OSCE SCHEDULES BOSNIAN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS FOR NOV. 22-24

SARAJEVO, Oct 4 (Hina) - The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) mission on Friday set November 22-24 as the date of municipal elections in Bosnia- Herzegovina. OSCE mission chief Robert Frowick told a news conference in Sarajevo that the decision was supported by Bosnian Moslem, Croat and Serb members of the Provisional Election Commission. Only one international member of the body was against, he added. Frowick said that the decision had been made "in full knowledge that we will be engaged in a high-risk operational programme." The elections should be held in November because the strength of the international presence would be substantially downsized next year, he noted. Frowick declined to comment on a statement by OSCE Chairman Flavio Cotti in which he had opposed the plan to hold the elections at such relatively short notice. Frowick emphasized that the OSCE mission required about US$ 8.6 million for the conduct of municipal elections. Frowick said that a compromise solution would be sought for the disputed Form P-2, which allowed voters in the Sept 14 general election to choose a municipality in which they would vote. (hina) vm 041735 MET oct 96