A/HRC/10/11/Add.3 page 21 77. Political participation of minorities, particularly the Roma community is generally very poor. In areas where Roma are well integrated, some Roma do achieve local government office. Such cases have demonstrated the positive outcomes achieved when Roma have a role in decision making. However Roma are extremely poorly represented even at the Municipal level and are unrepresented in National Parliament. ASPIDA-ROM, is a political party established by Greek Roma in 2006 to campaign for the rights of the Roma and better representation in Parliament and local government. 78. Those claiming minority Macedonian identity are represented by the Rainbow political party. This party does not have a seat in the national Parliament. The party is active in Macedonia and participates freely in Greek political life but has not obtained sufficient support to obtain a seat in Parliament. Representatives note difficulties in establishing the party and continuing hostility towards it due to its support for political recognition of the Macedonian minority in Greece, and the preservation of its culture, language and customs. 79. Two members of the Muslim minority are currently in National Parliament both from the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) party and actively advocate for the rights of the Muslim minority. In 2006 Municipal and Prefectural elections approximately 280 Muslims were reportedly elected to municipal and prefectural councils, including as mayors and a vice-prefect. The Muslim minority is always represented at the Hellenic Parliament. However representation at the most senior government levels has not been achieved. Notwithstanding the woman vice-Mufti in Xanthi, women’s political participation is poor within the Muslim minority. Only the male head of households are permitted to vote in community elections for Muftis, which are not recognized by the State. VII. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 80. The Independent Expert notes the history of turbulent inter-State relations, conflict and bi-lateral treaties between Greece and her immediate neighbors. Such factors continue to exert influence on minority issues in Greece. However, the Independent Expert is concerned with matters solely within the domestic jurisdiction of the Greek government relating to it’s treatment of minorities and disadvantaged groups within Greece. This report has focused on the degree to which legislation, policy and practice fulfill obligations under international human rights law, including minority rights, which take precedent over bi-lateral treaties and agreements. 81. The Greek government’s interpretation of the term “minorities” is too restrictive to meet current standards: it focuses on the historical understanding of “national minorities” created by the dissolution of empires or agreements concluded at the end of wars; the so-called Minority Treaties. This historical paradigm limits the definition to those communities identified in specific bi-lateral treaties that may also delineate the obligations to the beneficiary community, in some cases tying those benefits to reciprocal arrangements for kinship communities in the other state. Treatment of the identified minorities, therefore, is a matter of inter-state treaty relations. Greece does not recognize