PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION IN BOSNIA TO TAKE PLACE AT END OF YEAR

SARAJEVO, May 8 (Hina) - General elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina will be held by the end of the year, most probably in November, special envoy of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) chairman, Thomas Buschbaum, said in Banja Luka on Monday. Buschbaum is heading a delegation of representatives of 20 OSCE member-countries to a two-day visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina, to hold talks with local officials about the implementation of the Dayton Agreement and preparations for the general elections. The steering committee of the council for the implementation of the Dayton Agreement (Peace Implementation Council) has recommended that general elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina be organised on November 11. The final decision on the issue will be made by the OSCE councils during May, Buschbaum said. After talks with OSCE officials Bosnian Serb Republika Srpska Prime Minister Milorad Dodik told reporters in Banja Luka that he had personally suggested that new members of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency also be elected at the time of the general elections. Dodik explained this would equalise the mandates of all officials elected into bodies of authorities at the state level. According to provisions of the temporary electoral regulations and rules, elections for state, entity and canton parliaments in the Bosnian Federation were to take place this year, while members of the Presidency would be elected in two years. Commenting on the suggestion, Buschbaum said the issue was a technical problem, which would be resolved after the adoption of the final decision on the date of elections. (hina) lml