European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 20, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 the stars and stripes tuesday december 20,1994 serbs offer cease fire after talks with Carter Pale Bosnia and Herzegovina a Bosnia serbs proposed a four month nationwide cease fire and restoration of . Activities throughout Bosnia after Daylong talks monday with former president Garter. According to a statement by Carter and bosnian ser Bian Leader Radovan Karadzic after seven hours of talks the serbs also agreed to resume peace negotiations on the basis of an existing five nation plan during the cease fire period. Because there is no communication Between bosnian serbian Headquarters in Pale and the bosnian govern ment Headquarters in Sarajevo Carter said he could not consult the government about the serbs offer. He planned to meet with bosnian president Alija Izette Govic Early today in Sarajevo. Previously bosnian serbs had insisted on a Perma nent cease fire. The bosnian government had said it would agree to Only a three month cease fire fearing anything permanent would Cement serbian territorial Gams of 70 percent since the War began in april 1992. Carter s remarks earlier in the Day were conciliatory drawing criticism from the White House and appearing Likely to fuel the suspicion of the Muslim led bosnian government. ,. Karadzic spoke of a traditional serbian american Friendship forged in two world wars this Century and the serbs feeling that their reputation has suffered be cause of unfair Media coverage. It May be that today is one of the rare chances to let the world know the truth and explain the commitment of the serbs to peace Carter responded. I cannot dispute your statement that the american people have heard primarily one Side of the  in Washington White House press Secretary Deedee Myers took Issue with Carter s remarks. I would say Only that i think we be been pretty Clear about who we think the aggressor is the bosnian serbs Are the aggressors in this War Myers said. The american people have had two years to see what s Hap pening on the ground there and to see both sides of the story.". As Carter and Karadzic met in the mountains North East of Sarajevo serbian gunners in the Northwest reigned terror on the . Safe area of Bihac. . Officials reported tank and artillery rounds hitting the town itself but there was no immediate word of casual ties. ".  / v around the Bihac pocket the situation is not Good said de Joseph a . Spokesman in the Bihac area during a satellite linkup with can. Referring to the 1,200 trapped bangladeshi peacekeepers in the area Joseph said we have no real signs of normalization. The people Here essentially Are isolated and  " in requesting Carter s intervention last week in the bosnian crisis Karadzic had promised to respect human rights and free up Frozen . Operations. Karadzic invited carte who earlier this year broke diplomatic deadlocks in North Korea and Haiti to Bosnia to try to restart peace negotiations. But the Carter Mission was greeted with scepticism on Al sides guilty from Pagel the defense and prosecution in Advance and approved by the court martial convening authority Brig. Gen. Joseph g. Garrett Iii commander of the 32na army Ai defense come. A spokeswoman for the . Army Europe said  Rcpt s decision to approve the agreement was based on the evidence in the Case and was not connected wit German opposition to the death penalty. The German government s request that the Case be turned Over to them was received after the Genera made his decision the spokeswoman said. The germans asked for Juris diction in late november. Smith s lawyer Joe Cohen said the negotiated plea was the Best his Cli ent could expect. Had we gone to court with a jury we most certainly would have had a death penalty Cohen said. He said he believe that pressure from the German government and the interest of amnesty Cohen International a human rights organization May have been factors in the Case. The sentence was imposed in the Darmstadt court room by col. Craig s. Schwender an army judge. Smith was Given a life sentence reduced to Al or dered to forfeit All pay and benefits and Given a$100,000 Fine and a dishonourable discharge from the army. Smith told the court that he could not remember the events that took place but said he was convinced by All the evidence that he was the  said All he could remember was drinking Beer and hard liquor at the Babenhausen enlisted men s club around 5 that evening. He had no idea what happened after that. When the