E/CN.4/1988/45 page 3 II. ACTIVITIES OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR A. Cor respondence 9. In accordance with the provisions of paragraph 14 of Commission on Human Rights resolution 1987/15, according to which the Special Rapporteur is invited, in carrying out his mandate, "... to bear in mind the need to be able to respond effectively to credible and reliable information that comes before him", a request for information dated 30 June 1987 was addressed in a note verbale to Governments and in letters to United Nations bodies, specialized agencies and interested intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. 10. On 1 December 1987, replies had been received from the following Governments: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Belize, Burkina Faso, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Canada, Cuba, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, German Democratic Republic, Italy, Madagascar, Mexico, Panama, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 11. Replies were also received from the following specialized agencies: International Labour Organisation and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. 12. The Organization of American States also replied. 13. The following non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council or on its Roster also replied: Baha'i International Community, Commission of the Churches on International Affairs of the World Council of Churches, Four Directions Council, World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations. 14. The Special Rapporteur also received information from various other religious or lay sources reporting alleged infringements of the provisions of the Declaration in many countries. 15. In addition to the request for information addressed to all Governments, more specific requests were addressed to the Governments of Albania, Bulgaria, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Pakistan, Turkey and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on 29 May 1987 and to the Government of Burundi on 20 July 1987. In these communications, the Special Rapporteur recalled that the main purpose of his mandate is to assess the implementation of the Declaration in practical terms by drawing attention to governmental policies and actions according to the extent of their consistency with the provisions of the Declaration and requesting comments on information concerning incidents and measures which appear to be inconsistent with the provisions of the Declaration. Such information, as summarized in the annex to the communications addressed to these Governments, is reproduced below. Albania "It has been alleged that the enforcement of various legal provisions has led to serious violations of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. Such provisions include those contained in Decree No. 4337 of 22 November 1967 ordering the annulment of the religious charters and of all laws pertaininq to State-Church relationships, prohibiting all religious rites