of and to encourage the efforts of the Government of Burundi to combat ethnic divisions. 51. Lastly, he referred to the question of the Jehovah's Witnesses. A European delegation from Jehovah's Witnesses had recently had fruitful discussions with the appropriate authorities in Burundi. Nevertheless, the position of ~he Government was clear. Burundi was a secular State, in which E/CN.4/Sub.2/1990/SR.l6 page 12 freedom of worship was allowed and many faiths coexisted. However, the exercise of that freedom was subordinated to respect for social organization, public order and national laws and regulations. It was true that some followers of Jehovah's Witnesses had been detained for a few days in 1989, but that was because they had infringed public order and the laws. At present no people were in prison in Burundi for reasons connected with the practice of their religion, because the laws and regulations were being better observed. The Government of Burundi, in full sovereignty, would grant or refuse authorization to the Jehovah's Witnesses. Its well founded decision would be conveyed to those concerned and to the Sub-Commission. 52. Mr. EIDE said that he was very grateful for the comprehensive responses from observer States to allegations and hoped that a further response might be received from the observer for Iraq. 53. He wished, however, to raise one more point: in 1989, most members of the Sub-Commission had received an invitation from an Iraqi non-governmental organization, the Human Rights Commission of Iraq, to visit the country. He himself, among other members, had felt that it would be interesting to visit Iraq but that conditions would have to be clarified before they could go there. He had submitted a number of conditions, but had received no answer, either from the non-governmental organization or from the Iraqi Government, and the matter had lapsed. It had, however, been raised again later when 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a transcript of a meeting or discussion about human rights issues in various countries, including Burundi and Iraq. The topics of discussion are primarily related to religious freedom, government policies, and international relations. There is no mention of economic development, natural resources, or other practical issues.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, Culture