proficiency requirements should be proportional. We recommend that the quoted statement, because of its outstanding importance, to form a separate numbered paragraph. With regard to paragraph 12 of the Draft Recommendations we consider it particularly important that: „Public sector employees should be provided with training on nondiscrimination and cultural awareness in delivery of government services. Access by minorities to government services can be improved, for example,- through the provision -of --services in minority languages, active outreach to minority. communities; and branch offices in regions where minorities predominantly live" However, we propose to add to the recommendations that in areas where minorities predominantly live, during employment of public sector employees knowledge of the minority language should be an asset. We consider it also progressive in the paragraph 17 of the Draft Recommendations, according to which „ Gathering statistics that specify the race, ethnicity, language or religion of individuals should not be considered an .act of discrimination, as it is only when data is available that it is possible to assess and redress inequalities" We deem it particularly important that „Data should be gathered on the basis of self-identification as members of the groups concerned"