European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 27, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Vol. 50, no. 257 350 Friday december 27, 1991 a d 8693 soviet legislature disbands Gorbachev transfers control of nuclear Force to Yeltsin Mikhail s. Gorbachev signs his resignation As last Leader of the soviet Union. Moscow apr a Skeleton soviet legislature followed Mikhail s. Gorbachev a Lead thursday voting itself out of existence after a Parade of nations recognized Russia and other republics of the new Commonwealth of Independent states. Russians red White and Blue flac was flying alone Over the Kremlin but the mood see related stories on pages 2,14,15 in Moscow was anything but ebullient. The Ruble is nearly worthless shortages Are widespread and residents Are wondering How they will Cope when president Boris n. Yeltsin of Russia lifts Price ceilings next week. Rifts Between the new Commonwealth republics were also coming into sharper focus. Ukraine on wednesday accused Russia of refusing to distribute new rubles to other republics and renewed its complaint about the dominant former soviet republics unilateral decision to free prices radio Russia reported. Russia which has taken Over the soviet mints started printing 500-Ruble Bank notes for the first time this week and had promised to distribute them throughout the former soviet Union. The new 500-Ruble notes reflect the plummeting value of the currency. In a poignant 40-minute session in the Kremlin on thursday the supreme soviet voted itself out of existence and recognized the new Loose federation of Sovereign states replacing the soviet Union. About three dozen people symbolically convened the legislature that once was the Pride of Gorbachev a reforms. They had nowhere close to the number needed for a quorum in the moribund 374-Mcm-Bcr body. The recently appointed speaker kazakh writer Anuar Bek Ali Dzhanov concluded the session with a touching Farewell to lawmakers a until we meet again wherever that May  outside the yell Low building during the session a i Bronze plaque identifying their edifice As the Home of the . Supreme soviet was unceremoniously removed. In a further sign of the new order defense ministers of the Commonwealth s member republics met in Moscow the see soviet on Page 2 . Extends recognition to 6 republics Washington apr president Bush is reaching out to Boris Yeltsin and leaders of the other soviet republics even As he hails Mikhail Gorbachev so vision and courage Quot and declares the breakup of the soviet Union to be a Victory for a the moral Force of the West. Bush in a televised address to the nation Christmas night that ushered out Gorbachev and extended . Recognition to six soviet republics praised a a a courageous Yeltsin head of the dominant russian Republic. A i look Forward to working closely with president Yeltsin in support of his efforts to bring democratic and Market Reform to Russia a Bush said. Yeltsin spearheaded formation of the new Commonwealth of Independent states and asked Bush earlier in the week for recognition of the republics. Bush on wednesday night extended . Recognition to Russia Ukraine Armenia byelorussian Kazakhstan and Kirghizia. A we will move quickly to establish diplomatic relations with these states and build new ties to them a Bush said. A we will sponsor membership in the United nations for those not already members. Bush said the United states also recognizes As inc indent states the remaining six former soviet a club is a Moldavia Turkmenistan Azerbaijan Kadzhi Kristan Georgia and Uzbekistan a and will establish diplomatic relations a when we arc satisfied that they have made commitments to responsible Security policies and democratic  eleven of the 12 states formed themselves into a Commonwealth last weekend with Georgia the Only exception. Despite the a potential for instability and chaos a Bush p i Dod to cancel go overpayment debt said the transformation of the soviet Union is in the National interest of the United states. A the nuclear threat while far from gone is receding. A your enemies have become our partners a Bush said declaring that the end of the cold War and the toppling of the totalitarian soviet state was a a Victory for the moral Force of democratic values. Bush interrupted his Holiday at Camp David md., briefly to make the televised address flying to the White House and then returning to his Retreat. He spoke nine hours after Gorbachev bade Farewell to the soviet people. Bush was to return to the White House on thursday afternoon for a ratification ceremony for the conventional forces in Europe on treaty which he and Gorbachev signed in november 1990. The treaty ratified by the Senate last month binds see extends on Page 2 Washington a the department of defense will cancel most of the $79.7 million in debt owed to the government by 198,000 military personnel who were overpaid in operation desert storm the Pentagon announced on tuesday. The debts accrued because the Pentagon mistakenly sent Advance payments or overpayment to individuals who should not have received them. The recipients normally would be required to return the Money. In its fiscal 1992 defense Bill con Gress authorized defense Secretary Dick Cheney to cancel most individual debts up to $2,500. A Pentagon statement said the decision affects former Active duty service members Reserve and National guard personnel who were called to Active duty but released before the military could recoup the funds. In addition to cancelling most individual debts up to $2,500, the Pentagon plans to refund prior collections up to $2,500 and refund All interest penalties and administrative fees re lated to the debts. The action is expected to affect 198,000 individuals. As a result some 95 percent of those who owed a debt to the Pentagon will have the entire debt cancelled the statement said. In addition about $53 million in debts owed by 86,000 people who arc still on Active duty will be reviewed for potential cancellation the statement said. Letters explaining the process will be sent to All affected persons beginning in january the statement  today s paper a a stars and a stars and stripes Magazine images 91staff s photos of the year