NEWS 1

UN REPRESENTATIVES MEET WITH KARADZIC AT PALE ZAGREB, Apr 16 (Hina) - Following is UNPROFOR's statement on a meeting with Bosnian Serb leader Karadzic, issued on Friday: "The Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Yasushi Akashi, accompanied by the Co-Chairman of the International Conference on Former Yugoslavia, Mr. Thorvald Stoltenberg, held talks on Friday in Pale with the Bosnian Serb leader, Dr. Radovan Karadzic. These talks were aimed at reducing tensions in Bosnia- Herzegovina. They also addressed the issue of UNPROFOR personnel currently detained or under restriction by Bosnian Serb military forces. "While at Pale, the SRSG learned with dismay of the renewal of hostilities in and around Gorazde, and of the wounding of two soldiers serving with UNPRFOR forces in Gorazde. Mr. Akashi immediately intervened with Dr. Karazdic to demand an end to the hostilities and to the urgent evacuation of the wounded soldiers. With the cooperation of the Bosnian Serb authorities, one of the wounded soldiers, who was critically injured, was evacuated to Sarajevo. It is with profound regret that the SRSG, Mr. Akashi, and the Force Commander, Gen. de Lapresle, have learned of his death. At this critical junction the SRSG again calls upon the Bosnian Serb forces to cese hostilities in and around Gorazde." KARADZIC COMMENTS ON TALKS WITH AKASHI, STOLTENBERG BELGRADE, Apr 15 (Hina) - Following talks with UN representatives Yasushi Akashi and Thorvald Stoltenberg at Pale on Friday evening, Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic said that "the Supreme Command of the Serbian Republic decided that Akashi and I could renew political relations," said Belgrade radio. Karadzic went on to say that he would "demand full resposibility for what happened in the Gorazde area," stressing that "Gorazde was not a safe area," said the radio. SERBS RETURN PART OF ARTILLERY TO INITIAL POSITION IN SECTOR EAST OSIJEK, Apr 16 (Hina) - "The implementation of the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities in Croatia is in question, since the Serb side stopped pulling out heavy weaponry on April 10 and subsequently returned part of the artillery at the initial position, under the pretext of defence from NATO air strikes," said UNPROFOR Commander in Sector East Brigadier Gen. W. Vandyck at a meeting with Croatian army commander in the Osijek area Major Gen. Duro Decak on Friday. Gen. Decak demanded that the Agreement be observed on a reciprocity basis. Gen. Vandyck said UNPROFOR was doing its best within its mandate and promised that the Serb side would continue implementing the agreement the same day, said the Osijek-based Croatian army command in a statement. SERB ATTACKS IN ORASJE AREA, NORTH-EASTERN BOSNIA MOSTAR, Apr 16 (Hina) - Intense sniper and small arms fire from Serb positions was recorded Saturday morning in the Orasje area, north-eastern Bosnia, said a report by the Herzeg-Bosnian defence ministry. One Croatian Defence Council (HVO) combatant was killed and another wounded on Friday as Serb forces engaged HVO positions in the area, said the statement, adding that civilian facilities also came under Serb artillery fire. The village of Kopanice was hit by twenty artillery shells. Serb forces kept hauling reinforcements and repositioning units on Saturday, said the statement. No cease-fire breaches were recorded between the HVO and the Bosnian army. REFUGEES FROM MOSTAR TO STAY IN CROATIA UNTIL WEDNESDAY MAKARSKA, Apr 15 (Hina) - The Croatian Government Office for Refugees and Displaced Persons on Friday extended refugee status to residents of Mostar accommodated in Croatia until Wednesday. In keeping with with an earlier decision of this Office, Mostar residents will have to leave Croatia and return home after that date. Transport will be organised for them from Makarska on Friday, April 22. The decision does not apply to the sick and infirm and to those whose houses have been destroyed in the war, said the office. UN REPRESENTATIVES TO MEET WITH KARADZIC AGAIN SATURDAY AFTERNOON ZAGREB, Apr 16 (Hina) - The UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy in former Yugoslavia Yasushi Akashi and UN Force Commander Gen. Bertrand de Lapresle will meet with Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadiz at Pale at 14:00 hours Saturday, said the UNPROFOR public relations office. The meeting will focus on the resolution of the crisis in the Gorazde area, said the source. (Hina - The End) 161456 MET apr 94