REBEL SERBS VIOLATE ECONOMIC ACCORD WITH CROATIAN GOVT

PAKRAC, Jan 24 (Hina) - Local Serb authorities in Knin still have not given clearance for conducting a helicopter inspection of the Zagreb-Slavonski Brod railway and demining the Sumetlice waterworks, in defiance of the economic agreement with the Croatian government, UN Sector West spokeswoman Susan Manuel told a press conference today. Despite difficulties, UNPROFOR would pursue the implementation of the economic agreement until the end of its mandate, Manuel added. She announced that the commander of the UN peacekeeping force in Sector West, Gen. Roj Sharma of Nepal, on Thursday would hand over command to Gen. Carlos Alberto Natalon of Argentina. Manuel said UNPROFOR had lodged a protest with Serb authorities after Serb police had stopped vehicles entering Sector West on the highway on Monday. Manuel also said that UNPROFOR was investigating allegations by two citizens from occupied areas that they had been stopped and harassed on January 18 by Croatian army soldiers east of Sector West. She added that the Croatian army had also launched an investigation. (hina) jn vm 242035 MET jan 95