A/50/476 English Page 37 (d) International and intra-societal problems of violence - causes and patterns; (e) For a culture of peace and democracy - conditions and options for the overcoming of racism, violence and intolerance. 143. Lastly, mention should be made of the participation of UNESCO in the organization of the International Seminar on Tolerance, held at Bucharest from 23 to 26 May 1995, under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Council of Europe and the Government of Romania. B. Application of administrative and legislative procedures against racial discrimination 144. In Germany, thanks to the vigorous action of the federal Government, the number of racist or xenophobic criminal acts is said to have decreased by 50 per cent. During the first half of 1994, 1,895 crimes against foreigners were committed, ranging from attempted murder to arson. 75/ Data published by the federal Government in January 1995 indicated that 1,233 acts of violence were perpetrated by the extreme right during the first 11 months of 1994. 76/ This shows a significant decrease in the violence committed by extreme rightwing groups in relation to the previous year. 145. While the overall number of violent attacks has appreciably decreased, the fact remains that racist and xenophobic sentiments also continue to be expressed non-violently, by means of graffiti or through the clandestine dissemination of neo-Nazi propaganda. In addition, the violence perpetrated against foreigners sometimes seems to be accompanied by conduct on the part of certain elements in the German law enforcement agencies which is motivated by feelings of xenophobia. A distinction needs, though, to be made between the situation in the old and the new Länder, in that police action often appears to be more prompt and effective in the western part of Germany. It is, however, important to note that the proportion of racist crimes solved by the police has risen from 8 per cent in 1993 to 30 per cent in 1994. 77/ 146. The German Government’s response to the resurgence of violence from the extreme right has had positive effects over the past two years. Programmes designed to educate youth and promote closer relations between Germans and foreigners have been instituted; however, the issue of training and motivating the police forces in the new Länder still calls for constant attention and substantial resources. 147. Under the terms of the German Constitution (Fundamental Law), only the Constitutional Court can ban political parties. It is also the Court which decides what organizations may be classed as "parties", thus delimiting the freedom of action of the federal Government and the local authorities. Following reunification, the Government stepped up the campaign against the most radical organizations of a national-socialist persuasion. Thus in February 1995, two organizations 78/ were banned, one by the Ministry of the Interior and the other by the Hamburg authorities. In May 1995, a neo-Nazi organization (Direct Action-Middle Germany) with 70 known members, some of whom /...