officials in the course of their duties, and with administrative and electoral matters;

• strengthening the BiH Constitutional Court;
• developing and strengthening enforcement mechanisms for legal rulings;
• the immediate elimination of the dual court system in the Herzegovina-Neretva   Canton, through full implementation of the Laws establishing an integrated judiciary for this Canton, including the City of Mostar.

4. Progress in inter-Entity judicial co-operation, including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Inter-Entity Legal Assistance and the establishment of the Inter-Entity Legal Commission, must be taken forward by the adoption and implementation of formal legislation, by 31 December 1999, to ensure that legal material necessary for fair and efficient judicial proceedings in each Entity are possible. Proper investigation, prosecution and trial of serious crime must be strengthened in both Entities and supported by full implementation of the Memorandum of Intent on inter-Entity co-operation. The Inter Entity Judicial Commission must be strengthened and made into an effective mechanism for Inter- Entity co-operation on legal matters.

5. Human rights institutions: Bosnia and Herzegovina will not be accepted as a modern, democratic European state until all its citizens enjoy full protection of their human rights, including freedom from discrimination. The credibility of Bosnia and Herzegovina's application for membership in the Council of Europe requires full implementation of the decisions and recommendations of the Annex 6 and 7  institutions, as well as the enforcement of the decisions of its own courts.

The Council:

• demands immediate and full implementation of all decisions that have been issued by the Human Rights Chamber and the Commission for Real Property Claims, as well as compliance with the reports of the Ombudsperson and Federation Ombudsmen, and the application of standards set forth in the European Convention by an independent judiciary;
• urges the relevant authorities to take the necessary steps to make the decisions of the Chamber readily available to the Courts and to adopt implementing legislation for decisions of the Commission for Real Property Claims;
• calls for the durable appointment and full participation of State and Entity agents to the Human Rights Commission, including the immediate appointment of a Republika Srpska agent;
• expects the responsible authorities to assume their financial responsibilities to these institutions as required by the GFAP;
• calls for the establishment of the office of the Republika Srpska Ombudsperson, in accordance with the recommendations of the Venice Commission, without any further delay.

6. The Council welcomes the adoption of essential property legislation facilitating

<12>