European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 24, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Day november 24, 1992 Money matters the stars and stripes b Page 17 today s rates following Are fixed rates at which Community banking and credit Union facilities will sell foreign currencies to . Personnel for personal use German mark.1.57 British Pound.1,55 dutch guildar.1.76 greek drachma .200.4374 note the rates above apply within the Host country. Figures Are expressed in dollars to the British Pound other currencies to the Dollar following Are Interbank rates that fluctuate and should be regarded As the approximate value of the . Dollar to foreign currencies italian lira .1,389.00 turkish lira .8,224.40 Spanish peseta.115.85 portuguese escudo.143.58 austrian schilling.11.297 saudi rial.3.7495 Bahrain dinar.0.37675 Kuwait dinar.0.2994 norwegian krone.6.56 danish Krone .6.235 British Pound.1.5177 German mark.1.60 Swiss franc .1.4405 French franc 5.425 dutch guilder.1.8008 belgian franc.32.99 Canadian Dollar.1.2853 note figures Are expressed in dollars to the British Pound other currencies to the Dollar s a Gold quote $334.25 an ounce Silver quote $3.76 an ounce Pittsburgh paper 7 unions reach tentative pacts Pittsburgh a the Pittsburgh Post Gazette Nas reached tentative agreements with seven unions leaving just Over a week for it to Settle with two other unions in order to buy its rival the Pittsburgh press. The Post Gazette announced oct. 29 that it planned to buy the Pittsburgh press. But the Deal required the Post Gazette to negotiate contracts with nine unions by dec. 1. Those unions included the teamsters whose 6-month-old strike has idled both papers. The delivery Drivers went on strike May 17 against the Pittsburgh press co. Over the company a plan to streamline delivery and eliminate 450 of 605 jobs and All 4,500 youth carriers. The Pittsburgh press co. Publishes the press and prints and distributes the morning Post Cla Otte under a joint operating agreement sanctioned by the Justice department. French Farmers protest . By shutting coca cola Plant Paris apr about 250 Farmers shut Down a coca cola Plant monday in a protest against a farm agreement Between the United states and the european Community stepping up pressure on the government to veto the Accord. Police ringed the production Plant at Rigny South of Paris As Farmers burned tires on the grounds and denounced a american  no violence was reported. The Farmers dispersed shortly before noon. Coca cola a is the biggest Symbol of an America that wants to extend its Hegemony More and More a said Hurve Morizot of the National Center for Young Farmers one of the protesters in Rigny. Cyrice do Salaberry coca Colas chief spokesman in Paris said the Farmers prevented workers from entering the Plant halting production for three hours. The Plant produces 20 million cases of Coke a year. A a it a too bad that the Farmers have taken coca cola As a Symbol of the problems Between France and the United states a do Salaberry said. A we have a Long history  the protest organized by the Young Farmers and the National federation of farm unions Frances largest farm organizations came in a Campaign conducted by the powerful farm lobby to derail the agriculture Accord. In related actions Farmers burned Hay and tires dumped crops or blocked roads with tractors in Valenciennes Arles Blois and Chalons sur Marne. The House of former agriculture minister Louis a Cromaz was struck by Graffiti spraying Farmers. In bus anon Farmers vandalized two coca cola vending machines and hurled the cans at a government building. An Iron Gate was damaged by a fire of burning tires. Premier Pierre Bergovoy on sunday demanded new negotiations and implied that Paris would veto the current Accord its too bad that the Farmers have taken coca cola As a Symbol of the problems Between Ranee and the United states. We have a Long history  Cyrice de Salaberry coca cola s chief spokesman in parts even though the 11 other members of the dec appear to support it. Farmers who claim the accords threaten their livelihood have urged massive protests wednesday outside the National Assembly when deputies debate the agreement. Agriculture minister Jean Pierre Sois son said that following the debate France Likely will Call for an extraordinary Summit of dec leaders to discuss the Trade negotiations. The Accord announced Friday would Cut subsidized dec agricultural exports by 21 percent and reduce production of some crops particularly Oil seeds. The it act removed the main obstacle to a Ong delayed world Trade agreement under the general agreement on tariffs and t Rade or Gatt. Washington had threatened to slap $300 million in tariffs on dec agricultural products mostly White wine by Dee. 5 unless the subsidy disagreements were overcome. Soisson interviewed in the French business daily la expansion acknowledged that Washington had made substantial concessions but complained that Caps on Oil seed production for Industrial uses to 1.5 million acres were Quot far too  Nicolas Sarkozy a leading member of the conservative rally for the Republic party said monday that the opposition would support a hard line. A it would be a catastrophe for Europe if the process is blocked but we can to make the concessions that Are asked of us today a Sarkozy said in a radio interview. Farmers who account for about 6 percent of Frances work Force find widespread sympathy among the French Public which has a special feeling for those who till the soil. Community farm ministers agreed in May to slash