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OSCE supports multi-ethnic polling station committees in Bosnia and Herzegovina
SARAJEVO 27 September 2000
SARAJEVO, 27 September 2000 - The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina wishes to underline its position with regard to the issue of multi-ethnic polling station committees in Srebrenica. This is an issue that, in recent days, has attracted attention following a letter addressing the issue by Srebrenica Mayor Nesib Mandzic to the Provisional Election Commission.
While the Provisional Election Commission Rules and Regulations governing the November 2000 elections do not specifically mandate multi-ethnic polling station committees, Article 225 of the Rules and Regulations states: "to the extent possible, the composition of a Polling Station Committee should be multi-ethnic, including others, bearing in mind the 1991 Census in the municipality in which the Polling Station is located."
"We have received and considered the letter of Srebrenica Mayor Nesib Mandzic," OSCE Head of Mission Ambassador Robert L. Barry said. "Clearly in the case of Srebrenica, it is possible to have multi-ethnic polling station committees, and the OSCE will insist on this. Furthermore, while the Rules and Regulations do not specifically prohibit polling station committees from being composed of members all of whom belong to the same political party, the Provisional Election Commission has, through the OSCE Elections Department, instructed the Municipal Election Commissions to make every effort to ensure that polling stations not have committee members all of the same party."
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 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 more information, please contact Luke Zahner, Spokesperson, OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo, tel.: 033/292-100 or 066/144-311.
While the Provisional Election Commission Rules and Regulations governing the November 2000 elections do not specifically mandate multi-ethnic polling station committees, Article 225 of the Rules and Regulations states: "to the extent possible, the composition of a Polling Station Committee should be multi-ethnic, including others, bearing in mind the 1991 Census in the municipality in which the Polling Station is located."
"We have received and considered the letter of Srebrenica Mayor Nesib Mandzic," OSCE Head of Mission Ambassador Robert L. Barry said. "Clearly in the case of Srebrenica, it is possible to have multi-ethnic polling station committees, and the OSCE will insist on this. Furthermore, while the Rules and Regulations do not specifically prohibit polling station committees from being composed of members all of whom belong to the same political party, the Provisional Election Commission has, through the OSCE Elections Department, instructed the Municipal Election Commissions to make every effort to ensure that polling stations not have committee members all of the same party."
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 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 more information, please contact Luke Zahner, Spokesperson, OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo, tel.: 033/292-100 or 066/144-311.