$ ONS OSIJEK, Feb 26 (Hina) - Representatives of displaced persons from the Croatian Danubian area held talks with the assistant chief of UNTAES electoral headquarters, Allen Wall, in Osijek on Wednesday, about the holding of
elections on 13 April.
ELECTI
$ ONS
OSIJEK, Feb 26 (Hina) - Representatives of displaced persons from
the Croatian Danubian area held talks with the assistant chief of
UNTAES electoral headquarters, Allen Wall, in Osijek on Wednesday,
about the holding of elections on 13 April. #L#
President of the Croatian Displaced Persons' Association Mato
Simic told a press conference after the talks that the displaced
persons had found out during the meeting that Transitional
Administrator Jacques Klein would call elections in the UNTAES-
administered area and draw up campaign regulations by 13 March.
Simic stressed that the displaced persons had unanimously
expressed opposition to any changes in the local territorial
structure "based on a request expressed lately by Serb politicians
and local leaders from the Danubian area".
Head of the Darda municipality Tomislav Ilic expressed
surprise about the fact that some people were still thinking about
changes in municipal boundaries and because electoral posts had not
yet been determined.
"We warned Mr Wall that we insist that Croatians, Hungarians,
Slovaks and others in the area be ensured safe access to vote in
elections which are to take place on 13 April," Simic said.
The meeting had been an excellent opportunity to shed light on
some dilemmas and misunderstandings regarding the authority of the
Transitional Administrator Jacques Klein to officially call the
elections, Wall said.
He said that the talks had also focused on possible changes of
municipal boundaries with regard to the forthcoming elections,
about the confirmation of electoral results and rules of conduct
and electoral campaigning which should ensure free and transparent.
It was UNTAES's commitment that the elections take place on 13
April. As long as the Croatian government fulfilled its commitments
from its Letter of Intent (about the completion of the peaceful
reintegration of the Croatian Danubian area), UNTAES would try to
make sure that the elections be held at the same time as in other
parts of Croatia, Wall said, adding that it was important for all
those with the right to vote to participate in the elections.
(hina) lm jn
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