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OSCE concerned by political campaign advertising in Bosnia and Herzegovina
SARAJEVO 24 October 2000
SARAJEVO, 24 October 2000 - At its 285th meeting on 20 October 2000, the Provisional Election Commission (PEC) expressed serious concern over the failure of political parties to uphold their pledges and abide by the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates, and the Rules and Regulations of the Provisional Election Commission.
The Rules and Regulations specify that political parties will also abide by and support the full implementation of the election results certified by the Provisional Election Commission.
In this context parties are requested to abide by the Constitution of BiH and to refrain from any unconstitutional means of altering the GFAP in order to create new structures or bodies. In particular this refers to calls to eliminate entities or to attempt to modify the structure of the state through referenda or other non-constitutional actions.
The PEC expressed its serious concern over actions, statements, slogans and campaign advertising by political parties which are not in keeping with the Code of Conduct for political parties contained in the PEC Rules and Regulations governing the November general elections.
The PEC reminds political parties of their obligation to avoid language that could provoke or incite violence or spread hatred, or to publish or use pictures, symbols or any other material that could have such effect (Article 704).
A number of apparent violations of this article have already been referred to the Elections Appeals Sub-Commission. The PEC Secretariat will compile a list of additional possible violations for referral to the PEC and the Elections Appeals Sub-Commission.
Efforts to incite violence and hatred during the pre election campaign will not be tolerated.
For more information please contact OSCE Deputy Spokesperson Sanela T. Becirovic at ++387(0)33/292-338 or ++387(0)66/134-758
The Rules and Regulations specify that political parties will also abide by and support the full implementation of the election results certified by the Provisional Election Commission.
In this context parties are requested to abide by the Constitution of BiH and to refrain from any unconstitutional means of altering the GFAP in order to create new structures or bodies. In particular this refers to calls to eliminate entities or to attempt to modify the structure of the state through referenda or other non-constitutional actions.
The PEC expressed its serious concern over actions, statements, slogans and campaign advertising by political parties which are not in keeping with the Code of Conduct for political parties contained in the PEC Rules and Regulations governing the November general elections.
The PEC reminds political parties of their obligation to avoid language that could provoke or incite violence or spread hatred, or to publish or use pictures, symbols or any other material that could have such effect (Article 704).
A number of apparent violations of this article have already been referred to the Elections Appeals Sub-Commission. The PEC Secretariat will compile a list of additional possible violations for referral to the PEC and the Elections Appeals Sub-Commission.
Efforts to incite violence and hatred during the pre election campaign will not be tolerated.
For more information please contact OSCE Deputy Spokesperson Sanela T. Becirovic at ++387(0)33/292-338 or ++387(0)66/134-758