Freedom of assembly and association and right to participate in the conduct of public affairs 544. Regarding those rights, the members of the Committee asked about the outcome of the discussion on "improving the legal regulation of conditions and procedures for holding peaceful assemblies, processions and demonstrations" and what further steps had been taken. They also requested information on the laws and regulations governing the right to strike and what the practice was in that regard, as well as information on the laws and regulations governing the founding, registration and financing of political parties and whether multiparty elections at the State and local level were to be expected. 545. Committee members also asked for details of the reasons for the refusal to register the Communist Party and of its influence and importance in Belarus. They also asked for clarification of the organizational aspects of the "nationwide discussions", 546. In his reply, the representative of the State party said that in 1988 his country had adopted provisions concerning the organization of demonstrations pursuant to which, permission, which was granted in 99 per cent of cases, was necessary to organize meetings. One could appeal against a refusal. In practice, there were very many meetings, processions and demonstrations in Belarus and they were organized with or without permission. Regarding the right to strike, the Soviet law was still in force. A. bill on. the subject prepared by the Ministry of Justice contained no restrictions applicable to people participating in strikes. 547. At the end of 1990, Parliament had adopted provisional measures concerning the registration of social and political organizations and associations. So far 8 political parties, 8 socio-political movements and 400 other social associations had been registered. Ho applications had been rejected, except that of the Communist Party of Belarus. Registration of the Party, which currently had &0,000 members, had been refused not for political reasons, but because of shortcomings and technical errors in the documents submitted with the application. The Supreme Court had, nevertheless, decided that the Communist Party of Belarus should be registered, and that had been done in June 1992. The representative provided the clarification requested in respect of the nationwide discussions and referendums. Since 1990, only one referendum had been held to decide whether the population of Belarus was in favour of the preservation of the USSR. Although the vote had been in favour of its preservation, the USSR had nevertheless ceased to exist. Concluding observations by individual members 548. The members of the Committee thanked the delegation of Belarus for the detailed introduction to its report and for the sincerity and honesty with which it had replied to the many questions put by the Committee. The replies had been to the point and had concerned not only legislation but also practice. They drew attention to the delegation's competent presentation of the present situation in Belarus and the commendable spirit that had marked the dialogue between the Committee and the State party's delegation. The members of the Committee had been able to ascertain that unquestionable progress had been made towards effectively ensuring civil and political rights, and voiced the hope that the forward-looking trend would continue. -131-