SRNA REVIEW OF DAILY NEWS, Aug. 19, 1996

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From: Mirjana Petrovic <almirja@cotton.vislab.olemiss.edu>

SOKOLAC - The destroying of ammunition from the Margetici dump, near Sokolac, was continued today, a few kms away from the site. This is the reason for a 15 minutes blockage of traffic on the SokolacHan Pijesak road. The IFOR Canadian captain Jean Morrisette confirmed that " the destroying of the ammunition will be carried out today in two phases", and that "the job is expect ed to be finished in the next four to five days."

SOKOLAC - IFOR representatives continued destroying of explosive devices from the Margetici dump, despite warnings coming form Serb authorities that the operation might endanger the nearby Biostice spring, from which the Sokolac area is sup plied with drinking water. The IFOR Canadian captain Jean Morri sette confirmed the operation will be continued "without delay", denying a possibility of adverse consequences.

SARAJEVO - The Headquarters of the Army of Republika Srpska (GS VRS) today called upon the commanders of NATO, IFOR and ARRC to, in accordance with Article 8, Paragraph 7, Annex 1-A, make a decision on halting an operation for destroying 500 tonnes of ammunition and mineexplosive arms from the VRS warehouse in the village of Margetici, near Sokolac. "There are several important reasons - relating to the security of IFOR, its [IFOR's] further role in the implementation of the peace treaty and the relations between IFOR and the residents and the VRS - for you to make a military decision", says a letter of the Information Service of the GS VRS.

SOKOLAC - All sites for the destroying of ammunition from the Margetici dump are situated in the zone of protected waters and the Biostica River spring, from which Sokolac and its wider area are supplied with water, stated Milan Tupajic the Sokolac Mayor. He warned that if "IFOR persists in its intentions, conse quences might be catastrophic, because possible tectonic changes might result in destruction of the spring itself."

BANJALUKA - The multinational forces Sector SouthWest spokesman Paul Brook, stated that the "Operation Volcano", aimed at "blowing up ammunition from the Margetici dump", will last six days, and added that "the first contingent of 40 tonnes of ammu nition was destroyed yesterday in three explosions", so the "similar operation will be continued in the following days."

NOVI GRAD - The RS prime minister Gojko Klickovic warned in Novi Grad that "pressures made at Dr Radovan Karadzic's departure from RS, even though he is not exercising public functions, are still in place", but added that there can be "no giving in any more."

BIJELJINA - While commenting his frequent meetings with international officials and talks on the upcoming elections, the Bijeljina mayor Dragomir Ljubojevic, stressed that some interna tional agencies in Bijeljina are worrying only about the Muslims, while there are several tens of thousands of Serb refugees still collectively accommodated in the city. "Nobody has came yet to ask if there is any chance for or if we are ready to organise the return of the Serbs to their centuriesold homes, but, in stead, they are coming here with a single question: how to organise the return of the Muslims", explained Ljubojevic.

SARAJEVO - The SDS victory at September elections is dictat ed by the imperative of the survival of the Serbian people and RS, stated Vlado Vrkes the secretary of the SDS Presidency.

BANJALUKA - The candidate of the Democratic Patriotic Block for the joint presidency of RS and B-H Federation, Mladen Ivanic considers that the "key elements in the preelection campaign are the life conditions and economic situation".

ZURICH - In the Serbian Cultural Centre, near Zurich, the first meeting of clubs and organisations of RS residents, pre sently living in Switzerland, resulted in a conclusion that they should organise the arrival to RS for voting. The RS prime minis ter Gojko Klickovic sent a letter to the participants of the meeting, guaranteeing them exemption from customs and all other cahrges during the elections.

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