Скачать или смотреть HUNGARY: TASZAR: ARRIVAL OF FIRST US TROOPS FOR BOSNIA MISSION

(9 Dec 1995) Hungarian/English

The first two C-130 Hercules planes carrying more than one hundred U-S troops have landed at Taszar airfield in southern Hungary.

The Taszar air field is to be the key logistics staging post for the 20,000 U-S troops and equipment heading for Bosnia.

The landing of this C-130 transport plane marks the beginning of a huge logistical operation at Taszar in southern Hungary.

110 soldiers arrived in the first two planes.

They are the first of some 3-thousand troops who will eventually be stationed here to help co-ordinate the American part of the NATO peace plan.

Taszar is 120 kilometers (75 miles) southwest of Budapest and will be the main staging post for the 20-thousand American troops who are destined for Bosnia.

The importance of the operation was underscored by the presence of the U-S Ambassador to Hungary, Donald M. Blinken and General Janos Deak, the commander of the Hungarian armed forces, in the official greeting party.

Those in charge were eagerly anticipating playing such a key role in deploying the NATO troops.

SOUNDBITE:
I think we're excited about being here and I think as we go through the process we'll have these forces flow through and they'll be ready and trained to go down into Bosnia and handle the mission.

SUPER CAPTION: Lieutenant Colonel Ron Williams, U-S Army

These first troops will hardly have time to settle in before they get down to work as the first trainload of troops was due to arrive in a matter of hours.

SOUNDBITE:
There's equipment that will start to flow here shortly, trains are being loaded in Germany as we speak. So it won't be too long before you'll start seeing trains start arrive here in Hungary.

SUPER CAPTION: Lieutenant Colonel Ron Williams, U-S Army

Although all eyes will be on Bosnia once the troops start arriving, the soldiers here were realistic about what their contribution would be.

SOUNDBITE:
The purpose of the base here will be to provide logistical support for the staging of the I- FOR,(Implementation Force) for the U-S I-FOR forces into Bosnia and we'll be here as long as that takes and as long as we have troops here to support.
SUPER CAPTION: Captain Alan Hastings, U-S Army Public Relations Officer

The Hungarians are very pleased to be playing hosts to such an important operation and were keen to stress how good the relationship was between the Hungarians and the Americans.

SOUNDBITE: (Hungarian)
'We cooperate extremely well with each other, I've been here with the American colleagues from the very beginning. We have a very good understanding in all matters. '
SUPERCAPTION: Colonel Komandie Marton, Hungarian Army Logistics

The presence of so many American troops at the Taszar air base is expected to be a huge boost to the economy of the neighbouring town of Kaposvar.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...