A/49/415/Add.1 English Page 6 21. Another crucial element of protection of the rights of national minorities is the Law on the Relation of the Polish State towards the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church of 1991. Prior to that, the Law on the Relation of the Polish State towards the Catholic Church was passed in 1989, and determined the legal status of the Byzantine-Ukrainian domination in Poland. The above laws are of importance to the national minorities, which also belong to religious minorities. In addition, such persons are covered by the Ordinance by the Ministers of Labour and Social Policy, and of National Education of 12 November 1990 pertaining to leave from work or school for persons belonging to churches and other religious institutions on days that are not official holidays in Poland. This ordinance enables the Belarusians (Orthodox), Ukrainians (Greek Catholics) and Jews to observe their traditions and customs. Similar laws are drafted in the Sejm for the Evangelical Lutheran Church and Evangelical Reformed Church, and also for minor confessions. 22. Efforts to improve the legal position in Poland continue and, after 1993, drafts for new legal regulations were prepared. 23. The parliamentary Committee for National Minorities included in its draft of a new constitution an article pertaining to the rights of national minorities. The Constitution of the Republic of Poland provides for equal civil rights irrespective of the nationality of a citizen (art. 67, para. 2 and art. 81, para. 1), and imposes a penalty for any indirect or direct infringement of those rights. The dissemination of hatred or contempt, instigation of discord or humiliation of a person on the grounds of nationality are forbidden by law (art. 81, para. 2). However, no formula for protecting national identity among minorities has been developed in the form stipulated in the new draft. 24. Furthermore, work has commenced on the drafted law on the protection of rights held by members of national minorities. The White Paper drafted in cooperation with representatives of national minorities is regarded as a foundation for work by the Parliamentary Committee. 25. The fundamental changes in the legal system introduced in recent years are of major significance to national minorities. Departure from the totalitarian system and efforts to accept international standards have become prominent in Polish legislation. The overall process, however, including the case of national minorities, has not yet been completed. 26. In Sweden, according to Swedish constitutional law, no regulation can impose upon any citizen that he or she be discriminated against because of race, skin colour, ethnic origin, or the fact that he/she belongs to a minority. 27. The Government of Ukraine stated that Ukraine was a multi-ethnic State. In a total population of 52 million, the share of Ukrainians is 37.4 million or 72.7 per cent, while Russians, who represent 22 per cent, form the largest national minority, followed by 0.9 per cent of Jews, 0.9 per cent of Belarusians, 0.6 per cent of Moldavians, 0.4 per cent of Poles and Bulgarians, and 2.8 per cent of representatives of other nationalities. Representatives of ethnic minorities number 14 million, or 27.3 per cent. /...