judge asked him what he thought had apr Pence based on the evidence Smith said i went to the housing area entered the Mckemy apartment picked her up took her across the Street into the Woods beat her and Laid  child apparently was taken from the family s fourth floor army stairwell apartment at the Babenhausen housing area in the pre Dawn hours of sept. 15, 1993. Her body was found in a nearby Rock Quarry. Smith s parents Joseph and Ruth Smith of Rex ga.,were in the courtroom. Ruth Smith cried throughout her son s testimony. Other relatives of the victim and the defendant also were present. Valenzuela stared at Smith As the Grandfather told stories about his granddaughter and How the murder had devastated his life and the lives of other family members including his daughter Penny Mckemy who is Elora s Mother. During a trial recess Valenzuela a special forces Veteran of 25 years and now sheriff in Fayetteville,n.c., attempted to reach Smith in the courtroom but was restrained by his daughter Patricia and by Bren Mckemy Elora s father. Elora s Mother was distraught on the stand As she sobbed through her recollections of her child. In an account that was barely audible she recounted that she had endured four miscarriages before Elo rawas born and had spent six months in the Hospital be fore her daughter s birth. Doctors told her she would never have another child she said. She showed the court Elora s favorite doll and kept repeating the phrase i Don t understand. I Don t in  Cohen the defense attorney said no one can under stand the crime because there is nothing in Smith s past or his psychiatric makeup that indicates he was capable of  an offence. Smith underwent court ordered psychiatric evaluation from june 1 to aug. 3. It s All very bizarre Cohen said. Yes Smith did it but Why is the big question. Why did he choose the Mckemy apartment How could he get in and out without being noticed we do not know and the trial did t answer the questions either. It s All quite  the prosecuting attorney capt. Daria p. Nollsch Laeger told the court that it was horrifying that Smith could commit an unprovoked act and report for work the next Day As if nothing had happened. She pleaded with the judge to keep Smith in prison and away from society for life. German and american officials announced Smith s arrest May 19 after a nine month investigation that included Dan testing of about 1,900 people. Some 1,800 . Soldiers including Smith and Ger Man civilians voluntarily donated blood for the test and More than 1,500 interviews were conducted in the search. One Hundred and Twenty soldiers did not Volunteer for the testing a Usa eur spokeswoman said and there were no reprisals against them. Smith was identified by the Dan test and by fibres from his sweat shirt that matched fibres found on Elora s bedding underwear and other garments. Elora was buried in Sunset memorial Park in Bennettsville s.c., in october last year. The inscription on her Gravestone states do not stand at my grave and cry i am not Here i did not  thanks Santa for your replies dear Santa thank you very much for printing my letter to you. Also thank you for sending replies to my kids Tiffany Marcy and Travis in Florida. The extremely enjoyed the letter they received from you. I too enjoyed Reading my reply from you. I think that in this Day of uncertainties something  As this gives people a Ray of Hope. Keep up the Good  Friend staff sgt. Greg  staff sgt. Priewe i w As truly surprised yet thrilled to receive  a Beautiful thank you letter from you. It was very encouraging and is an incentive for me to do my. Utmost in satisfying both readers arid writers of Santa s  appreciate your taking time out to let us know that this Job has made a difference in someone s life. Be careful while keeping peace inthe Middle East. Our prayers and Best wishes Are extended to you. Have a truly blessed Christmas and a joyous 1995.until then Santa. Santa received  letters and Christmas lists from the following Sean Martin Dean his Zalfo Clarence Mitchelljr. Monique Sierra Jeffrey Tingle Hunte Kirstie Jordan Hunter torte Rota  Caria Hogg John Peppe Brandon Pepper Sophie Matthews Sarah deluded Spencer Riede Meghan Anderson la Larcom Erin Larcom  Greene Thomas Rinker  Dustin Amrin Danielle Rountree Preston Richard Michael Sierra Melissa Ridge Nowel Stephen Hunter Brand Dean Sarah  Moskwa Celeste Lyon Derek Pepper Samartha Mcauliff Corinne Salak Rebecca Keim Nicholas Mahnken Anderson Megan Larco Nicholas Newton. 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