7. The Council welcomes the work of the IMC and OSCE in creating permanent election rules for the media.

8.The Council requests the OSCE to develop a public outreach program to introduce the permanent election law and aid in its passage through the BiH Parliamentary Assembly.

9. The Council welcomes preparations by the OSCE to transfer responsibility to state institutions competent to conduct future elections in a transparent and responsible manner.

10. The Council calls upon the OSCE to assist the state authorities in establishing a permanent voters' register and secretariat for the Permanent Election Commission and to provide technical assistance and training for a multi-ethnic core of election administrators and professional civil servants capable of conducting future elections in line with European standards.

11. The Council understands that the OSCE will provide continued supervision of the next municipal elections planned for November 1999, to the extent deemed necessary, while simultaneously assisting the transfer of responsibility for the conduct of future elections to the State institutions.

12. The Council requests the High Representative and the OSCE draw up a plan to use in the period prior to the next municipal elections to promote voter empowerment by:

• increasing efforts to provide relevant information to refugee voters residing outside BiH;
• expanding programs designed to encourage national non-governmental organizations and civic organizations to participate as election monitors and disseminators of voter information;
• developing public education programs that emphasize the accountability of elected officials to the voters who elected them; and expanding services to disabled voters.

13. the Council requests the OSCE to oversee the implementation of the next municipal results, using the model approved at Sintra, which was largely successful in implementing the 1997 election results.

14. Municipal Government: The Council welcomes the general progress in the functioning of multi-ethnic authorities following the 1997 municipal elections. It notes however with concern that progress is far too slow in many areas, and in a few municipalities joint authorities are barely functioning. The Council:

• calls upon authorities at all levels to increase focus and attention on resolving local governance problems;
• supports ongoing efforts of the OSCE and OHR to apply sanctions in cases of non-compliance; supports the withholding of international economic assistance from municipalities which have had their Final Certification withdrawn by the OSCE.

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