European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 10, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Gorbachev s status shaky president hits Back at new political Alliance Moscow apr three republics that have formed a powerful new Commonwealth said monday they May offer a position to Mikhail s. Gorbachev but the soviet president objected to the Way the new political Union was formed. A the Fate of our multinational country cannot be decided by the will of Only a few republics a Gorbachev said in his first Public comments about the Commonwealth formed sunday by Russia Ukraine and Belo Russia. In remarks that a newscaster read on National television the soviet president said the soviet parliament must consider the Commonwealth plan and discuss the future of the country. The Commonwealth would not Only supplant the Union treaty the blueprint Gorbachev has vigorously promoted in an Effort to preserve the country but also would remove what vestiges of Power the soviet presi Dent had left. Earlier monday russian federation president Boris Yeltsin confronted Gorbachev with the potent new Commonwealth and said there could be a role in the new political grouping for Gorbachev. Republic leaders rushed to Moscow to assess developments one Day after the announcement of a new a Commonwealth of Independent states that appeared see status on Page 2 8&s of chm Abram former hostage Terry Anderson his daughter Salome and her Mother Madeleine Bassil applaud fifth Grade students from Aukamp elementary school in Wiesbaden Germany who Sang Christmas carols to them monday night Anderson treated to Holiday carols by Gary Pomeroy staff writer Wiesbaden Germany freed hostage Terry Andersons final night in Germany began with a Sunset serenade of Christmas carols at the air Force Hospital. Anderson his daughter tsutome and her Mother Madeleine Bassil a it eared monday evening on the lower Anding for the concert. They Sang along with the 35 Well bundled Candle bearing members of a Guys and dolls a a chorus composed of fifth graders from Aukamp elementary school in Wiesbaden. The group which stood near the spot where Anderson was reunited with his sister Peggy say last thursday Sang Jingle Bens silent night of Christmas tree and we wish you a merry Christmas. Above Anderson were three banners showing Christmas Trees and Christmas packages with tags showing the names Anderson Joseph Cicippio and Alann Steen the last three american hostages freed by shiite Muslim kidnappers. Cicippio 61, was released on dec. 2. He left Wiesbaden for his Hometown of Norristown pa., on thursday. Cicippio was held hostage for More than five years. Steen 52, released from Captivity a week ago today arrived in Detroit from Wiesbaden late saturday afternoon. He suffered a seizure shortly after his plane landed. Doctors said the seizure May have been caused by beatings during his nearly five years of Captivity in Lebanon. He arrived Home in Clarklake mich., on sunday afternoon after spending saturday night in a Hospital. The 44-year-old Anderson a former Marine was released by his captors last see Anderson on Page 2 dec moves closer to monetary Union maastricht Netherlands a with Only Britain dissenting leaders of the european Community in monday edged closer to adopting a single currency is the most visible sign of their proposed federation. The leaders led off a two Day Summit probably the nost important in their 34-year history by tackling the remaining obstacles to a merger of the economic and monetary policies by no later than 1999. The 12 member nations also struggled to overcome heir differences and create a european Union with a Ommon foreign Security and maybe defense policy. The nations want to develop the political muscle to Natch their economic might. A there Are still no results in any areas a said danish prime minister Poul Schliiter. A there is a lot of work to be done during the on the sidelines British and French officials conferred with each other a and with Washington a Over the declaration of a new Commonwealth by three soviet republics. The move raised immediate fears about the control of the soviet nuclear Arsenal. A to have a Safe world we do need certain undertakings As to How people holding those nuclear weapons behave a said British foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd. To assess the situation the Community decided Tosee econ Page 2 army Aims to prevent Friendly fire by Susanne m. Schafer a military writer Washington the army after an investigation into Friendly fire deaths and injuries in the persian Gulf War has begun changing its training and tactics in Hopes of limiting future casualties officers said monday. Maj. Pete Keating an army Public affairs officer at the Pentagon said the changes already Are being put into practice at the National training Center in California and elsewhere. Keating said the changes recommended As a result of the army a months Long investigation of the Gulf Friendly fire problems would be disclosed thursday. Gen. Gordon r. Sullivan the army a chief of staff ordered the investigation in the Wake of the Gulf conflict during which see army on Page 2 Pentagon ban on Gays upheld Washington a a Federal judge on monday upheld the Pentagon ban on homosexuals serving in the military ruling against a former naval Academy midshipman who acknowledged he was Gay. The defense department policy challenged by Joseph c. Steffan As unconstitutional a rationally furthered legitimate state purposes Quot ruled . District judge see ban on Page 2
