A/HRC/10/29 Appreciation was expressed for the statement of the Government that no people should be subject to discrimination and its expressed willingness to remain open on these grounds. (d) Concluding remarks of the State under review 278. In conclusion, Botswana expressed its appreciation for the constructive dialogue and interaction with all delegations that took the floor, including members of the nongovernmental organizations. Botswana appreciated the suggestions made in December 2008 and at the present meeting, while noting the short-, medium- and long-term implications of implementing the recommendations. Noting the challenges Botswana would face in terms of financial and human resources, it stated that, with the support of the international community, Botswana would succeed. 279. Botswana thanked the President of the Council for his professionalism and for the able manner in which the review was conducted, as well as the members of the troika and the Secretariat. It indicated that it looked forward to the implementation and follow-up phase. 2. Bahamas 280. The review of the Bahamas was held on 1 December 2008 in conformity with all the relevant provisions contained in Council resolution 5/1, and was based on the national report submitted by the Bahamas in accordance with the annex to Council resolution 5/1, paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/3/BHS/1); the compilation prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/3/BHS/2); and the summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/3/BHS/3). 281. At the 27th meeting, on 18 March 2009, the Council considered and adopted the outcome of the review on the Bahamas (see section C below). 282. The outcome of the universal periodic review on the Bahamas comprises the report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (A/HRC/10/70 and A/HRC/10/70/Corr.1), the views of the Bahamas concerning the recommendations and/or conclusions, and its voluntary commitments and replies presented before the adoption of the outcome by the plenary to questions or issues that were not sufficiently addressed during the interactive dialogue in the Working Group (see also A/HRC/10/70/Add.1). (a) Views expressed by the State under review on the recommendations and/or conclusions as well as on its voluntary commitments and on the outcome 283. The Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Bahamas, Joshua Sears, stated that the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, when it joined the international community some 35 years earlier, had made a solemn undertaking to respect sovereignty and territorial integrity, human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law. The delegation noted that the Bahamas had at every important moment of international significance reaffirmed its commitment to those principles – principles and values that had played an indispensable role in the institutionalization and consolidation of democracy, political stability and economic and social progress and development of the Bahamas. 284. The delegation stated that the Bahamas, the second oldest parliamentary democracy in the western hemisphere, had a well-established record of democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law. The Government fully understood and appreciated that respect for and the promotion and protection of human rights required eternal vigilance and actions to ensure that these rights are effectively enjoyed by all members of society. The Bahamas also acknowledged the vital role that civil society must play in this whole process. 130 GE.09-17451