1. A method for use in management of network elements in a communications network performed by a network element of said network, the method comprising: receiving by an agent operating in said network element a request, said request being from a predefined set of requests, to execute a first function, said first function being from a predefined set of functions, wherein said first function relates to management of at least one network element and said first function is implemented in a network element where it is to be executed; sending to said first function a message corresponding to said request; and executing said first function.