A/HRC/29/21 Suriname. Meetings were subsequently held with the delegations of those countries, with the exception of Dominica, Fiji, the Gambia and Nauru. 14. The bilateral and tailored nature of each briefing was highly appreciated and positive feedback was received from the delegations concerned. While in most cases the New York representation was in charge of relations with the United Nations, including in Geneva, in some cases Permanent Representatives to the United Nations were based in Brussels. It was found that in the past, owing to proximity and ease of contact, engaging Brussels-based embassies of States increased the chances of securing the consistent engagement of those States and facilitated follow-up to their national obligations. Meetings were held with representatives of Guyana, Malawi, Sao Tome and Principe and Seychelles, and with the representative of the Embassies of the Eastern Caribbean States and Missions to the European Union in respect of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. 15. While in Brussels, OHCHR representatives took the opportunity to hold a series of information meetings with various divisions of the European External Action Service. During the course of those meetings, participants expressed a keen interest in the universal periodic review. They expressed interest in what they referred to as “horizontal issues”, namely, coordination between agencies and delegations on human rights issues, and in understanding better the role and involvement of civil society organizations throughout the universal periodic review process. 16. In follow-up to the seminar organized in Mauritius in July 2013 (see A/HRC/25/36, paras. 12 and 19) a seminar was held in Casablanca from 9 to 11 December, focused on methods of work and modalities of engagement of least developed countries and the small island developing States with the Human Rights Council and the universal periodic review. A total of 37 officials, representing 20 countries, travelled from Geneva or their respective capital to participate in the event. Staff from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Vice-President of the Council participated in the briefing as resource persons. 17. The Casablanca seminar provided an opportunity for French-speaking States to deepen their knowledge of the Human Rights Council and the universal periodic review and to increase their skills through a simulation exercise on the analysis of recommendations and determination of position by States under review. It also included an exercise in which delegates were able to take on the role of troika member, which was perceived as an effective learning tool for delegates whose States had not yet served as members of the Council and that had consequently not had opportunities to engage with the mechanism as part of a troika. 18. The fourth seminar organized by the International Organization of la Francophonie in partnership with OHCHR on the universal periodic review was held in Chisinau in April 2014. The main objective was to identify challenges faced by francophone States in the implementation of universal periodic review recommendations and recommendations emanating from other human rights mechanisms. The seminar was also aimed at highlighting positive examples of such implementation and follow-up measures. 19. The seminar was organized around four main themes, which participants debated in working groups: national plans for the implementation of recommendations; assessment of the implementation of recommendations; preparation and drafting of the national report; and technical and financial assistance for the implementation of recommendations. 20. A number of conclusions were drawn at the seminar; they were focused, in particular, on the cyclical nature of the universal periodic review process; the number and formulation of recommendations; the usefulness of mid-term reports to keep track of the status of implementation of recommendations and related challenges; the importance of 5