GERMANY: GERMAN ARMY TROOPS PERFORM A SERIES OF EXERCISES TO TRAIN FOR THEIR LIKELY ROLES IN KOSOVO

Record ID: 604317

  • Title: GERMANY: GERMAN ARMY TROOPS PERFORM A SERIES OF EXERCISES TO TRAIN FOR THEIR LIKELY ROLES IN KOSOVO
  • Date: 5th March 1999
  • Summary: MUNSTER, GERMANY (MARCH 4, 1999) (REUTERS) 1. SLV/SV/LAS TANKS DRIVING PAST (3 SHOTS) 0.25 2. LV OF GERMAN SOLDIERS PLAYING "KOSOVO ALBANIANS" CHANTING AROUND FIRE NEXT TO OSCE ARMOURED VEHICLE 0.31 3. CU OSCE-SIGN ON ARMOURED VEHICLE 0.36 4. SV SOLDIERS CHANTING 0.51 5. SLV/SV ARMED SOLDIERS WATCHING FROM BEHIND TANK (2 SHOTS) 1.02 6. SLV SOLDIERS APPROACHING CHANTING CROWD 1.09 7. MCU SOLDIERS' FACES 1.14 8. MCU (German) EDGAR TROST, LIEUTENANT GENERAL: We are preparing a peacekeeping operation to protect and possibly enforce a peace agreement in peaceful surroundings which, however, can turn into a risky and dangerous situation. This could require the use of our own weapons to protect those we are supposed to protect and also to protect ourselves 1.45 9. CU MINE DANGER SIGN 1.55 10. SLV/SV/CU OF MINE SWEEPER AT WORK (4 SHOTS) 2.28 11. SV MINE EXPLODING UNDER MINE SWEEPER 2.32 12. MCU (German) ROY SCHICHLEIN, 19-YEAR-OLD SOLDIER: What I'm concerned about is if the fighting down there resumes and we get involved and put our lives in danger. I'm not only scared and concerned about my life but I also have a certain reservation about going there for six months and leave this secure environment behind. That is definetly something new. Six months is a very long time, that's half a year 2.56 13. SLV SOLDIERS CARRYING EVACUATED INJURED PERSON OUT OF BUILDING 3.10 14. SV SOLDIER INSIDE TANK BEHIND BARBED WIRE 3.20 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 20th March 1999 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MUNSTER, GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Reuters ID: LVAA5KUM1A7EAVD72F6SEF9E7T58
  • Story Text: German army troops have been performing a series of
    exercises to train for their likely roles in Kosovo, should
    they be required.

    Soldiers in the northern German town of Munster are preparing
    for "a peacekeeping operation to protect and possibly enforce a peace
    agreement," says lieutenant general Edgar Trost.His soldiers, all
    of whom have volunteered to take part in a possible Kosovo operation,
    are starting to have mixed feelings about their mission as the date
    for deployment gets closer.

    "I'm not only scared and concerned about my life but I
    also have a certain reservation about going there for six
    months," says nineteen-year-old Roy Schichlein, adding "this
    is a very long time, that's half a year.

    Germany's parliament last week voted to allow up to 6,000 German
    troops to be deployed in Kosovo to support any peace agreement
    reached in the conflict.

    The troops will be part of a 28,000 member NATO force to
    go into Kosovo if a deal is reached between Serbs and ethnic
    Albanians.

    Initially, 4,500 German soldiers will be deployed, but
    this figure can be raised to 6,000 if necessary.

    The force also includes 25 Leopard 2 A5 tanks, the first time
    German tanks have been deployed abroad since World War Two.

    Germany is a member of the six-nation Contact group on Kosovo.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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