European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 06, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 the stars and stripes . Thursday january 6,1994 decision delayed on stations move by the Washington Post Washington the Board that oversees radio free Europe and radio Liberty has put off a decision on a czech invitation to move the stations from expensive Munich Germany to reasonably priced Prague officials say. \ the officials said the Board for inter National broadcasting the stations inde pendent Parent organization discussed the matter monday. It then decided to defer1 the decision pending completion of a study by the Arthur Anderson account ing firm comparing costs of moving ver. Sus staying in Munich they said. The officials said a decision on the . Government financed stations could be made by month s end. The stations were established in the 1950s to counter controlled broadcasts in in the stars and stripes 10 years ago Jan. 6,1984 Navy Secretary John Lehman disputing a report that the Fleet was not ready for War said . Aircraft carriers on line in the Mediterranean Are loaded to the Gills with the latest  20 years ago Jan. 6,1974 armoured cars and Light tanks formed an Iron curtain around London s Heathrow Airport As the army mounted a massive anti terrorist Alert unprecedented in Britain in peacetime. 30 years ago Jan. 6,1964 West berliners said goodbye to East Berlin before the dam munits resealed their Wall after allowing Holiday visits. 40 years ago Jan. 6,1954 italian Premier Giuseppe Pella resigned in a Sud Den Climax to an internal feud involving the country s Middle of the Road Christian Democrat party. So years ago Jan. 6,1944 . 8th air Force bombers ranged far Over occupied Europe striking German airfields at Bordeaux and Tours in France and for the second straight Day made the 850-mile round trip to Hammer shipping installations at Kiel Ger Many. I world War ii i 50 years ago today Jan. 6 1.9.4.4 the red army crosses the polish Frontier of 1939, driving the be rafts from Rakitina. On new Britain . Marines extend the Cape Gloucester lines South to the Argiri River the japanese move More troops near the Akrawe beachhead. Adm. Louis Mountbatten cancels plan for Allied Landing in Central Burma because Landing Craft Are needed in the Mediterranean. Source 2194 Days of wat. W. H. Smith publishers inc. World almanac Book of world Wolf. Bison books corp., 198t a the then communist East. Radio free Europe broadcasts to Eastern Europe and radio Liberty sends its programs to Russia and other former soviet republics. Last october the czech Republic s president Voclav Havel invited the two stations to relocate to the building in Pra gue once occupied by the of czechoslovak legislature. Proponents of accepting the czech invitation argue that consider Able savings would be made by moving. Initial estimates by officials of the stations show that a move to Prague would reduce operating costs by $10 million to $15 million a year. However sources added these savings must be balanced against the costs of a Large scale move probable need to pay buyouts to Many employees who elect not to make the move and the requirement under Ger Man Law to fund the pension liabilities the radio stations would leave behind. The Board s decision could have considerable Impact on the future of the stations which Many Clinton administration officials and members of Congress regard As cold War relics that should be phased out. The administration s budget proposals Call for merging radio Liberty and radio free Europe with the voice of America broadcasting Arm of the . Information Agency. However the stations also retain Many supporters such As Havel who believe that the surrogate services of radio free Europe and radio Liberty should be kept Independent for a few More years until Eastern Europe s nascent free press has had time to mature. That argument has been underscored especially where radio Liberty is concerned by the Strong showing of Ultra nationalists in Russia s parliamentary elections last month advocates said. Sources said top executives of radio lib erty and radio free Europe strongly favor accepting the czech offer and the Broad casting Board also leans in that direction. On the other Side Many employees of the two radio stations mostly Eastern euro Pean e Migre s who have lived in Munich for years oppose being uprooted to the More spartan   sources said Usia director Josep Duffey who took part in monday s Board meeting essentially took a Neutral position toward the move although he stressed his organization is concerned that nothing Bedone to delay the proposed merger of the radio stations with the Voa. Goods for guns is dream come True for . Carpet Salesman who cared new York a when Fernando Mateo began Selling carpets 17 years ago he prayed for Success and made a Promise. The first few years things weren t going that Well he recalled. I made a Promise that if god gave me health and Success i would come Back and help my Community in any Way that i  now Mateo is fulfilling that Promise with goods for guns. It s a simple idea give a gun to police and get a $100 gift certificate no questions asked. So far More than 1,000 weapons have been turned in by everyone from children to grandfathers and the idea has spread. On tuesday Mateo and Benjamin f. Chavis jr., executive director of the a act announced they re taking goods for guns to los Angeles. Chavis said the National association for the advancement of coloured people will help Mateo organize a gun Swap in los Angeles and other cities. Mateo a native of the dominican re Public started the new York Swap three Days before Christmas putting $5,000 in toys a us gift certificates on his credit card and arranging with police to take in the guns at the 34th precinct in the crime Ridden dominican neighbourhood of Washington Heights. Donations have kept the program going Ever since with gift certificates now Avail Able for sneakers mattresses and gasoline As Well As toys. The soft spoken Mateo avoids taking credit. It was my son s idea he said. A min Ute later he added thank god for All the Media attention. It would t have worked without  and a minute after that it s All be cause of the Courtesy extended by the police it s been a joint Effort and i can t take  on monday at Mateo s Midtown Man Hattan carpet showroom the governor s office was on one phone line a newspaper reporter was on the other a to Crew waited in the lobby a City councilman sat nf2f�jb"slnssinan Fernando Mateo right and a act executive director Benja min f. Chavisjr. Discuss the guns for goods Campaign in los Angeles with local hous ing project resident Norma Gooden. In Mateo s office and two police official were outside. Don t Call me mister. I m Only 35," Mateo told a caller As he wolfed Down Sandwich. Mateo was the youngest of 30 children his father had with several different women. He came to new York at age 2 eventually dropped out of school and began Selling rugs on Manhattan s lower East Side As a teen Ager. Now his carpet fashions store takes in More than $2 million a year and he lives in suburban Westchester county with his wife and three children including the 14 year old son who told him that he would gladly give up his Christmas presents if he could get just one gun off the Street. Goods for guns is not the first time Mateo has tried to fulfil his Promise. He started a program to train prisoners to in stall carpet and floor tile. He won an award from the new York chamber of Commerce for speaking to High school students about staying i school and avoiding drugs. Tough Laws urged to help deadly Gary ind. I Kef i a i a a 1c / a a. ?._ i Ujj fans inn. Indianapolis a gov. Evan Bayh has proposed new Laws cracking Down on gangs and weapons Possession and said they could help the City of Gary escape its distinction As one of the dead Liest places in the nation. Gary mayor Thomas v. Barnes blamed easy Access to drugs and guns for last year s 110 homicides in his City of about 119,000 residents just Southeast of Chicago. Although official 1993 figures for the nation won t be released by the Fri until november Gary s estimated rate of 91 homicides per 100,000 people last year is Likely to put it ahead of Washington d.c., As the nation s homicide capital. Washington with a population of about 607,000, reported 467 homicides last year about 77 per 100,000. The governor s crime package is to be presented to lawmakers when the general Assembly convenes its 1994 session. Under the Bill 16 and 17-year-Olds would automatically be tried As adults for gang related crimes and gang related killings would be punishable by death. Illegal Possession of a handgun would be increased from a Misdemeanour to a felony carrying a maximum three year prison term. Parents could be sentenced to up to a Vear in jail for leaving guns within reach of children when a death or injury re sults. Areas within 1,000 feet of schools would be declared handgun free zones and people bringing guns into them could face up to eight years in prison