SARAJEVO'S SALVATION TUNNEL TO BECOME TOURIST ATTRACTION

SARAJEVO, July 30 (Hina) - The third anniversary of a tunnel which was the only connection between Sarajevo and the free territory during the Serb occupation was on Tuesday marked with a manifestation. The tunnel which was dug under the Sarajevo airport connected the Sarajevo neighbourhood of Dobrinja with Butmir, through which ran a narrow and dangerous road over the Igman mountain. #L# The digging of the tunnel began secretly in January 1993 and its constructors recorded it being finished on 30 July the same year. On the first night, 12 tons of ammunition and food were brought to the city. As soon as the tunnel was completed, backup was sent through it in order to stop the Bosnian Serb offensive on Igman. The tunnel was dug on a very rough terrain and because of the lack of support, its height reaches only 1.5 metres at some places. All who wanted to enter or exit Sarajevo, including high ranking officials, had to go through the tunnel. Foreigners were not allowed passage. Shortly after the signing of the Dayton Agreement, another tunnel was dug near by, but it was never put to use. Both tunnels are now empty and deserted and the city authorities have recently launched an initiative to turn them into tourist attractions which would testify about the situation in Sarajevo during the Serb occupation of the city. (hina) lm 301847 MET jul 96