UN DISAPPOINTED WITH ABDIC TALKS

KARLOVAC, Sept 1 (Hina) - Yesterday's talks between UNPROFOR representatives, US Ambassador to Croatia Peter Galbraith and western-Bosnian leader Fikret Abdic were disappointing, UNPROFOR spokesman Paul Risley today told a news conference in Karlovac. Abdic kept repeating that he couldn't contact the refugees or pass them UNPROFOR's messages. "We are concerned at Abdic's uniformed soldiers mingling with refugees at the Turanj checkpoint," Risley said. He described the situation at Turanj as "very tense." Asked why Abdic's troops were allowed to carry arms, Risley said UNPROFOR would try and disarm all armed persons found in the no-arms zone. He said UNPROFOR had no further information about an incident last Tuesday, when refugees attacked two locals who ended up in hospital. Reporters were told that there were 9,000 refugees waiting at Turanj, while 16,000 were staying in Batnoga (UNPA North). The situation in the Bihac pocket is calm and safe, UN representatives said. They added that the EU, US and Croatia were refusing to take any more refugees. UNPROFOR plans to open information centres in Turanj and Batnoga to help refugees with their return home. (hina) mm as sd4 011646 MET sep 94