OSCE Chairman-in-Office supports decision to postpone municipal elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina

BERN, 27 August 1996 - The following statement was issued in Bern today by the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Swiss Foreign Minister Flavio Cotti:

In his statement of 23 August 1996, the Chairman-in-Office urged the Provisional Election Commission to take effective measures against the manipulation of voter registration which risked to distort, in particular, the municipal elections.

The Chairman-in-Office therefore supports the decision made today by the Provisional Election Commission to put off the municipal elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He believes this measure should be able to correct the consequences of the manipulations which have occurred.

This measure represents a significant intervention in the preparation of the elections. The Chairman-in-Office appeals to the Parties to cooperate closely in order to conduct the elections as they were foreseen in the Peace Agreement.

He furthermore calls upon the International Community to continue its engagement once the elections have taken place so as to assist with the realization of the objectives of the Peace Agreement.