parties.

VIII) BRCKO

1.The Council notes that the March 15 1998 Award stated that Republika Srpska needs to demonstrate "significant new achievements" regarding returns of former  Brcko residents to their homes; unfettered freedom of movement; strong support for  Brcko's multi-ethnic institutions; full cooperation with the Supervisor; and cooperation  with efforts to conduct free and fair elections.

2. The Council also notes that the Award obligated the Federation to allow former Federation residents to return to their homes, particularly in Sarajevo. It commends the Brcko Supervisor for making significant progress in the area of multi-ethnic governance and reminds the governments of the Federation and Republika Srpska entities of the need for full compliance with the Supplemental Award and the Supervisor's Orders. The Council notes, in particular, the successful formation and ongoing operations of Brcko's multi-ethnic assembly, judiciary, police force, and administration and encourages the close co-operation of these bodies in the prevention and solving of criminal activity. It calls upon members of Brcko's municipal institution strictly to implement Brcko's Municipal Statute, including by allowing all members of the Executive Board to fully discharge their duties. It welcomes the Brcko municipal assembly's approval on October 6 of a plan to restructure the municipal Executive Board in order to improve its capacity to govern .

3. The Council notes with approval the peaceful, orderly, and phased return of over 1,230 minority families to their homes of origin in the Brcko area of supervision, from a total of over 4,380 families approved for return in the area. It welcomes the Supervisor's efforts to extend returns into the center of the city and, in particular, his pressing for the rapid return of non-Serb municipal officials, judges, and employees to their homes of origin, as called for in the Council's June 9 Declaration in Luxembourg. The Council expects Republika Srpska and Brcko authorities to cooperate fully in this effort. The Council further exhorts Republika Srpska and Brcko municipal authorities to move decisively to consolidate families illegally occupying more than one housing unit thus, in effect, blocking the return of former Brcko residents to their homes of origin.

4. The Council welcomes the funding commitments and development activities of the donor community in Brcko over the past year. The Council notes with concern, however, that these commitments fall far short of the level required to revitalize Brcko's economy, which is the Supervisor's central objective under the Supplemental Award. It urges the donor community, especially the large European lenders, to continue to recognize the special needs of Brcko.

5. The Council expects the authorities in BiH, including in the Entities, to respect and implement any further decision made by the Arbitrator in 1999.

IX) SUCCESSION ISSUES

1. The Council, reconfirming the Declarations of the Sintra, Bonn and Luxembourg meetings on Succession Issues, has taken note, with appreciation, of the High

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