VZCZCXYZ0045
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHVB #1025 3251144
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 211144Z NOV 07 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8350
INFO RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE
RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO 0285

UNCLAS ZAGREB 001025 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EUR/SCE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV HR OSCE POLITICAL PARTIES ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: PRELIMINARY REPORT OF ODIHR LIMITED ELECTION 
OBSERVATION MISSION TO CROATIA 
 
REF: ZAGREB 1024 
 
 ¶1.  SUMMARY: The OSCE/ODIHR's Limited Election Observation 
Mission (LEOM) to Croatia released its interim report on 
November 20.  All indicators point toward free and fair 
elections conducted in line with the established legal 
framework, but the report does draw particular attention to 
the new Law on Voter Lists and diaspora voting (reftel 
provides a detailed discussion of issues surrounding the 
diaspora vote).  On 31 October 2007, for the upcoming 
parliamentary elections.  The 20 member team, which began 
work in Croatia on October 31, is to assess the electoral 
process focusing on the election campaign, the legislative 
framework and its implementation, the media situation, the 
work of the election administration and the resolution of 
election-related disputes.  A final report is due 
approximately 2 months after the completion of elections. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
----------------------- 
The Mission At a Glance 
----------------------- 
 
¶2. The LEOM includes 10 international staff based in Zagreb, 
along with 10 long-term observers deployed to Split, Rijeka, 
Osijek, Zadar and Sisak.  The mission does not intend to 
carry out a systematic or comprehensive observation on 
elections day, but the observers will visit several polling 
stations across the country to follow procedures.  In 
addition to their work on elections day, the LEOM has 
established regular contact with the GOC, the new permanent 
State Election Commission and lower-level election 
committees, as well as political parties, NGOs, academics and 
media outlets.  On 19 November, the LEOM also visited the 
Croatian embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, to discuss 
preparations for voting by the Croatian diaspora. 
 
----------------------------------- 
Law on Voter Lists and the Diaspora 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶3. The LEOM's preliminary report indicates the Croatian 
election campaign season is progressing with few issues of 
note.  Electronic and print media are generally covering the 
campaign in line with established legal frameworks.  Croatia 
looks to be set to hold free and fair elections on 25 
November. 
 
¶4.  The LEOM has highlighted the issue of voter lists in both 
their preliminary report and during a meeting with the 
diplomatic community on 8 November.  Since the 2003 
elections, Croatia has worked to alleviate issues associated 
with its complex voter registration procedures.  The 2007 Law 
on Voter Lists computerized the voter registration system. 
This allows better coordination and cross-checking of lists, 
and facilitates corrections when an error is discovered. 
Recent statutory amendments require voters to request a 
change in polling station no less than 14 days prior to the 
election.  This regulation becomes especially relevant in the 
discussion of diaspora voters.  Diaspora voter lists are 
compiled based on data acquired at the time of the person's 
last contact with Croatian officials.  Many voters have since 
moved or have taken up temporary residence in another city or 
country.  Of the 286,000 voters registered in 
Bosnia-Herzegovina, it is estimated that as many as 110,000 
may actually be working in Germany.  If these voters do not 
pre-register their temporary residence before the elections, 
they may arrive at one of the Consulates in Germany and find 
they are unable to vote.  Their name will remain on the list 
back in Bosnia-Hercegovina. 
 
¶5.  Polling stations for the diaspora have also sparked some 
debate.  A significant increase in the number of polling 
stations in Bosnia-Herzegovina (an area at the heart of 
debates about diaspora voting) has been portrayed as strategy 
of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) to increase the 
number of diaspora representatives, who historically vote 
with the HDZ.  As noted reftel, the HDZ is actively trying to 
boost diaspora voter turnout, and the number of polling 
stations in Bosnia-Hercegovina is set to increase from 30 in 
the 2003 elections, to 124 during this year's elections.  The 
LEOM mission points out, howevver that even with the increase 
the number of registered voters in Bosnia-Hercegovina (where 
voter turnout is historically far lower than in Croatia) per 
polling station remains over 2,000.  In Croatia the average 
is 524 people per polling station. 
BRADTKE