European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 1, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday saturday january 112,1993 world the stars and stripes Page 9 Czechoslovakia divides it saddens Many parliament approved a Bill allowing the country to Divide into two Independent states at year s end. Of a  Poland 5 \ czech % _/7xrepubtlc i it Austria. A Slovakia Bratislava be too Miles 100 pm. Hungary a Ryffe a i \ Prague czech Republic a at the stroke of Midnight thursday this country founded 74 years ago on the ruins of the Austro hungarian Empire ceased to exist. V despite a half year of negotiations to realize the split some czechs and slovaks still can to quite believe they Are waking tip in separate countries today. "1 know it had to be done but it too sad a said Anna Cervenkova a 36-year-old czech housewife summing up the sentiment of Many in what is now Slovakia and. The czech Republic. Quot a few years ago i would never have believed we could of have a Czecho slovak problem and now they Are building customs offices at the Border a she said. Opponents of the split demanded a ref Erenbaum and opinion polls showed Many cd t a a diplomats this week exchanged notes proposing to establish formal relations. Czech foreign minister Josef Zieleniec announced that his first foreign trip probably would be to a where else a Slovakia. Despite their deep differences czech and slovak leaders made Good on their citizens opposed the break fiut no referendum was held a in either Republic or across Czechoslovakia. Now after six months of sometimes excruciating talks to Divide up everything front hockey teams to air Force jets about All that is left Are a few formalities. Bonn Germany a f Chancellor Helmut Kohl in a traditional new years message sharply condemned Radical rightist violence in Germany and called on the nation to support police and Justice officials in dealing with the  a whoever ignores it contributes to encouraging violence. The prevention of violence is up to All of us Kohl said in a prepared message that was provided Early to the news Media and was to have been broadcast to the nation on thursday. _ officials reported More than 2,100 Radical rightist attacks in Germany last year mostly against foreigners. At least 17 people were killed mostly germans. In addition numerous jewish cemeteries and memorials were desecrated Awakening memories of the Rise of hitlers nazis in the 1930s. A. A a a a. A a during december hundreds of thousands of germans demonstrated in candlelight parades in cities throughout the country to protest the violence and rising Neo nazism. Kohl said the demonstrations supporting foreigners show clearly that the a vast majority of germans reject xenophobia and anti semitism. A we will not allow Success for political extremists either from the right or the left a Kohl said Belfast gunmen murder Soldier in front of wife London up a police thursday were invest gating the killing of an off duty Soldier by gunmen in front of his wife in his North Belfast Home wednesday night. Steven Waller 23, of the Royal Irish regiment was shot at Point Blank Range in front of his wife in the Hall of his Home in Westland Road in the old Park District of North Belfast police said. A two men knocked at the front door and his wife went to open it. The Man came into the hallway and a dumber hotshots were fired a said a spokesman for the Royal Ulster constabulary. -7 Quot a the Soldier who was on Christmas leave from Cyprus died threes to mme later in the Hospital from gunshot wounds to the Chest and legs she said. The two gunmen escaped in a red Ford Sierra car which had been hijacked in the nearby Republican Ardoyne District and was found abandoned in the same area a Short time later the spokesman said. No Jwo up has so far claimed responsibility for the killing. The Ruc spokesman said a fall the killings Are horrific a Soldier killed in front of his wife and at this time of year. What can you say a the Soldier was the third member of the Royal Irish regiment murdered since it was formed in 1991 when the Ulster defence regiment amalgamated with the Royal Irish rangers. Despite their deep differences czech a a a go \ vows to avoid the bloodshed that has marked the disintegration of Yugoslavia and the soviet Union. Dubbed the velvet divorce a after the 1989 velvet revolution that ended communist Rule theirs is the first peaceful breakup of a former communist country in Europe. R at the Root of the breakup were differences Over political and economic reforms that arose following the end of communist Rule. Communism a demise also freed politicians in Slovakia Czechoslovakia a Eastern third to vent pent up aspirations of Many slovaks for autonomy from their Richer Tymofe numerous czech cousins. The split became inevitable after june general elections. Czechs heartily endorsed the Quick transformation to a mar Ket based Economy championed by Premier Vaclav Klaus. Slovaks closed ranks behind Vladimir Mcdiar a populist and former communist who preferred slower less jars a ring change a a a a.  a mostly Rural Region of 5 million people Slovakia has been hit hard by Prague s tartar Ket Orion cd Reform drive. Unemployment has soared to 12 percent largely because of closures or cutbacks in outmoded Cornu nist Era industries concentrated there Slovakia is saddled with Many weapons factories / a a it a a a. The 10 million people in the wealthier czech lands have suffered considerably less. They have attracted the vast majority of the country a foreign investment helping keep unemployment at about 4 percent Mesiar argued for a Loose confederation instead of a total split in an attempt to win political sovereignty while maintaining a lifeline7 to the stronger czech Economy. Klaus anxious to push ahead with his reforms insisted that any break had to be a clean one. N. Is. Us so w amp tax he to Quot v a so. T a a a a a a up Rigo Burtn Menchu visits a mayan archaeological site South of Campeche Mexico on wednesday. She was touring Camps in Southern Mexico to meet refugees from Guatemala a civil  Winner won t out guatemalan presidential bid Campeche Mexico a Nobel peace prize Winner Rigoberta Menchu said wednesday she does no to Rule out a run for the presidency of Guatemala but said she would t take part in the next elections. A a it a not a bad dream a Menchu said when a reporter sked if she might seek Guatemala a presidency she said the right to run for a presidency a a should be important to any citizen Wirthe  Menchu said she  take part in the next elections because she is Busy with activities connected with her 1992 peace prize and with the International year of Indian people in 1993, however it was unclear if she was referring to the next presidential election in 1996 or to elections for other offices scheduled earlier. Menchu who won the peace prize in october has opposed Long standing government oppression and other abuses against guatemalans on wednesday she was touting the Southern mexi can state of Campeche to meet refugees from Guatemala a civil War. Many fled after their villages were attacked by the army or when they were caught in conflicts Between soldiers and guerrillas. Menchu lived in exile in Mexico for years after her Village was attacked by the army and  her family were Kil Letky some 35,000 guatemalan refugees live in Mexico near the Border with their country and the first return is scheduled for Jan 13. Menchu said Many of the refugees Are fearful especially after guatemalan military leaders recent threats to take action against returning refugees they consider linked to the guerrillas. On nov. 28 and 29, troops attacked three villages in the ixc3n District where More than half of the refugees plan to return. Menchu urged the government and refugees to hold More talks to assure the safety of the return