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Bosnia to hold population census in October after 22 yrs

Autor: half
SARAJEVO, May 31 (Hina) - Bosnia and Herzegovina has received the International Monitoring Mission's consent to organise a population census, which will be carried out in October, Eurostat director Pieter Everaers said in Sarajevo on Friday.

We have given the green light and the census can begin on October 1, Everaers said, adding that international observers were satisfied with the preparations made by Bosnia's institutions.

Bosnia held the last census in 1991 and it is high time to establish the real state of the population, said Transport and Communications Minister Damir Hadzic.

"That's extremely important so that after 22 years we can collect data important for the development of the country's social and economic strategy," he added.

The census will cost at least EUR 23.5 million. The European Union will help with a donation of EUR 7.5 million.

The preparations for the census caused numerous debates in the country, the most controversial being questions about citizens' ethnicity, religion and language. After numerous discussions, an open model was adopted - each respondent will be able to answer as they please, without any suggestions.

This solution, however, caused the most concern among Bosniak parties and organisations, who fear that a considerable number of Bosniaks will declare themselves as Muslims.

Hadzic said the Council of Ministers would decide after the census if different answers would be counted, adding that the open model would not harm anyone. "There are many who aren't well-intentioned towards this census."

Everaers said the open model was fully in compliance with international standards and that Bosnia had the obligation to abide by such rules.

Ethnicity is treated as sensitive and it is generally optional, but when it is part of the census, it must be subject to free expression, he added.

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