KORNBLUM COMMENTS ON POSTPONEMENT OF MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

WASHINGTON, 27 Aug (Hina) - The postponement of municipal elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina would not be accompanied by a decision on the date of their implementation neither had the postponement prompted a decision on the extension of IFOR mandate in Bosnia-Herzegovina, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State John Kornblum said on Tuesday. #L# IFOR's mandate would be discussed in autumn, Kornblum said, adding that the decision on that issue would depend on whether the mission had been fulfilled and on the situation on the ground. The question whether municipal elections would be held this or next year would not be a decisive factor, Kornblum said. No decision had been made so far on the date of municipal elections, he said. Robert Frowick, head of the mission of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, said he expected the general municipal elections to be held during next year. The U.S. administration had supported Frowick's decision on the postponement of municipal elections, Kornblum said. The reason for the postponement were obvious and widespread irregularities in the registration of voters, especially in the Bosnian Serb entity but also on the Croat side. Greatest efforts in securing the Serb majority had been registered in Srebrenica, Brcko and Doboj. Answering to Bosnian Serb claims to organise municipal elections in Republika Srpska, Kornblum said that the only legitimate elections were the ones under OSCE supervision. On Wednesday, Kornblum is to travel to Belgrade, Zagreb, Sarajevo and Banja Luka. During his stay in the region, he will attend a session of the Forum of the Federation in Sarajevo on Friday. Conditions for Bosnia's general elections will be the main topic of a meeting between Kornblum and the presidents of the three states, as well as during his meeting with the acting president of the Bosnian Serb entity, Biljana Plavsic, which is to take place in Banja Luka. (hina) rm 272314 MET aug 96