European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 21, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tims amp a 1942-1992 50 years of service vol. 51, no. 4 35c tuesday april 21,1992 d 8693 . Admits saudis sent arms without permission Washington api saudi Arabia transferred . Military equipment to Iraq in 1986 and to Syria and Bangladesh last year after the persian Gulf War without the required . Permission the state department said monday. When . Officials approached the saudis after learning of the transfers independently the saudis replied that the exchanges were inadvertent Deputy spokesman Richard Boucher said. He said the saudis offered assurances that such transfers would not occur again. Reports about the saudi activity first appeared Over the weekend in the los Angeles times which said that the transfers had the a Twink and nod approval of the Reagan and Bush administrations. Boucher described that allegation As false and also denied a charge in the times that the administration failed to Tell Congress once it Learned of the transfers. A in accordance with statutory requirements of the arms Export control act the department of state provided prompt notification of these unauthorized transfers to the Congress a Boucher said. He refused to say what Type of weapons were sent to the iraqis but the times report said they included a number of 2,000-Pound bombs. He said he did not know whether efforts were under Way to get the weaponry returned. The Reagan administration s stated policy during the 1980-88 Iran Iraq War was to refrain from sending weapons to either Side and to encourage other countries to follow the same approach. But the disclosures in the times account coupled with earlier revelations from the Iran Contra affair show that both Iran and Iraq were receiving . Weapons during their conflict. As for Syria the times said Intelli see saudis on Page 2expo 92 opens of work Crews finish exhibits Seville Spain apr Bells pealed fireworks exploded and workers were still hammering away on exhibits As expo �?T92 opened monday. A the Universal exposition is meant to convey to its visitors the Richness and variety of cultures that Man has created As Well As his capacity for innovation and the ideas of tolerance respect for pluralism and International Solidarity a King Juan Carlos said As he opened the largest Universal exposition in history. After 16 years of plan Ning billions of dollars of expenditures and Preca a Filp t Luw tons taken against the threat of terrorism the Gates opened at 9 . Bells in dozens of Seville a churches and convents pealed and fireworks exploded among hundreds of coloured balloons released into the cloudless sky. Even As the crowds waited for the Gates to open work continued on unfinished pavilions. The exposition celebrating the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus arrival in the new world brought 110 countries to Seville. Organizers Hope 18 million people will visit the fair before it ends oct. 12. The exposition covers a 531-acre site on la cart Uja Island in the Guadalquivir River across from downtown Seville. Spain invested $10 billion to build a High Speed rail line Between Seville and Madrid along with Bridges roads and other infrastructure to funnel millions of visitors to the expo  for the new world a Fleet of 82 sailing ships from 12 nations sets out from Christopher columbus1 Hometown of Genoa Italy on sunday on a journey to Mark the 500th anniversary of the explorers Maiden voyage to the new world. The first port or Call was to be Cadiz Spain the nation that sponsored Columbus explorations. Other stops include the Canary islands puerto Rico new York Boston and Liverpool  Sam getting selective about recruits by Christine Spolar the Washington Post Washington a As the military gears up to gear Down Uncle Sam might still want you a but he a getting pretty choosy about who a going to keep him company. Craig Gilbert of Vienna va., discovered that reality this Spring shortly after rejoicing about scoring near the top of the Chart on the military aptitude exam. Despite this feat the Recruiter had bad news for the 19-year-old dropout nothing less than a High school diploma could get him into today a army. No exceptions. Damien love of Forestville my on the other hand walked confidently into a recruiters office with a High school diploma and the knowledge that he had passed the recruiting exam two years earlier As a Sophomore. But he too had a Surprise in store exam standards had been raised and he no longer made the Grade. In Short military due resizing which will Cut the . Forces of 2.5 million to 1.65 million by 1995, Means that the army Navy air Force and marines Are asking would be recruits to be a Little More of what they can be before they Ever get to Boot Camp. The new standards Are expected to have a profound effect especially on the poor and Many minorities who saw the military As a was see recruits on Page 2