E/CN.4/1989/44 paqe 44 "Soviet leqislation is, overall, in accord with the qenerally recoqnized international standards in this field, as well as with the provisions of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Reliqion or Belief. "A wide-ranqinq debate is now under way in the Soviet Union within the framework of the processes of restructurinq, democratizinq and institutinq openness, on the role and place of reliqion and the Church in the development of Soviet society. Clerqymen and believers qreatly help to step up these beneficial processes, advocate a spiritual renewal of society and the strenqtheninq of moral values, take an active part in the movements for the preservation and reconstruction of historical and cultural landmarks, and for environmental protection, as well as in the activities of charity orqanizations, persevere in their peace-buildinq mission, etc. A constructive dialogue is developing between State bodies and various religious denominations. "The processes evolving in the Soviet Union have called for further democratization of the Soviet leqislation on freedom of conscience, elimination of distortions committed in the past, and suppression of violations of the riqhts of believers by individual officials. A new law on freedom of conscience that will accommodate the interests of the reliqious orqanizations is now under preparation; the improvement of criminal-law provisions concerninq the separation of Church from State and schools from Church is under consideration as well. "In 1988, the 1,000th anniversary of the introduction of Christianity in Russia, a major event of world-wide significance, was celebrated on a large scale in the Soviet Union. The commemorative celebrations of the anniversary were of a truly nation-wide nature. Also participating in them were delegations from all the major world Churches, well-known international personalities, and United Nations and UNESCO representatives. "In his statement at the meeting with Pimen, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, and members of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, held on 29 April 1988, Mikhail Gorbachev, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, said that the 1,000th anniversary of the introduction of Christianity in Russia was a •significant milestone in the centuries-long development of the national history and culture, and of Russian statehood". Taking note of the role that believers and Churches are playing in Soviet society today, Mikhail Gorbachev went on to stress that 'believers are Soviet, they are working people and patriots, and have every right to express their beliefs in dignity. Restructuring, democratization and openness also apply to them to the full extent and without any constraints. This is especially true of morality, an area where general human rules and customs may help our common cause'.