OSCE deploys observation mission for general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina
WARSAW/SARAJEVO, 25 August 2006 - The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights today deployed an Election Observation Mission for the 1 October general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The long-term mission, headed by Ambassador Lubomir Kopaj of Slovakia, consists of 14 international staff based in Sarajevo and 17 long-term observers deployed around the country. The mission will assess the general elections for their compliance with principles for democratic electoral processes, including commitments agreed to by all OSCE participating States, as well as national legislation.
Observers will closely monitor campaign activities, media coverage, the legislative framework and its implementation, the media situation, the work of the election administration and relevant government bodies, and the resolution of election disputes. The OSCE/ODIHR will only comment on the cantonal elections being held concurrently to the degree that they may impact upon the parliamentary elections.
The OSCE/ODIHR will request 220 short-term observers to observe the voting, counting and tabulation of results. These observers will be joined by delegations from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The OSCE Chairman-in-Office may designate a special co-ordinator for the short-tem observers.
The day after election day, observers will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be issued approximately eight weeks after the end of the observation mission.
The OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission and the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, headed by Ambassador Douglas Davidson, operate separately under their specific mandates.