A/HRC/10/11 page 4 I. INTRODUCTION 1. The independent expert is pleased to submit to the Human Rights Council her fourth annual report pursuant to Council resolution 2005/79. The present report provides an overview of her activities since her previous report, submitted in February 2008 (A/HRC/7/23) as well as a review of the ongoing collaboration with UNDP with the aim of strengthening UNDP engagement in minorities in development processes. The report also includes the recommendations of the inaugural Forum on Minority Issues as required in Human Rights Council resolution 6/15 (see A/HRC/10/11/Add.1). II. ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF MINORITIES INCLUDING THROUGH CONSULTATIONS WITH GOVERNMENTS A. Country visits 2. Since the presentation of her previous report, the independent expert has undertaken official country missions to Guyana, from 28 July to 1 August 2008 (A/HRC/10/11/Add.2), and to Greece, from 8 to 16 September 2008 (A/HRC/10/11/Add.3). The independent expert thanks the Governments of Guyana and Greece for their exemplary cooperation during the preparation and conduct of her visits. 3. The independent expert’s visit to Guyana focused on the relations between and comparative situations of Afro-Guyanese and Indo-Guyanese. She considered the legacy and impact on communities of an ethnically divided society and ethnic-based politics, and made recommendations to ensure non-discrimination and equality is achieved through legislation, policy and practice. 4. The independent expert’s visit to Greece enabled her to gather substantial information on the challenges as well as positive practices related to the rights of minorities and disadvantaged groups. She considered the situation of the Roma, Muslims in the region of Western Thrace, other religious minorities and communities claiming ethnic Macedonian identity. 5. In pursuance of her mandate to promote the implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Minorities and to identify best practices in every region, the independent expert welcomes the positive response of the Government of Kazakhstan to her request for a country visit in 2009. She looks forward to continuing a dialogue with Bangladesh, Colombia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Malaysia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Panama, Surinam, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Turkey, to whom she has made requests to visit. B. Other activities 6. The independent expert issued a number of press releases and public statements on issues and situations of immediate concern. On 4 January 2008 she joined several mandate holders in expressing serious concern and alarm over the deteriorating situation in Kenya following disputed elections. The mandate holders called for a swift political solution and an immediate end to ethnically based violence and killings. On 28 February 2008 the independent expert joined the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard