GONG TO CONDUCT PARALLEL PROCESSING OF ELECTION RESULTS

ZAGREB, Dec 28 (Hina) - Members of the non-government organisation GONG (Organised Election Monitoring by Citizens) on Tuesday held a news conference at which they presented a project of parallel gathering and processing of election results, to be implemented at some polling stations with the aim of checking and confirming election results. The project is a common method of checking official election results the assessment of which is based on results gathered at polling stations. The project includes only a part of election results, i.e., those from the voting for lists in individual constituencies, and it will be conducted at some 10 per cent of polling stations. This is the first time such a project is implemented in Croatia. The project is aimed at confirming official election results by the GONG as a non-party and independent association, which should enable the electorate to trust more the election process, GONG officials said, adding they would announce election results on January 4, 2000. So far, 5,642 citizens have applied with the GONG for monitoring the parliamentary election and GONG monitors will be present at about 80 per cent of all polling stations in Croatia. Mobile GONG teams will visit the remaining 20 per cent of the polling stations. The GONG will also supervise the out-of-country voting, for which 26 monitors have applied. (hina) rml