THREATS DON'T IMPEDE PREPARATIONS FOR POPE'S VISIT TO SARAJEVO

SARAJEVO, Feb 27 (Hina) - The information office of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sarajevo, received a threat in a telephone call on early Thursday morning, when an unidentified person threatened to kill Pope John Paul II if he dared come in Sarajevo. That person said that yesterday's explosion in the Roman Catholic Church in Donji Vakuf was only a warning. For security reasons, the information office, situated in the building of Catholic Theological Faculty, in the downtown Sarajevo, was immediately closed. Canton police and Church dignitaries were informed of the threat. The office's head, Rev. Marjan Brkic, said police had conducted an investigation and its results were being expected. The Sarajevo Archdiocese will soon express its view on the incident. "We do not regard today's threat as too serious, but I am concerned about safety and security of the Information Office's workers," Rev. Brkic said. The office expressed concern also about the fact that Sarajevo police had not increased security measures around Roman Catholic facilities in the Bosnian capital, although the measures were agreed on after last week's hand grenade attack against the Franciscan Monastery in the suburb of Bistrik. The Information Office, established within as part of preparations for Pope's visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina, began to work on Monday. Rev. Brkic confirmed that Pope's visit to Sarajevo would last two days instead of one day as it had been previously planned. The Holy Father will visit Sarajevo on 12 and 13 April. Many believers from Croatia, Italy and Germany announced they would make a pilgrimage to Sarajevo at that time. (hina) jn mš 271519 MET feb 97