E/CN.4/1998/79 page 6 C. Participation in the fifty-second session of the General Assembly 12. The Special Rapporteur took part in the proceedings of the fifty-second session of the General Assembly, held in November 1997. In his statement the Special Rapporteur drew the attention of the Assembly to the increasing incidence of discrimination against foreigners; that trend was closely linked to the worldwide economic crisis, which was particularly affecting developing countries. He stressed the need for adoption at international level of measures to combat racist propaganda disseminated through modern communication media such as the Internet. He asked the General Assembly to request member States to cooperate with him in the discharge of his mandate and to recommend the convening of a World Conference on Racism. D. Participation in the European Year Against Racism 13. At the invitation of the organizers, the Special Rapporteur took part in a seminar on racism and immigration, held in Venice in October 1997, and in an international colloquium on racism and the law organized by Paris-X-Nanterre University and held in Paris in December 1997. His statements will be reproduced in the records of proceedings of these highly instructive meetings, which enabled him to describe the work of the United Nations in the struggle against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and anti-Semitism. E. Missions under consideration by the Special Rapporteur 14. After the fifty-third session of the Commission on Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur had considered undertaking missions to Australia and South Africa. (i) Australia 15. In his most recent report to the Commission on Human Rights (E/CN.4/1997/71), the Special Rapporteur stated that he had written to the Australian Government regarding two communications which he had received in 1996 and which concerned allegations of a rise in racism and xenophobia, particularly towards Aborigines and Australians of Asian origin. He had written to the Australian Government to inform it of his intention to undertake a mission in that country. The Government replied positively on 25 August 1997. The Special Rapporteur welcomes this invitation from the Australian Government and plans to carry out his mission as soon as possible, either in January or May 1998, according to modalities still to be worked out between the Australian Government and himself. (ii) South Africa 16. During the fifty-third session of the Commission on Human Rights, several representatives of non-governmental organizations reported on the disquieting situation in South Africa, attributable, inter alia, to the legacy of apartheid, inter-ethnic conflicts and problems related to massive immigration. The Government had imposed restrictions on immigration which several organizations considered to be discriminatory towards foreigners. In order to assess the situation in person, the Special Rapporteur had