GONG: PUPOVAC CONSIDERS SNV, SDSS SOLE REPRESENTATIVES OF CROATIAN SERBS

ZAGREB, Feb 13 (Hina) - The non-government election monitoring association GONG on Friday dismissed criticisms by Serb People's Council (SNV) president Milorad Popovac regarding the association's campaign for upcoming ethnic minority elections.#L# "It is not good that Pupovac considers the SNV and his Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS) the only representatives of Croatian Serb citizens, and Serbs the only national minority in Croatia," reads a statement issued by GONG. Pupovac told a news conference earlier today that the international community had given GONG, without any previous consultations with Serb representatives, 70,000 euros for the campaign for Sunday's elections for the councils and representatives of national minorities and members of municipal and city councils and county assemblies. GONG replied that the funds provided by the international community were intended for a campaign to acquaint citizens of all nationalities with the upcoming elections. The association also said that their campaign did not have the same goal and was not the same as the campaign of election candidates. (Hina) rml sb