(29 Dec 1995) French/Nat

The first plane in three years has landed at Mostar airport, carrying desperately needed supplies for French I-FOR troops following recent flooding.

The French air cargo plane's arrival was brought forward by two days.

The last time Mostar airport was open, it was under Serb control.

Now, French troops have reopened the airport after repairing nearly one-thousand-200 metres (three-thousand-900 feet) of runway.

The air force also installed a navigation system and a mobile control tower.

The first aircraft to take advantage of the opening was a French Transall plane which is used to carry cargo.

French soldiers rushed to unload the plane which carried urgently needed supplies following recent flooding.

SOUNDBITE:

"This is the first plane to land in Mostar airport for about three years, as far as I know."

SUPER CAPTION: Colonel Landet, Base Commander, Mostar

More work will allow the airport to be able to handle a wider range of planes.

SOUNDBITE:

"We should have all runways and taxiways, parking and access roads and this will allow heavier planes than the Transall (French military plane)."

SUPER CAPTION: Colonel Landet, Base Commander, Mostar

The first flight was brought forward by two days and the pilots were able to take advantage of the weather.

SOUNDBITE:

"Today, we were quite lucky - we had good weather conditions that worked in our favour."

SUPER CAPTION: Captain Breguet, Pilot

Reopening the airport will help support NATO's peacekeeping mission in Bosnia by providing another entry point for supplies and people.

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