European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 5, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 b the stars and stripes thursday decembers 1991 Britain to allow . Oman s combat role not Likely to change soon women to Pilot jets in combat London apr women will be allowed to Fly air Force fighter jets in combat Britain has announced. The ministry of defense said tuesday that there was no timetable to have the first women fighter pilots on duty. The ministry said the women have yet to be recruited and trained. A we do not have a body of trained women pilots who can be switched to combat immediately a said a ministry spokesman. The governments decision to lift restrictions on female pilots and navigators seeing front line action with the Oyal air Force followed the Royal Navy a decision earlier this year to recruit women to Fly its sea King logistic support helicopter and Lynx helicopter used for anti sub Marine activities. The Navy still bars women from flying assault helicopters and harrier strike aircraft. British armed forces minister Archie Hamilton said monday that the decision to allow women to Fly combat missions was part of the governments Campaign to break Down barriers against women in the military. The decision Means British women will be Able to train on such aircraft As the Tornado tactical reconnaissance Jet and the Jaguar tactical support Jet. Washington apr despite a congressional move to allow women in combat cockpits defense Secretary Dick Cheney Isnit expected to seek a any substantial change for at least another year the Pentagon a spokesman said tuesday. Legislation that repeals the decades old ban on female combat pilots in the air Force Navy and Marine corps is now before president Bush who is expected to sign it in the next few Days. Women in those branches of the armed services were barred from serving in combat positions under the 1948 combat exclusion act. But Given widespread Public support for the role female pilots played in operation desert storm Congress approved new legislation late last month to lift the restrictions against their participation in air warfare. The change does t mean however that women will be assigned to such High risk duty anytime soon. Although the Law opens the Way for female pilots to be assigned to units that might enter combat a such As fighter Jet squadrons or air wings aboard aircraft carriers a it does no to require anyone in the Pentagon to put them there. Instead the legislation establishes a 15-member commission with its members appointed by the president to study among other things the implications of the armed forces permitting servicewomen a to qualify for assignment to positions in some or All categories of combat  although the commission is studying the matter it May ask the Secretary of defense for permission to conduct a test assignments of female service members in combat positions the legislation states. On tuesday defense department spokesman Pete Williams said Cheney will wait to act until after the commission is required to Issue its report on the subject that is in november 1992. A i done to anticipate any changes until that commission has done its work a Williams said. He said that Cheney had not been Able to study the exact wording of the Law and that the defense chief had not made a formal decision yet. But he added a my Hunch is is that the commission will be Impan eled and it will go through its entire work before there is any substantial change. There have been some concerns expressed by Becky Constantino the head of the Pentagon a advisory panel on women s issues that the panel won t have enough time to conduct any meaningful tests let alone a thorough review of the Complex Issue in less than one year. The advisory panel Isnit expected to be named for several weeks and wont be Able to Start its work for a number of weeks into the new year officials  urged to safeguard nuclear arms by Rosemary Sawyer Brussels Bureau Brussels Belgium a the North Atlantic treaty organization welcomed the Ukraine s democratic vote for Independence but stressed the need for safeguarding control of its nuclear weapons according to a statement from nato Secretary general Manfred Werner. Nato ambassadors met tuesday to discuss developments in the soviet Union particularly sundays overwhelm world ing vote for Independence in the Ukraine where Large stocks of weapons Are stored. The nato leaders a Are emphasized the essential need to ensure the Safe responsible and reliable control of nuclear weapons under a single authority a Werner said. Currently the soviet Union has Strate in bombers and nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles stationed in the Ukraine. In addition Worner said the Alliance expects the Ukraine to a commit itself to a non nuclear policy and a 1970 pact that limits the spread of nuclear weapons. A abide by arms control agreements signed by the soviet Union including the .-soviet pacts on cuts in conventional weaponry in Europe and in strategic forces. A Settle peacefully its future relationship with the Central government and the other republics. A keep All International commitments and obligations of the soviet Union particularly those made in conjunction with the conference on Security and cooperation in Europe. These include agreements on human rights and the peaceful dissolution of Border disputes. The nato members also pledged their continuing commitment to building relationships with the soviet Union and the republics. Syria s Assad re elected with 99.982% of vote from wire reports Damascus Syria a president Hafez Assad was elected for an unprecedented fourth seven year term with a 99.982 percent Quot yes vote in a National referendum Interior minister Mohammad Harrah announced tuesday. The referendum was held monday. Assad s name was the Only one on the ballot. Harrah said there were 396 a a not votes. He reported that 6,727,992 of Syria s 6,786,193 eligible voters turned out. Assad 61, a former fighter Pilot seized Power in a bloodless coup in november 1970 and transformed the turbulent coup plagued former French territory into a major Power in the Middle East. As Leader of the ruling Arab baath socialist party he has governed syrians 12.5 million people with an Iron fist crushing All dissent. Maxwell sons quit London a the future of the late Robert maxwells Media Empire appeared in doubt after the resignations of his two sons from top level posts and the disclosure that pension funds May have been improperly transferred. Only a month after taking Over in the Wake of his fathers death. Kevin Maxwell resigned tuesday As chairman and chief executive of Maxwell communication corp. Pc. He cited conflicts of interest Between the family a Public and private holdings. He will remain the head of the family a private holdings which include new Yorkus daily news. Hours later Lan Maxwell resigned As chairman of Mirror group newspapers and the company disclosed it had found that significant assets of its pension fund May have been Lent or transferred improperly to private companies that Maxwell also  s i w i a. Ltd i of a v i w #6 it slighting the Way for Santa the tree lined Avenue champs a lyse is in Paris lives up to the City a appellation a City of Light As about 60,000 bulbs set the tone tuesday for the approach ing Christmas holidays. In the background towering Over heavy traffic is the French capitals famous landmark the Are Detriomphe