OSCE satisfied with polling process in Bosnia and Herzegovina

SARAJEVO, 9 April 2000 - Ambassador Robert Barry, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, stated earlier today that the Mission was satisfied with the way in which the polling process unfolded yesterday across Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"As we have been emphasizing all along, these elections present an important opportunity for citizens to influence political life in their communities," Barry said. "Turnout appears to be around 70 per cent, and we are pleased that a solid majority of BiH citizens took advantage of this opportunity yesterday."

Barry also underlined the fact that with very few exceptions, Election Day passed peacefully and without incident.

"BiH voters across the country - and indeed around the world - were given the chance to express themselves freely through the ballot box, and while there were isolated incidents of intimidation and extremism, overall we see these elections as free and fair."

Some 2.46 million voters were eligible to vote in 146 different municipal races yesterday. In total, 68 political parties and more than 21,000 candidates were competing for more than 3,300 elected municipal offices. These elections also represented the first time that the open list system has been used in elections in BiH, and Barry noted that voters yesterday both understood and made use of the opportunities provided by this system.

These elections also represent an important step towards local ownership of the electoral process in Bosnia and Herzegovina. More than ever before, responsibility for the conduct of the polling process was in the hands of Municipal Election Commissions (MECs) across the country. While some voters had difficulty finding their correct polling stations, Barry noted that the MECs responded effectively to these problems.

"We were able to help support the MECs yesterday, and they responded quickly and effectively once these problems emerged," he said. "By extending the polling one hour, we took the necessary steps to ensure that no one was denied their right to vote as a consequence of these problems."

Saturday's elections were also marked by the participation of an unprecedented number of observers from domestic citizens' groups. More than 5,500 domestic observers participated in the elections, and Barry noted that this indicates that civil society actors are becoming fully engaged in the electoral process in BiH. Along with 750 international supervisors and more than 300 international observers, the domestic observers were an important part of an observation effort that ensured that the electoral process was as open and transparent as possible.

The count process began as soon as polls closed, and preliminary figures are expected to be released beginning on Monday. Final results will be released once they have been certified by the Provisional Election Commission.

The OSCE established its present Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 December 1995. In accordance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace, the OSCE 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.

MEDIA CONTACT: For information, contact the Press and Public Information, OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, tel.: (+387-71) 292 172; fax: (+387-71) 292 289; website: www.oscebih.org; e-mail: [email protected]