The World - News from June 12, 1989

East German leader Erich Honecker said President Bush’s proposal for a reduction in conventional arms in Europe is a welcome step that is in tune with Warsaw Pact desires for speedy negotiations, according to an interview with the Washington Post. However, Honecker rejected Bush’s call for the Berlin Wall to be torn down, although he said his government wants “to humanize the border regime� as part of generally improving relations with Western Europe and the United States. The paper quoted Honecker as confirming that East German border guards have been ordered not to use deadly force to stop civilians who attempt to flee into West Germany unless the guards are threatened by the attempt.