OSCE ALLOWS REGISTRATION OF NEW PARTIES

( Editorial: --> 8926 ) SARAJEVO, June 4 (Hina) - The Provisional Election Commission in Bosnia-Herzegovina on Thursday adopted changes to the election rules and regulations enabling the registration of new political parties which emerged after splits in the existing political parties which have already registered for the September elections. Robert Barry, head of the OSCE Mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina and chairman of the Provisional Commission, said that the newly- established parties would be able to register until July 1. The deadline will not be extended because the printing of ballot papers will begin immediately after July 1, he added. Barry said the new registration rule had only been considered in principle since so far no party had applied with the request defined in the newly-adopted regulation. The new regulation requests parties formed by former members of some of the existing political groups to have names which will distinguish them from any of the already registered parties, so that confusion among voters could be avoided. The situation which occurred after the split in the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) is only a hypothetical problem but the new party will have to abide by this regulation, Barry said. Newly-established parties will have to submit a special registration request which will be considered and approved by the Provisional Election Commission. Those parties will also have to gather a specific number of signatures of support for each candidate and present their political platforms as well as pay a certain deposit. The Provisional Election Commission today also adopted a special form on which candidates will have to give information concerning their property. This obligation refers to all candidates except those running for offices on municipal levels. (hina) rml/bag 041806 MET jun 98