SDA FAILS TO PUT UP ITS CANDIDATES FOR MOSTAR ELECTIONS

MOSTAR, 11 May (Hina) - The Party of Democratic Action (SDA) did not put up its candidates for Mostar elections which are scheduled for 31 May. The deadline for applications expired Friday midnight and by then the SDA did not put up its candidates. The Croatian Democratic Union has put up its candidates, legal advisor in the European Union Administration of Mostar, Hans Birchler, told reporters today. Asked why the SDA did not put up its candidates, Birchler said that the party 'insisted that Mostar refugees be allowed to vote in absence'. #L# Opposition parties, the Croatian Party of Rights and the Croatian Pure Party of Rights have put up their candidates. Two lists of independent candidates have also been put up for elections but it is still unknown whether they will be accepted. The Party of Women has also put up its candidates, Birchler said. From the legal point of view, elections can be held on 31 May since all parties had been given the opportunity to participate in the elections. From the political point of view, though, it is uncertain whether elections in Mostar would make any sense with a half of the city's population not taking part in the elections, Birchler said. He stressed that Mostar elections would be discussed at a meeting of the European Union Council of Ministers, which is to be held on 13 May in Brussels. EU Administrator of Mostar Ricardo Perez Casado will also attend the meeting. (hina) rm 111340 MET may 96