European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 10, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Sunday july 10, 1994 the stars and stripes Page 3 ors a by sue Palumbo Mediterranean Bureau Naples Italy a few people have gotten a close up look at air Force military personnel at the naval support activity Naples Airport have spent the last four Days within a few Yards of the most famous plane in the world. A a we be been allowed to touch the plane but Only under very close supervision a said Petty officer 3rd class James Elswick who said he and his co workers arc glorified Gas station attendants for the aircraft. Air Force one and two other 747s took Over the military Airport for four Days during the group of seven economic Summit in downtown Naples. The presidents plane and the aircraft of his entourage were at the Airport As a Security precaution. A although air Force one arrived with its own aircrew technicians mechanics and secret service agents they also relied heavily on local military support. Elswick and his co workers were on standby to service air Force one at a moments notice including refuelling minor electrical re a pairs or finding a Cherry picker tall enough to use to Wash the planets Windshield. An extra 20 pieces of equipment were added to the inventory just to perform the Basic operations Elswick said. Much of that equipment had to be pushed around the flight line manually because of a shortage of vehicles. Having the presidents plane parked nearby also brought a Little excitement to military personnel who live in the Barracks a few Hundred Yards away. A a. Is amps Suo Palumbo Petty officer 2nd class Stewart Selden makes the handrails for the stage president Clinton will stand on at naval support activity Naples today. A it makes getting Home at night rather interesting a said Petty officer 2nd class Eugene Williams who also works at the Airport a we have to go through a series of checkpoints of military police and secret service Guys. Its understandable though. We All want to keep him Williams admitted that he and his colleagues were a bit disappointed they tour the plane or even photograph it. He Hopes an Opportunity to see the president tonight will give him something More to write Home about. The commander in chief is to speak at a Brief ceremony at the Airport and then spend about 30 minutes shaking hands with an expected 1,500 or More military personnel and their families. Although the entire ceremony and visit Are expected to be less than 45 minutes literally hundreds of Man hours have gone into the preparation about 20 Navy be abcs spent. More than 1,700 hours building the presidents stage press platforms and barricades for the ceremony. With less than two weeks notice of the event personnel worked through the weekends and late into the evenings. A this is a once in a life time Chance to build something for the president a said Petty officer 2nd class Stewart Selden despite temperatures of 95 do Grees and More the Seabee had Many of the structures built before secret service agents arrived Selden said. A few minor changes were made to allow for extra Security measures. Because of other Security Mea. Is Iris a the major freeway will be closed to All traffic a m Ore than 20 buses will be on hand to transport people to the ceremony. A this is a big Deal for everybody a said chief Petty officer Tim thrasher the Seabee supervisor. A not Many people can say a i built something for the president a or a i saw him or a i Shook his a i think it will really hit Home to my Guys when they see him step up onto the stage they built with their own hands a thrasher said. A a that a the picture that will go Home to Over hew by sue Palumbo Mediterranean Bureau Naples Italy a the italians Call them the new Kennedy. President Clinton and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton have captured the hearts of the helplessly romantic italians who have always had a soft spot for anything Kennedy. A the reminds me of president John Kennedy because he seems so sincere and trustworthy a said Antonio la Pia a contractor who hoped to catch a glimpse of the couple during their four Day stay in Naples for the group of seven economic Summit. A she Hillary is Beautiful like mrs. news of what the Clinton and other world leaders did away from the Summit received almost As much newspaper space As the conference itself. In the City of Caserta italian president Silvio Berlusconi took the Clinton to dinner. It was there in 1944, that Clinton a father tech. Sgt. William Blythe had served with the . Army. Volunteers honoured the president with a Large billboard marking the spot where his fathers unit had been. Amid their italian touring local journalists could not help but compare the first lady a fashion sense with that of her italian counterpart. Although the press