POLLING STATIONS OPEN FOR 1ST POLLS FOR ETHNIC MINORITIES' COUNCILS, REPS. IN CROATIA

ZAGREB, May 18 (Hina) - The first elections for councils and representatives of national minorities in local and regional self- government units began at 07.00 am Sunday at which only ethnic minorities vote, based on the Croatian constitutional law on national minorities' rights. #L# The polling stations will be open by 07.00 pm today, and until then some 320,000 members of 15 ethnic minorities, according to a list of voters who stated their ethnic origin, have the right to go to the polls. Competent electoral commissions in counties, cities and municipalities must establish the returns by 07.00 pm Monday. The purpose of national minority councils is the improvement, preservation and protection of minorities' status. Through the councils, the minorities will participate in public life and local affairs. The councils are non-profit legal entities financed by local self- government units, while the state budget may be tapped to finance individual programmes. The councils must be notified about any act passed by local government bodies pertaining to the protection of human and minority rights. If their views are not taken into consideration, the councils may refer to the justice ministry asking for changes to or the rescinding of regulations violating their rights. In units where there is no council, its function is performed by a national minority representative. A total of 3,650 candidates have been nominated for national minority councils and representatives, which is half the number of candidates that could have been nominated. A total of 471 councils will be elected -- 73 in counties, 148 in cities and 250 in municipalities. A total of 141 representatives will be elected -- 80 in counties, 59 in cities, and two in municipalities. (hina) ms