Srpska Republika News Agency (SRNA), 97-11-22

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From: The Serbian Unity Congress Server at http://www.suc.org

NOV. 22 1997 DAY

NEWS REVIEW, REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

SARAJEVO - The expected number of voters which will vote on 82 polling stations in Banjaluka is 114,000 plus 650 citizens which were subsequently registered after the local elections, while 18,000 citizens will vote in foreign countries. In the Zvornik municipality 26 polling stations is opened. The Serbian electorate composes 31,000 of 52,000 of registered voters and participation of 1,300 citizens to which OSCE had deprived right to vote is still under the question. In Doboj the number of registered voters is 46 170 and the number of polling stations is 43. In the same municipality the 1,822 voters from FB&H will vote in the settlements Poljice and Usora. In Brcko about 40, 000 voters will vote on 20 polling stations for new RS parliament and in the zone of separation in settlement Brod one polling station is opened.

PRIJEDOR - The RS Prime Minister Gojko Klickovic voted about 10,00 hours in Prijedor on the polling station 34 and till that time (about 10,00 hours) from 55,302, only 2,026 voters fulfilled their civil duty. Because of low turnout the Local Election Commision (LEC) appeals to all citizens to come out on polling stations.

NOVI SAD - The refugees from RS which are situated in Vojvodina can vote on 25 polling stations, and the total number of polling stations in Federal Republic Yugoslavia (FRY) is 79. The refugees which are situated in Novi Sad, Karlovci and Beocin can vote on polling stations which are opened at 8, 00 hours this morning and total number of registered persons is about 2,300.

VIENNA - The ballots from foreign countries not coming in OSCE centre in Vienna as it was originally planned - until now 34,000 ballots arrived and 27,000 passed through first control after which they will be scanned. According to statement of RS

Government representative in OSCE centre in Vienna Gordan Milinic, the representative of RS Government at OSCE centre in Vienna, yesterday in this centre arrived only 8,000 ballots, and around 7,000 packages is incomplete and problematic and while the additional changes were not made they can't be scanned.

BANJA LUKA - OSCE plans to announce the official results of parliamentary elections in RS two or three weeks after their holding, while all unofficial results were expected already at Monday. As SRNA learns, this postponment is caused by complicated electoral system and great number of voters who vote by letters.

SARAJEVO - The High Representative of the international community in B&H Carlos Westendorp called the voters in RS to vote on parliamentary elections for "those who are turned towards future". In an interview to the journalists from Banja Luka, broadcasted last night in the programming of Banja Luka studio of Serbian radio-TV, Westendorp said that the international community will give a support to those who are cooperative and who comply with the Dayton Agreement.

BANJA LUKA - The Serbian Intelectual Forum /SIF/ of Banja Luka concluded that the international community by some of its acts in last days dangerously violate the Dayton's sovereignty of RS. In that context was pointed out on the conclusions of the conference about B&H in Sintra, disabling establishing the parallel relations of RS and FB&H with neighbouring countries without consent of the High Representative Carlos Westendorp and newest proposal of so called unique system of registration of vehicles in RS and FB&H.

BRCKO - "We must get used to the fact that Brcko will live different life than other parts of RS. If that is the price of survival of RS and Brcko in it, we shall pay it here. Let not whole RS pay for it...", stated an local official, words uttered two years after signing Dayton Agreement. Two years after Dayton about Brcko and arbitrage procedure on it, write the journalists of SRNA Slobodan Kovacevic and Sinisa Milic.

MOSTAR - At the basis of solution of Ministry for Traffic and telecommunications of Zenica-Doboj county yesterday between 13,00 an 14,00 h from the power network was excluded the antenna system through which was broadcasted programming of the Croatian Radio-TV /HRT/ for this region - reports the Croatian radio Herceg Bosna. "Such behaviour of Zenica authorities is the new kind of political terror and additional pressure on Croats from Zenica, especially for those who want to return to this city" - is said in the public announcement of the Municipal Board of HDZ of Zenica.

SARAJEVO - Until 13,00 h in REC arrived the data about the course of voting in 20, out of total 61 municipalities in Republika Srpska /RS/ and, according to these indications, at the parliamentary elections came out 10% of citizens - announced for SRNA the president of REC Nedjo Draskovic. He added that the reports from polling stations "are coming slowly" and that "the turnout of voters is probably much better".

