MOSTAR ELECTIONS POSTPONED UNTIL SECOND HALF OF JUNE - CASADO

MOSTAR, May 24 (Hina) - The European Union administrator of Mostar, Ricardo Perez Casado, confirmed on Friday that local elections in the southwestern city had been postponed until the second half of June. Casado told a press conference in Mostar that the Croat and Moslem sides had reached a political agreement to put off the elections that had been scheduled for May 31. Casado praised Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic, UN peace coordinator Carl Bildt and his deputy Michael Steiner, Italian ambassador to the EU Alfredo Matacotto, local officials in Mostar and his associates for their contribution in reaching that agreement. Casado said that refugees from Mostar would be able to vote by absentee ballot but said that it was yet to be determined how and where they would vote. He cited Germany, Switzerland, Norway and Sweden as countries where refugees could vote. Casado said he expected the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers to decide on the possible extention of the EU administration's mandate, which expires on July 23, before the Mostar elections. (hina) vm jn 241707 MET may 96