concerning the geographic areas where minority groups, including indigenous, are living in substantial numbers. Beyond legislation and institutional frameworks allowing for the involvment of persons belonging to minorities in public life, education of the population for tolerance, openess and cooperation is very important. This could create cooperation and understanding between the majority and minorities at grass-roots levels, including joint projects, n.g.o’s and other forms of action, which may put pressure on political circles to avoid conflictual approaches when considering State issues. 4.According to the experience of many countries where minorities and indigenous peoples exist, one can enumerate some of the more common forms of participation as follows; -political parties formed of members of minorities, irrespective of the name given to them, or participation of their members in political parties according to political affiliation; -organisations or associations formed by their members, meant to represent the interests of the minority group and to play a role in the society; -elaboration of political programmes and policies to promote their legitimate interests and rights; -participation in elections, promotion of candidatures; -allocation of places in parliament and if necessary in local elected bodies, irrespective of the results of the elections; -participation in the government, forming coalitions with other political formations; -representation at local levels: legislative, administrative, elected and designated; -institution of mixed bodies-governmental and non-governmental-to consider issues of concern to minority groups; -official or unofficial forums of representatives of minorities, involved in consultations with the government on issues of interest to minorities; -free access to the media, in the official language and in mother tongues. 5.It is important to create the political will to consider issues of interest to minority groups and to take into account the concerns of minorities, that ist o create a climat of confidence. For that, efforts have to be made both by the minority and within the majority. The minority has to avoid pretentions which would go beyond the exercice of human rights in accordance with international standards, which