CONDITIONS FOR HOLDING ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA HAVE NOT BEEN MET - IHF

IHF $ ZAGREB, May 28 (Hina) - The International Helsinki Federation (IHF) and the Helsinki Human Rights Committee in Bosnia-Herzegovina expressed their belief that not one condition for holding free, fair and democratic elections in Bosnia had been met. In a statement issued in Vienna, the IHF said that reports of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission for human rights in Sarajevo could not confirm that conditions had been met to hold free and fair elections in September. The Dayton Agreement envisaged that OSCE had to confirm whether necessary conditions concerning human rights had been met, and in relation to this, make a decision on scheduling the elections, IHF recalled. Other conditions for holding the elections are freedom of movement, freedom of political association, the return of all refugees and displaced persons. The IHF expressed concern because it noticed that the OSCE was under great political pressure to confirm that conditions for holding elections had been met, despite proof that pointed to the opposite. The IHF asked OSCE to continue to respect the Dayton accords and to resist political pressure. The IHF expressed fear that, on the contrary, results of ethnic cleansing would be accepted and status quo would be kept which could have long-term consequences for peace in Bosnia- Herzegovina, and it would disturb the integrity and credibility of the international community and threaten the future of Bosnia. The Helsinki Human Rights Committee in Bosnia and the IHF mission confirmed that not one condition under the Dayton Agreement had been met. IHF added that the presence of war criminals in the public and political life of Bosnia-Herzegovina was one of the biggest obstacles in the establishment of peace and it presented potential danger for holding free and fair elections. (hina) lm jn 281639 MET may 96