(13 Jan 1996) English/Nat
As U-S President Clinton congratulated his forces' efforts in Bosnia, government officials reported artillery exchanges between Croats and Muslims. The two sides - who formed the Muslim-Croat federation - are allies under the Dayton peace agreement.
The flare-up was just 60 kilometres (35 miles) west of Tuzla, where Clinton visited American troops deployed as part of the NATO-led implementation force.
Despite the disruptions because of bad weather, Clinton's morale-boosting tour of the former Yugoslavia was hailed a resounding success.
Touching down in Zagreb, the last stop of President Clinton's whirlwind tour of the former Yugoslavia.
Waiting for him was Croatian President, Franjo Tudjman.
The welcome Clinton received in Zagreb echoed the enthusiastic reception he received wherever he went throughout the day.
Clinton spoke of the U-S's diplomatic success in bringing peace not just to Bosnia but also the Middle East and Northern Ireland.
SOUNDBITE:
"My friends, on behalf of the United States I have been honoured to work for peace from the Middle East to Northern Ireland to Bosnia. And I believe that in these conflicts I have seen that the fight has not been between Arab and Jew in the Middle East, not between Catholic and Protestant in Northern Ireland, not between Serb and Croat and Muslim in Bosnia."
SUPER CAPTION: US President Bill Clinton
Wandering into the crowd together, Presidents Clinton and Tudjman shook hands with well-wishers.
Earlier in the day, things had not gone quite so smoothly.
After leaving Italy, Clinton was due to land in Tuzla, but bad fog put paid to that so his flight was diverted to Hungary.
He landed at Taszar - the gateway base for American troops deployed to Bosnia - in a transport plane loaded with supplies.
But even at short notice hundreds of troops came turned out to see him.
Clinton jokingly warned the 15-hundred soldiers gathered in Taszar that, once in Bosnia, their living conditions would be far from luxurious.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"For those of you heading to Tuzla I have been fully briefed on the operation there and I'd like to be able to report that when you get there you will find deluxe accommodation. I'd like to be able to report that...but even for a political leader that's stretching the truth a little more than it will bear.
SUPER CAPTION: US President Bill Clinton
In a morale-boosting speech, Clinton told American troops they would be rewarded with a newly-created military honour.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
I came here also to tell you that this is a very important job. Just before I left Washington I signed a executive order that creates a new campaign medal, it's called the "Armed Forces Service Medal", to be awarded to all those who serve our nation in significant non-combat military missions such as peacekeeping operations. And I am pleased to announce that as participants in Operation Joint Endeavour, each of you will receive America's newest military honour.
SUPER CAPTION: US President Bill Clinton
After a tour of the base, the fog in Bosnia had lifted sufficiently for the U-S President to fly on to Tuzla.
There, hundreds of American troops gathered at the airfield to hear their commander-in-chief praise their hard efforts in implementing the Bosnian peace accord.
Conscious of the bad weather conditions that the soldiers have had to put up with, Clinton opened with a joke.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"To all the veterans of the Tuzla mud. I am proud to stand with you today on dry ground. I come with a simple message, your country is very proud of you."
SOUNDBITE: (English)
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