ZAGREB, Oct 26 (Hina) - The international community did not hand Croatia a demarche, but was only interested in particulars regarding the electoral law and the upcoming elections, Croatian parliament vice president Vladimir Seks said
on Tuesday evening. Seks however did not exclude the possibility that a demarche may be handed to the Croatian premier on Wednesday. "I have not been presented with a demarche tonight, either orally or in writing," Seks told reporters after a meeting with representatives of the European Union (EU), the Council of Europe, and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). These representatives, Seks said, were only "looking for information on how and why certain solutions are adopted in the electoral legislation package." It had been announced earlier that a EU delegation headed by Jukka Vatlasaari, state secretary at the Finnish Foreign Ministry, would hand Seks a de
ZAGREB, Oct 26 (Hina) - The international community did not hand
Croatia a demarche, but was only interested in particulars
regarding the electoral law and the upcoming elections, Croatian
parliament vice president Vladimir Seks said on Tuesday evening.
Seks however did not exclude the possibility that a demarche may be
handed to the Croatian premier on Wednesday.
"I have not been presented with a demarche tonight, either orally or
in writing," Seks told reporters after a meeting with
representatives of the European Union (EU), the Council of Europe,
and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE).
These representatives, Seks said, were only "looking for
information on how and why certain solutions are adopted in the
electoral legislation package."
It had been announced earlier that a EU delegation headed by Jukka
Vatlasaari, state secretary at the Finnish Foreign Ministry, would
hand Seks a demarche in connection with the draft electoral law and
the date of the parliamentary elections, scheduled for 22 December,
and to Premier Zlatko Matesa a demarche in connection with
cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the
Former Yugoslavia in The Hague.
"I have no knowledge which would enable me to take a position
regarding a demarche to Premier Matesa, but I do not exclude the
possibility," Seks said when asked if Matesa would be presented
with a protest letter tomorrow.
Seks explained the international delegation, which included
representatives of the OSCE, the Council of Europe, and Portugal as
the country which is next to preside the EU, was "interested in a
series of details relative to just and fair elections, the
electoral legislation system, the right to vote of refugees and
displaced persons, and Croatian citizens not residing in
Croatia."
The international delegation was also interested in ensuring
monitoring of the elections, equal participation for political
parties and candidates on national radio and television, and the
date of the elections, Seks added.
The international representatives "wanted to make sure, as part of
Croatia's rapprochement with the EU, whether there exists a set of
legal instruments which will be in keeping with European laws and
which will ensure free and fair elections," Seks said, adding
interest extended to Croatia's cooperation with The Hague
Tribunal.
Asked if there had been objections to the date of the elections,
Seks said "they made no objections or assessments," but asked only
for information.
(hina) ha