Newsroom
OSCE/ODIHR starts observation of general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina
SARAJEVO 10 September 2002
SARAJEVO, 10 September 2002 - The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has established an Election Observation Mission to monitor the general elections scheduled for 5 October in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
For the first time since the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement, the upcoming polls will be organized by the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While in previous years the OSCE was tasked with supervising the whole electoral process, the Organization's role is now limited to observation.
The OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission, headed by Peter Eicher, consists of 30 international election observers from 15 OSCE participating States. In addition to a head office in Sarajevo, mission members will also be deployed shortly to major cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
During the coming weeks, the Election Observation Mission will assess the election process against international standards for democratic elections agreed to by all OSCE participating States, as well as national legislation. Observers will monitor the election campaign, including the media, the political campaign, the administrative preparations, and the resolution of election disputes.
The OSCE/ODIHR plans to send 250 short-term observers to monitor voting, counting of ballots, and vote tabulation. They will arrive in Bosnia and Herzegovina shortly before election day.
On the day after the election, the OSCE/ODIHR will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions. A comprehensive final report will be released about a month after the completion of the election process.
The OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission and the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina operate separately under their specific mandates.
For the first time since the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement, the upcoming polls will be organized by the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While in previous years the OSCE was tasked with supervising the whole electoral process, the Organization's role is now limited to observation.
The OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission, headed by Peter Eicher, consists of 30 international election observers from 15 OSCE participating States. In addition to a head office in Sarajevo, mission members will also be deployed shortly to major cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
During the coming weeks, the Election Observation Mission will assess the election process against international standards for democratic elections agreed to by all OSCE participating States, as well as national legislation. Observers will monitor the election campaign, including the media, the political campaign, the administrative preparations, and the resolution of election disputes.
The OSCE/ODIHR plans to send 250 short-term observers to monitor voting, counting of ballots, and vote tabulation. They will arrive in Bosnia and Herzegovina shortly before election day.
On the day after the election, the OSCE/ODIHR will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions. A comprehensive final report will be released about a month after the completion of the election process.
The OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission and the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina operate separately under their specific mandates.