DEPUTY PREMIER AND REFUGEE REPS ON BLOCKADE AT UN CHECKPOINTS

ZAGREB, Aug 3 (Hina) - Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Kostovic and Minister of the Interior Ivan Jarnjak on Wednesday met with the chairman of the Association of Refugees of Croatia Mate Simic to consider the problems of a nationwide refugee blockade at UNPROFOR checkpoints, the Government's public relations office said on Wednesday. The talks focused on how the Croatian police were supervising seven checkpoints that had been handed over by refugees on July 27. It was said that the police were regularly and conscientiously inspecting UNPROFOR vehicles going to the UN Protected Areas. It was agreed that talks with UNPROFOR officials should be continued. Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Kostovic said the Government had called on UNPROFOR to start carrying out a pilot scheme for the return of the displaced persons to the disengagement zones as soon as possible. President of the Association of Refugees Mate Simic said the Association would consider UNPROFOR's request for the opening of another five official checkpoints before Friday. If an agreement on these additional checkpoints was reached on Friday, the Croatian police could start supervising the checkpoints on Monday, the statement said. (hina) mar as 031644 MET aug 94