A/49/415/Add.1 English Page 25 on land access for their survival, and may find their land security threatened by current processes of economic and social reform, including land privatization. In such cases, procedures are needed to ensure that vulnerable minorities receive fair and equal treatment under land reform and privatization programmes." IV. CONCLUSIONS 106. In addition to conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General (A/49/415) and after some sections of chapter II of the present report, the following conclusions can be drawn on the basis of the replies that have been analysed. 107. It is difficult to form a full picture of guarantees of the rights embodied in the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities by the States whose replies have been considered above because some States (Denmark and Germany) described in detail relevant legislation, policy and measures to that effect, while one State (Belarus) only pointed out some of them. All replies, however, showed again that non-discrimination and special measures leading to the equal enjoyment of all human rights remained the basis for the protection of rights of persons belong to minorities. 108. It should be pointed out that the States that sent replies, as parties to the major United Nations conventions in the field of human rights, undertook to be legally bound by the provisions of those treaties in their policies in this field. In particular, they expressly undertook obligations as States parties to respect and ensure the human rights embodied in those treaties as legal rules without discrimination or "without distinction of any kind". 109. The Declaration expresses minimum standards relevant to all national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and applicable in all situations. The States noted pertinent standards embodied in that instrument and have been exploring ways and means of giving effective promotion to its provisions. 110. The replies were received mainly from European States, some of which, such as Denmark and Germany, demonstrated greater possibilities of inter-State cooperation through proximity. It would seem advisable that other States of the CSCE region should make full use of the mechanisms and procedures now in existence. States should also be advised to conclude bilateral treaties based on universal and regional instruments on equality, non-discrimination and the rights of persons belonging to minorities, including the Declaration of the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. Notes 1/ CERD/C/239/Add.1, art. 2.2. -----