OSCE TO RELEASE PRELIMINARY ELECTION RESULTS ON NOVEMBER 24

ZAGREB, Nov 19 (Hina) - The Election Observation Mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), which is monitoring the parliamentary polls in Croatia, will release preliminary results on November 24, the day after the election. #L# The mission, led by Ian Mitchel of Canada, comprises 19 international experts from 17 OSCE countries. At the invitation of the Croatian Foreign Ministry, the mission has been monitoring the election process in terms of its compliance with OSCE commitments and international standards for democratic elections and national legislation. The mission continues assessing the election campaign, the legislative framework and its implementation, the media, the work of the election administration and relevant government bodies, and the complaints and appeals process, the statement said. The observation mission has not requested short-term observers to monitor the voting process at polling stations on election day. The overall and final report will be made public about a month after the completion of the election process. The OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission and the OSCE Mission in Croatia are two separate missions, each acting within the framework of its specific mandate, the statement said. (hina) it sb