INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES HAND GRANIC PROTEST NOTE

ZAGREB, July 12 (Hina) - Representatives of the international community on Monday presented Croatia's Foreign Minister Mate Granic with a protest note regarding the right to vote and be elected for Croatian citizens who find themselves outside Croatia during the elections, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement today. Granic today received US Ambassador William Montgomery, Finland's Ambassador Osmo Lipponen (whose country has been chairing the European Union since July 1), the head of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission, Bernard Poncet, and European Commission's special envoy to Croatia, Per Vinther, the statement read. The delegation handed Granic a protest note regarding the right to vote and be elected for Croatian citizens who should find themselves outside Croatia during the elections. International representatives believe that according to Article 45 of the Croatian Constitution, the right to vote and be elected should be exercised equally by all Croatian citizens. Granic said that talks on a new election law were proceeding well; given the achieved positive atmosphere (of the talks), one could expect them to result in a final agreement. The election law will be based on the Constitution and good European standards, Granic said adding the Government would voice its opinion on the stands presented in the protest not once it had carefully considered them. (hina) rml