SERBS OBSTRUCT EXPLORATION OF MASS GRAVE SITES AROUND SREBRENICA

SARAJEVO, Jul 3 (Hina) - Bosnian Serb authorities have denied clearance to Finnish experts who were to investigate mass grave sites in the Srebrenica area, UN spokesman Alexander Ivanko told a Sarajevo press conference on Wednesday. The Finnish team were to explore the area around the village of Kravice, where a large number of Moslem bodies had been recently discovered. They were to excavate the site, identify the bodies and organise their transport and decent burial. The mission was ordered by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees at the recommendation of Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, Elisabeth Rehn. Even though the Pale authorities had agreed in principle to this operation, chairman of the Serb POW Exchange Commission, Dragan Bulajic, on Tuesday informed the UN Mission that clearance was denied for security reasons. "Bulajic's letter contains nothing but a list of pathetic excuses such as the fear that investigators might inadvertently stumble upon a mine," Ivanko said. The Finnish team is accompanied by a very competent mine- clearing crew. Ivanko announced the Finns would probably leave Bosnia by the end of the week, empty-handed. (hina) jn as 031354 MET jul 96