OSCE funds public information campaign on minority elections in Croatia

ZAGREB, 8 May 2003 - The OSCE Mission to Croatia has signed today a contract with a leading Croatian non-governmental organization, GONG, for the conduct of a public information campaign on elections for national minorities in the country.

The project, worth 15,000 euros, is intended to provide voter information to Croatian national minority members on minority councils elections, scheduled for 18 May.

The campaign is already underway and includes:

1- Monitoring: 21 two-person teams monitoring the election at polling stations throughout the country.

2- TV Spots: Production of TV spots to be aired on Croatian state TV (HTV) the week prior to elections.

3- Radio shows: Twenty 30-minute long 'Citizen Hours' shows on radio stations around Croatia explaining the background to and requirements for voting in the election.

4- Hotline: A free hotline for election information.

5- Brochures: Development, design and printing of 30,000 copies of information brochure on the election plus email version on GONG web page; distribution of brochures to national minorities councils through GONG regional offices, associations of national minorities, electoral bodies and the media.

Elections for national minority councils are foreseen by the recently adopted Constitutional Law on National Minorities. They are a key measure to provide minorities with elected bodies that can represent them.