UNHCR ESTABLISHES BUS LINE BETWEEN BANJA LUKA AND DRVAR

SARAJEVO, March 10 (Hina) - UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) will on 13 March establish a regular bus line between Banja Luka (northwest Bosnia, under Serb control) and Drvar (southwest Bosnia, under Croat control). UNHCR spokesman, Mans Nyberg, said in Sarajevo on Monday that this would be the tenth bus line connecting towns in the two entities in Bosnia-Herzegovina, adding that all necessary permits, including the consent of Drvar mayor, for the establishment of the bus line had been obtained. Busses will run four times a week for the time being. #L# The establishment of bus connections between entities was the most successful operation so far, aimed at establishing trust in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Nyberg said. The first such line was established in May 1996 when busses connected Sarajevo and Pale. There were great problems in the beginning because busses with UNHCR insignia were frequently stoned and the Serb entity police tried to prevent such traffic, especially when a bus line was established between Banja Luka and Zenica. About 250.000 people have traveled from one entity to the other with UNHCR busses so far. (hina) lm 101312 MET mar 97