BOSNIA: TUZLA: US GENERAL NASH ARRIVES TO CHECK PREPARATIONS

(21 Dec 1995) English/Nat

An American General has arrived at the main U-S base in Bosnia to check on preparations for the arrival of thousands of men in Task Force Eagle.

General William Nash says he's very pleased with progress in Tuzla so far.

The U-S task force is part of the NATO-led Bosnian peacekeeping mission which has officially taken over from the U-N in Bosnia.

U-S troops are quickly settling in to their new home and can be seen patrolling around Tuzla.

They have already set up checkpoints, with "NATO control zone" signs in evidence.

Planes carrying military equipment can be seen landing here.

Another arrival is the commander of Task Force Eagle, General William Nash.

Soon after getting off the plane, he says that although there's a lot of work to do, conditions are better than he expected.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

I want to make sure that we have made the proper arrangements because once they come across the river we've got work to do and so we're going to bring the right people. We also have facilities to ensure that they're ready. So we'll come across the river here before too long. (Question: Is it what you expected or is it worse, worse conditions?) Oh, it's much better. We're very pleased.

SUPER CAPTION: General William Nash

Swedish and U-S forces from Tuzla reached the area of Orasje by passing through Bosnia's Serb-held Posavina corridor for the first time on Wednesday.

The passage through the corridor allowed for a link-up between General Nash, commander of the main U-S base here in Tuzla in northern Bosnia, and Brigadier- General Pat O'Neal from the Croatian side.

The meeting took place in a pocket of Croat territory inside Bosnia only hours after the 60-thousand-strong NATO-led Implementation Force (IFOR) took control of the peacekeeping mission.

A Russian air force general has also joined U-S officers in an inspection of the airport in Tuzla.

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