French Say 2 Downed Pilots Are Alive
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PARIS — Two French pilots whose jet was shot down over Serb-held territory in Bosnia-Herzegovina are alive, France’s defense chief said Friday.
Defense Minister Charles Millon told France 2 television in an interview from Sarajevo, the Bosnian capital, that the men are presumed to be in Serbian hands.
“For security reasons, I can’t say more,” Millon said.
The pilots’ Mirage 2000 was shot down Aug. 30 near the Serbian stronghold of Pale in eastern Bosnia. Their fate has been uncertain despite several search-and-rescue operations organized by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
French officials had earlier cast doubts on Bosnian Serb claims that the pilots were captured.
France is a major troop contributor to the multinational force trying to keep peace in the former Yugoslav federation.
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