RATIZATION  

1. The Council welcomes the successful conduct of the 1998 general elections and the timely implementation of the results.

2.The Council recalls the decision of the Bonn PlC that until the election Law is adopted and in force and the Permanent Election Commission is established and operational, elections will be conducted under the supervision and authority of the Provisional Election Commission and its rules and regulations.

3. The Council welcomes the decision of the High Representative to establish a group of BiH experts, under his direction and in close co-ordination with the OSCE Head of Mission, and to seek the advice of international experts, to prepare a draft election law for submission to the BiH Parliamentary Assembly. The Council requests the High Representative to present a text as soon as possible to the Steering Board for political guidance.

4. In accordance with Annex 3 of the Peace Agreement, the Election Law should establish a Permanent Election Commission to conduct all future elections in BiH. This law should provide for elections in BiH to be conducted in a uniform manner by regulating State level elections and establishing principles for all other elections. The Permanent Election Commission will ensure that these principles are observed.

The Council encourages the establishment of the Permanent Election Commission in a manner that facilitates a smooth transition of authority from provisional to permanent structures, which will include the participation of international members during the transitional period.

5. To ensure that the provisions in the Entity laws are consistent with the provisions in the election law, the Council requires that the Entity elections laws are drafted in a similar manner and adopted by the relevant Entity legislative bodies.

6. The Council considers that the Election Law must be consistent with the relevant provisions of Annexes 3, 4 and 7 of the Peace Agreements. The Council agrees that the principles of the Election Law should:  

• promote the concept of a multi-ethnic state;
• promote the respect of democratic principles by candidates, elected representatives and political parties;
• establish the independence of the Election Commissions from political influence;
• encourage candidates, parties and coalitions to seek a broad base of support amongst all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina;
• preserve the rights of refugees and displaced persons to vote in the municipalities of their pre-war homes;
• favor political pluralism;
• reinforce the accountability of the elected representative to the electorate and to all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

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