POSSIBLE POOR TURNOUT WON'T THREATEN FAIRNESS OF ELECTIONS - FROWICK

FROWICK ( Editorial: --> 3104 ) SARAJEVO, 23 Nov (Hina) - The parliamentary elections in Republika Srpska are being held without incidents or major problems, said Robert Frowick, head of the Mission of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). In a statement given during Sunday's visit to the centre for ballot counting in Lukavica near Sarajevo, Frowick said that the possible poor turnout would not threaten the fairness of the elections. Generally, the turnout is better that was announced yesterday. One third of the electorate, or maybe more, voted yesterday, Frowick said, adding he expected that today's turnout would be satisfactory. No matter what the results are, they will be valid, Frowick said, adding he believed that more than 50% of voters would cast their votes. The elections for the Bosnian Serb parliament are very important since they are to secure the peaceful resolution of the political crisis in the Bosnian Serb entity. Our wish is for this country to move toward pluralism and we hope that these elections will contribute to that, Frowick said. There will be no announcement of preliminary election results and final results can be expected after 5 December, after votes from abroad have been counted, said Frowick. (hina) rm 231542 MET nov 97