CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER'S LETTER TO CHAIRMAN OF UN SC

ZAGREB, April 13 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic today sent a letter to the President of the UN Security Council, Mr. Karel Kovanda, because of the latest Serb shelling on the Dubrovnik surroundings. The following is the letter: Your Excellency, I have the honour to inform you of a serious deterioration of the security situation in southern part of Croatia resulting from an unprovoked artillery attack aimed at the Dubrovnik Cilipi Airport. The Bosnian Serb paramilitary units fired a total of twenty-two 130 mm shells today from 11.25 to 13.00 hrs. local time. Twelve shells impacted on the grounds of the airport, and the remaining in the nearby village of Radovcici and Mocici. The aggressor has utilized its artillery positions from the territory of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina east of Nevesinje, at Grab-Tuli. At 17:00 hrs local time one shell impacted in the town of Orasac near Zaton in Dubrovnik region, causing the death of one person and severe injuries to three more The aircraft fuel depot at the Dubrovnik airport, located 200 m from the terminal, has been hit at 12.40 and destroyed. The resulting fire has been brought under control. I enclose the map of the Dubrovnik airport, with markings of the location and time of impacts within and in the vicinity of the perimeter of the airport. Dispersion of the impacts clearly shows that this attack was not at random, but that the new terminal building was directly targeted. Further, I have to inform you that yesterday, 12 April 1995, Serb paramilitary forces in the occupied territories of Croatia in the vicinity of Slunj, in Zone Glina, have launched an SA-6 surface-to-air missile that passed over the village of Donje Dubrave, and exploded on impact in the village of Malik, near Trosmarije, creating a 6-meter-wide impact crater. Republic of Croatia would like to emphasize the fact that these sophisticated Russian-produced missiles have not been in the arsenal of the paramilitary forces in the occupied territories. We can not but conclude that their transportation from the "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro)" has been allowed, and that they are presently not under control of the peace-keepers on the ground in the accordance of the Zagreb Agreement. It is further clear that the border of the "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro)" with the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina is not sealed, what should be taken into account in the upcoming consideration of the Resolution 970 (1995). In respect of the above, the Government of the Republic of Croatia finds it absolutely necessary that the Security Council considers this issue in a statement. Croatia has so far not responded to the attacks that certainly surpass the level of everyday provocations, and in case that they should be repeated, the Croatian Army shall be compelled to undertake all necessary defensive measures in this regard. Furthermore, this development can be detrimental to the peace process in general, in particular at this sensitive junction of deployment of the new peace-keeping force to the Republic of Croatia. Please accept, your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration," the letter concludes. (hina) mms 131953 MET apr 95