PRESS RELEASE

Appeal to Political Parties and Independent Candidates

The beginning of the election campaign is an opportunity to appeal to all political parties and independent candidates to run their campaigns fairly, respecting the fundamental democratic principles.

The citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina expect the participants in the elections to present their programmes to the voters in the pre-election period, particularly focusing on economy and employment, education and social policy. We appeal to all candidates and representatives of political parties to refrain from hate speech and incitement of national, religious and all other forms of hatred and intolerance.

The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina will monitor once again the campaign flow this year, aiming at assurance of conditions for fair and democratic elections. We urge the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina to actively engage in the campaign in order to ensure accountability of future people's representatives to the voters, and therefore a higher level of effectiveness of the future authorities in resolving of this country's burning issues.

We appeal to the media to inform the public about the campaign flow objectively and impartially and this way help the citizens choose more easily the candidates that would meet their expectations in the best possible way.

The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights especially appeals to the youth, many of whom will be entitled to vote for the first time, to engage in pre-election discussions and vote at the General Elections on 1 October, as this will be the best way to ensure a better and safer future for their generation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Srdjan Dizdarevic
Chairman of the Helsinki Committee in Bosnia and Herzegovina

No.: 04-08/2006
Sarajevo, 30 August 2006

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