A/HRC/11/37 working towards the promotion and protection of human rights through international cooperation and respectful dialogue. Saudi Arabia 442. The review of Saudi Arabia was held on 10 February 2009 in conformity with all the relevant provisions contained in Council resolution 5/1, and was based on the following documents: (a) The national report submitted by Saudi Arabia in accordance with the annex to Council resolution 5/1, paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/4/SAU/1); (b) The compilation prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/4/SAU/2); and (c) The summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/4/SAU/3). 443. At its 16th meeting, on 10 June 2009, the Council considered and adopted the outcome of the review of Saudi Arabia (see section C below). 444. The outcome of the review on Saudi Arabia comprises the report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (A/HRC/11/23 and A/HRC/11/23/Corr.1), the views of Saudi Arabia concerning the recommendations and/or conclusions, and its voluntary commitments and its 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/11/23/Add.1). 1. Views expressed by the State under review on the recommendations and/or conclusions as well as on its voluntary commitments and the outcome 445. The delegation of Saudi Arabia was convinced that the universal periodic review mechanism had established common denominators for all States. It has helped to ensure the universality of human rights through constructive dialogue and the exchange of best practices and experience, thereby promoting cooperation and mutual understanding. 446. This mechanism, however, had to take into consideration the particularities and the stages of development and evolution of societies. This effort required a profound understanding of each culture and its guiding values and principles, which, by their very nature, converge with the humanitarian principles that have made human rights universally acceptable to and recognized by all cultures and civilizations. The principle of transparency, which is a prerequisite for the effective functioning of this mechanism, had to be fully accepted and respected by all. 447. In keeping with Saudi Arabia’s commitment to these principles, the custodian of the two holy mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, launched an initiative calling for dialogue among the followers of religions and cultures, with a view to promoting mutual understanding among the world’s predominant cultures, on the basis of the understanding that human civilization is homogeneous and that dialogue is a means to settle conflicts and disputes. 448. This initiative, if followed up at the international level, would establish a favourable environment in which human rights could develop and flourish and in which they could be applied on a purely humanitarian basis. Saudi Arabia observed that all people, without exception, were entitled to enjoy the principle of the universality of human rights. This applied even to proponents of extremist ideologies, whom Saudi Arabia was endeavouring to save from the consequences of their aberrant modes of thought through ad hoc 126 GE.09-16766