SARAJEVO - In Banja Luka municipality, according to incomplete data, since 14,00 h voted around 17,065 voters - some more than 15% of electorate. On 26 polling stations in municipality Zvornik until 14,00 h voted 5,233 persons, or 16,88% of total electorate of the greatest Birac municipality, and on whole this region at 99 polling stations until that time came 11,138 persons, i.e. 13,96% out of 79,780 eligible citizens. In Prijedor until 14, 00 h on 42v polling stations voted 9,687 out of 55,302 voters or 20% of electorate. Until 13,00 h at 43 polling stations in Doboj municipality voted 7,661 person out of registered 45,194 or 17,45%, while in 11 settlements in municipality Brcko on the territory of RS voted until 12 o'clock 2,800 out of 29,000 voters or 12 %. In the region of municipality Bijeljina since 13 h voted around 12,000 out of 83,000 voters. On the 26 polling stations in the Zvornik municipality voted 3,200 out of 31,262 registred voters or 10,44%. On 16 polling stations in Trebinje voted 20,000 voters, out of which 3,300 from Federation B&H, who will vote in Mrkonjici in Popovo Polje.

SARAJEVO - On polling stations throughout all RS according to the incomplete and unofficial data until the noon voted 10-20% of voters. Without any problems the voting is underway in Gradiska, Sokolac, Laktasi, Ilidza, Srbac, Modrica, Rogatica, Ugljevik, Kozarska Dubica, Petrovo, Rudo, Pale, Ljubinje and Ljubinje...The OSCE monitors until now did not have any objections regarding the performance of elections.

SARAJEVO - The polling stations in Banja Luka settlement Lazarevo was opened only at 12,00 h, because the voting lists were delivered lately, by helicopters from Sarajevo. The particular citizens of Brcko, Bijeljina, Zvornik and Serbian New Sarajevo are on voting lists, although they were regularly registered for past municipal elections. At the final electoral list in Brcko is 28,500 voters, since into list were not entered 13,500 citizens who will vote in absentia. OSCE eliminated from the voting list 600 voters from Serbian Gorazde, while Moslem electorate was increased for 20 persons, what provoked a great discontentment of Serbs.

GORAZDE - In Kopaci, near the polling station allocated for voters from Federation B&H occurred an explosion, which didn't make great material damage. The investigation is under way, and elections are normally going on.

SOKOLAC - The OSCE spokesman Luke Zahmer confirmed for SRNA that on the polling station 999 in Kopaci early in the morning exploded the explosive device in which was damaged few windows, what did not have impact on opening the polling station. Zahmer stated that the investigation is conducted by IPTF, but the results are still unknown.

BELGRADE - In FR Yugoslavia this morning at 8 o'clock was opened 79 polling stations at which refugees are voting for extraordinary parliamentary elections in RS. In Belgrade was opened 12 polling stations, and eligible persons are all voters who were registered for September's elections for municipal authorities.

BELGRADE - In the organisation of Association of Serbs from B&H at 8,00 o'clock in front of the centre "Sava" in Belgrade departed two busses with about one hundred voters for parliament of RS. One bus is going to Srebrenica and one to Brcko, while around 250 citizens in five buses this morning were directed towards Srebrenica from Novi Sad. To Srebrenica went also three buses with around 150 citizens from Zrenjanin. The association of Serbs from B&H will also on Sunday organise transportation for citizens who will vote in Brcko and Srebrenica.

SARAJEVO - From the bus station in Federal part of Sarajevo this morning towards RS departed six buses with 300 voters, who will vote for parliament of RS. In FB&H was opened 150 polling stations for remaining voters from Federation.

PODGORICA - In Montenegro is registered 947 persons who will cast their ballots for new RS parliament in Podgorica, Herceg Novi, Bar, Tivat, Niksic, Pljevlja, Plav and Bijelo Polje.

SARAJEVO - The counting of votes from abroad for RS parliament will commence on December 3 and would last until December 7 or 8 - stated the chief of Republican centre for counting ballots Bosko Siljegovic for SRNA in Lukavica today. According to him, the training of counters will be held on November 26 in organisation of OSCE and REC, and it is expected that votes will arrive until December 2.

