A/51/536 English Page 8 Language specifically provided that it should not regulate unofficial communication of the population and the language of events of religious communities. 24. The Government of Switzerland reported that on 10 March 1996, the Swiss people had voted, by 76 per cent in favour, for the adoption of a new constitutional article on the Latin languages. That provision aimed at reinforcing the protection of the Latin languages, Italian and Romanche. More specifically, the Romanche language thus became an official fourth language of Switzerland but only in respect of relations between Romanche-speaking citizens and the Confederation, who could now use Romanche in their contacts with the Federal Administration and Federal Tribunal. Furthermore, every person could use Romanche in public and in private, in writing or orally; newspapers and periodicals could be published in Romanche without restriction; and it could be used in primary, secondary and vocational schools. In addition, the new article 116 of the Constitution also obliged the Confederation and the cantons to encourage understanding and exchange between the linguistic communities and obliged the Federal Administration to grant support to the measures taken by the cantons in respect of the safeguard and promotion of the Romanche and Italian language. The article ensured the continuing use of Romanche, strengthened the identity of the various linguistic groups, and reflected the solidarity of the Swiss in respect of minorities on their territory. 25. The Government of Ukraine stated that under article 7 of the National Minorities Act, the language of a national minority might be used in State bodies, public associations, businesses, institutions and organizations on a par with Ukrainian, anywhere where the majority of the population belonged to that national minority. E. The right to participate effectively in decisions at the national level (article 2.3) 26. The Government of Austria reported that ethnic groups were represented at the national level by ethnic councils whose aim it was to further the collective cultural, social and economic interests of the various ethnic groups in Austria. The councils could suggest improvements to the situation of the groups they represented, and could make proposals to the Länder Governments if so requested. Those included the Croat, Hungarian and Roma ethnic councils in the "Burgenland", and the Croat, Czech, Roma and Slovak ethnic councils in Vienna. 27. The Government of Greece stated that 12 Muslim prefectural Councillors had been elected in the prefectures of Xanthi and Rhodopi in October 1994. The Government of Ukraine mentioned that Ukrainian legislation gave public organizations belonging to ethnic minorities the right to put forward candidates for election to national and local office and the opportunity to exert an active influence on the shaping and execution of State policy in spheres that affected minority interests. Representatives of 12 nationalities were members of the Ukrainian parliament and the Council of Representatives of Public Associations of National Minorities of Ukraine operated as a deliberative body under the Ministry of Nationalities and Migration, the central executive organ dealing /...