UNION OF REFUGEES TO CONTINUE BLOCKING UNPROFOR'S MOVEMENTS

ZAGREB, July 2 (Hina) - The Union of Refugees of Croatia on Saturday announced its intention to continue blocking the movements of UNPROFOR and other international humanitarian organisations working in Croatia until UN Secretary-General Boutros-Boutros Fhali and his envoy Yasushi Akashi gave firm guarantees that the Vance Plan and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolutions 769, 820 and 871, will be immediately implemented. The Union said in a statement that the protesters blocked UNPROFOR checkpoints in Nemetin, Biljska Cesta (Osijek County), Moscenica, Glinska Poljana, Stari Grabovac, Brocice, the Zagreb- Belgrade highway (Sisak County), Lipovac (Vukovar County), the Adriatic highway, the Kolovare hotel (Zadar County) and Josipdol/Vojnovac (Karlovac County). Several protest meetings were also held. "Except for minor incidents provoked by UNPROFOR members who said they 'had not been informed of this action' the first 24 hours of the protest passed in calm and dignity," said the statement. The Union expects that the Croatian Government and senior UNPROFOR officials will soon meet with Union's representatives to discuss their demands. The Union also invited Yasushi Xkashi to visit Osijek and talk with the refugees. Replying to certain comments in the press, the statement noted that the Union decided to go forward with the blockade at its May 20 session in Nova Gradiska, "without consulting the authorities or any political party." 021518 MET jul 94