ZAGREB, May 21 (Hina) - Sunday's elections in Croatia passed in line with the OSCE's (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) commitments and Council of Europe standards for democratic elections, although some omissions
have been noted during previous elections, officials of OSCE's office for democratic institutions and human rights (ODIHR) told a news conference on Monday. The ODIHR mission placed about 130 observers in 18 counties and Zagreb, ODIHR head Mark Steven said, adding this meant they were not present only in two Croatian counties. The Council of Europe sent six of their observers alongside. The ODIHR found the biggest reason for concern in the provisions of the new Electoral Law on the representation of minorities, in which, the report issued read, measures for the implementation of the principle are insufficient. As regards minorities, the report mentioned three problems: l
ZAGREB, May 21 (Hina) - Sunday's elections in Croatia passed in line
with the OSCE's (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in
Europe) commitments and Council of Europe standards for democratic
elections, although some omissions have been noted during previous
elections, officials of OSCE's office for democratic institutions
and human rights (ODIHR) told a news conference on Monday.
The ODIHR mission placed about 130 observers in 18 counties and
Zagreb, ODIHR head Mark Steven said, adding this meant they were not
present only in two Croatian counties. The Council of Europe sent
six of their observers alongside.
The ODIHR found the biggest reason for concern in the provisions of
the new Electoral Law on the representation of minorities, in
which, the report issued read, measures for the implementation of
the principle are insufficient.
As regards minorities, the report mentioned three problems: lists
of candidates still contain the nationality of candidates, the
Citizenship Law dating 1991, is detrimental to people who are not of
Croatian nationality, and displaced Croats and Serbs have not been
given equal rights.
On the day of elections, Steven said, the atmosphere was peaceful
and in line with the law and regulations, and the counting procedure
was correct.
Director of the non-government organisation GONG (organised
citizens observe elections) Suzana Jasic, assessed yesterday's
local elections mostly passed well. GONG, which had 2,500 observers
at polling stations, pointed out some serious violations of
regulations, especially in the case of voters who no longer have the
refugee status, and were not told where they can vote on time.
Although significant progress has been made in the past several
years in regulating the electoral process, practice shows Croatia
is still a state of unstable democracy, GONG spokeswoman Aleksandra
Kuratko asserted. An example of an imprecise electoral law is the
issue of equal representation of ethnic and national communities or
minorities, GONG claims.
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