But notwithstanding these problems, particularly in central Bosnia, we achieved a substantial increase in deliveries of both food items and non food items. But I am also immensely appreciative of all those participating in, or supporting the relief effort, be it through UN or NGO convoy operations, or through the airlift and the life-saving airdrops by American, French and German planes to areas which could not be supplied by land. The resilience and courage of the victims and the perseverance of those helping them have prevented the humanitarian catastrophy which we all feared. Since last month the prospects for humanitarian assistance have improved markedly with the Sarajevo ceasefire agreement, the 23 February ceasefire agreement between the Bosnian army and the HVO, the 1 March Preliminary Agreement between the Bosnian government and the Bosnian Croats, and the commitment of the Bosnian Serbs to cooperate with the opening of Tuzla airport for humanitarian purposes. Convoys are running smoothly in most areas, as they have never done before.
Some key routes are already open.
The opening of this lifeline to Sarajevo and beyond would make a wealth of difference. Progress is being made regarding the opening of Tuzla airport for humanitarian purposes, an issue which I discussed with President Izetbegovic in Sarajevo, President Milosevic in Belgrade and Mr. Akashi in Zagreb. As I said, convoys are running smoothly in most areas. Humanitarian convoys have been unable to reach this area since October 1993. The airdrops have been of life saving importance for the estimated 60,000 inhabitants of mainly Muslim and Croat origin, but conditions are dire.