Chairman-in-Office urges implementation of election results in Bosnia and Herzegovina

SARAJEVO, 20 February 2001 - The Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana, has expressed concern over delays in forming governments in Bosnia and Herzegovina after the November 2000 general elections.

During his visit to Sarajevo today, Minister Geoana urged local officials to complete the process of implementing the election results, and stressed that there was no place for boycotts or other obstructionist tactics in the democratic process. He emphasised these points in meetings with the three members of the BiH presidency and with representatives of the Alliance for Changes coalition.

"We support the rights of all constituent peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina to defend their language, culture, religion and education. However, all parties must abide by their commitments to work within the system, by participating in the elected institutions.", said the Chairman-in-Office. "There are pressing economic and social problems which will require the engagement of all political parties and citizens to address."

Minister Geoana also called for local authorities to pass an election law, a vital prerequisite for Bosnia and Herzegovina's admission into the Council of Europe. He said that the law, which must meet international standards, should be in place by May in order for local authorities to begin the process of preparing for locally run general elections which are to be held in October 2002.

For further information contact the Press and Public Information Section of the OSCE Secretariat, tel.: (+ 43-1) 514 36 180 or e-mail: info@osce.org