its force immediately. That Committee had also taken into account the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in considering the new draft laws on freedom of association and on registration of Soviet citizens. He also informed the Committee that preparations for ratification of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights were almost complete. 265. With reference to the independence of the judiciary, the representative stated that, in the previous 18 months, many measures had been adopted to increase the independence of the courts. The Government intended to introduce new procedures for the training of judges and additional measures to prevent undue interference in court. As for methods used to define one's nationality, he said that, at present, a citizen's nationality was derived from his or her parents, but changes were under consideration in this regard. With reference to crimes connected with anti-Soviet propaganda, he said that such activities were no longer a crime and that there were now no inmates in Soviet prisons who had been convicted solely for engaging in anti-Soviet propaganda. Referring to the right to self-determination, the representative indicated, inter alia, that recent legislation had created the necessary conditions for the preparation and conclusion of a new Treaty of Union, -62- . - which should be based on the concept of a union of sovereign States, a clear definition of the status of the parties, a delimitation of the powers of the USSR and the Union Republics, a wide variety of links between them, voluntary participation and mutual advantage. 266. In reply to the questions raised under article 4 of the Convention, the representative stated that in the USSR every individual was free to express his or her beliefs and opinions and to disseminate them by all means, including the press 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the internal policies and laws of the Soviet Union, focusing on issues related to human rights, governance, and international treaties. It mentions the ratification of international conventions, the independence of the judiciary, and the freedom of expression, which suggests a strong connection to human rights and international law.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, Education