GONG GRANTED PERMISSION TO MONITOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

ZAGREB, Jan 11 (Hina) - GONG, a Croatian non-governmental organisation which gathers citizens who monitor elections, was on Monday granted permission by the National Electoral Commission (DIP) to monitor Croatia's impending presidential elections. GONG spokeswoman Aleksandra Kuratko told reporters on Tuesday the DIP thus reaffirmed its endeavours in respecting the democratic standards and international obligations undertaken by Croatia. Croatia's Law on the Election of the President does not stipulate the monitoring of presidential elections by NGOs, Kuratko explained, adding the DIP had therefore issued binding instructions giving NGOs the right to monitor the elections. Despite the fact that voter committees are not multiparty at presidential elections, GONG expects concrete relations with both voter committee members and party observers, Kuratko said. GONG executive director Suzana Jasic called on all GONG observers who monitored the January 3 parliamentary elections, as well as all other interested citizens, to join in monitoring the January 24 presidential elections. Commenting on the course of the presidential campaign, the two officials said GONG's objections referred to the collecting of signatures which were necessary for candidacies. Quoting numerous reports from citizens employed at ministries or other public services, GONG claims the signatures for the candidacy of Croatian Democratic Union presidential candidate Mate Granic were gathered at ministry and public service offices which GONG says should not have been done as it brought candidates in an unequal position. GONG maintains public service employees were forced in the process to give their signature on the job and during office hours. On presidential election day at midnight, and before the DIF releases the electoral results, GONG will issue its estimate based on data gathered from observers at ten percent of polling stations. (hina) ha