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OSCE corrects statements by political party in Bosnia and Herzegovina
SARAJEVO 25 January 2001
SARAJEVO, 24 January 2001 - The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina would like to correct the inaccurate statement of the Una-Sana Canton branch of the SDA issued on Saturday which stated that the SDA had won the elections in the Canton.
The SDA claimed that it had won the elections because it had received the highest percentage of the vote - 42% - and went on to claim that it was being denied that victory by the international community.
"The only way to win a parliamentary election outright is to win over 50% of the seats in the parliament or assembly. Anything short of that requires building bridges to other parties to form a workable majority," stated OSCE Spokesperson Luke Zahner. "Looking at the situation the other way, 58% of the voters in the Canton voted for other parties."
The OSCE continues to encourage all parties in the Una-Sana Canton to engage in dialogue and avoid divisive and inflammatory attacks during negotiations to form a new government. Late last year the OSCE condemned anonymous threats sent to one candidate for cantonal governor and urged all parties in the Canton to condemn such tactics.
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.
For further information, please contact OSCE Spokesperson Luke Zahner at +(387-33) 292-449.
The SDA claimed that it had won the elections because it had received the highest percentage of the vote - 42% - and went on to claim that it was being denied that victory by the international community.
"The only way to win a parliamentary election outright is to win over 50% of the seats in the parliament or assembly. Anything short of that requires building bridges to other parties to form a workable majority," stated OSCE Spokesperson Luke Zahner. "Looking at the situation the other way, 58% of the voters in the Canton voted for other parties."
The OSCE continues to encourage all parties in the Una-Sana Canton to engage in dialogue and avoid divisive and inflammatory attacks during negotiations to form a new government. Late last year the OSCE condemned anonymous threats sent to one candidate for cantonal governor and urged all parties in the Canton to condemn such tactics.
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.
For further information, please contact OSCE Spokesperson Luke Zahner at +(387-33) 292-449.