GORAZDE PART 2 [Main Title]

UNTV investigates what role UN troops play in maintaining the truce in the safe area of Goražde and whether the exclusion zone is functioning.

Archive footage of Serb tanks rolling along the highway as they pulled out of Goražde on the 25th of April. Shots of Goražde showing damaged buildings that question the effectiveness of the city's Safe Area status. Interview with Dr. Alija Begović, the Director of the Goražde Hospital, who is embittered against international community for not protecting the town properly. Amateur footage shows a NATO airstrike authorised during the third Serb offensive; this was the first time such a strike had been authorised. It was only after this that UN troops arrived in the city. Shots of city from previous Serb positions, showing the ease with which the city hospital could be shelled. Dr. Alija Begović describes the terrible conditions under which his staff had to work. Esad Ohranović, Mayor of Goražde, emphasises that the people of this city have been without key energy supplies for years and he hopes to see an improvement soon providing the cease-fire holds. UNPROFOR soldiers (UKRABAT and BRITBAT) arrived after the ceasefire had been reached and their continued presence has contributed to the relative stability of the area. The Mayor recognises that the UN forces used their influence to push for a temporary cessation of hostilities but he cannot imagine a situation in which "the presence of UN forces would prohibit hostilities". Footage of BRITBAT patrolling former Serb positions around the city. Interview with Lieutenant Colonel P. Davidson Houston, UN Commanding Officer in Goražde. He says that it is very difficult for them to stop an attack by either side. Their role is more about negotiation and accurately monitoring the situation so that they can give an early warning of a hostile advance to their higher command. The Commanding Officer shows UNTV one of their monitoring positions, between the frontlines of the two armies, looking down from a former Bosnian Serb position onto the town. He points out though that UNPROFOR too are effectively under siege here and rely on the safe passage of their convoys to resupply them. Local negotiations have been going well and these convoys are getting through. Shots of men signing agreements and shaking hands. Commanding Officer reiterates that UNPROFOR needs to be here until a peace agreement has been reached and would not pull out until it was implemented.

Beta-SP