BARRY ON ELECTION CANDIDATES RESIDING IN FLATS OWNED BY OTHERS

MOSTAR, Nov 24 (Hina) - The Temporary Election Commission in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH) has decided to remove from lists of candidates for municipal elections planned for spring 2000 all candidates who illegally reside in other people's flats or houses. Twenty-thousand candidates will run at the elections, the head of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe Mission to BH, Robert Barry, told the Consultation Council of Political Parties in Mostar on Wednesday. He pointed out an eviction order issued by an administrative body would be used as evidence that someone was living in a flat or house owned by someone else. Candidates elected at the elections who will be subjects of eviction orders issued after the elections will be removed from office, the OSCE Mission head said. He called on all political parties in BH to establish in due time in whose flats or houses their candidates reside, and not to put forward as candidates persons residing in flats or houses owned by others. Barry pointed out that women must make at least one third of candidates. If parties fail to comply with this decree, they will be returned their lists of candidates to include within 48 hours the required number of women. If they further fail to comply, women candidates from the bottom of the lists will be placed at the top, he said, and added a party will lose won mandates if women were not proportionately placed on lists. Barry said a permanent electoral law for BH must be adopted by February 2000 at the latest. He refuted claims stating that a proposed preferential system for the election of future Presidency members enabled other BH peoples to elect the Croat member. He explained that every candidate must win at least 50 percent plus one vote from his people. (hina) ha