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Bosnia and Herzegovina Parliament called upon to pass draft election law
SARAJEVO 13 June 2001
SARAJEVO, 13 June 2001 (OSCE) - The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina today called upon members of Parliament from the House of Representatives and the House of Peoples to urgently pass the draft election law as proposed by the Council of Ministers.
With the 22 June deadline set by the Council of Europe the OSCE's Acting Head of Mission, Ambassador Dieter Woltmann, noted that time is running out. "We sincerely hope that Bosnia and Herzegovina politicians will not jeopardise the country's chances for entry into the Council of Europe," he stated.
The Ambassador expressed concern that Friday's session of the House of Representatives will have to consider several amendments to the Election Law, which may impede the process. "We are asking Members of Parliament to come to a consensus on the Election Law, which will enable them to focus on other, pressing issues facing this country," he said.
The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina also expressed a very real concern about the short time remaining for the organization of general and presidential elections which must occur in just over 15 months. The administration and organization of elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina are very complex. Once the Election Law is passed, a Central Election Commission and its operational secretariat must be established to begin the challenging responsibilities in order to be ready for October 2002.
For more information please call OSCE Acting Spokesperson Sanela Tunovic at +387/33 292-338 or at +387/66 134-758.
The OSCE established its present Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 December 1995. In accordance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP), the OSCE Mission activities are to: promote Democratization and the building of a vibrant civil society, foster the development of professional journalism and monitor the rights of journalists, monitor and advance the Human Rights situation, supervise the conduct of Elections, and encourage Regional Stabilization through arms control and confidence and security-building measures. The OSCE Mission continues to work closely with other international organizations and local institutions to implement the Dayton Peace Accords.
With the 22 June deadline set by the Council of Europe the OSCE's Acting Head of Mission, Ambassador Dieter Woltmann, noted that time is running out. "We sincerely hope that Bosnia and Herzegovina politicians will not jeopardise the country's chances for entry into the Council of Europe," he stated.
The Ambassador expressed concern that Friday's session of the House of Representatives will have to consider several amendments to the Election Law, which may impede the process. "We are asking Members of Parliament to come to a consensus on the Election Law, which will enable them to focus on other, pressing issues facing this country," he said.
The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina also expressed a very real concern about the short time remaining for the organization of general and presidential elections which must occur in just over 15 months. The administration and organization of elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina are very complex. Once the Election Law is passed, a Central Election Commission and its operational secretariat must be established to begin the challenging responsibilities in order to be ready for October 2002.
For more information please call OSCE Acting Spokesperson Sanela Tunovic at +387/33 292-338 or at +387/66 134-758.
The OSCE established its present Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 December 1995. In accordance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP), the OSCE Mission activities are to: promote Democratization and the building of a vibrant civil society, foster the development of professional journalism and monitor the rights of journalists, monitor and advance the Human Rights situation, supervise the conduct of Elections, and encourage Regional Stabilization through arms control and confidence and security-building measures. The OSCE Mission continues to work closely with other international organizations and local institutions to implement the Dayton Peace Accords.