REPORT ON THE REPUBLIC OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA Note from the Editor: In the previous issue we initiated this section and we wish, in this and in the future editions, to use this page to brief you on the ODIHR work in Bosnia-Herzegovina reconstruction process. In the past three months, ODIHR provided assistance to the OSCE Mission in Sarajevo mostly with respect to the upcoming elections. The ODIHR has commissioned experts from IFES who are presently working in Sarajevo on a voter information programme. This is essential given the fact that the aftermath of the war and fragile peace have left most citizens confused and uninformed about their status and rights and responsibilities. The conditions imposed by the Dayton Agreement for the conduct of the electoral process including the right of eligible citizen refugees and displaced persons to vote, the unusual circumstances which designate 69% of the electorate as "absentee voters," and the short time in which to prepare and conduct the elections magnify the need for an intensive voter information programme. ODIHR, together with IFES, are well equipped to undertake this work. This project follows earlier IFES Election Assessment Missions which had prepared election rules and codes and made a number of recommendations to the Provisional Election Commission (PEC) in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Other technical assistance already provided to the OSCE Mission in Sarajevo, includes a training programme for newly deployed OSCE Human Rights Mission Monitors as well as translating a number of BosniaHerzegovina laws for use by the international community. ODIHR's most recent priority has been acting as Secretariat to set up, at very short notice, a series of meetings with those countries which are hosting large numbers of Bosnia-Herzegovina refugees. These were needed to discuss with Governments the practical arrangements which will be necessary to ensure that refugees are properly registered and are then able to exercise their right to vote. In most cases voting will be by postal ballots. This will involve an enormous amount of organisation by OSCE member states, much of which is already in hand. Another major, ongoing, activity for ODIHR is to provide advice to Mr Ed van Thijn, the OSCE appointed Election Monitor Co-ordinator and his team in Sarajevo. There will be an important co-ordination meeting, hosted by ODIHR, in Warsaw on 3 June 1996 to meet international organisations which are planning to send Monitors to the seven different elections due to take place in Bosnia-Herzegovina on the same day. ODIHR have also identified and sent out election experts to assist Mr van Thijn in his difficult mission. Without doubt, the most eye-catching part of ODIHR's work for Bosnia-Herzegovina elections has been the voter information posters. These were designed in Poland by Prof. Marian Nowinski, an award winning artist. The posters embrace the theme of people working together for a better future. All of us would hope that this theme will lead to successful elections being held in September. Rapporteur: Donald Holder 26 OSCE ODIHR Bulletin Vol. 4 No. 3