European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 4, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 12 the stars and stripes a my world saturday december 4,1993 buying blizzard Street vendors in Moscow ignore falling Snow and freezing temperatures on thursday to peddle their wares. Severe frostbite reportedly caused the deaths of 31 people in Russia last month fret Over planned Berlin apr workers at radio free Europe Are angry Over reported plans to slash their budget and move their base to the very countries they once targeted with their broadcasts. The workers cite an internal management memo obtained by the associated press that says it maybe easier to Cut the staff if the Munich operation moves to Prague because czech labor Laws Are less stringent. A Many of my colleagues were brought specially to Munich from All Over the world and now they re asking what to do Quot said Coorg Kretchner a czech who has worked for 10 years at radio free Europe. A i am 44, the worst age to get a new Job Quot he said. Kretchner is a member of the staff Council negotiating with management on a severans amp package. Management is aware of morale problems said Richard Mcbride executive director of the Board for International broadcasting the Washington Agency that oversees the Munich operations and the voice of americk a we plan to live up to All contractual obligations a he said in a Telephone interview. A there Are some advantages to moving to Prague a he said but he doubted that Tabor Taw would be the deciding Factor. Mcbride acknowledged that the Munich staff had been hit by abruptly announced measures As the Clinton administration changes the broadcast Structure. The budget of $223 million is dropping to $208 million in fiscal 1994, then plunging to $75 million in fiscal 1996. A we had gone several years without much change in the budget so it s a rather cataclysmic change for the organization a Mcbride said. Radio free Europe and radio Liberty went into service after world War it As Central intelligence Agency backed broadcasters to Eastern Europe and the soviet Union respectively. The Cia link ended in the Early 1970s, and the Board for International broadcasting was formed to Channel funds from Congress to the radio stations which broadcast in 21 languages. The Clinton administration proposes merging the Munich stations and the voice of America in a new Agency. It May move the Munich Headquarters to Prague or Washington and wants to slash Overall staff from 1,500 to 750. About 1,100 work in Munich. Czech broadcast services Are to move to Prague polish to Warsaw. Broadcasts to Hungary and Afghanistan stopped in october. The afghan staff had Only one Day to prepare a Farewell program before the plug was pulled oct. 19. A it was certainly abrupt a said Stephen Sego supervisor of six afghan broadcasters _ _ a this shakes morale to happen so  a Abdul Bari Hakim 40, has worked for radio free Afghanistan since 1986 and always hoped to return to his country after a Victory of the Muslim warriors. But now the contending forces Call him and his colleagues a known members of the Cia and imperialists working for interests of the United states and the West a Hakim said. Sex weightlifter slugs German president Bonn Germany apr a homeless former weightlifting Champion who punched president licit Ard von Weizsacker told police that he wanted a Day in court to talk about the presidents links with the nazi Era. P Weizsacker 73, suffered a Cut lip and a bruised nose after being punched thursday night outside the Thalia theater in Hamburg. But he attended the performance. Bodyguards immediately arrested the attacker police said. They did no to have a Chance to prevent the attack because it came so suddenly said Weizsacker a spokesman Hans Henning Horstmann. Hamburg police spokesman Michael Wenig on Friday identified the Man As Gunther , 48. Poersch the 1970 German heavyweight weightlifting Champion is homeless and hangs around St. Pauli the port s red Light District Wenig said. A District court was considering whether to charge him or commit him to psychiatric care. Weizsacker a father was a leading third Reich Diplomat. Weizsacker himself served in the military during world War ii a As did nearly All germans of age. He was wounded several times and was a Captain at wars end. As president Weizsacker has earned worldwide Praise by speaking out against Neo nazi violence and reminding germans not to forget their responsibility for the holocaust the nazis annihilation of 6 million jews. Police questioned Poersch and found no ties with Radical rightist or leftist movements Wenig said. Ossetian nationalists ask Russia for Stalin s body from wire reports _ Tbilisi Georgia a a group of ossetian nationalists in Russia caucasus mountains is appealing to Moscow to return the body of the. Regions most famous native son soviet dictator Josef Stalin. The a committee for Stalin s body was set up this month in Vladikavkaz capital of the autonomous Republic of North Ossetia which is just Over a Mountain Range from Georgia. T a Stalin was ossetian and his body must be returned to his ancestors a committee head Avram Duhot Siev told the newspaper Severnis Kavkaz. He said the group would Bury Stalin in Vladikavkaz 950 Miles South of Moscow. Stalin whose real name was Joseph Dzhuga Shvili is now entombed along a Wall of the Kremlin he was born in Georgia in 1879, to a georgian Mother. But his father a Shoemaker who died when Stalin was a baby is believed to have been ossetian shift to Mexico sought Mexico City a lawmakers want to change their country a official name from a United mexican states to simply a a Mexico As a Way to assert National identity and prevent confusion under the North american free Trade agreement in Spanish Mexico s official name is Esados Anidos Mexicanos similar to Esados uni Dos the name for the United states. Some believe the names sound too much alike. Mexican Media reported wednesday that the name change was presented to the Federal chamber of deputies the lower House of parliament Early this week. Thiere was no word of when lawmakers would vote. Deputies who belong to the ruling institutional revolutionary party say the name change would Dodge any possible confusion after n Afta takes effect Jan. 1. A a. No sex change no Money. Sydney Australia a a transsexual who has lived As a woman for the past 10 years has had government paid pension taken away because he Hasni to had sex change surgery. The Federal court ruled that he should have had the operation before applying in 1985 for the pension meant for wives of disabled men. The transsexual has been the live in companion of a disabled Man since 1983  he cannot afford surgery which would Cost about $6,000. I details of wednesdays court decision were published in newspapers thursday. The Many a name was not released by the court. Portuguese doctors strike Lisbon Portugal a portuguese doctors began a two Day strike thursday in a bid to Force the government to increase spending on health care and to open talks with doctors on health sector policy. Than 80 percent of Portugal s 29,000 doctors heeded the strike Call Trade unions said. Emergency and intensive car services were not affected. Union spokesman Antonio Bento said the strike was Caunca at forcing the government to stick to pay agreements and consult doctors about new measures for the sector. Iraq returns passengers Athens Greece Iraq returned 31 people who were aboard an iranian aircraft hijacked this week and flown to the Southern iraqi City of Basra the official islamic Republic news Agency said the 31 people including three Crew members of the Fokker aircraft hijacked monday were sent Home Overland and crossed the Border Between the two countries at the Khosro a i checkpoint 100 Miles Northeast of Baghdad. Iran earlier demanded the return of the plane bulb crities have withheld it. Basra about 275 Miles Southeast of Baghdad lies within a no Fly zone enforced by  coalition forces in the area. The Hijacker identified As Ali Reza Karami Khe Rabadi reportedly asked for political Asylum for himself his wife and five children and apparently remained in Iraq. There has been no further word on him after he sought Asylum