A/HRC/10/78 Page 15 licence from being recognized as conscientious objectors, and equalize the length of alternative and military service. Slovenia mentioned the draft law on national councils of national minorities that might substitute the existing legislation, including the Law on the Protection of Rights and Freedoms of National Minorities regarding freedom of association. It recommended that Serbia protect rights already granted by the existing law and reflect them in the new legislation, and not to diminish the current minority stipulation for the procedure of elections. Slovenia also enquired about the validity of the signatures collected to form a minority association and recommended that Serbia, in the light of the above, not allow the nullification of the signatures already collected, and not raise the threshold of signature needed on the application form. It suggested that a transitional period could be provided, taking into account the application forms already signed. 52. Ghana, as member of the troika, took note with great interest in the positive measures taken by Serbia in recent years to enhance respect for human rights inside the country. However, challenges still had to be tackled, especially in the social and economic integration of refugees and the reintegration of internally displaced persons into society. Ghana recommended that the Government, with appropriate assistance from the international community, strengthen the role of its national mechanisms for the promotion and protection of the rights of minorities, refugees and internally displaced persons, and increase its efforts to enhance the role of women in highlevel decision-making processes, in accordance with the constitutional guarantee of gender equality. 53. China referred to the priority targets for further promoting and protecting human rights in the future enumerated in the national report. China appreciated the efforts and progress made in human rights protection. It acknowledged that Serbia joined the Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005-2015, which Serbia will chair in 2008-2009. China enquired about specific work plan and ideas developed during this presidency and their implications for the protection of ethnic minorities in Serbia. Lastly, China mentioned the comprehensive legal protection framework on social and cultural heritage and asked how Serbia implemented relevant laws, and what were the difficulties and challenges currently faced. 54. Albania highlighted the progress made by Serbia in human rights and establishing democracy. It stressed that it did not intend to speak about Kosovo as it was not under consideration. Albania asked Serbia what measures had taken to help neighbouring countries to identify the thousands of people who had disappeared in conflicts; to compensate members of minorities and ethnics groups whose property was completely destroyed in 2008 and to ensure this does not happen again; and what measures had been taken to end verbal and physical attacks against journalists, human rights defenders, civil society representatives and politicians. 55. Replying to questions, Serbia indicated that, in Kosovo and Metohija, Serbian cultural and religious sites were being destroyed. Between June and October 1999 alone, 76 monasteries and churches had been damaged or destroyed. Furthermore, on 17 and 18 March 2004, another 36 cultural and religious sites had been destroyed. Although UNMIK reported on investments in attempts to renew 156 destroyed orthodox churches, no positive steps had been observed in that respect. Destroyed churches were often being turned into waste dumps. The local Albanian population destroyed 5,250 tombstones in 254 graveyards. Serbian cultural and religious sites of great importance, such as Visoki Decani, Gracanica and Pec Patriarchy, which are under the protection of UNESCO, were being presented by the provisional institutions without their Serbian origin being mentioned. On the question of the Law on Churches and Religious Communities, Serbia stressed that it should be observed as a transitional law which is subject to