UNPROFOR ON CEASE-FIRE AGREEMENT IN SECTOR WEST

ZAGREB, Nov 22 (Hina) - Croatian and Serb military commanders who met in Sector West on 20 November reached a "Gentlemen's Agreement on Cease-fire" to cover a ten-day period which came into effect at 6 a.m. on 21 November. To date, the agreement has been holding, said a press release signed by UNPROFOR spokeswoman Shannon Boyd on Monday. The statement said that the parties had agreed that the Gentlemen's Agreement would help improve the negotiating atmosphere and contribute to a reduction in tensions in Sector west while they considered Brigadier Shabsough's proposal for a written cease-fire agreement, presented to the parties on 21 November. The "Gentlemen's Agreement" obliges both parties to cease all shooting and hostilities in the Sector, to prevent infiltration and to ensure that there are no provocations, either on the ground or in the media. The parties also agreed that UNPROFOR would start work to set up a "hot line" to enable direct contact between the two sides, and to establish a local joint commission to deal with any incidents that may arise, said the statement. UNPROFOR expects, with Croat agreement, to supervise a Serb mine-clearance team working on specified fields in the Pakrac area. Brigadier-General Tomsic for the Croat side and Colonel Celeketic for the Serbs met under the chairmanship of UNPROFOR Sector Commander Brigadier-General Shabsough in the presence of Civil Affairs Co-ordinator Hugo Anson. Civilian representatives of both sides were also present. 222238 MET nov 93