EU, US INSIST THAT CROATS RECOGNISE MOSTAR ELECTION RESULTS

ZAGREB, Jul 31 (Hina) - The European Union and the United States insist that the Croats recognise the Mostar election results so as not to set a bad precedent for September's nationwide elections, US Ambassador Peter Galbraith and Michael Steiner, deputy to the EU's civilian peace plan monitor, said on Wednesday. Speaking at a press conference at the Bosnian embassy in Zagreb, Steiner and Galbraith emphasised that the Mostar elections were legally binding, since they had been confirmed by the competent authorities, including the EU ombudsman. "Both sides had accepted beforehand that the ombudsman's decision on election results would be final and binding," Steiner said, adding that this view was supported by the whole international community. "Elections were held. The parties had agreed that the final decision would rest with the EU ombudsman. It was done and the results must be respected," Galbraith said. The Mostar elections were also important as a test case for the national elections, scheduled for the 14th of September. "If we allow the side which doesn't like the results to unilaterally declare the elections invalid, we set a very bad precedent for the general election," Steiner said. "We strongly urge the Mostar-based HDZ (Croatian Democratic Union) to end the boycott, and we have also called on the Croatian Government... to persuade the Mostar HDZ to end the boycott," Galbraith said. Steiner went on to outline his solution for the Mostar problem, which he believed was fair and acceptable to all sides. "A mayor should be appointed to act as a legal partner to the EU representative, enabling the latter to stay in Mostar... all the sides have agreed that the mayor should be a Croat as proposed by the local HDZ branch," he said. "Bosnian Croats can challenge the results in court, but in the meantime, the results should stand," he said. "A legitimate executive body should be appointed in accordance with election results - the work of the City Council should be suspended pending the court ruling," Steiner said. "I trust that this solution would be acceptable to Croatia," he said. The press conference was held at the Bosnian embassy in Zagreb following a meeting with President Tudjman at the Presidential Palace. "The press conference was held at the Bosnian embassy for practical reasons - to save time, Steiner explained. (hina) as 311753 MET jul 96