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Provisional Election Commission reminds it has no mandate for further elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina
SARAJEVO 28 June 2001
SARAJEVO, 28 June 2001 (OSCE) - The Bosnia and Herzegovina Provisional Election Commission condemns the failure of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly to pass an election law, and reminds the elected leaders and registered voters that it has no mandate to conduct further elections in the country.
The original mandate of the Provisional Election Commission was stipulated in Annex 3 of the Dayton Peace Accords. That mandate was extended by the Peace Implementation Council for each successive election conducted by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the last such extension, the Peace Implementation Council expressly granted a mandate to the OSCE and the Election Commission to conduct the 2000 general elections only. The current rules and regulations of the Provisional Election Commission govern only the general elections conducted last November. Future elections cannot be conducted under those rules and regulations.
As a result, the Provisional Election Commission cannot and will not engage in preparations for any future elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina. An election law is a technical mechanism to make possible the democratic conduct of elections, not an opportunity to make structural changes or pursue political agendas. Until an election law has been passed or until 31 December 2001, whichever comes first, the Provisional Election Commission will continue to enforce the Rules and Regulations, which govern the mandates of current officeholders.
The Provisional Election Commission reminds all concerned of the substantial lead time required to organize elections, especially because of the need to give voters who are out of country the opportunity to participate. Thus the passage of an election law remains an urgent question, notwithstanding the decision-making processes of the Council of Europe.
The Provisional Election Commission commends the work of Municipal Election Commissions around the country, which have continued to work, without remuneration, on election-related activities.
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For more information please contact OSCE Acting Spokesperson, Sanela Tunovic, at +387 33 292 338 or at +387 66 134 758.
The original mandate of the Provisional Election Commission was stipulated in Annex 3 of the Dayton Peace Accords. That mandate was extended by the Peace Implementation Council for each successive election conducted by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the last such extension, the Peace Implementation Council expressly granted a mandate to the OSCE and the Election Commission to conduct the 2000 general elections only. The current rules and regulations of the Provisional Election Commission govern only the general elections conducted last November. Future elections cannot be conducted under those rules and regulations.
As a result, the Provisional Election Commission cannot and will not engage in preparations for any future elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina. An election law is a technical mechanism to make possible the democratic conduct of elections, not an opportunity to make structural changes or pursue political agendas. Until an election law has been passed or until 31 December 2001, whichever comes first, the Provisional Election Commission will continue to enforce the Rules and Regulations, which govern the mandates of current officeholders.
The Provisional Election Commission reminds all concerned of the substantial lead time required to organize elections, especially because of the need to give voters who are out of country the opportunity to participate. Thus the passage of an election law remains an urgent question, notwithstanding the decision-making processes of the Council of Europe.
The Provisional Election Commission commends the work of Municipal Election Commissions around the country, which have continued to work, without remuneration, on election-related activities.
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For more information please contact OSCE Acting Spokesperson, Sanela Tunovic, at +387 33 292 338 or at +387 66 134 758.