European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 10, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday november 10,1992 the stars and stripes b Page 3gatt session to tackle Trade impasse from staff and wire reports Geneva a the world Trade body has called a special meeting in Geneva today in an attempt to break the deadlock Between the United states and european Community that is holding global Trade hostage. Ambassadors to the los nation general agreement on tariffs and Trade met in a monday planning session for today s talks. Officials declined to say however what the format would be. The meeting to discuss what one official called a the very grave situation that has Arisen in world Trade was scheduled after ambassadors met with Gatt director general Arthur Dunkel on Friday to express their concern Over the trans Atlantic impasse. Growing  tension led to american plans announced last week to impose stiff tariffs on specific products imported into the United states from the 12-nation Community. The dec has threatened to retaliate. Nato Secretary general Manfred Worner said monday that a Trade War Between the United states and dec if allowed to develop would Quot severely Strain Security cooperation and damage our  trans Atlantic relations have to be actively protected Worner said even though he expressed general optimism about the future of those tics under the administration of president elect Clinton. A we cannot afford a Trade War with the .a.,�?� said Werner speaking to German politicians in Bonn Germany. A this would not Only have devastating economic consequences for both sides but would also severely Strain Security cooperation and damage our  the United states has said it would begin placing a 200 percent tax on imports of French White wine and other european products in december in retaliation for the eco a refusal to Cut farm subsidies. Werner made the remarks in a speech before the economic Council of Germany a Christian democratic Union. Werner told members of the conservative party that europeans interested in continued Strong tics with the United states also must be ready to take on More geopolitical responsibility. But a even an increasingly United Europe cannot solve problems alone he said. A Europe and the world beyond Europe needs Active american participation to organize the reaction of the International Community of states to crises and challenges a he said. A it would be a fatal mistake on the part of the euro scans to think of the political and military presence of Lorth America in Europe As in some Way guaranteed or to consider it to be founded solely on economic interdependence a the nato Leader told members of his country. A durable links require an institutional Anchor. Nato is the institution that embodies the lasting  Werner labelled As a ungrounded Quot fears that the Clinton administration a might move away from  he cited the democratic president elects repeated statements about nato . Foreign policy and National interests. A America can and will not abandon its vocation As world Power a Werner said adding that the new administration s Likely shift to resolving Domestic economic and social problems a lies fully in Europe a  a we Are Best served by a Strong socially stable and economically sound America a he said. A moreover i am convinced that the change of emphasis will hot Lead to isolationism or the withdrawal of american troops from  Apolla Rob Doc a mechanical Arm with a Drill at the end goes through its paces during testing in 1990 at Sutter general Hospital in Sacramento Calif. Hip new Way to do surgery robot assists in procedure Sacramento Calif. A with nerves of steel superhuman precision and no bedside manner whatsoever a 7-foot surgical assistant called Rob Doc entered medical annals Over the weekend. Rob Doc a mechanical Arm with a Drill at the end was used saturday during hip replacement surgery on a patient at Sutter general Hospital. Spokesman Lloyd Benson said it was the worlds first operation using a surgical robot. The unidentified patient was reported in stable condition. The machine dubbed Rob Doc by its inventors was programmed to Drill a precise Hole in the patients leg Bone that enabled surgeons to insert the replacement hip without using Cement. Doctors can make the 6 to 10-Inch Hole manually but the developers of Rob Doc believe the computerized Drill improves precision. The operation was the first of 10 tests approved by the food and drug administration to determine if Rob Doc is Safe and effective for use during hip replacement surgery. More than 200,000 americans undergo hip replacement every year. Robots have been used in human surgeries before said Joe Englberger chairman of a robotics company called try in Danbury Conn. In the 1980s, a robot at a California Hospital was used to Drill holes and guide probes for brain surgery. It was used in More than 20 procedures he said in a Telephone interview monday. In addition British scientists have been testing a robot with humans for prostate operations he said. Hospital administrator Larry Maas noting robotics have been used in Industry said a we see no reason to exclude health care from that technology. We believe the technology will have major applications not just for  Rob Doc is a product of integrated surgical systems inc. Of Sacramento. Or. William Bargar an orthopaedic surgeon and veterinarian Howard Paul developed the procedure and formed the company with partners that included ism. The operation on a human came after six years of work and 26 surgical tests on dogs. Rorr to rope. High court won t of aids pension lawsuits Washington fall a the us Washington a the supreme court on monday refused to let aids sufferers sue under a Federal Law that protects pensions when their employers change health care plans to escape costs of treating the disease. The court with two dissenting votes let stand rulings that the employee retirement income Security act of 1974 does not bar employers from curtailing or ending coverage for any ailment. Justices Harry a. Blackmun and Sandra Day of Connor voted to hear arguments in the Case but four votes arc needed to Grant such review. Asked for its opinion the Bush administration urged inc justices to leave the lower court rulings intact. Nothing in the 1974 act prohibits an employer from amending health plans to Cut costs even if those changes disadvantage people with aids or other diseases government lawyers said. But they noted that newer Federal Laws such As the americans with disabilities act of 1990, might forbid such practices. That Law took effect for most employers in july. It says employers cannot discriminate against aids victims by changing pay and a other terms conditions and privileges of  in other action the court a agreed to decide whether a Florida Many a Possession of a gun during a Bank robbery  treated As a a crime of violence Quot and be used to stiffen his prison sentence. In voting to review the Case the court seemed to set the stage for an important ruling on the sentencing Powers of Federal judges. It apparently must decide whether commentaries authored by the Federal sentencing commission to explain sentencing guidelines Are As binding As the guidelines themselves. A would not revive an invasion of Pri Vacy lawsuit against an Auto parts Plant in Michigan that required its employees to undergo drug testing. The court without comment rejected an Appeal by a group of former employees who said Plant managers had not linked any accidents or disciplinary problems to drug use. A agreed to decide whether Oklahoma May impose income and motor vehicle taxes on Sauk and Fox indians who work and keep their cars on tribal land. The court said it will hear the Oklahoma tax commission s argument that the group loses round Over base closings Washington up the supreme court on monday vacated a decision that would have made it easier for states to Challenge the governments plan to close certain military bases. The court threw out a ruling that let opponents of a plan to close the Philadelphia naval shipyard pursue their Case in court. A a an appeals court had ruled last april that judges have a narrow jurisdiction Over the governments base closing decisions. The appeals court overturned a ruling made in . District court that said the defense base closure and realignment act of 1990 stripped the courts of jurisdiction. The suit had been filed by six . Senators six members of the House three governors the City of Philadelphia and three shipyard labor unions. The government argues that a commissions findings on base closures a that included the Philadelphia naval shipyard a could have been rejected by the president and Congress and was therefore a a tentative recommendations not subject to judicial review. The Justice department argues that the 1991 decision of an Independent commission to close 34 military installations including the Philadelphia facility and realign 48 other installations which was approved both by Congress and president Bush can to be reviewed. Indians must pay state taxes because Many do not live on land the state holds in Trust for the tribe. A turned Down the Appeal of a Kun flux klan Leader convicted and sentenced to death for what prosecutors said was the random killing of a Black Man in Mobile ala., 11 years ago. The court without comment left intact rulings that said Henry f. Hays received a fair trial and a proper sentence