Pre-election campaign begins 27 September in Bosnia and Herzegovina

SARAJEVO, 13 September 2000 - The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina would like to announce that the pre-election campaign for the November general elections will start on Wednesday, 27 September 2000.

All BiH citizens and media are invited to actively participate in the various activities in the period leading up to the elections on 11 November 2000. All political parties, coalitions, candidates and their supporters are reminded of their obligation to respect the Electoral Code of Conduct during the campaign period. Among other things, the Code requires parties, candidates and their supporters to refrain from using inflammatory or hate language, to respect the rights of other parties and candidates to campaign freely, and to observe a 24-hour campaign silence period prior to the opening of polls.

The Independent Media Commission's Rules for Elections - which lay out the responsibilities of the news media during the campaign period - will be in effect as of 27 September 2000.

For more information please call OSCE Spokesperson Luke Zahner on 033/292-222 or 066/144-311.