- Title: ITALY: US PRESIDENT CLINTON ARRIVES AT AVIANO AIR BASE
- Date: 13th January 1996
- Summary: AVIANO AIR BASE, ITALY (JANUARY 13, 1996) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. LV/SV NIGHT UNITED STATES (U.S.) PRESIDENTIAL PLANE, AIRFORCE ONE, TAXIING ALONG RUNWAY (2 SHOTS) 0.13 2. GV/SV INTERIOR HANGAR, SOLDIERS AND FAMILIES WAITING (2 SHOTS) 0.25 3. SV U.S. PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON WALKS IN 0.52 4. SV CLINTON IS INTRODUCED (2 SHOTS) 1.03 5. SV/LV CLINTON SPEAKING (ENGLISH) / MILITARY OFFICIALS LISTENING (5 SHOTS) 3.08 6. SV CLINTON WALKS OFF STAGE / MEETS TROOPS AND SHAKES HANDS (4 SHOTS) 3.40 SEQUENCE 5 TRANSCRIPT: CLINTON: "GOOD MORNING. I KNOW IT'S EARLY BUT WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT - GOOD MORNING! (GREETING OFFICIALS) I AM VERY PLEASED FINALLY TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO COME HERE TO AVIANO AND TO SEE YOU. AND SINCE IT'S SO EARLY I MAY BE MORE PLEASED TO SEE YOU THAN YOU ARE TO SEE ME BUT I'M GLAD YOU CAME OUT ANYWAY. WHAT YOU AND OUR ALLIES ARE DOING HERE AND IN BOSNIA IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A WAR THAT RESUMES AND A PEACE THAT TAKES HOLD. YOU ARE GIVING PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED SO VERY MUCH A CHANCE TO ENJOY THE BLESSINGS OF A NORMAL LIFE. YOU ARE LIVING UP TO THE GREAT TRADITIONS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, PROTECTING OUR NATIONS INTEREST BY KEEPING A FIRE OUT THAT HAS THREATENED THE HEART OF EUROPE'S STABILITY. YOU ARE HEROES FOR PEACE. OUR NATION IS VERY PROUD OF YOU. GOD BLESS YOU, AND GOD BLESS AMERICA." Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 28th January 1996 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: AVIANO, ITALY
- City:
- Country: Italy
- Reuters ID: LVA777JKCGEGTXMX6HP0D1YQ7V5H
- Story Text: United States (U.S.) President Bill Clinton's visit to U.S.
troops in Bosnia-Herzegovina encountered problems on Saturday (January 13) when thick fog prevented his plane landing in Tuzla.
Clinton arrived in Aviano in Italy from Nashville, Tennessee in the United States aboard the presidential plane, Airforce One. He stopped briefly at the Aviano base which is a main centre for air support for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation operation in Bosnia.
The president told 1,000 airmen and their families packed into a hangar at Aviano that their mission was one "of historic importance and fundamental human decency".
Hailing his forces as "heroes for peace" he thanked them for protecting the nation's interests by "keeping a fire out that has threatened the heart of European stability".
Then Clinton boarded a giant C17 military cargo plane and left for Hungary.
The 18-hour tour is designed to boost morale and Clinton's re-election campaign.
Clinton's visit was made one month after the signing of a U.S- brokered peace agreement in Paris to end 43 months of war between Bosnian Moslems, Serbs and Croats.
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