ACFC/31DOC(2008)001 associations. This is particularly important in State Parties where citizenship policy has been in a state of flux. viii. Language proficiency requirements 102. Language proficiency requirements imposed on candidates for parliamentary and local elections are not compatible with Article 15 of the Framework Convention. They negatively affect the effective participation of persons belonging to national minorities in public affairs.39 b) Participation of persons belonging to national minorities through specialised governmental bodies 103. The establishment of specialised governmental structures dealing with national minorities within national, regional or local authorities can help improve minority participation in public affairs. Where such bodies have not been set up, State Parties are encouraged to establish them or, at a minimum, to identify contact points for minority issues within public services. 104. Specialised bodies should not substitute but complement national minorities’ consultative mechanisms. Their effectiveness depends to a great extent on the level of coordination and complementarity with consultation bodies. The recruitment and retention of staff with national minority background and/or minority language skills in these specialised bodies can contribute to their effective functioning. 105. Specialised governmental bodies should not substitute the work of mainstream government institutions on minority-related issues. The main role of specialised bodies is to initiate and coordinate governmental policy in the field of minority protection. They are therefore seen as important channels of communication between the Government and minorities. It is essential that the relevant governmental institutions be aware of the needs of persons belonging to national minorities and that minority issues be mainstreamed in the work of other governmental services.40 c) Participation of persons belonging to national minorities through consultative mechanisms i. Setting-up consultative mechanisms 106. Consultation of persons belonging to national minorities is particularly important in countries where there are no arrangements to enable participation of persons belonging to national minorities in parliament and other elected bodies. Consultation alone does not, however, constitute a sufficient mechanism for ensuring effective participation of persons belonging to national minorities. 39 40 See 1st Opinion on Estonia, paragraph 55. See for example 2nd Opinion on Armenia adopted on 12 May 2006, paragraph 122. 28