UNHCR ESTABLISHES SARAJEVO-TIRANA AIR BRIDGE

( Editorial: --> 0946 ) SARAJEVO, June 13 (Hina) - The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Bosnia-Herzegovina sent humanitarian aid for Kosovo Albanians from Sarajevo to Tirana on Saturday. The aid, including blankets and plastic sheeting, was transported on a Norwegian cargo plane "Hercules". The plane had to use the Italian air routes because Belgrade authorities refused to give permission for the plane to fly over the Yugoslav territory. It is expected that about 160 to 200 tonnes of various aid will be sent to Tirana in the next four days. The head of the UNHCR Mission in Bosnia, Arnulv Torbjorsen, said today that the aid would be sent immediately to the northern parts of Albania where the number of Kosovo refugees was largest. The Albanian government claims that there are more than 20,000 refugees but our more cautious estimates say that 13,000 refugees have arrived from Kosovo, Torbjorsen told reporters at Sarajevo airport. Another 35,000 refugees within Kosovo should be added to this figure, he added. Torbjorsen expressed hope that the Kosovo conflict would not flare up adding though that in case that happened, UNHCR would have to open reception camps for refugees. Italy would then most probably become a logistic basis for UNHCR operations. "The aid we are sending from Bosnia is of limited nature," said Torbjorsen. (hina) rml 131214 MET jun 98