A/HRC/15/60 482. Sweden regarded the universal periodic review as part of its national endeavours to ensure systematic human rights work, and that recommendations would be an important reference point in its work. It would continue to consult stakeholders in the follow-up to the review. 2. Views expressed by Member and observer States of the Council on the review outcome 483. Cuba noted that Sweden had rejected an important number of recommendations, without providing explanations with regard to many of them. It noted with concern that Sweden had rejected Cuba’s recommendation to put an end to the denial of the right to education of children belonging to minorities or children which did not have a residence permit. Cuba noted Sweden’s response, which it considered incompatible with Sweden’s international obligations regarding the rights of the child. It regretted the fact that Sweden had also rejected its recommendation to put an end to the utilization of Swedish territory as a transit point for the Central Intelligence Agency’s flights transporting people whose human rights had been violated. Sweden had not yet identified those responsible for these acts and had not brought them to justice. Cuba encouraged Sweden to strengthen its efforts to combat racial discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance, especially discrimination against Sinti and Roma minorities, and migrants and their families. 484. Algeria extended its warm greetings to the delegation of Sweden. It noted as a welcome sign the fact that Sweden had adopted 88 recommendations at the level of the Working Group, including 2 recommendations made by Algeria. However, referring to Algeria’s recommendation to adhere to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, a core human rights instrument, Algeria noted Sweden’s comments according to which it had already complied with most of the principles set out in the Convention. This was fortunate; Algeria recalled that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, of which Sweden was a member, had adopted recommendation 1731 of 17 March 2006, in which it recommended the ratification of the said Convention. Algeria thus stressed that the adherence of Sweden to the Convention would make it possible to address the allegations of exploitation of Asian migrants in Sweden. 485. Belarus noted that the 147 recommendations made provided an overall picture of the rights climate, which convinced Belarus that there was no one country spared from shortfalls in the promotion and the protection of human rights. Belarus was grateful for the submission of detailed comments on the recommendations it had made, but regretted the fact that Sweden declined Belarus’ recommendation relating to the development of a policy to strengthen the institution of the family and to develop traditional family values. Belarus could not agree with Sweden’s idea that there was no pressing need to step up the significance of the family. Belarus regretted the fact that Sweden declined another recommendation made on the adoption of measures to prevent the dissemination of views and propaganda based on racial hatred. Belarus did not believe that there was a rational balance in the national legislation between the protection of freedom of opinion and the prohibition of manifestations of racial hatred, including in the mass media. Belarus called upon Sweden to continue to work to develop further its migration policy and to bring its national legislation into line with international standards. It noted with regret that Sweden had rejected all recommendations relating to the accession to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. 486. The Islamic Republic of Iran appreciated the fact that some of its recommendations had been accepted or noted. However, it remained concerned over a number of issues, inter alia, Sweden’s rejection of the recommendation to ratify the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, the GE.11-17043 155