European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 27, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A couple of travellers from one of the 170 countries that Issue passports show their documents to a . Immigration official. National geographic passports double As political statements by Donald Smith National geographic it has been raining fiercely All morning. Yet about 70 people Many on lunch Breaks have turned out to apply for passports in the Gray carpeted Federal government office on k Street in Washington. Quot i m going to Poland to set up a housing venture Quot says Rocco j. Calabrese jr., one of those standing patiently in a line that snakes around the floor. Quot from what i hear of Poland they really like americans Quot adds Calabrese a building contractor from Edgewater my. Quot having a . Passport is a big  once viewed simply As a form of identification for travellers the passport has become an icon of International politics in Many parts of the Globe a a Symbol of National values and of who s on whose friends and enemies lists in the world Community. About 170 nations including the newly Independent Baltic countries Issue passports. The Burgundy coloured european Community passport is a Symbol of Unity among the 12 member countries. 1 Quot the dec passport is important like the Flag Quot says Ella Krucoff of the dec s Washington office. Quot the passport is a psychological Symbol of the  the Royal Blue dec Flag with its Circle of 12 Gold stars was adopted in 1986. The passport first authorized in 1981, has been used extensively since the mid 80s. Even great Britain which has been reluctant to surrender emblems of sovereignty is issuing dec passports As its Supply of British passports runs out. But passports also serve As tokens of International strife. Most Arab countries including the islamic Republic of Mauritania in West Africa express antipathy toward israeli passes or those that Bear israeli arrival visas. At least three nations a Mauritania Sudan and National geographic International travellers carry a wide variety of passports and other identity cards. Yemen a for years have demonstrated their opposition to the government of South Africa by barring its passport of stamp. Until recently the sultanate of Oman has denied entry to those with passports indicating travel to Libya. Quot that is no longer the Case Quot an omani embassy says. Quot our relationship with Libya has improved greatly and we Are no longer doing  some countries advertise their own moral or religious values by refusing to Honor passports on the basis of the bearer s appearance. Malawi in Southeast Africa refuses visas to men with Long hair. The use of passports has been traced  at least to 400 b.c., when the King of Persia reputedly granted a letter of Safe conduct to Nehemiah a babylonian he had appointed As governor of Palestine. The first individual american was issued a passport in 1796. Philadelphian Francis Maria Barrere was identified As Quot a citizen of the United states having occasion to pass into foreign countries about his lawful  today americans Are supposed to have Only one passport which is Good for 10 years. But restrictions against passports bearing israeli arrival Stamps has led the state department to cooperate with frustrated travellers by issuing two one exclusively for travel to Israel the other for travel everywhere else. The Arab stricture is so potent a political Symbol that one . Senator recently proclaimed a diplomatic breakthrough when it was waived in his Case. Joseph Lieberman d-conn., said his visit to saudi Arabia and Kuwait in september marked the first time either country had admitted a visitor with an israeli stamp on his passport. Quot with that simple but significant act of stamping my passport saudi Arabia and Kuwait have removed another obstacle from the Road toward peace in the Middle East Quot Lieberman declared. A Washington source close to the saudi government confirmed that the act did indeed Mark a significant change in policy a especially since Lieberman is jewish. But the source said the policy has not been publicly trumpeted in saudi Arabia for fear of Domestic reaction. Earlier last year a run in with another . Senator resulted in legislation that while not prohibiting dual passport practices in general is aimed at reversing any symbolic Cloud it May place Over Israel. During a persian Gulf trip in March Frank Lautenberg d-n.j., who i jewish also was denied entry to saudi Arabia and Kuwait. He was admitted Only after getting a separate passport from the state department. Now under a Lautenberg sponsored provision of the. State department appropriation for the current fiscal year the Agency May not Issue Israel Only passports. Steven Schlein a spokesman for Lautenberg says the purpose is to cast on the arabs whatever stigma might attach to the need for two passports. Quot the senator feels that their policy is wrong Quot Schlein says. Quot they accepted 500,000 american soldiers without inspecting their  24 stripes Magazine february 27, 1992 a