UN SPECIAL ENVOY AKASHI WORRIED OVER CEASE-FIRE VIOLATIONS

ZAGREB, March 8 (Hina) - The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Yasushi Akashi, today voiced his concern about cease-fire violations in Croatia. Here are some highlights from his statement: "At this critical time, when so much uncertainty exists with regard to the expiry of UNPROFOR's current mandate in 23 days, I am increasingly concerned about the progressive degradation of the March 29 Cease-fire in Croatia", Akashi said. "I call on both the Croatian Government and the Serb authorities in Knin to excercise the utmost restraint and to renew their commitment to the Cease-fire Agreement", the statement sais. "There has been a significant deterioration over the past two months with the number of cease violations rising from 140 at the end of December 1994 to 220 violations today. "It is abundantly clear that the military forces on both sides of the Zone of Separation are deepening their defensive positions in preparation for the possibility of resuming fighting. We have observed an increase in the building of bunkers and trench digging on both sides and the movement of heavy weaponry into potential ofensive positions. There has also been an increase in the number of training exercises carried out by both sides," the statement said. (hina) jn as 082127 MET mar 95