BANJA LUKA - The president of OSCE Parliamentary Council Javiar Ruperez stated in Banja Luka, after the meeting with RS president Biljana Plavsic, that on the basis of his sight and report of OSCE supervisors on November 24 will give public information on regularity of votes. "Until now the elections in RS are going on in best order and I hope that it will be so until they were finished", said Ruperez and announced the arrival of OSCE delegation to Pale.

BANJA LUKA - The OSCE spokesman Johan Ferheiten confirmed today in Banja Luka that on the first day of voting were opened all polling stations for delegates in National Assembly of Republika Srpska /RS/ and that here are no any problem in electoral process. The IPTF spokesman for region of Banja Luka Alun Roberts stated that IPTF is supervising the behaviour of local police during the elections, and until now they have no any objections.

BANJA LUKA - The RS president Ms. Biljana Plavsic briefly assessed that the voters "will vote for better now and the future". She cast her ballot in Banja Luka for new convocation of the National Assembly, and she gave this statement to assembled journalists.

SARAJEVO - The president in Presidency of B&H from RS Momcilo Krajisnik called upon all citizens to come out on elections and by their votes contribute to the stability of Republics and overcoming the crisis. Stressing that the citizens "are little embittered, because the elections were imposed in the period when, instead of strengthening the stability, we must go on checking the delegates", Krajisnik expressed worry because, in accordance with Belgrade's Agreement, simultaneously the presidential elections were not held.

SARAJEVO - The president of the RS parliament Dragan Kalinic called the citizens "not to be deceived by the provocations in the form of leaflets and planted placards", stressing that behind that are not the official authorities of RS nor Serbian Democratic Party /SDS/. Kalinic didn't say precisely what leaflets are in question, but immediately before the voting in the premises of Municipal assembly in Pale he expressed the hope that the elections will pass in democratic and fair atmosphere, and that newly elected Assembly will successfully solve the vital problems of citizens.

SARAJEVO - The president of RS Government Velibor Ostojic stated in Pale that after the political crisis in RS "the people will decide on unique voting for RS and by that prevent the intentions of individuals to divide it". "These are the days of decision for Serbian people, after all that has happened in last six months and more" - stressed Ostojic.

BANJA LUKA - The president of Serbian Radical Party /SRS/ of RS Nikola Poplasen assessed in Banja Luka that on these elections will be "neutralised those who have intention to melt elements of stateship of RS", and that in this way "will be realised the full potential which provides the Dayton Agreement". After voting at polling station "Centre 1", Poplasen expressed the firm conviction that "the essential changes will occur, which will very soon solve the problems of housing, poverty and fundamental health care".

BANJA LUKA - The President of Socialist Party of RS Zivko Radisic hailed "all citizens of RS and the people of good will", and wished that "parliamentary elections designates the end of crisis in RS". "I expect that these elections will be a large turn in the stabilisation of political and economic relations, and that they will return dignity to National Assembly and disclose the RS toward the world" - stated Radisic after voting in Banja Luka settlement Borik.

BELGRADE - The Head of the SDS Office for Serbia (FRY) Mirko Jovic warned that, according to this morning reports of monitors, the election boards, because of "unfulfilled conditions", are returning, on the average, about two-thirds of citizens which came to vote. "The people in RS is not aware how big is the space for manipulation with votes. Until now only the problem with manipulation of Muslim and Croatian votes from abroad existed, but now new problems showed up and our Office will do everything to stop it" - said Jovic.

SARAJEVO - The Head of the OSCE Mission in B&H Robert Frowick visited the polling station in Pale municipality building, in order to check organisation of elections at the spot. He wished "all the best during the voting" to RS people and expressed his hope that the citizens "will bring a wise decision and choose the right people which will lead the RS".

SARAJEVO - The remained Croats in middle Bosnia pointed out, in the letter forwarded to Croatian people, Catholic Church and to international community, that they "in areas under the Muslim control live in very hard circumstances" - reports Croatian media. The hard circumstances are "everyday mistreating, deterring and terrorising - including murders and destructions of property" what according to letter "increases concern of Croats when their survival in this part of FB&H is in question".

/end/

From the Serbian Unity Congress Server at http://www.suc.org

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