The following is a statement issued by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Jose Ayala Lasso, regarding the situation in the former Yugoslavia: The High Commissioner for Human Rights is gravely concerned over the human tragedy that followed the fall of the United Nations safe area of Srebrenica as well as the more recent reported incidents in the Banja Luka area, and is pursuing his efforts to ensure access of the human rights field staff to Serb-held areas in both regions. This access would allow human rights field officers to conduct direct investigations in order to clarify the fate of all the persons unaccounted for in both areas.
The High Commissioner for Human Rights reiterates the urgent need for immediate and full access to these areas and has instructed his Personal Representative in Zagreb to pursue his contacts with the Pale authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to obtain immediate access to the areas concerned.
The High Commissioner will report to the Secretary-General the results of his initiative for possible further action, if necessary.
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