FINLAND IMPOSES VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR YUGOSLAVS

Finland decided yesterday to impose visa requirements for citizens from the former Yugoslavia to control a rapid increase in the flow of refugees.

The decision, which suspends the visa exemption for Yugoslavs, does not affect the former Yugoslav republics of Croatia and Slovenia, which have separate agreements. About 1,800 refugees from the former Yugoslavia are now in Finland and the numbers have risen in the last few weeks.

"As one European country after another closes its borders, a great pressure will fall on Finland leading to an uncontrolled situation," Interior Minister Mauri Pekkarinen said.