NO LOCAL ELECTIONS IN MOSTAR IN SEPT - GARROD

MOSTAR, August 9 (Hina) - The Mostar City Council would convene on 14 August to elect the Mayor and his deputy, spokesman for the European Union's Special Envoy in Mostar Dragan Gasic told a regular press conference on Friday, adding that the session had been called by the City Council president Hamdija Jahic, elected at a July session, which had not been attended by councilors of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). EU Special Envoy Martin Garrod told reporters that within 60 days after the session, the High Court of the Federation of Bosnia- Herzegovina was expected to reach a decision in relation to HDZ's complaint on the irregularity of the Mostar June elections. Garrod mentioned the recent agreement between Croatian and U.S. Presidents Tudjman and Clinton that an active city administration be determined on the basis of election results. "We were informed yesterday that Zubak and Ganic (BH Federation President and Vice-President respectively) appointed the judges of the Federation High Court, therefore I'm expecting their decision within 60 days", Garrod said, adding that he hoped both sides would, if necessary, agree for the City Council to convene regardless of the fact whether the Federal Court reached its decision or not. In relation to doubts if local elections in Mostar would be repeated in September, Garrod referred to the Transitional Statute of Mostar and the stance of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) according to which OSCE regarded the held Mostar elections as a constituent part of the Bosnian September elections. Garrod expressed worry over numerous instances of violations of human rights, but said that lately the situation was calm, adding that he expected Mostar political leaders to be active against such violations in the city. (hina) ha 091249 MET aug 96