A/HRC/34/5 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its twenty-sixth session from 31 October to 11 November 2016. The review of the Syrian Arab Republic was held at the 2nd meeting, on 31 October 2016. The delegation of the Syrian Arab Republic was headed by the Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Hussam Edin Aala. At its 10th meeting, held on 4 November 2016, the Working Group adopted the report on the Syrian Arab Republic. 2. On 12 January 2016, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of the Syrian Arab Republic: Bangladesh, Botswana and Paraguay. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to Council resolution 16/21, the following documents were issued for the review of the Syrian Arab Republic: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/26/SYR/1); (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/26/SYR/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/26/SYR/3 and Corr.1). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, Czechia, Germany, Mexico, Slovenia, Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America was transmitted to the Syrian Arab Republic through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the universal periodic review. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The delegation of the Syrian Arab Republic reviewed developments since its first report, including the implementation of accepted recommendations, and described challenges stemming from the acts of terrorist armed groups supported and financed from abroad and resulting from unilateral economic measures. The Government had been obliged to preserve security and the lives of its citizens by combating the crimes and massacres perpetrated by terrorist groups and foreign terrorists entering its territory from neighbouring countries to fight alongside terrorist organizations. 6. The Israeli occupation of the Syrian Golan since 5 June 1967 constituted the main impediment to the exercise by Syrian citizens in that area of their economic, social, cultural, political and civil rights, owing to the oppression and arbitrary detention practised by the Israeli occupation forces and to the discriminatory policies that had deprived the rightful owners of Syrian land of their natural resources. Moreover, the confiscation of land and sources of livelihood for illegal settlement schemes constituted a violation of international law, international humanitarian law and relevant Security Council resolutions, particularly resolution 497 (1981). 3