ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA TO COST SEVEN MILLION EURO

SARAJEVO, May 22 (Hina) - General elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina scheduled for November 11 will cost between seven and 7.5 million euro, and the funds will be secured by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), OSCE Mission chief in Bosnia- Herzegovina, Robert Barry, said Monday. At a news conference in Sarajevo Barry said the decision on the holding of general elections in the country had been reached based on the unequivocal support of the Peace Implementation Council's management board, and the OSCE Permanent Council. He confirmed that the Bosnia-Herzegovina parliament had been asked to speed up a discussion on a permanent electoral law so it could be adopted by November. However, he warned, the autumn elections would not be held on the basis of its provisions. We will act in accordance to the Bosnian Constitution which stipulates that the mandate of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency members lasts four years, meaning that the current members will remain in office by the year 2002. We have no authority nor need to change this, Barry said. In reply to a reporter's question, Barry asserted the OSCE had no indications of any of the Presidency members, such as Alija Izetbegovic, intended to resign before the expiry of the mandate. These are for now only claims which can be seen in the media, he stressed. (hina) lml mm