HDZ BH PRESIDENT DOESN'T ATTEND PRE-ELECTORAL TV DEBATE

( Editorial: --> 8524 ) MOSTAR, Sept 7 (Hina) - The president of the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia-Herzegovina (HDZ BH) Ante Jelavic failed to appear on Sunday at a pre-electoral television debate among Bosnian Croat candidates for membership in the Bosnian Presidency. According to an Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe official for the media, Levin Todd, Jelavic was invited to the debate, but late in the afternoon faxed the organisers that he would not attend. Before the cancellation, Jelavic's office had agreed to his participation in the debate, Todd said. According to unofficial sources, Jelavic declined to participate after OSCE's Election Appeals Sub-Commission passed a decision to remove 18 HDZ BH candidates from electoral lists. The other candidates for membership in the Bosnian Presidency took part in the TV debate, which was aired live by the Sarajevo-based TV BH, the Banja Luka-based Serbian Radio-Television, and OBN TV and Fern Radio, both under the patronage of the international community. Taking part in the debate were Kresimir Zubak, candidate of the New Croat Initiative and Croatian Democratic Christian Union of BH coalition, Gradimir Gojer, candidate of the Social Democratic Party of BH, Senka Nozica, candidate of the coalition including Stjepan Kuljic's Republican Party and Muhamed Filipovic's Liberal Bosniak Organisation, and Sasa Nisandzic, candidate of the Bosnian Party. (hina) ha jn 071325 MET sep 98