A/HRC/19/2 voluntary commitments and replies presented before the adoption of the outcome by the plenary to questions or issues that were not sufficiently addressed during the interactive dialogue in the Working Group (see also A/HRC/19/11/Add.1). 1. Views expressed by the State under review on the recommendations and/or conclusions, its voluntary commitments and the outcome 607. The delegation of the Syrian Arab Republic believed in the importance of the universal periodic review mechanism and would work with other States to strengthen human rights mechanisms, free from politicization and double standards. It wished to take advantage of the recommendations made to advance human rights, especially during the current period when the Government was working to build a new State based on human rights, despite the great difficulties. The commitment of the Syrian Arab Republic to human rights was based on the fundamental principle that these rights are universal and indivisible. The responsibility to protect the people and their human rights lay with the State and could not be achieved through foreign interference. 608. The delegation pointed out that the Syrian Arab Republic had rejected the recommendations that were aimed at condemning it rather than protecting human rights, and which constituted interference in its internal affairs. The Syrian Arab Republic would not allow the hidden intentions of foreign States to disrupt national efforts to promote and protect human rights. The delegation thus thanked all States that had contributed positively to the review and provided objective and constructive recommendations. 609. The delegation noted that, immediately following the review, the national committee that had prepared the universal periodic review report had examined ways and means to implement accepted recommendations and worked to determine a position on recommendations that had been postponed for further consideration. Over the past five months, the Syrian Arab Republic had suffered from terrorist acts by armed groups, unprecedented in its history. Innocent civilians had been harmed, property destroyed and people displaced in violation of all laws and human rights. On 12 March, the city of Homs had suffered a massacre that had all the hallmarks of Al-Qaida, and innocent women and children had been killed. The Syrian Arab Republic regarded those who were responsible for providing media, financial and weapons support as complicit in the bloodshed. 610. Nevertheless, the reforms initiated by the State continued, based on the legitimate demands of the people. The Government continued to believe in coexistence, despite the attempts at ethnic cleansing and displacement. On 26 February, Syrians had voted in a referendum for a new Constitution that sought to protect and promote human rights. The new Constitution brought radical changes in order to meet the demands of the Syrian people. The leadership of the State by the Ba’ath party was repealed from the Constitution, and the President’s mandate would be limited and could only be extended once. Other amendments opened the way to political pluralism and the democratic transfer of power. They upheld political, economic and social human rights and promoted the rule of law, while protecting cultural diversity. The new Constitution had been approved by 89 per cent of voters. 611. Despite the continued violence, support for armed groups and unjust economic sanctions, the Syrian Arab Republic had reiterated its commitment to human rights and announced the acceptance of 24 more recommendations, in addition to those already accepted in October 2011. It had accepted recommendations to establish a national human rights institution and placed particular importance on recommendations concerning national dialogue, which was the only solution to the current crisis. It had opened the door to dialogue with all parties, although the armed opposition supported by foreign powers had rejected this offer. 224 GE.13-14768