SARAJEVO, 15 June (Hina) - Officials of the European Union Administration of Mostar yesterday sent an official request to the IFOR command in Sarajevo, asking for assistance in the organisation and implementation of local elections
which are scheduled for June 30, IFOR spokesman in Sarajevo, Max Marriner, told a press conference on Saturday.
SARAJEVO, 15 June (Hina) - Officials of the European Union
Administration of Mostar yesterday sent an official request to the
IFOR command in Sarajevo, asking for assistance in the organisation
and implementation of local elections which are scheduled for June
30, IFOR spokesman in Sarajevo, Max Marriner, told a press
conference on Saturday. #L#
IFOR had already intensified contacts with the EU
Administration of Mostar and was ready to provide assistance to
ensure all necessary security conditions for the implementation of
the elections, Marriner said, adding IFOR's tasks had still not
been determined but IFOR would most probably secure public
buildings in the city and see to it that full freedom of movement
is respected.
Safety of voters at 80 polling stations was exclusively under
the jurisdiction of local police and NATO soldiers would not be
responsible for it, he added.
An invisible wall between the western and eastern parts of
Mostar was still present and it prevented the crossing of Croats
and Bosniacs from one part of the city to the other, spokesman for
the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), Kris
Janowski said, adding that the removal of such psychological but
also real obstacles was necessary for free elections.
IFOR spokesman Marriner confirmed that IFOR was considering
measures which would be taken on the election day to ensure full
freedom of movement, not only for those who were currently living
in Mostar bur also for numerous refugees who wanted to come to
Mostar and vote.
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