Newsroom
Correcting the record: election law in Bosnia and Herzegovina
SARAJEVO 20 April 2001
SARAJEVO, 20 April 2001 - Because of persistent mischaracterization and inaccurate statements by certain officials with regard to the election law in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina deems it necessary to correct the record.
Calls made during a trip to Sweden this week by Croatian Parliament Deputy Speaker Zdravko Tomac that the international community must change the election law in BiH are based on the false premise that there is an election law in BiH. In fact, as Mr. Tomac has been informed on many occasions, the Provisional Election Commission Rules and Regulations governed the November 2000 elections, but a permanent election law will govern the conduct of future elections. The draft of this law is presently under discussion in the BiH Parliamentary Assembly.
"The OSCE has explained the situation to Mr. Tomac several times, yet there is still a clear misunderstanding," said Luke Zahner, Spokesperson, OSCE Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. "What Mr. Tomac should be calling for is for the HDZ-BiH to return to the legally constituted institutions of BiH, so that it can make its voice heard in the discussions on the election law. If they persist in operating only outside of these institutions, their position regarding rules governing future elections will not be heard.
"Meanwhile, we are consulting with the Croat Coordination and other legitimately elected Bosnian Croat representatives on the election law, which will come before the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH early next month," he said.
The Provisional Election Commission will be disbanded and its responsibilities transferred to a permanent central election commission once a permanent election law is passed. The OSCE is prepared to transfer its elections operations to BiH authorities once a law is passed, and the OSCE Permanent Council stated late last year that the OSCE will not be the organizer of future elections in BiH.
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/(0)66 292-449.
Calls made during a trip to Sweden this week by Croatian Parliament Deputy Speaker Zdravko Tomac that the international community must change the election law in BiH are based on the false premise that there is an election law in BiH. In fact, as Mr. Tomac has been informed on many occasions, the Provisional Election Commission Rules and Regulations governed the November 2000 elections, but a permanent election law will govern the conduct of future elections. The draft of this law is presently under discussion in the BiH Parliamentary Assembly.
"The OSCE has explained the situation to Mr. Tomac several times, yet there is still a clear misunderstanding," said Luke Zahner, Spokesperson, OSCE Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. "What Mr. Tomac should be calling for is for the HDZ-BiH to return to the legally constituted institutions of BiH, so that it can make its voice heard in the discussions on the election law. If they persist in operating only outside of these institutions, their position regarding rules governing future elections will not be heard.
"Meanwhile, we are consulting with the Croat Coordination and other legitimately elected Bosnian Croat representatives on the election law, which will come before the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH early next month," he said.
The Provisional Election Commission will be disbanded and its responsibilities transferred to a permanent central election commission once a permanent election law is passed. The OSCE is prepared to transfer its elections operations to BiH authorities once a law is passed, and the OSCE Permanent Council stated late last year that the OSCE will not be the organizer of future elections in BiH.
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/(0)66 292-449.