Ready or not, Bosnian elections forge ahead
June 8, 1996
Web posted at: 7:30 a.m. EDT (1130 GMT)SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (CNN) -- There is a convoy rolling in Bosnia, rolling powerfully in one direction, with little regard for what's going on around it. It is the convoy rolling towards elections required by the Dayton peace accord, whether Bosnia is ready for them or not.
The United States is leading the charge, although there are indications that Bosnia is nowhere near ready. Balkan leaders have been told that the elections will take place by mid-September.
Western officials admit that in some ways, this may not be the best time for elections. There are several factors that will keep them from being less free and fair than they might be.
Key components of the Dayton peace accord, meant to foster a fair vote, have yet to be implemented, including:
- Freedom of movement cross ethnic boundaries. Plans for refugees to visit and eventually return home have constantly been thwarted, particularly by the Bosnian Serbs.
- The turning over of indicted war criminals to international authorities. The two most wanted Bosnian Serbs, leader Radovan Karadzic and Gen. Ratko Mladic, remain free and influential.
State-run news agencies throw yet another wrench into the democratic engine. Because most of the news reports still come from state-run agencies, reports still tend to promote the people already in power. Unbiased news reports would help create a genuine election campaign, will all sides receiving equal coverage.
But U.S. and European officials tell CNN that it is better to have imperfect elections than none at all.
They say that a new Bosnia can develop its democracy gradually, and that holding elections now might keep ethnic rifts from settling permanently. And, they say, the pressure of an election will force Bosnian leaders to take all the steps called for by the Dayton accord.
"They need to elect their new leaders, their new leaders for peace," said Bosnia peace coordinator Carl Bildt. "And these new leaders for peace must then come together and set up new governments and new structures."
Western officials may be most interested in moving elections ahead to ensure that their own resident peacekeeping forces don't become open-ended occupation forces. U.S. President Bill Clinton wants to keep his public pledge to have U.S. forces out by year's end, and France and Britain just want out, period. Both European countries have had troops in Bosnia for four years.
So, six months after the Dayton accord was signed, voter registration has finally begun. Fledgling political parties are trying to garner enough petition signatures to join in upcoming elections, even though the country-wide vote is not yet confirmed.
Getting the vote organized is difficult enough; getting everything into place for a proper election is even harder. Despite the vested interests of all involved, it is questionable that everything will come together in time for a September vote.
The United States and its allies are choosing to look on the bright side. "While the glass is not yet full in Bosnia, it certainly is filling," said U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher. Whether the election convoy rolls over the hurdles or gets stalled could spell the difference between war and peace.
World Affairs Correspondent Ralph Begleiter and Jackie Shymanski contributed to this report.
Related Stories:
- Report: U.S. envoy orders positive spin for Bosnia - June 5, 1996
- U.S., allies to push Balkan leaders to stick to Dayton accord - June 2, 1996
- A united Bosnia? Not anytime soon - May 8, 1996
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