A/49/677 English Page 28 racism, racial discrimination, all forms of discrimination against Blacks, Arabs and Muslims, and all forms of xenophobia, negrophobia and anti-Semitism. 137. Aware as he is of the importance and the implications, indeed the challenge, of the new mandate entrusted to him, the Special Rapporteur hopes, for the success of his mission, to be able to count on active cooperation from the Centre for Human Rights and from Governments, specialized agencies, non-governmental organizations and regional intergovernmental organizations. 138. Given the persistent difficulties in obtaining staff assistance and the time constraints - the decision regarding the submission of the interim report to the General Assembly having been taken at the beginning of November - the Special Rapporteur has been unable to prepare the report of his mission to the United States of America, as he has to process a voluminous body of documentation containing a wealth of information, as well as notes from talks and meetings with the United States authorities and many non-governmental organizations which are displaying a marked interest in the new mandate. 2. General recommendations 139. The Special Rapporteur considers that the positive steps taken prove that there is no foregone conclusion when it comes to human rights issues, that there are grounds for hope, and that action must be taken while there is still time. 140. The Special Rapporteur again suggests that scientific research should be done on the nature and scope of the problems covered by his mandate, particularly through such projects as: (a) The interdisciplinary seminar on the problems of the theoretical aspects and specific manifestations of contemporary forms of racial discrimination, together with a study of the measures already taken or to be taken; (b) mandate; (c) Workshops (one per continent) during the next two years of his A review conference before the expiration of his mandate. These scientific encounters will be organized in close collaboration with the specialized agencies concerned with human rights, the non-governmental organizations and the universities or networks of universities and experts working in the field. 141. He hopes that appropriate funding can be effectively mobilized for the implementation of this programme. He invites States and non-governmental organizations that have not yet done so to reply to the questionnaire and provide him with all available information on contemporary forms of racism and racial discrimination and related incidents. 142. Convinced of the importance of education and its far-reaching consequences, the Special Rapporteur suggests that measures should be studied to prevent /...