European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 2, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Vol. 50, no. 353 350 thursday april 2,1992 d 8693 atop nations plan $24 billion to help Commonwealth Bonn Germany apr Germany announced wednesday that the worlds seven wealthiest nations have agreed on a $24 billion package to help save the former soviet republics from chaos and economic ruin. Chancellor Helmut Kohl also said the troubled republics would be offered membership in the International monetary fund and the world Bank this month. The . Government has announced it is launching its own multimillion Dollar Aid program for the former soviet republics but it was not immediately Clear How that fits in with the broader International Aid announced by Germany. Kohl said the package is being drawn up by the group of seven Industrial nations which include the see plan on Page 2 Bush seeks to Aid Cis members Ruble Washington a president Bush is pledging a multimillion Dollar Aid program for Russia and other former soviet republics after enduring widespread criticism that the United states has moved too slowly with help sources say. Bush summoned congressional leaders to the White House on wednesday to outline the program. He was expected to declare support for an International fund to stabilize the russian Ruble. He also was expected to push Congress for a Long stalled $12.5 billion contribution to replenish loan funds for the International monetary fund. The administration believes some of the if Money could be used for the currency stabilization fund As Well As for Loans to the former soviet republics and other countries. Much of Bush a plan has been previously proposed or under consideration for months. The plan seeks a an increased american presence in the new Independent states through diplomatic missions the peace corps the . Information Agency and a new citizen democracy corps pushed by rep. Dave Mccurdy a okla. A the ability to waive any of More than 260 cold War Cra Laws that otherwise would limit . Relations and dealings with the former soviet republics. A a total of $620 million in economic and humanitarian Aid Bush proposed in his fiscal 1093 budget in january. A credit guarantees through the Export import Bank and the overseas private investment corp., technical assistance in building democratic and free Market economic institutions and new credits for Purchase of . Grain. . Support for Russia and the other former re pub see Bush on Page 2back-to-Back wins put Brown on a Roll new York a Jerry Brown is carrying two consecutive wins into the last week of the new York primary Campaign raising the stakes for Bill Clinton even while facing new attacks on his Flat tax proposal. Browne a win in Vermont on tuesday night a on the heels of his Connecticut win the week before a make next weeks contests even More important for Clinton. While trailing More than 6-to-l in delegates Brown could damage if not derail Clinton with a string of wins in late primaries. New York Kansas and Wisconsin All vote next tuesday. Puerto Rico votes sunday. Because of Browne a stiff Challenge Clinton has repeatedly attacked his rivals tax plan and begun a series of debates with the former California governor. But Clinton was turning his attention wednesday to president Bush cancelling a scheduled debate with Brown for a foreign policy speech in which he planned to criticize the president for moving too slowly to help the new Commonwealth of Independent states successor to the soviet Union. The Arkansas governor is proposing a fund to help the former soviet republics stabilize their currencies and to encourage the adoption of a . Volunteer democracy corps. Bush was offering a similar plan of his own wednesday according to administration and congressional sources. His also would declare support for an International fund to stabilize the russian Ruble and would create a democracy corps to help the struggling sex soviet republics. Brown defended his Flat tax plan in a debate double header with Clinton on tuesday but ultimately conceded his 13 percent Flat tax might not generate enough revenues to fund the government and a National health care plan. If so Brown said he would a then add to the  a people have to make that Choice a see Brown on Page 2the Issue downsizing the military editor s note the associated press asks the major presidential candidates a question each weekday about their views on a particular Issue and assembles their responses Here Are the views of the major presidential candidates on the question Quot do you agree with current Plant to reduce the size of the Active duty armed forces to 14 million by 1997?"republicans George Bush supports the Pentagon s efforts. Patrick Buchanan a spokesman said Buchanan had not taken a Public position on the  Jerry Brown a spokesman said Brown supports even further reductions in the number of Active duty troops than the Pentagon is considering. Bill Clinton Quot i believe we need a smaller More flexible military Force to meet new threats in the Post cold War Era. I believe we May be Able to reduce the size of Active duty armed forces below the 1.6 million currently  debating in new York Bill Clinton smiles As he applauds a Point made by Jerry Brown. Defense chiefs pledge control of nuclear arms ass Brussels Belgium a defense ministers from the former soviet Union and nato gathered together for the first time wednesday and immediately promised each other responsible management of their nuclear arsenals. The leaders meeting at the Headquarters of the 16-nation North Atlantic treaty organization also pledged to put in place by next july a landmark treaty slashing tanks artillery and other nonnuclear arms in Europe. The conventional forces in Europe treaty signed More than a year ago has never been implemented. Wednesdays gathering Drew together defense chiefs from More than 30 nations ranging from the United states and Canada in North America to the far reaches of the former soviet territory. A it is Clear that the North Atlantic Alliance has opened a new chapter in its his tory a said defense Secretary Dick Cheney. In their final statement the ministers agreed on the importance of the a Safe responsible and reliable control of the remaining nuclear arsenals. Western nations have expressed concern about 27,000 nuclear weapons on the territory of the former soviet Union. They want the former republics to move thousands of Short Range nuclear weapons to Russia where a Large number would be destroyed. On tuesday Cheney received fresh promises from three former soviet republics a Russia Ukraine and Belarus a that they would abide by an agreement to ship their Short Range nuclear arms to Russia by july 1. The ministers also agreed on closer military contacts including a seminar on see defense on Page 2