OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission established in Croatia

ZAGREB, 23 November 1999 - The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) has established an Election Observation Mission for the upcoming parliamentary election in Croatia, expected in late December 1999 or January 2000.

Mr. Nikolai Vulchanov, ODIHR Election Adviser will head the Election Observation Mission.

The Election Observation Mission will operate separately and independently from the established OSCE Mission to the Republic of Croatia, headed by Ambassador Bernard Poncet, which will continue to carry out its regular activities under its mandate.

The Election Observation Mission will assess compliance of the election process in Croatia against the commitments outlined in the OSCE Copenhagen Document of 1990, as well as with relevant Croatian legislation.

In addition to the core staff in Zagreb, long-term observers will be deployed to all regions of the country. The Election Observation Mission will maintain contact with political parties, national and local authorities, election commissions at all levels, non-governmental organizations, representatives of the media and diplomatic missions. Observers will monitor the election campaign, the balance of media coverage, election administration and other aspects of the election.

Up to 200 international short-term observers will be deployed shortly before polling day. The short-term observers, including parliamentarians, will observe election day procedures including voting, counting of ballots, hand-over of polling station results and vote tabulation at all levels.

On the day after the election, the Election Observation Mission will issue a preliminary statement on its main findings. A comprehensive final report will be issued by the ODIHR one month later.