END OF MODEL YEAR CLEARANCE U.S. Levies Fine Against L'Oreal /- \_Th Washington (JTA) — In a clear sign that the United States will continue to enforce laws banning compliance with the Arab boycott of Israel, the Commerce Depart- ment has levied the second largest fine since enforcement be- gan more than 25 years ago. American affiliates of L'Ore- al agreed to pay $1.4 million to settle an investigation of the in- ternational cosmetics giant. As is customary in such settlements, the firms did not admit comply- ing with the boycott. The investigation should re- mind the exporting community that the Arab boycott of Israel "is not yet consigned to history," said John Despres, assistant secretary of commerce for export enforce- ment. Anti-boycott laws "will contin- ue to be enforced vigorously un- til the boycott is completely ended and U.S. law has been changed accordingly," he said. The Commerce Department had charged L'Oreal affiliates in the United States with supplying information about their com- mercial relations in Israel to L'Oreal's Paris headquarters in the late 1980s to assist the firm in dealing with Arab boycott au- thorities. The settlement was based on three documents con- taining 144 alleged violations. According to the settlement, Parbel of Florida will pay $1,387,000; Cosmair Inc. will pay $9,000; and Bruce Mishkin, as- sociate corporate counsel for Cos- mair and the former vice president of Helena Rubinstein, will pay $50,400. All are affiliates of L'Oreal. The charges against L'Oreal and its affiliates were among the most significant ever made by the Commerce Department, Despres said. "The allegations are very seri- ous, extensive and numerous. The magnitude of the violation is reflected by the size of the pay- ments being made," Mr. Despres said. Only Baxter International, which paid more than $6 million in fines in 1993, has paid more to the Commerce Department. L'Oreal's attorneys maintain that the company and its affili- ates are innocent. "This is a settlement of con- tested charges. We deny that there was any violation of the law," said Stanley Marcuss, an attorney representing L'Oreal. Jewish organizations were quick to praise the Commerce De- partment. "Furnishing information is a serious allegation. The lifeblood of the boycott is built around in- formation received," said Jess Hordes, Washington director of the Anti-Defamation League. "The Commerce Department did a good job in enforcing U.S. anti- boycott laws." Although praising the Com- merce Department for its inves- tigation of the case, American Jewish Congress officials noted that L'Oreal has substantially in- creased its investments in Israel. "L'Oreal has demonstrated with- in the past year a complete aban- donment of its former policies by developing a very large econom- ic program in Israel," said Will Maslow, former editor of the now defunct AJCongress newsletter, Boycott Report. One member of Congress who has been outspoken on the boy- cott welcomed the settlement. "The Arab economic boycott is not only illegal, it is immoral and any company that supports it must be brought to justice," said Rep. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., who chairs the Congressional Task Force to End the Boycott. While L'Oreal officials main- tain their affiliates did nothing wrong, company officials ac- knowledged that L'Oreal should not have sent letters in the late 1980s to the boycott office in Damascus, which detailed the company's involvement with Is- rael. In a letter to ADL National Di- rector Abraham Foxman, L'Ore- al's chairman apologized for its past relationship with the boy- cott office in Damascus. "An international company like L'Oreal should have refused to place itself in such an unac- ceptable position and should not have replied to boycott inquiries," L'Oreal Chairman Lindsay Owen-Jones wrote. "I am sorry such correspondence was ever sent. I also want to inform you that I have taken measures to as- sure that such action will not happen again." Publicity Deadlines The normal deadline for local news and publicity items is noon Thursday, eight days prior to issue date. The deadline for birth announce- ments is 10 a.m. Monday, four days prior to issue date; out-of-town obituaries, 10 a.m. Tuesday, three days pri- or to issue date. Everything Drastically Reduced! HURRY IN WHILE SELECTION IS STILL GOOD. Cauley Jack acC7cHET/Flotfr ---r Gee Orchard Lake Road Between 14 and 15 Mile • West Bloomfield • (810) 855-9700 OPEN SATURDAYS 8:00-4:00 Hours: Mon. & Thurs. 8:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Tues. 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.; Wed., Fri. 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Offering expertise... in facial cosmetic and reconstructive surgery performed by board certified surgeons who are sensitive to your aesthetic concerns. To receive information on all aspects of facial cosmetic surgery, including face and eyelift surgery, nasal surgery, facial peels, and liposuc- tion, or to schedule a consultation at our private office suite located near the Briarwood Mall in Ann Arbor, please call 313-936-3223. Center for Facial Cosmetic Surgery Members of the American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Certified, American Board of Otolaryngology University of Michigan Medical Center 250 W. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor Next time you feed your face... 1 r — — — — — — — 1 r — — — — — FOR EASY 1 25%- 0E- F - BALLOON 1 I PICK-UP . . . 1 ALL I GIVE US A 1 RING-A-LING ON I POGS and I I THE DING -A-LINGI! I I ACCESSORIES 1 1$3.00 OFF1 I 1 ANY I I No T if l ury IRTTIr Es 0 think about your heart. L ..vastut..":M.91225. West Bloomfield 7 -0330 It American Heart Association WE'RE FIGHTING FOR 'YOUR LIFE Knollwood Plaza 7414 Haggerty Rd. (at 14 Mile Rd.) Livonia 261-5740 17134 Farmington Rd. (at 6 Mile Rd.) Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10-9, Sun. 12-5 Royal Oak Waterford 288.4440 Northwood Shopping Ctr. 3339 N. Woodward Ave. (at 13 Mile Rd.) GIB Highlander Square 4189 Highland Rd. (E. of Pontiac Lk. Rd.) IIIIMMINIV VISA 681-2223 1