Croatian Elections Unfair, U.S. Claims

Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said Monday she agrees with international monitors who alleged that weekend elections in Croatia were not free and fair.

Albright cited reports that there was an atmosphere that did not allow the opposition a “full voice” or the “full election process” to go forward.

Monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said Sunday’s elections were below minimum democratic standards.

President Franjo Tudjman was declared the winner by a large margin.

“It is evident that the opposition party did not have access to the media,” Albright said.

“We are concerned,” she said during a photo session with the foreign minister of Bulgaria.