Summit

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration is prepared t postpone indefinitely the summit meeting scheduled next month between President Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev to demonstrate U.S. displeasure at the Soviet crackdown in the Baltics, officials said yesterday.Secretary of State James A. Baker III reportedly informed Soviet Foreign Minister Aleksandr A. Bessmertnykh at a late afternoon meeting here of the administration's readiness to cancel the summit.Administration officials held open the possibility that the Soviet foreign minister might bring word of a change in policy toward the Baltics or new concessions on snagged arms control negotiations that would make it possible for Mr. Bush to attend the summit, which had been scheduled for Feb. 11-13 in Moscow.

Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks tackled issues such as youth football's age and weight guidelines at the Howard County Youth Football Summit on Monday night. The summit, an open discussion on improving youth football in the area and nationally, was the first of a series of five meetings to be held around the country by USA Football and the National Recreation and Park Association. The 42 participants -- coaches, administrators, parents and players -- agreed on many issues, including that fan behavior at Howard Count games is good, but they were split on age and weight guidelines.

LONDON -- Stung by the cool reception given a preview of its plans for economic revitalization, the Soviet Union appeared to be lowering its expectations of Western assistance yesterday, even before President Mikhail S. Gorbachev makes his pitch for it to the leaders of the world's seven wealthiest industrialized countries meeting here.A massive infusion of immediate funds for the depressed Soviet economy appeared unlikely, but the Group of Seven did decide to at least make a strong statement of support for Mr. Gorbachev's economic and political reforms, a British official said.

ANNAPOLIS -- About 400 people, including Gov. William Donald Schaefer and a congressional delegation, gathered yesterday at a plush hotel here to begin a two-day examination of what ails Maryland's health-care system.What they got from the five-hour "health-care summit" was a healthy dose of facts, figures, opinions and rhetoric, from state officials, business and academic leaders, congressmen and a senator.But there was little indication that the General Assembly will be able to give birth to a comprehensive reform plan by the end of its 90-day session.

Violent crime has so overloaded Maryland's law enforcement system that it is "close to gridlock," the state's top law officer said yesterday as he announced plans for a summit meeting of government, business and community representatives next month to plan new strategies."

PARIS -- This week's economic summit could accelerate the dollar's current slide and wreak more damage than if the conference of the world's seven biggest economic powers were not being held at all.Among the signs that the Group of Seven meeting, which starts Friday in Naples, Italy, could worsen matters:* The German government's unexpected declaration Monday predicting that the world leaders at the summit will not take concerted action to prop up the...

I can understand why various thugs who lead street gangs have gathered in Chicago for what they call a "peace summit." It's a smart public-relations move.They know that the TV crews will come running to capture their goofy babblings.That means they will be seen by their followers, who will feel important and gain a greater sense of identity, which is part of what gang membership is about. At least that's what sociologists and the other deep thinkers tell us.Even more significant, they will reach a huge audience of young, potential gang recruits.

WASHINGTON -- Call it the "warts and all" summit.Not since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union have tensions between the United States and Russia been as exposed as they will be next week in Moscow, when President Clinton holds his fourth summit with Russian President Boris N. Yeltsin.The United States vehemently opposes Russia's plans to sell technology to Iran that could help produce nuclear weapons. Russia just as deeply resents the Clinton administration's plans -- vague though they are -- to expand the North Atlantic Treaty Organization eastward.

WASHINGTON -- President Clinton's long-promised "timber summit" in the Pacific Northwest today is beginning to look like a giant photo opportunity shoehorned into a six-hour break on his way to the Vancouver summit with Russian President Boris N. Yeltsin.An avalanche of lumberjacks, environmentalists, industrialists, trade unionists and fishermen -- about 30,000 in all -- is expected to descend on the Portland, Ore., convention center."Anyone [who] uses wood and paper products needs to be outside that door!"

TOKYO -- Two days into his first big walk on the world stage, Bill Clinton the international statesman from Washington looks a lot like Bill Clinton the presidential candidate from Arkansas.If his purpose was to make himself the center of attention at the annual summit of the Group of Seven industrialized nations, he succeeded almost as soon as Air Force One put wheels down in Tokyo, 22 hours before the G-7 sessions opened.That much, he accomplished in typical Clinton fashion, by seeming to be everywhere in rapid succession.