SERBS STOP HVO OFFICIALS FROM ATTENDING TALKS

SARAJEVO, Feb 1 (Hina) - Talks at Sarajevo airport yesterday on releasing POWs, failed because of interference by Serbs who did not allow Croatian Defence Council (HVO) representatives to attend the session. UN spokesman in Sarajevo, Gary Coward, today confirmed today that Serbs stopped a French UN armoured carrier transporting the HVO representatives, at an illegal checkpoint at Kasindolska Road. The UN armoured carrier was not allowed to get to the airport, and thus Croatian officials could not attend the talks mediated by the International Red Cross. The incident occurred at the very same location where Bosnian TV reporter, Namik Berberovic, was kidnapped seven days ago. The Serb stronghold of Pale (outside Sarajevo) gave the UN Protection Force headquarters a list of names of people who should be set free in exchange for liberating Berberovic. A UN spokesman Alexander Ivanko said that the UN peace keepers adamantly rejected this request and insisted on the unconditional release of the kidnapped reporter. Yasushi Akashi personally assumed the task of involving himself in liberating Berberovic, and he would talk to psychiatrist Radovan Karadzic about it. The UN officials at their Sarajevo headquarters said all crews of UN armoured carriers transporting civilians towards the airport should carry Bosnia-Herzegovina's citizens only through the Dobrinja suburb. Other armoured carriers were allowed to travel along the Kasindolska Road where this notorious illegal Serb check- point lies. (hina) jn sd mms 011622 MET feb 95