protection of human rights had been a high priority for the Government in its recent actions. Clearly, efforts had to be made to investigate human rights violations, to punish those responsible and to prevent their recurrence. Comments of the Committee 461. As indicated in paragraph 45 above, the Committee, at its 1123rd meeting, held on 24 March 1992, decided that henceforth, at the conclusion of the consideration of a State party's report, it would adopt comments reflecting the views of the Committee as a whole. 462. In accordance with that decision, at its 1148th meeting, held on 10 April 1992, the Committee adopted the following comments. 1. Introduction and positive developments 463. The Committee thanks the State party through its representative for the report it submitted, albeit late, in response to the decision adopted by the Committee on 4 November 1991. The Committee appreciates the fact that, despite the serious events that have occurred in the country, the federal Government has been able to cooperate with the Committee and to present and discuss its report. The Committee takes note of the information contained in the report on the present constitutional and legal situation. It nevertheless regrets the fact that the report does not cover the whole period since 30 May 1983, the date of the submission of the second periodic report, and that it does not deal fully enough with the problems encountered by the State party in applying the provisions of the Covenant in practice. However, the oral dialogue established in the Committee meant that it was to some extent possible to obtain additional information on the obstacles to the effective application of the Covenant and to highlight certain efforts being made to improve the legal and regulatory framework within which the Covenant was being applied. The Committee noted that a commission had been set up to inquire into allegations of genocide and violation of human rights during the armed conflicts. 2. Factors and difficulties impeding the application of the Covenant 464, The Committee notes that difficulties had arisen in the province of Kosovo, which had led to the proclamation of several successive states of emergency. More recently, the uncontrolled break-up of the State party's institutions has degenerated into violent interethnic conflicts, leading to widespread violations of most of the human rights safeguarded by the Covenant. As a result, a peace-keeping operation has been set up under the cease-fire negotiated under the auspices of the United Nations. 3. Principal sub-jects of concern 465. The Committee notes that as things stand, the present crisis prevents it from supervising the application of the Covenant throughout the territory of the State party; because of the federal State's loss of control in a growing -111-