A/RES/53/163 Page 5 Cooperation in Europe and the Government of the Republic of Croatia to build on the admirable work carried out by the United Nations in Eastern Slavonia; 23. Welcomes also the Programme for the Return and Accommodation of Displaced Persons, Refugees and Exiled Persons, established on 26 June 1998 in the Republic of Croatia,8 as well as subsequent steps taken, and calls for their full, non-discriminatory and early implementation; 24. Urges the Republic of Croatia to implement fully its programme on the re-establishment of confidence, acceleration of return and normalization of living conditions in the war-affected areas of the Republic of Croatia and its refugee return programme in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and demands that the Republic of Croatia take immediate steps to facilitate the early voluntary return, in safety and with dignity, of all refugees and displaced persons, including minorities, to their homes in all regions, to use all available means to assure their safety and human rights, to resolve property rights issues within the framework of the rule of law and in conformity with international standards, to make a sustained effort to provide equal access to assistance in social and housing reconstruction, regardless of ethnicity, to continue to allow access to this population by humanitarian organizations and to maintain its cooperation with the civilian police monitors in Croatia mandated by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; 25. Calls upon the Government of the Republic of Croatia to undertake additional efforts to adhere to democratic principles and to continue its efforts to attain the highest level of compliance with international norms and standards of human rights and fundamental freedoms, especially in regard to strengthening the independence of its judiciary, to freedom of association and assembly, and to the promotion and protection of free and independent media, in particular by providing for full freedom of expression in and access to all forms of media, including by the complete range of political parties; 26. Takes note of the request of the Government of the Republic of Croatia for technical cooperation and assistance programmes and of the positive response thereto by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and looks forward to the effects of those programmes on the situation of human rights and the rule of law; 27. Strongly urges the impartial application of the law by the Republic of Croatia and the swift and complete implementation of judicial decisions for all citizens, irrespective of ethnicity, religion or political affiliation; 28. Reminds the Government of the Republic of Croatia of its primary responsibility to restore the multi-ethnic character of Croatia, including the pledge to guarantee the representation of national minorities, including Serbs, at various levels of local, regional and national government; 29. Notes that police performance has improved markedly since the beginning of the mandate of the Civilian Police Support Group and that the Government has taken steps to ensure that this continues; 30. Calls upon the Croatian authorities to prevent harassment, looting and physical attacks against displaced Serbs and other minorities and others, and speedily to arrest those committing or instigating such acts aimed at preventing the return of Croatian Serbs or others to their homes and, in particular, to address immediately any allegations of individual involvement by Croatian police or members of the military, whether 8 Ibid., Fifty-third Year, Supplement for April, May and June 1998 , document S/1998/589, annex. /...