ZAGREB, Oct 24 (Hina) - Croatia's government on Tuesday warned the international community that recent changes in electoral rules for Bosnia were at odds with the Bosnian constitution.
ZAGREB, Oct 24 (Hina) - Croatia's government on Tuesday warned the
international community that recent changes in electoral rules for
Bosnia were at odds with the Bosnian constitution.#L#
Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said the Croatian government had
forwarded to the Permanent Council of the Organisation for Security
and Cooperation in Europe in Vienna and the High Representative in
Bosnia-Herzegovina in Sarajevo a note stating that a decision by
the Transitional Election Commission on changing procedure for
electing deputies of Bosnia's three constituent peoples raised
certain doubts and formally was in conflict with some articles of
the Bosnian constitution.
The Croatian government understands that the Commission with its
decision wanted to point to the need that "Bosnia and Herzegovina
become democratic and find a better balance between the political
and the ethnic," said Picula. In its "form of execution," however,
the decision raises certain doubts, he told a news conference
following a session of parliament's foreign affairs committee.
Committee chairman Zdravko Tomac said the session had been convened
because Croatia was facing "the beginning of the denouement of the
situation in this region."
With its note, Croatia is drawing attention to the fact that, as one
of the signatories to the Dayton peace accord, it has to follow the
developments in the neighbouring state.
Asked why the note did not urge revising and rescinding the
decision, a question posed by some members of the foreign affairs
committee, Minister Picula only said the note stated the position
that the decision "is indeed in conflict with some articles of the
Constitution."
According to Bosnia's electoral system, voters cast ballots only
for deputies to cantonal assemblies who then elect deputies to the
federal and state parliaments.
Before the Transitional Election Commission's decision, Croat
deputies were the only ones who elected Croat deputies to the House
of Peoples of the federation and state parliaments. Under the new
decision, cantonal assembly deputies of all three peoples elected
each people's deputies to the House of Peoples.
Bosnia comprises two entities, the Croat-Muslim federation and the
Bosnian Serb republic.
(hina) ha jn