SERBS AGREE TO PARTIALLY LIFT BLOCKADE OF SARAJEVO AIRPORT

SARAJEVO, Dec 14 (Hina) - Self-styled Bosnian Serb authorities at Pale agreed to clear three UN flights today and partially lift the blockade of Sarajevo airport. UN spokesman Jan-Dirk von Merveldt told a Sarajevo press conference that three UN aircraft were expected to arrive with UN personnel to relieve peace-keepers in Sarajevo and Moslem enclaves in eastern Bosnia. Von Merveldt said these flights had not yet been announced because of the dense fog over Sarajevo. He added that clearance was given after UNPROFOR commander for Bosnia Lt. Gen. Michael Rose visited Pale yesterday. However, there was no sign of restoring the humanitarian airlift into the Bosnian capital. Serb forces with anti-aircraft rockets positioned around the airport posed a great threat to slow UN transport aircraft. UNPROFOR today obtained permission to move 15 convoys through Serb-manned check-points. Von Merveldt said it was still uncertain whether these convoys would be allowed unimpeded passage because of tighter restrictions imposed by Serb authorities on the type of vehicles and contents they could transport. He was unable to specify these restrictions but said they would certainly make the UN mission more difficult. (hina) vm 141401 MET dec 94