- Title: GERMANY: GERMAN TROOPS BEGIN HEADING OUT FOR YUGOSLAVIA
- Date: 29th January 1996
- Summary: BONN/COLOGNE AIRPORT, GERMANY (JANUARY 29, 1996) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. SV AIRPORT INTERIOR/ SOLDIERS TALKING TO THEIR WIVES/ CHECKING IN (8 SHOTS) 0.44 2. SV EXTERIOR/ SOLDIERS LINED UP ON TARMAC (3 SHOTS) 1.00 3. SV GERMAN DEFENCE MINISTER VOLKER RUEHE GREETED BY COMMANDER 1.09 4. SCU RUEHE SAYING: "SOLDIERS, YOU ARE TAKING PART IN A GREAT MISSION. THIS MISSION INVOLVES ESTABLISHING PEACE IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AFTER FOUR YEARS OF TERRIBLE WAR. WE HAVE TO BRING HOPE FOR A BETTER FUTURE TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED THE HORRORS OF WAR. THE INTERNATIONAL FORCES WILL GUARANTEE THAT THE PEACE WILL BE ENFORCED". (GERMAN) 1.37 5. SV SOLDIERS LISTENING 1.40 6. SCU RUEHE SAYING: 'MORE THAN 30 COUNTRIES ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS WORK FOR PEACE. GERMANY IS MAKING A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION. YOU AND YOUR COMRADES IN THE GERMAN CONTINGENT ARE FULFILLING IT. YOU CAN BE PROUD OF THIS.' (GERMAN) 1.56 7. SCU WOMAN CRYING 1.58 8. SV RUEHE TALKING TO TROOPS 2.05 9. SV SOLDIERS BOARDING PLANE 2.15 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 13th February 1996 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BONN/COLOGNE AIRPORT, GERMANY
- City:
- Country: Germany
- Reuters ID: LVA6FEMN1OWG1H0TAIDZK1H8H72M
- Story Text: The main force of German troops began heading out for peacekeeping duty in former Yugoslavia on Monday (January 29), underscoring Bonn's commitment to playing a bigger role in European security affairs.
"Soldiers, you are taking part in a great mission," Defence Minister Volker Ruehe told 150 soldiers at the military section of the Bonn/Cologne airport before they boarded a military flight to their base in Croatia.
"More than 30 countries are participating in this work for peace. Germany is making a significant contribution. You and your comrades in the German contingent are fulfilling it. You can be proud of this." Daily flights over nine more days will ferry a total of 1,400 soldiers to Croatia to take part in post-war Germany's most ambitious and hazardous military mission.
They will link up with advance units already in place and provide logistical, transport and medical support to the 60,000-strong North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) international peacekeeping force in Bosnia.
In all, some 2,600 German soldiers will be stationed in Croatia. They are not being based in Bosnia itself to avoid dredging up memories of the brutal Nazi occupation during World War Two.
Including fighter-bomber crews stationed in Italy, transport aircraft operating from Germany and naval units patrolling the Adriatic, Germany's contribution includes around 4,000 soldiers.
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