A/52/471 English Page 4 1. Decision 1997/125 6. Several delegations of member States of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) reacted strongly to a passage in the Special Rapporteur's report (E/CN.4/1997/71, paragraph 27) which they considered as blaspheming the Qur'an. Following this regrettable incident, the Special Rapporteur explained that the passage in question was a quote from a document produced by the Israeli Government and that he did not intend to become involved in religious polemics and controversies. The incident prompted the Commission to adopt decision 1997/125 of 18 April 1997 deleting the final sentence of section 3 of the text quoted in paragraph 27 of the report. 7. The Special Rapporteur later met with Ambassador Agus Tarmidzi, Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the United Nations and the specialized agencies in Geneva and current Chairman of OIC, on 23 May 1997. At that meeting, the Special Rapporteur confirmed that he was not the author of the passage with which the members of OIC had taken issue and that he could not take responsibility for it. He informed Ambassador Tarmidzi of the contacts which he had had with the Israeli Government concerning its communication containing the passage in question, but reminded him that it was not for the Special Rapporteur to censor a government communication. Concerning the reference to anti-Semitism in the report, the Special Rapporteur told the Ambassador that it was the resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights that made a distinction between anti-Semitism and other forms of racial discrimination of which Arabs and Muslims might be the victims. Ambassador Tarmidzi acknowledged the explanations given by the Special Rapporteur and said that he would make them known to the members of OIC at its next meeting. 2. Resolution 1997/74 8. On 18 April 1997, following its consideration of the issue of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, the Commission on Human Rights adopted resolution 1997/74, which deals with the following subjects: implementation of the Programme of Action for the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination and coordination of related activities; the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and follow-up to his visits; the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; and a world conference against racism and racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. 9. The Commission requested the Special Rapporteur to continue his exchange of views with Member States and the relevant mechanisms and treaty bodies within the United Nations system in order to enhance further their effectiveness and mutual cooperation; called upon all Governments, intergovernmental organizations and other relevant organizations of the United Nations system, as well as non-governmental organizations, to supply information to the Special Rapporteur; urged all Governments to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur with a view to enabling him to fulfil his mandate; and requested the Secretary-General to provide the Special Rapporteur, without further delay, with all the necessary assistance and resources to carry out his mandate and enable him to submit an /...