Central African Republic.

• Position: Law for holding national elections

Towards the end of July, some progress was made in the Central African Republic (CAR) towards establishing the infrastructure for holding national elections. The required legislation was adopted by the country's Parliament and signed by President Ange-Felix Patasse, effective 24 July. France, the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme have pledged financial support for the elections.

In a resolution adopted by the Security Council on 14 July, extending the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA) until 25 October 1998, the Council called on the authorities to adopt immediately an operational plan to organize legislative elections and so enable the United Nations and the international organizations to arrange for the provision of the necessary assistance.

As it unanimously adopted resolution 1182 (1998), the Council recognized that MINURCA, in implementing its mandate, might conduct limited duration reconnaissance missions outside Bangui and other tasks involving the security of United Nations personnel. It reiterated the need for the Government of the CAR to continue to take concrete steps to implement political, economic, social and security reforms, and to adopt as soon as possible a plan for the effective restructuring of its armed forces, based on proposals submitted by the country's Commission on restructuring the defence and security forces.

The Security Council, in its resolution, urged Member States to support the efforts of the authorities in the economic and social development of the Central African Republic and encouraged international financial institutions to cooperate with the country. Support for the rehabilitation of the country came from the International Monetary Fund on 22 July when it pledged $6.6 million over the next three years towards the country's economic recovery from the destruction caused by military mutinee and civil unrest, noting, however, that the country's fiscal situation remained precarious.

The Council had established...