A/HRC/10/29 sovereign right of the Bahamas to follow the path convenient to its own society and its own values. 292. Cuba expressed its appreciation for the presence of the Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Bahamas, and endorsed the statement of Egypt. The Bahamas, a small country of the Caribbean and a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, enjoyed friendly relations with Cuba, and was facing a serious economic situation because of, inter alia, lack of resources. Cuba acknowledged the efforts and achievements of the Bahamas. Cuba thanked the delegation of the Bahamas for its presence, expressed its support and urged the Bahamas to carry on all necessary measures to protect all human rights of its people. 293. France welcomed the announcement by the Bahamas to bring national legislation into line with major international human rights instruments, the efforts in this regard and the reference to the police and detention centres. France encouraged the Government of the Bahamas regarding the action to be taken on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. France congratulated the Government of the Bahamas on its approach and on the fact that it had committed to accept the recommendations made by the Working Group. 294. On behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean States, Chile welcomed the presence of the delegation of the Bahamas and thanked it for the information on the efforts under way to comply with the recommendations made by the Working Group. Chile also thanked the Bahamas for its presence, which was the illustration of its firm commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights. 295. Barbados welcomed the delegation of the Bahamas, which came to Geneva to present its response to the recommendations made by the Working Group. Barbados stated that, in doing so, the Bahamas had demonstrated its firm commitment to the protection of human rights and the acceptance and consideration of a number of recommendations made. Barbados urged the international community to recognize and ensure full support to small developing States like the Bahamas, and to assist them in their efforts to implement their obligations. Finally, Barbados conveyed to the Bahamas its full support and wished it every success in its continuing human rights achievements. 296. Algeria warmly welcomed the delegation of the Bahamas and was encouraged by the resolve shown by the Government to meet its human rights commitments, despite the challenges the country faced, particularly in the field of development. It noted that the international community had a duty to support the Bahamas and to provide financial and technical assistance, sustainable and appropriate to the needs of the country. 297. Pakistan stated that the Bahamas should be encouraged in its efforts to comply with its human rights obligations in a comprehensive manner, and was glad that the Bahamas had accepted a number of recommendations made during its review. Pakistan believed that all stakeholders should make their technical expertise and other resources available to deepen cooperation with small developing States on improvement and protection of their human rights. Pakistan would continue to deepen its bilateral cooperation with the Bahamas to explore possibilities of exchanging technical expertise and knowledge concerning human rights. 298. Botswana congratulated the delegation of the Bahamas for the comprehensive presentation providing additional information on the outcome of the review on the country’s human rights situation. Botswana noted with satisfaction and admiration the fact that most of the recommendations made had been accepted. The commitment to the continued promotion and protection of human rights was clear from the open and inclusive 132 GE.09-17451