'BLUE ROUTE' ACROSS SARAJEVO AIRPORT OPENED TO CIVILIANS

SARAJEVO, Feb 6 (Hina) - The 'blue routes' running across Sarajevo airport opened to civilian traffic this morning at 8am, UNPROFOR civil affairs chief in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Enrique Aguilar, said today. He said at least 700 civilians had used the routes by midday while in Sarajevo more than 100 personal vehicles and buses traveled to and from the city. Forty vehicle traveled into Sarajevo suburbs of Ilidza and Lukavica, both under Serb control. Aguilar said traffic across Sarajevo Airport was running smoothly with the full cooperation of both sides. He said the 'blue routes' were opened at UNPROFOR's insistence, adding that on Wednesday, talks would continue on the conditions under which trucks of non-government humanitarian agencies could use the routes. Civilians who travel to or from Sarajevo, in line with an agreement yesterday, were not required to have any special clearance, Aguilar added. UNPROFOR Sarajevo headquarters said there was a possibility of opening the route from Sarajevo to Zenica, across Vogosca that was under Serb control. This route has never been officially closed but the Bosnian Government believes that travel through this route is too dangerous. UNPROFOR spokesman in Sarajevo, Gary Coward, said today that UNPROFOR was prepared to take all necessary conditions to protect travelers, in line with provisions in the March, 17, 1994 agreement. However, while the route across Vogosca was opened, bus travelers were escorted by tanks and UN armoured carries, but despite such measures passengers still came under fire and in some instances Serbs stopped the buses. (hina) sd mms 061322 MET feb 95