applauded Hillary Clinton a new Hairdo and said her clothes reeked of elegance they pointed out that italian first lady Veronica Berlusconi was the height of italian fashion. Hillary Clinton scored High Points by bringing her daughter Chelsea and her Mother Dorothy Rodham to Bella a Veronica Burlus Donl left and Hillary Rodham Clinton Jour Castel Santa Elmo on saturday in pm a i it Les. /. Poli. The Fqy icily tradition remains Strong in than one negative comment was made by italian journalists wondering aloud Why the first ladies from Japan Ana of Tance were not present. Russian president Boris Yeltsin did bring his wife Naina but she stayed in a different suite which sent hotel manage ment scurrying to find enough Flowers and other amenities to fill both rooms. Locals Are still wondering Why the two would have separate bedrooms and Why they put their daughter in a different hotel altogether. However it was Hillary Clinton a snub of Veronica Berlusconi and the san Carlo opera House on Friday that really sent tongues wagging. The italian daily ii Mattino said the american first lady had a snubbed Veronica and san Carlo by giving up an invitation most women would fight Iron and fire Forit Hillary Clinton turned Down a Day touring with her counterpart to lounge around the Pool with her Mother and daughter at a hotel in Amalfi. Apparently san Carlo could not compare with the Chance to follow in Jackie Kennedy s footsteps to visit the celebrated Home of Gore Vidal author of Lincoln Burr and Myra Breckenridge and a Distant Cousin of vice president a1 Gores. The newspaper quoted Veronica Berlusconi As saying she also would have liked to visit Vidal but considered the Summit a working weekend and not a tourist Outing. One newspaper headline fumed that even Jackie o. Would have gone to san Carlo. But even with a social Blunder or two a some made note that the president enjoyed his neapolitan pizza so much he ate it with his hands a the Clinton Are still the favourites. A knife and Fork Are still the accepted Way to eat pizza in Italy. A to me they will always be the Golden couple just like John and Jackie a la Pia said. Few s net us., but Naples g n a i l a r n �?~is.1 a Quot Isih s i a is i �?�5al Vio a. A a. Mediterranean Bureau a. A. Naples Italy sic More than 5,000 government officials _ a delegates journalists and others in Naples last week for the group of seven economic suing not were. Amazed by the cleaner and brighter City by the Bay. For month City workers have a primed and painted in preparation and they received rave reviews from italians and foreigners alike. But Rome Wasny to built in a Day and neither was the a Pew a the water went off right in the _ Middle of my Shower yesterday Friday a said Peter Busowski a journalist with inside Washington publications. A it stayed off just Long enough for the soap to Start to get dry and crusty a the japanese delegation to the Trade talks had water but for one lost _ electricity. The entire delegation is staying at one of the most lavish hotels in town. According to italian press reports City workers were trying to make they accidentally Cut the wrong cable., italian officials w Ere Quick to Calm the delegations fears of a possible. Terrorist attack and asked them a not to take the incident personally a the neapolitan phone system managed Well for most Delegate Sand journalists despite the addition of hundreds of new lines. The Only complaints were from journalists who reported interference with their cellular phones. Most everyone in Naples has a cellular phone a even the fruit stand owners and kids on mopeds. Meanwhile Many locals say Only a neapolitan would try to steal a diplomats car from outside his or her hotel under the noses of More than 10,000 police and italian military personnel a and succeed. Italian television reports said there were two cars stolen since preparations for the g-7 began two months ago. A japanese delegates rental car disappeared last month while he was in downtown Naples. The russian ambassador to Italy lost his when his chauffeur parked it outside their hotel. Both vehicles were recovered the reports said. Other than a few minor incidents Naples has succeeded in putting its Best foot Forward. Security has been extremely tight and very visible. Ciro Lomastro Naples chief of police said that other than a mafia Shakedown squelched by police at a construction site he does no to believe that a common criminals have an interest in this a i think Naples has gotten an incredible bum rap a said Susan Mcinerey a journalist from the . Bureau of National affairs. A i know they did a lot of cleaning up for us but in be walked some of the Back streets also. It is Rich with Art and history and people Are so Nice and helpful. A a it a one of the most Beautiful cities in terms of a Summit in be Ever been to. Ill be Back to
