo Valdez not to beat the children he told me not to interfere in How he disciplined his daughters a she said. Valdez said she was afraid of reporting her husband or trying to obtain professional help for him out of shame and fear of ruining his military career. A the also said if i reported him head make sure that i would get the blame and i would lose my children also a Valdez said breaking into tears. Judge Friedrich Jungbluth told her the shame shot might have faced would have been nothing compare with the pain and misery Michele had endured. Quoting a coroners report Jungbluth said he Coul not believe Valdez did not know her stepdaughter a suffering excruciating pain particularly during the fou weeks before she died. A she could neither stand nor lie Down on one Side her wrist was broken and her lungs were on the verg of collapse so one could hear her. Her body was virtual covered with bruises. The Bruise on her buttock a so bad it was rotting and you Tell me you did no to kno1 Michele was in pain and you did no to get a doctor Jungbluth asked. He reminded the witness of medical reports that coi eluded Michele a body was emaciated from Malm tuition that began two years before her death. The trial is scheduled to continue today