European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 16, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 c the stars and stripes thursday january 16, 1992 dec nations recognize Croatia Slovenia Zagreb Yugoslavia a with the european Community a Blessing its 12 member nations wednesday began recognizing Croatia and Slovenia hastening the disintegration of the Long crumbling yugoslav federation. The Federal government immediately protested. Croatians hailed the event and praised Germany which had argued that recognition of the separatist republics would help end the 6-month-old civil War in which thousands of people have been killed and 600,000 left homeless. A this is a Day that will go Down in the history of the croatian people As a major event a croatian radio declared. Several storefront windows on Zagreb scentral Jelacic Square displayed slogans such As �?o15 Jan. 1992 a the Long awaited Day of Croatia a International  croatian to broadcast a new song to commemorate the event a Danke deutschland or thank you Germany. There was no official reaction by this afternoon from the serbian government. But the serb dominated Federal government stripped of most of its Power by the republics protested that recognition was counter to the a Sovereign rights of  the Federal government also accused the european Community countries of acting counter to their own stated intention of trying to reach a comprehensive solution in Yugoslavia. It was unclear whether the recognition would help end the civil War in ethnically mixed Croatia that has pitted croat defenders against serb irregulars and the serb dominated Federal army. Some dec member states worry that recognition of Croatia and Slovenia As in dependent countries could intensify the War by provoking Serbia into trying even harder to hold on to serb enclaves in other republics. Serbia Long the dominant yugoslav Republic has been hit hard by sanctions imposed by the dec which considers it the aggressor in the War. The economic hardship and disenchantment has undermined support for serbian president Slobodan Milosevic. In response he has toned Down his hawkish stance and embraced . Efforts to end the War. So far financial experts have estimated the wars Cost at $16 billion to $20 billion and the fighting has destroyed the regions tourist Industry and curtailed foreign investment. A 13-Day-old truce in Croatia continued to hold wednesday and 50 unarmed . Peacekeepers arrived on tuesday to try to ensure its Success. If the truce does not collapse the United nations will Send up to 10,000 peacekeepers. The dec move had been expected. A its official now a said belgian foreign minister Mark Eyskens said in Brussels Headquarters of the dec. But the 12-nation Community held off in recognizing two other yugoslav breakaway republics Bosnia Hercegovina and Macedonia. Only Serbia and Montenegro remain committed to preserving Yugoslavia. Germany Iceland Ukraine and the Baltic nations had already recognized Slovenia and Croatia and the Vatican recognized the heavily roman Catholic republics this week. Austria Britain Belgium Denmark and Switzerland also joined the list wednesday. The United states has held off on offering recognition. The dec nations spurred by Germany agreed last month to recognize those yugoslav republics found to guarantee respect for human and minority rights and Promise to peacefully resolve Border disputes. Ready for Takeoff two California condors flex their wings after being freed tuesday from their Cage at los padres National forests Sespen Condor Sanctuary. Its the first time since 1987 that California condors have been Able to enjoy the  who used fax to escape is caught Phoenix apr police caught up with a forger who escaped from prison last month by having a fake release order faxed to his jailers authorities said. Jean Paul Barrett 27, was captured tuesday after he allegedly tried to withdraw nearly $5,000 from a checking account he had opened with a bad Check Barrett got out of the Pima county jail in Tucson on dec. 13 after jailers received a faxed court document ordering that he be freed. Barrett had been serving a 33-year sentence for forgery and fraud. After his release procedures were changed to require jail employees to verify release orders by Telephone. . Spy plane off s. Korea missing Fate of Pilot unknown students who killed Bird get proper scooper chores Baton Rouge la. Apr three College students accused of strangling an Ostrich were sentenced to what a judge called the a excrement details at an animal shelter. Louisiana state University students Robert a. Roberts 21, Brian b. Jones and Philip r. Robinson both 22, All of Baton Rouge were each ordered to perform 200 hours of Community service for the society for the prevention of cruelty to animals. State District judge a. Foster a foxy Quot Sanders Iii said tuesday the work would be a in the nature of the excrement detail which they Are in great need of Volunteer help and Community  the three men pleaded guilty to criminal trespassing in the death last april of a year old Ostrich. They were accused of entering a research pen near the leu veterinary school and killing the 220-Pound Bird. Washington apr an american u-2 spy plane went Down off South Korea while on a Itco Naissance Mission South of the demilitarized zone . Officials Aid wednesday. The Fate of the Pilot was not known. The incident a was not due to a hostile act a Pentagon spokesman Pete Williams said in a Brief interview. The . Military lost radio and radar Contact with the plane Over the sea of Japan shortly after 8 30 . Local time in Korea the Pentagon said in a statement. A a  re interested in monitoring activity around the Doz a a defense department official said when asked about the u-2 plane that went Down. The planes for years have routinely monitored the Doz Between North and South Korea and this flight was part of that reconnaissance Effort said the official speaking on condition of anonymity. The High Altitude fixed Wing aircraft carries a one Man Crew. It was a conducting a routine Mission in Sovereign airspace of South Korea with that governments knowl a Edge and approval a the Pentagon statement said. It said the aircraft is presumed lost off the country a East coast. There Are several . Air bases in Korea but observers noted this Craft could be from elsewhere in the Region including Japan. Jim Coles spokesman for the . 8th army in Seoul said Only that a . Air Force fixed Wing plane had gone Down and an Accident report would be filed later on the plane. Korean National police who would normally know about such matters said they had no knowledge of the incident. President Bush was notified of the crash wednesday morning while campaigning in new Hampshire White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said. A the president has been informed. We done to have Many details a Fitzwater told reporters in Dover . A they done to know Why it went Down a Fitzwater said. The u-2 made headlines More than 30 years ago when Francis Gary Powers was shot Down in one while on a reconnaissance Mission near Sverdlovsk in the soviet Union on May 1,1960. The . Government initially said Powers had been on a meteorological observation flight but under soviet pressure admitted that he had been on a spy Mission. Powers spent 21 months in a soviet prison before being exchanged in 1962 for a soviet spy. Suitor Bulldozer Way into his Lover s heart Beverwijk Netherlands apr a Lovesick Bulldozer operator who Tore up streets smashed up cars and toppled stoplights to win Back his sweetheart is registered to Mariy her today town Hall and newspapers reported wednesday. The 28-year-old local Man gained International notoriety last summer with his love rampage in the neighbouring town of Heemskerk. He wreaked the havoc after seeing her with another Man even though he had broken up with her just a week before. The two have apparently made amends and signed up for a civil marriage ceremony to be administered at town Hall today according to reports in nationally circulated newspapers. Municipal spokeswoman Jeanine Vanooijen confirmed that the prospective Groom who was identified As Hans Van w., was the Bulldozer maniac but refused to name the Bride or give further details in custom with privacy regulations. The papers identified the Bride As Sandra 34, of Heemskerk the bulldozers Lover who hid in her Sisters House during the july 18 rampage. The Groom is currently serving an 18-month sentence for his crime of passion but has reportedly been Given a one Day furlough for the wedding