STATEMENT BY UNPROFOR IN ZAGREB

ZAGREB, June 2 (Hina) - Special envoy of the UN secretary-general Yasushi Akashi forwarded a letter to Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, informing him that the meeting scheduled in Geneva on 2 and 3 June on the complete cessation of hostilities throughout Bosnia-Herzegovina could not take place unless all Bosnian Serb soldiers, militia and armed civilians were re-deployed outside the 3 km zone in and around Gorazde, said Zagreb-based UNPROFOR in a statement on Wednesday. Akashi gave full assurances that UNPROFOR would continue to do its utmost and take all measures within its means to ensure the security of those civilians originating from and residing in the 3 km zone. Akashi requested the Force Commander General de Lapresle to deploy urgently additional UNPROFOR troops to achieve this purpose, said the statement. Karadzic wrote on 1 June to Akashi that as of that day in accordance with his strictest orders there would be no Serb personnel of any description (meaning no armed soldiers, policemen or civilians) within the 3 km zone in Gorazde. Akashi considers that Karadzic's letter, if implemented, provides a sufficient basis for the opening of the meeting in Geneva, concluded the statement. 021206 MET jun 94