A/HRC/11/4 page 10 32. The Special Rapporteur notes that country visits will remain central to the activities of the mandate. Visits previously undertaken by the former Special Rapporteur, along with requests made to Governments for official country visits, and the emerging trends as they result from the analysis of communications on freedom of expression and opinion form the basis of requests sent to countries requesting an invitation from various Governments. Requests for invitations to visit a number of countries have been sent by the Special Rapporteur, taking into consideration the importance of achieving a geographical balance. The Special Rapporteur hopes that visit requests will be met favourably by the concerned Governments. III. VISION AND PRIORITIES A. Main priorities and working methods 33. As this is the first report of the Special Rapporteur to the Human Rights Council, this chapter highlights his vision for the mandate along with proposed working methods. The Special Rapporteur will also make some preliminary reflections on the issue of limitations to the right to freedom of opinion and expression. The report elaborates on two priority areas identified by the Special Rapporteur, including the right of access to information in situations of extreme poverty, and the protection of journalists and the media working in conflict situations. 34. The Special Rapporteur will build on the accomplishments achieved by his predecessors holding the mandate and he presents this report in a spirit of transparency and openness. While recognizing the immutable independence inherent to the position of a special-procedures mandate-holder, the Special Rapporteur believes that open dialogue with all stakeholders should be encouraged and that such interaction will be of fundamental importance to the implementation of the mandate. 35. The Special Rapporteur will continue to analyse trends and challenges facing the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and will aim to develop methods with interested Governments, national institutions, regional mechanisms, diplomatic representatives and relevant branches of international and regional organizations to enhance this fundamental right. The Special Rapporteur would also like to further reinforce follow-up to individual cases brought to his attention through the mandate, and in doing so, will enhance collaboration with stakeholders, including Governments, human rights communities at the national, regional and international levels, regional mechanisms, national institutions, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, including its field presences, human rights components of United Nations country teams and peacekeeping missions, the media, treaty bodies and other special procedures. 36. In fulfilling some of the requirements cited in Council resolution 7/36, which calls upon the mandate of the Special Rapporteur “to make recommendations and provide suggestions on ways and means to better promote and protect the right to freedom of opinion and expression in all its manifestations”3 and “to contribute to the provision of technical assistance or advisory services by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to better 3 Paragraph 3 (c).