521. Ths requirements for the publication ana. entry into force of all legislative texts adopted by the Supreme Soviet were also provided for in a law which made their publication mandatory within 10 days of their adoption. International treaties concluded by Belarus also had to be published in the newspapers, in Belarusian and in Russian, so that each citizen might be informed of them. 522. The Declaration of State Sovereignty by Belarus, adopted by the Supreme Soviet at its first session on 27 July 1990, was the cornerstone of the new political system emerging in Belarus. A law of 25 August 1991 had given the Declaration the rank of a constitutional law. It was an extremely significant document which had not had any equivalent in 70 years of Soviet power. In particular, the Declaration proclaimed the supremacy of the rule of law and the independence of the Republic in relations with other countries. 523. The representative said that pending the adoption of the new Constitution, which was currently being prepared, and one of whose basic features was that it took account of all the international obligations assumed by Belarus, the current Constitution, as amended, remained in force and the legislation of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics still applied, provided it was not incompatible with the national Constitution. 524. The representative of Belarus told the Committee that on 14 January 1992 the Supreme Soviet had ratified the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant and had made the declaration provided for in article 41 of the Covenant. He also said that Belarus had announced its intention to declare its territory a nuclear-weapon-free zone and, ultimately, to become a neutral State. Constitutional and legal framework within which the Covenant is implemented? right to self-determination; non-discrimination and equality of the sexes; and yights of persons belonging to minorities 525. Regarding those issues, the members of the Committee asked what had been the legal and practical consequences of the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the establishment of the Commonwealth of Independent States for the implementation of the rights set forth in the Covenant, and their enjoyment by individuals; whether there had been any changes regarding the remedies available to individuals who considered they had been victims of a violation of their rights under the Covenant} what was the status of the Covenant under domestic law; and what had been the impact on the actual implementation of the Covenant of the adoption of the Act on the Status of Judges of 4 August 1989, the Contempt of Court Act of 2 November 1989 and the Foundations of Legislation on the Judicial System of 17 November 1989. They also asked for clarification of the new systems of power being established in Belarus; of the measures taken or contemplated to ensure consistency between any new constitutional provisions or other legal instruments and the Covenant; of the activities undertaken to enhance the role and status of women; and what improvements had occurred in the situation of minorities since the consideration of the second periodic report. 526. In addition, members of the Committee sought further information with respect to the provisions of the draft Constitution and made numerous comments thereon. They wished to know, inter alia, what effect the disappearance of -125-