government supports for Grain and livestock production by up to 35 percent As part of a Reform of the eco a common agricultural policy. France grudgingly went along with the May agreement but was Quick to denounce the additional production and subsidy cuts announced Friday. Japan fears it s next on Trade Agenda by the los Angeles times Tokyo a now that America and Europe appear to have averted a Trade War Over Oil seeds the Trade guns will be turned on Japan. That is what Japan fears As Long stalled talks on the Uruguay round of the general agreement on tariffs and Trade or Gatt restart this week in Geneva. A key stumbling Block in the talks now in their sixth year has been Japan a ban on Rice imports. Trans Atlantic friction however has enabled Japan to avoid the thorny problem. Now that America and Europe apparently have made their peace articles splashed across the front pages of Japan a major newspapers said the pressure will be on Japan to open up. Japan fears that fail ure to accept some form of Rice imports will Lead to its isolation in the International Community. Prime minister Kiichi Miyaza was handling of the Rice Issue will be a major test of his leadership. So far he is moving cautiously. He vowed at an Impromptu news conference in front of his House Over the weekend that Japan would not end its Rice import ban. His agriculture minister Masami Yanabu promised that Japan would stand by its Rice Farmers. Although Farmers make up a tiny proportion of Japan a voting population they have disproportionate Power under the nations lopsided electoral system. Behind closed doors however government officials Are busily seeking the ingredients of a Compromise that could Avert a showdown in Geneva. In an interview with the los Angeles times last year shortly before becoming prime minister Miyazawa predicted Japan would negotiate a satisfactory Compromise on Rice a in the final  with Japan a Trade surpluses reaching record highs however there will be Little sympathy for Japan a position. Although Many analysts argue that Thailand and Vietnam not America would be the main beneficiary of an open japanese Rice Market the United states has Long placed a High priority on cracking the japanese Rice Market. The . Rice Millers association said Friday that it would ask Washington to take retaliatory Steps if Japan did not open its Rice  May actually get some Holiday cheer by Joyce m. Rosenberg the associated press Wayne . A it was slow going for hoppers at the Willowbrook mall one recent sunday. Finding a parking space seemed to take forever. Hallways and stores were packed and lines for the Cash machine Long. Sheer misery for those who were in a rash or who hate crowds. But for retailers it was the sweetest m a it their sore Eye had seen in some time they knew that if the Bustle was a my Man of what a to come the Christmas a Quot Ping season which has its unofficial 1 at Friday would turn out Well. It does indicate we should be in for a yes jul season a said Gary Yanosick Kaeting manager at Willowbrook in 1 new York City suburb of Wayne. A Many retailers across the country Al Christmas would be a marked change after three straight disappointing Holiday seasons. There Are some encouraging signs this year Overall business has gradually improved since january and the release of stronger october sales figures brightened expectations for the season. But the Outlook remains cautious. While Willowbrook and other malls in the new York area have been Busy not All retailers elsewhere have shared in that Good Fortune. A sales have been slightly sluggish since the election a said Steve Marotta an analyst at Johnson rebook service which analyses retail sales on a weekly basis. He said Overall sales have been Down so far in november from october Levels. Nonetheless Marotta predicted a Good Christmas with sales rising Between h percent and 9 percent. Janet Maiman. An analyst with Burn Ham securities inc., described business As a spotty by Region spotty by retailer a although Overall consumer traffic is up at the big malls and smaller neighbourhood shopping centers. She said the season might produce the same kind of erratic pattern. But Jeffrey Feiner of Merrill Lynch amp co. Said he was somewhat More optimistic based on retailers results the past few weeks. Yanosick sounded a Little surprised by the turnout at Willowbrook. A it s a Little bit unusual. Compared to the past two years. We be found the past two weeks to be excessively  some Industry analysts and economists had predicted that Consumers who have spent gingerly during the recession  weak recovery would feel better about shopping now that the uncertainty of the presidential Campaign was Over. T hat appeared to be the Case at Willowbrook. A the last two weekends we be seen a real increase not Only in traffic but merchants report their business has been increasing Quot Yanosick said. Retailers and analysts will be watching the first weekend of the season closely for clues about Consumers willingness to spend. A the Best read on the season is going to be the Day after thanksgiving How Consumers respond to merchandise which is not really on Sale a Feiner said. Catalon retailers also Are preparing for the busiest part of their year. Express delivery now makes it possible for Consumers to order gifts two Days before Christmas but most Catalon shoppers will place their orders by the first week of december. The most hectic Day at . Bean inc. Is the monday after thanksgiving. Spokeswoman Catharine Hartnett said the company expects to receive pm hit Calls that Day