A/HRC/24/16 167. Botswana welcomed the achievement of some MDGs despite decades of economic blockade. 168. The delegation noted that Cuba agreed to visits to the country from the Human Rights Council special rapporteurs, or other universal non-discriminatory mechanisms. In Cuba, arbitrary detentions and prison sentences for long periods without legal grounds occurred systematically at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. The economic, trade and financial blockade by the United States against Cuba was a massive, flagrant and systematic violation of the human rights of its people. 169. The delegation reiterated the commitment of Cuba to cooperating with the United Nations human rights system, the Human Rights Council and the UPR mechanism. II. Conclusions and/or recommendations** 170. The recommendations formulated during the interactive dialogue and listed below will be examined by Cuba, which will provide responses in due time, but no later than the twenty-fourth session of the Human Rights Council in September 2013: 170.1. Ratify the core (Kazakhstan)/ other international human rights treaties to which it is not yet a party (Burkina Faso)/Ratify, as soon as possible, major international human rights instruments already signed (Cape Verde); 170.2. Ratify the ICESCR (Romania, Maldives, Australia, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Japan, Slovenia, France, Austria)/ Accede (Czech Republic)/Promptly ratify (Italy)/ Consider ratifying (Mexico)/Ratify and implement (Canada)/proceed quickly towards the ratification without reservations (Norway)/as soon as possible (Poland)/without any further delays (Slovakia)/at an early stage (Japan)/ Ratify and implement ICESCR without reservations or delay (Finland)/ and bring national legislation in compliance with relevant provisions of this Covenant (Czech Republic); 170.3. Subscribe to the Optional Protocol to ICESCR (El Salvador); 170.4. Ratify the ICCPR (Chile, Hungary, Estonia, Romania, Maldives, Australia, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Japan, Slovenia, Montenegro, France, Tunisia)/ Ratify and implement (Canada, Austria)/ Accede (Switzerland, Czech Republic)/Promptly ratify (Italy)/Consider ratifying (Mexico)/Proceed quickly towards the ratification of ICCPR without reservations (Norway)/and ensure full implementation of all provisions (Hungary)/ as soon as possible (Poland)/ without any further delays (Slovakia)/at an early stage (Japan)/ and take necessary measures to ensure its full implementation in the national legislation (Switzerland)/ Ratify and implement ICCPR without reservations or delay (Finland)/ and bring national legislation in compliance with relevant provisions of this Covenant (Czech Republic); 170.5. Ratify both the ICCPR and the ICESCR without restrictions and issue a standing invitation to the Special Rapporteurs to visit the country, especially those on human rights defenders, freedom of expression and independence of judges and lawyers (Sweden); 170.6. Ratify the Optional Protocol to ICCPR (ICCPR-OP-1) as soon as possible (Estonia); ** Conclusions and recommendations have not been edited. 12