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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman Taken Question of December 10,1993 1. BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA Q. What is the convoy-relief situation? A. -- AT UNHCR'S MEETING WITH DONORS IN GENEVA ON WEDNESDAY, IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE: --REFUSED CLEARANCE FOR FUEL TO TUZLA; INDICATED THEY WOULD LIMIT FUEL TO SARAJEVO TO 50% OF WHAT IS ON ANY UNHCR CLEARANCE REQUEST; REFUSED TO CLEAR SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT FOR UN PERSONNEL LOCATED IN ZEPA, GORAZDE, AND SREBRENICA; POSTPONED CLEARANCE PROCEDURES FOR A SWEDISH TEAM SCHEDULED TO ERECT PRE-FAB SHELTERS IN GORAZDE; REJECTED A SWEDISH 10-TRUCK CONVOY FOR GORAZDE WITH SHELTER MATERIALS; INDICATED BOSNIAN SERBS WOULD INSIST ON A 50-50 DISTRIBUTION OF ANY FUEL SHIPMENT. --UNHCR HAS PROTESTED THE BOSNIAN-SERB ACTIONS, STATING THAT THE REFUSAL TO CLEAR SHELTER/WINTERIZATION MATERIALS FOR GORAZDE AND THE ATTEMPT TO BARGAIN OVER FUEL DISTRIBUTION AMOUNT TO AN ABROGATION OF THE 18 NOVEMBER JOINT DECLARATION. UNPROFOR GENERAL BRIQUEMONT AND BOSNIAN-SERB GENERAL MLADIC (MLAH-dich) MEET TODAY TO DISCUSS CLEARANCES FOR UNPROFOR APC'S AND OTHER VEHICLES, AND FOR HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES. BECAUSE OF THE CONTINUING ACCESS AND SNOW PROBLEMS, THERE IS CONGESTION IN WFP STORAGE WAREHOUSES. WE WILL SOON NOTIFY THE UN FORMALLY THAT WE ARE PREPARED TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE AIRLIFT AND AIRDROP OPERATIONS, AS ANNOUNCED IN ROME BY SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER ON NOVEMBER 30. UNHCR DATA ON CONVOYS TO E. BOSNIA AND SARAJEVO ORIGINATING IN BELGRADE BEGAN OCTOBER 28, 1992 CONVOYS: 466 THROUGH NOVEMBER, 1993 TOTAL COST OF RELIEF ITEMS: USD 25 MILLION TOTAL TONNAGE: 55,600 MT FOOD AID: 99%; OTHER RELIEF: 1% DISTRIBUTION OF RELIEF.(###)