European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 03, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 r the stars and stripes Russia Sun res Brussels Belgium a still angry about nato s plans to admit for med Warsaw pact nations Russia brushed aside attempts Friday to get it to follow through on plans for closer Mili tary links. Russian foreign minister an Drei Kozarev refused to soften his opposition to a nato blueprint setting out conditions for the entry of East euro Pean countries in the coming years. He told a closed door meeting of nato and East european foreign ministers that Moscow could not move closer to the Alliance until nato provided More details about its intentions sources said. Kozarev they said questioned whether there had been any change in nato since it was a military machine opposed to the soviet Union during Trie cold War Era. On thursday Kozarev stunned . Secretary of state Warren Christopher and other foreign ministers of the North Atlan tic treaty organization by assailing the plan and backing put of a program for close military and political ties complaining that nato s proposals would create a new division of Europe. A Day later Christopher sought to play Down the incident which ruined the alliances efforts to present a United front on the sensitive Issue of expanding nato eastward. Despite Russia s objections nato Secretary general Willy Claes insisted we Are not ready to change any words in our decision to authorize a 12-month study of i  -1. Expansion. Although Russia was miffed about the expansion plans other East european nations were delighted. We think this is a important Milestone on the Road to an undivided Europe said Poland s foreign minister Andrzej Ole Chowski. -. Poland Hungary the czech Republic and others have demanded nato membership and the Security guarantees  would be attached. The allies though have been hesitant about moving too quickly to admit their one time foes for fear of upset Ting and isolating Russia still a formidable military Power. At a Summit in january president Clin saturday decembers 1994 nato ton Jarid other Allied leaders approved a . Initiative the partnership for peace for East european nations. Twenty three nations including Russia have enrolled in the project which allows them to take part for the first time in Mili tary exercises and other Alliance activities. On thursday the allies decided to push ahead and ordered a study of terms costs and conditions for expanding the Alliance. But mindful of Russia s worries they promised not to identify any front runner for membership or set entry dates. The russians will have a Chance to an Alyze what we did yesterday and i think they la find it to be responsible and deliberate Christopher said Friday. Santas Day off even Santa Claus likes to relax when he s not Busy pre paring for christinas. Here a Bunch of santas from the Western temporary services Santa school take sometime out at a Pool in Beverly Hills calif., before a graduation ceremony thursday. The school has been train ing about 3,000 santas each year throughout the United states Australia and new zealand for More than 25   _,.-   sick leave policy broadened by the Washington Post Washington " Federal workers May now take paid time off using their own sick leave to care for a Parent child spouse or Othet family member who Sill. A. " / the new Benefit became effective Friday. It also Al lows use of sick leave for any activity related to adopting a child and it can be used to attend the Fune ral of a family member. _ _ previously Federal workers could use their own sick leave Only when they hot a loved one were  Many Federal Personne offices had4old workers that the new sick leave rules would not go into effect until dec. 22. But the office of personnel management has confirmed that the Benefit was to begin Friday As part of a Clinton administration Effort to get it in place be fore the Christmas new year Holiday period. The office said the new family Friendly leave act guarantees full time Federal workers the use of five Days of sick leave each year to take care of a family member or for bereavement purposes employees who want to take More than five Days of sick leave but fewer than 13 must have a sick leave bal Ance of at least 80  s to make sure that the individual employee who earns 13_days of leave each year has enough time in Case he or she gets sick. The new Law pm 103-388,  to use their own sick leave to take care of family members who Are physically or mentally ill As Well As to help family Mem Bers who Are injured pregnant or recovering from childbirth. It can also be used to take them to the Doc Tor or dentist. The Law defines a family member As a spouse any individual related by blood or Affinity whose relationship to the employee is the equivalent Ofa family  the new Law also extends the Benefit to part time employees on a pro rated basis. Soldering Achilla Lauro sinks off Somalia Djibouti a the Achille Lauro Sank Friday As nearly. 1,000 survivors of the ill fated cruise ship s final tragedy steamed toward safety in a Motley Armada of warships and freighters. Two elderly passengers died and eight passengers were injured after fire erupted in the engine room be fore Dawn wednesday and engulfed the ship defying efforts by the Crew to contain it. The soldering ship which had been listing off so Malia Sank Friday evening italian coast guard it. Francesco d Amico said in Rome. The coast guard coordinated Rescue operations after the ship caught fire in route to South Africa on wednesday. Passengers Clad in evening clothes and pyjamas clambered aboard lifeboats and rafts and evacuated the ship. Eight cargo vessels and two american warships the guided missile Cruiser Gettysburg and guided missile frigate Halyburton carried the Achille Lauro s surviving passengers and Crew members to safely. A Happy hello for mrs. Claus elves and Deer dear Santa How Are you Fine i Hope. I Don t need no pre sents this Christmas because my parents got me a whole Bunch already. You May come by my House to say hello and get some milk and Cook ies. The gifts you would have Given me pleas give them to someone else. Tell mrs. Claustre elves and the Reindeer hello for me. Teach Jackson. Dear Santa i my name is Aaron. I am five. I go to kindergarten. This is my Christmas list. I Don t want All of these things just two. I want to save som toys for All the other boys. 1pretend police uniform 2. Lion King electric Toothbrush 3. Toolbox with tools 4. Railroad set 5. Electric fire engine 6. Dinosaur chair. Love.-. _ Aaron Drummond dear Santa. _ 1 have been a Good girl most of the time. I Only 3 years old so what do you expect i really am trying to be a Good girl. I would like a doll that squeaks like my Siste Chelsea s doll squeaks. I would also like a Blue Ball. I will leave some milk and cookies for you.1 Hope you like chocolate Chip. I m going to ask Mummy to bake some for you. Love " " _ v  Catrina e. Rayl _ Santa also received Nice Christmas letters an lists from the children listed below Caso Crosby  Jeffrey Van tees Nathan Yotard Zachary David Stephen Murray Jordan Wowra a Trina do Spaey Monica Martinez Amy David Erika Johnson Emily a Chittka Stephanie Niesen Chri Alvarado Chelsea Warnick Megan Gross Deidra Reynolds Jacob Metoxen Tyler Creech Micha Elcain " Foster Alley Uzzy Kommer Timothy Toter to Tommy Teoy Michael Yotard Jessica Drummond Kate David Bast Rort Nel Alexander warns Dylan Dempsey Sarah David Lauren Smith. Chaste Covington Allison Niesen Douglas Alvey Moriak arado care Darayl Alyssa Gross Christina lock tear Annanda Creech Dale Cain toy Lebess Phillip Alley Karen Myrnea questions about letters to Santa and the Art contest Call Michelle at Dan 348-8361. L