European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 08, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The st184anripessuisx a a vol. 52, no. 265 500 saturday january 8,1994 d 8693 a nato Rebuff of East forecast. -. A byed Reavis Staft writer the former soviet satellite countries urgently seek ing nato membership Are Likely to receive Little More than what they View 35 an empty partnership offer at the Alliance s Summit next week a senior nato offi Cial says. Diplomats and Heads of some former soviet bloc countries have been mustering All their Powers of per suasion in asking the Alliance to let them join nato immediately. See related Story on Page 4 barring immediate membership they Are expected to seek a definite link Between the partnership arrange ment and full fledged membership. But the nato official said those nations Are Likely to be disappointed on both counts when president Clinton meets with other Allied Heads of state in Brus Sels Belgium on monday and tuesday. As you know we Are not prepared to name coun tries for possible membership now the official said. We Are not prepared to give a timetable now. It is an evolutionary  nato also has no intention of formally linking participation in its partnership for peace plan to eventual membership the official said. The program is designed to increase cooperation with nato through joint military training and exercises. Countries seeking Alliance membership want Security from possible Imperial adventurism by Russia which see nato on Page 4 attack on figure skater contest Detroit a figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was unable to compete in the . Figure skating championships on Friday night be cause of injuries she received when a club wielding Man attacked her thursday however her absence May not keep her out of next month s win Ter olympics. On thursday Kerrigan of Stoneham mass., was practising her program at Cobo Arena in de troit. Stepping off the ice she stopped to talk to a reporter. A stranger approached and struck her on the knee with either a Metal bar or a club. Kerrigan crumpled to the ground screaming god Why me Why me the assailant escaped. Kerrigan s severely bruised right knee worsened thursday night and doctors who drained blood from it Friday morning decided that skating would risk further in the decision was based on pain in her right knee even after the doctor used a local aesthetic to numb the knee or. Mahlon Bradley said. Kerrigan the 1993 . Champi on and 1992 olympic Bronze med Alist was the favorite to retain her National title As Well As contend for a medal next month in Lillehammer Norway. . Figure skating rules pre clude a competitor from being selected for the olympic team if the athlete does t participate in the National championships or did not win a medal in the previous world championships. Although Kerrigan was fifth at the 1993 worlds she was a favorite for a medal at the see skater on Page 2 a Nancy Kerrigan of Stoneham mass., skates on the ice at Cobo Arena in Detroit on thursday after noon just before an attacker hit her on the leg. Reno reportedly backs outside look into Clinton Case Washington a at Torney general Janet Reno has indicated to aides she is Likely to seek court appointment of an in dependent counsel to investigate president Clinton s role in an a Kansas real estate venture As soon As Congress passes a new. Ethics Law an administration official said. However White House coun Selor David Gergen said Friday that she s undecided on  interviewed on Abc he said but if it comes to a special pros see Reno on Page 2 Reno i i n to n j of n s f  i by for funeral Home visit hot Springs Ark. A a somber president Clinton con Soled his half brother Friday after they paid a 15-minute private visit to the funeral Home where their Mother Virginia Kellcy Lay at rest Roger Clinton wept As he walked out of the funeral Home into an unusual snowfall Friday morning. The president put his  around the younger Clinton s shoulder. Joined by their step father Richard Kelley the three climbed into a waiting limousine for the ride Back to their Mother s House. A Public viewing was to be held from 11 . To 4 . On Friday at the Gross funeral Home. Funeral services for Kelley who died in her sleep Early thursday after a Battle with breast cancer were to be held today. The three men also paid a Pri vate tribute at the funeral Home thursday night their Short motor Cade passing silently through town without the usual flashing police lights and blaring sirens. It s been a fairly Long Day White House press aide Jeff Eller said outside the funeral Home. He s in pretty Good spirits considering he lost his  Clinton on thursday flew to hot Springs the town where he grew up after being notified of Kelley s death in a phone Call from his Stepfather at 2 30 . Est. First lady Hillary Rodham Clin ton and their daughter Chelsea see Clinton on Page 2 grabs six grammy award nominations the search for the real thing see pages 16-17 see Page 20