E/CN.4/1989/44 page 9 yourself personally with, and get first hand impressions of, the freedom of religious and other beliefs in the country. Furthermore, this country was the only one to extend such an official invitation to you. In this respect it is hardly necessary to restate an already well-known position. "Pursuant to the Protocol in which essential problems in bilateral relations are envisaged to be solved in the next years, two mixed working groups have been set up - on political and on economic questions at the level of deputy foreign ministers. The two groups have so far held two sessions on the basis of rotational hosting, respectively last May and June. "The first sessions of the two mixed Bulgarian-Turkish groups ... confirmed the significance of the Bulgarian-Turkish Protocol as a good foundation for equitable and fruitful dialogue based on existing realities. ... Humanitarian matters were raised, inter alia, and on the Bulgarian side confirmed its readiness for co-operation in that field on the basis of reciprocity and international human rights standards without engaging in the pursuance of politically-motivated aims. It is exactly on the basis of strict observance of the principles of mutual respect that the People's Republic of Bulgaria has been solving and will continue to solve each concrete humanitarian case. "The second sessions of the mixed working groups proceeded to consider the concrete problems of bilateral issues as formulated in the agenda. Particular attention was paid to the necessity of coming to an agreement upon measures to strengthen confidence and security, and the discussion of a draft declaration on principles of good neighbourliness and co-operation in the humanitarian field, as well as in mass media. ... The Bulgarian side confirmed its willingness for co-operation in all spheres on the basis of reciprocity and mutual respect. ... The two sides exchanged draft papers on some of the problems dealt with ..." Burundi 33. In a communication of 18 November 1988 addressed to the Government concerned, the following information was transmitted by the Special Rapporteur: "According to information received, and despite the fact that a considerable improvement has been observed in the last two years in the situation of the Jehovah's witnesses, this religion seems not to have been officially and legally recognized and the congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses are allegedly unable to meet freely in their places of assembly. Two Jehovah's Witnesses with pastoral duties were reportedly detained at Kirundo (in June 1988) and at Kinyinya (from February to July 1988) for religious reasons." China 34. On 23 February 1988, the head of the Chinese delegation to the forty-fourth session of the Commission on Human Rights addressed his comments to the Special Rapporteur concerning information contained in document E/CN.4/1988/45, paragraphs 45, 46 and 51: