E/CN.4/1996/95 page 15 71. A culture of human rights, and particularly of tolerance, cannot be decreed. It is learned and absorbed progressively through initiatives and measures over the long term, which, although altering with time, should not be conjugated in a past tense, still less in the past historic. It is essential that negotiation should attain value status, that breakdowns should be avoided and dynamic compromises based on facts should be reached pragmatically. Such compromises make it possible to go beyond what is hateful and to move forward in the search for the best that can be achieved without ever failing - even when there is very little latitude or room to manoeuvre - to take a stand against tyranny, totalitarianism and everything else which is likely to impose uniformity of attitudes and behaviour, to deny freedom of conscience or to mortgage intelligence. 72. The Special Rapporteur is particularly grateful for the efforts of those Governments which, since his mandate was established, have attempted to shed light on the allegations submitted to them, in accordance with the wish expressed by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 1995/87 to the effect that Governments should respond "expeditiously to requests for information made to them through established procedures, so that the Special Rapporteurs in charge of thematic issues may carry out their mandates effectively". The replies provided by Governments are invaluable in enabling the Special Rapporteur to reach an informed opinion on a given situation in a country with regard to religious freedom. 73. As for the follow-up to allegations communicated to Governments and the replies received from them, the Special Rapporteur has reported his views and observations and has reverted to specific situations whenever the problems and manifestations of religious intolerance so required, or as long as Government replies - or absence thereof - failed to provide the necessary clarification. The Special Rapporteur will also in future study the question of Governments which do not furnish replies to the allegations transmitted to them (30 per cent rate of failure to reply for the period 1988-1995). It is important for States and the principal United Nations bodies to take increased interest in this phenomenon. 74. With reference to the time-frame for replies and in particular late replies, the Special Rapporteur would like to point out that, since he undertook his duties, Governments have had at least two months, which he considers essential for the necessary investigations and to reply to the allegations transmitted to them. The decision to grant Governments a reasonable time-frame for reply should not, however, lead to excessive delays. With regard to the new urgent appeal process introduced as part of the mandate relating to religious intolerance, the Special Rapporteur calls on States to cooperate by replying to all such appeals and no later than two weeks from the date of the request. The Special Rapporteur also hopes to strengthen State cooperation through consultations with their delegations in addition to visits to be made in situ.