UN ENVOY AKASHI AND GEN LAPRESLE ON TALKS WITH PRESIDENT TUDJMAN

ZAGREB, Nov 15, (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman last night received UN special envoy Yasushi Akashi and UNPROFOR chief commander general Bertrand de Lapresle. "Both sides are deeply concerned over the shelling of Bihac from UNPA territory (of Croatia) from the Krajina Serbs," Akashi said after the meeting. He emphasized that he appreciated the Croatian government's restraint under such circumstances. Asked if UNPROFOR would protect Bihac safe areas if Serbs continued with the attacks, Akashi said UNPROFOR would act in conformity with Security Council measures to do everything possible to protect Bihac safe zone. He added that it was highly necessary that "the Security Council precisely confirm what exactly it considers as Bihac safe zones", considering the size of the territory under such a category. General De Lapresle repeated that UNPROFOR did not have any information available that paramilitary Serb infantry had passed to Bosnian territory. He added that at Monday's meeting with commander of NATO Southern Europe, Admiral Leighton Smith, NATO did not offer any information which might confirm that Serb rebels had passed the Croatian-Bosnian border. (hina) mar sd mms 151115 MET nov 94