access to the media market in BiH must be arranged through proper business agreements in line with BiH law. The Council reminds signatories of the Peace Agreement that the High Representative retains the authority to curtail or suspend any media within BiH which threatens the implementation of the Peace Agreement;  

• supports efforts by the IMC and the OSCE, in consultation with the High Representative, to draft clear electoral rules requiring the media to offer equitable access to political parties and candidates;
• requests the IMC to announce by the end of 1999 a tentative date after which its international supervisory element would be withdrawn as foreseen in the Bonn PlC Conclusions.

25. The Council recognizes that journalists' ethics and professional standards are mainly a matter for journalists and calls on the profession in BiH to become actively involved in the establishment of self-regulatory mechanisms. It:

• calls for an evaluation of the possibilities of establishing a Press Complaints Council or similar body which would be composed of journalists and respected citizens in BiH as well as one or more international representatives with legal or media expertise. The precise authority and composition of the Council shall be agreed following further discussions within the journalistic community under the auspices of the IMC and in consultation with the OSCE and the High Representative. The discussions begun in October 1998 by the main journalists associations of BiH under the auspices of the IMC should continue;
• also notes the need for co-ordination of work on the general legislative process in the creation of the supporting legal framework necessary to allow journalists to work professionally, independently and with security. In this regard, the Council refers specifically to judicial reform and the development of employment and labor law. The Council expresses concern regarding the detention of media representatives in BiH and calls for the adoption of legislation to protect journalists' freedom of expression and movement.

26. The Council believes that a stable peace must be built on the basis of reconciliation and co-existence among the constituent peoples of BiH. It therefore welcomes the High Representative's efforts to promote tolerance and to educate the public about the peace process through the public service information campaign. The Council calls on donors to provide continued support for a public service information campaign designed to promote tolerance and civic principles in BiH.

27. The Council believes international assistance for media outlets in BiH has been invaluable in the promotion of pluralism and in promoting dialogue and co-existence among the constituent peoples. Continued assistance will be vital to protect the progress made thus far and to extend press freedom outside of the main population centers. It calls for stricter criteria in allocating such future assistance, to ensure that funds are donated only to those media outlets which display a certain level of journalistic professionalism and, as much as possible, address the interests of all three constituent peoples, along with others. Recipients of assistance should be required to produce and implement commercial plans with the aim of creating self-sustaining media enterprises. The Council urges donor governments to focus assistance on

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