A/HRC/7/31 page 8 holding seminars. Given that OHCHR is providing similar assistance at both the bilateral and multilateral level, the Government considers that it would be useful if interested countries would share their knowledge and cooperate in a mutually complementary manner. (c) The Government highlighted the increasing burden placed on Governments regarding the submission of reports to human rights treaty bodies. The Government encouraged the streamlining of this work, so that each organization could use its limited budget, and implement its work, more efficiently and effectively. (d) The Government also referred to its efforts to eradicate discrimination against leprosy patients and their families, and stressed that it wishes to continue its cooperation with other Governments and the United Nations in this regard. 9. Oman [Original: English] [16 November 2007] In its response, the Government of Oman stressed that the universality of human rights and their interconnectedness and interdependence makes it important that these be applied in an objective and transparent way, while taking into account the peculiarities and cultural diversity of States. This approach could promote international cooperation in the field of human rights and avoid using the issue of human rights to make unjustified, irresponsible and inaccurate judgements. 10. Russian Federation [Original: Russian] [31 December 2007] (a) In its response, the Russian Federation stressed that it attaches great importance to international cooperation in the field of human rights, and emphasized that the main responsibility in this regard lies with States. International institutions and mechanisms play a supporting role by helping States to achieve such aims through an equitable and mutually respectful dialogue, taking account of the ethnic, religious, cultural and historical characteristics of States and their level of socio-economic development. (b) The Government recognizes that the human rights situation in a particular country may be a legitimate concern of the international community, and stresses that the discussion of human rights issues should be based on fairness and respect. The Government considers it inadmissible to use human rights issues as a pretext for interference in the internal affairs of States, or to politicize human rights issues and apply double standards. The Government opposes the initiatives of individual countries, groups of countries and non-governmental organizations in imposing their own human rights standards on the international community as if they were universal. The Government emphasized that constructive dialogue is necessary for the establishment of cooperation on human rights between an individual State and the international community.