A/56/253 Table 2 Unanswered requests for permission to visit State Date of initial request Reaction Indonesia 1996 No reply Mauritius 1996 No reply Israel 1997 No reply Russian Federation 1998 No reply Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 1999 No reply Nigeria 2000 Acknowledged 9. In accordance with successive resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights and of the General Assembly, including resolution 55/97, whereby the Assembly encourages Governments to give serious consideration to inviting the Special Rapporteur to visit their countries so as to enable him to fulfil his mandate even more effectively, the Special Rapporteur invites the above-mentioned Governments to cooperate fully with him and to respond favourably to his requests for permission to make in situ visits. 10. The Special Rapporteur wishes to point out that these requests in no way suggest that there are preconceived views or any negative judgement regarding the Governments concerned. On the contrary, the aim is, by means of such visits, to establish or to pursue a dialogue with the authorities and with all the parties concerned, particularly with non-governmental organizations and all individuals having a particular interest in the mandate. These in situ visits also lead to a better understanding and a balanced (and therefore non-Manichean) analysis of the complex realities of the situation as regards freedom of religion or belief in a given country. 11. The Special Rapporteur wishes to emphasize that, at the level of the principles governing his mandate, including that of non-selectivity, all countries without exception should receive an in situ visit, insofar as all have had positive experiences and problems with regard to the 1981 Declaration, taking into consideration differences in the level and pace of development — in terms of time and space — that have to be evaluated during in situ visits. It is therefore essential to plan in situ visits in the short, medium and long-term, taking into account time and also financial constraints. 12. It should also be recalled that some visits — such as the above-mentioned visit to the Sudan — are made in response to a specific request from the Commission on Human Rights and/or the General Assembly. 13. Furthermore, in accordance with Commission resolution S-5/1 of 19 October 2000, entitled “Grave and massive violations of the human rights of the Palestinian people by Israel”, adopted at the fifth special session, the Commission on Human Rights decided inter alia to request the Special Rapporteur on religious intolerance 5