OPEN LETTER
To:
- Members of the Representation House of the
Parliamentary Assembly of BiH
- Members of the House of Peoples of the
Parliamentary Assembly of BiH
The Co-ordination Board of the Coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations of BiH “Izbori” (Elections), which gathers about hundred non-governmental organisations from the territory of the entire Bosnia and Herzegovina, express their concern because of a delay in adoption of the Election Law. Having in mind the fact that the next elections should take place in Autumn next year, 2002, we deem that it is high time that the law be adopted and that preparations for elections start. Since the preparatory period is a complex and long-lasting, the Election Law has to be adopted the at the end of July 2001 at the latest.
The Coalition of non-governmental organisations of BiH “Izbori” is aware of the fact that the international community has no intension to organise the next elections, and that therefore, the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina is responsible for organisation of the next elections.
Regular holding of elections presents the achievement of each democracy. Besides, the adoption of the Election Law is the main obstacle to accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Council of Europe as well as to other European and Euro-atlantic integrations. In the course of the election campaign for November 2000 elections, the majority of parties obliged themselves to undertake measures for accession of BiH to the Council of Europe and other regional associations. We would also like to remind of the fact that the accession of BiH to the Council of Europe would open the possibility for the BiH citizens to aks for the protection of human rights at the European Court for Human Rights in Strasbourg, which would contribute to the improvement of the state of human rights in our country, as well as to more compete harmonisation of the legislature of BiH with the international legal standards.
We are inviting the members of both Houses of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH to adopt the Election law and thus to respond to the expectations of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Neum, 14 July 2001
Prof. Dr. Nedjo Milicevic
President of the Co-ordination Board
of the Coalition of NGO in BiH “Izbori”
| Srdjan Dizdarevic Helsinki Committee in BiH |
Vehid Sehic Citizens’ Forum of Tuzla |
| Sadik Pazarac Helsinki Committee in RS |
Topic Ana “Dijalog” Prijedor |
| Kuljuh Edisa “CINVOS” Gorazde |
Ivana Milovic “LUNA” Rudo |
| Blazenko Drmic “CGS” Livno |
Dzemal Sunje Helsinki Committee in BiH – Mostar |
| Boro Vucurevic “Protection of Private Property” Trebinje |
Staka Jovanovic “La Bella Donna” Srpsko Sarajevo |
| Marija Belovic “DOM” Nevesinje |
Vlado Cvijic “NGO Krajina” Banja Luka |
| Milan Mrdja “Centre for Development of Civic Society” Sarajevo |
Miocevic Josip “Alternativa” Kakanj |
| Milena Savic “Information-Legal Aid Centre” Zvornik |
Becirovic Maksida Brcko District |
| Maksuma Topalovic, Kakanj |
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