COTTI TO DISCLOSE DECISION ON DATE OF BOSNIAN ELECTIONS ON TUESDAY

TUESDAY $ SARAJEVO, June 23 (Hina) - Swiss Foreign Minister and president of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Flavio Cotti, on Sunday held talks with Bosnian officials and representatives of political parties to once again assess the situation on the field. Cotti is to make public the recommendation on the date of holding the elections on Tuesday. After talks with Bosnian Prime Minister Hasan Muratovic, Cotti refused to disclose what the decision would be. #L# He said that the OSCE was not subject to any pressure, but that all western country governments expressed their wish for the elections to be held within the agreed deadline. Muratovic said that Bosnian authorities would take all measures to create conditions for free elections, whenever they were to take place. "We believe in standards of west European democracy and we are convinced that they will be the basis for the decision which will be made by Minister Cotti," Muratovic said. Cotti confirmed that the OSCE would consider issues of freedom of movement, freedom of the media and resolving the issue of war crimes suspects before making the final decision on the elections. Muratovic expressed conviction that Karadzic would not be allowed candidacy at the upcoming elections, but warned that Karadzic would do everything to prevent the elections. "Everything the Serb side is doing at the moment is aimed at keeping the status quo, because it is the only way the same people can stay in power and avoid apprehension," Muratovic said. (hina) lm 231522 MET jun 96