wrote to the member States who were members or deputy members of the Governing Body of the ILO, seeking any information relating to freedom of association and collective bargaining that they might consider pertinent to the complaints: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, China, Congo, Cuba, Czech Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Germany, Ghana, Guinea, Hungary, India, Islamic Republic of Iran, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Republic of Korea, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mexico, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Russian Federation, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, Sudan, Sweden, Thailand, Tunisia, United Republic of Tanzania, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Viet Nam, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Zambia. 37. Additionally, the Commission addressed a communication to the Law Society of Zimbabwe, providing it with the opportunity to submit any information that it considered pertinent to the complaints. 38. The Commission notified the governments and organizations thus addressed that any information provided by them would be transmitted to the Government of Zimbabwe and to the complainants for possible comment. It also indicated that it was competent only to examine Zimbabwe’s fulfilment of the obligations it undertook upon ratifying Conventions Nos 87 and 98 and that therefore questions which did not relate to freedom of association affairs would be outside its competence. 39. The Commission informed the Government of Zimbabwe and the complainants that it intended to perform its task with complete objectivity, impartiality and independence. It made it clear that it did not consider its role to be confined to an examination of the information furnished by the parties themselves or in support of their contentions and that it would take all appropriate measures to obtain information that was as full and objective as possible on the matters at stake. IV. Measures adopted with a view to the Second Session and subsequent work of the Commission 40. The Commission took some preliminary decisions concerning its subsequent work, mindful of the fact that the prevailing political situation in Zimbabwe might require changes to this, in particular as regards possible dates of future sessions. 41. The Commission considered that its Second Session would include both missions to the region and meetings in Geneva. It planned a mission to Zimbabwe, so as to be able to obtain the fullest understanding of the reality of the situation concerning the observance of the freedom of association Conventions in the country, in the context of national efforts to take forward the process of dialogue and reconciliation. In view of the recent political developments that had occurred in Zimbabwe, the Commission decided that prior to confirmation of the details of its Second Session, it would undertake a preliminary visit of goodwill and initial contacts to Zimbabwe, accompanied by senior ILO officials. 42. The Commission authorized its Chairperson to deal with any questions of procedure that might arise between sessions, in consultation with the other members if he considered it necessary. It considered that the finalization of the dates of its subsequent meetings, missions and hearings would be determined following consultations with the Government and the complainants. 22 Meetings-2009-Zimbabwe C of I-2009-12-0035-3-En.doc/v3