180. The representative of the State party noted that the report just considered by the Committee was the first one to be prepared by Poland under democratic conditions. She sincerely thanked the members of the Committee, who had thoroughly and sympathetically analysed the report and who had not hesitated to point out gaps. The remarks, doubts and concerns expressed would help the Polish authorities to improve their legal system and implement it better. She hoped that Poland's valuable relations with the Committee would not be limited to submitting reports and that Poland would shortly accede to the Second Optional Protocol aiming at the abolition of the death penalty. 181. In concluding the consideration of the third periodic report of Poland, the Chairman joined in paying tribute to the remarkable progress made in Poland since the submission of that country's previous report five years before. Thanks to those developments, Polish practice and legislation had become more consistent with the Covenant and obvious progress had been achieved not only regarding civil rights but political rights as well. Countries like Poland, which were undergoing deep upheavals, often failed to submit their reports to the Committee in order to avoid revealing their difficulties and exposing themselves to criticism. Yet the Polish authorities had allowed the Committee to study the situation in their country at a crucial time, precisely when such an exercise could be the most useful. He was convinced that Poland's fourth periodic report, due in 1994, would indicate still further progress. IRAQ (continued) 182. The Committee resumed and completed its consideration of the third periodic report of Iraq (CCPR/C/64/Add.6) at its 1106th to 1108th meetings, held on 30 and 31 October 1991 (CCPE/C/SR.1106 to 1108). 9/ (For the composition of the delegation, see annex VIII.) 183. In his introductory statement, the representative of the State party drew the Committee's attention to a number of important developments in the field of human rights that had occurred in his country since the consideration of the first part of the report. Much of the legislation objected to by the Committee had been repealed. Decree No. 416 of the Revolutionary Command Council had thus been suspended, the Revolutionary Court had been abolished and a decree had been adopted granting amnesty to persons convicted of political crimes, from which 187 persons had benefited. Furthermore, a law on political parties had come into effect on 16 September 1991. A Code of Human Rights, setting out provisions of international human rights instruments as well as those of Iragi legislation, was in preparation, which would serve as a basis for incorporating such international standards into domestic law. Lastly, there was a continuous dialogue between the Government and the Kurds to seek an improved formula for greater autonomy for Iraqi Kurdistan. 184. Referring to a number of questions that had been left unanswered at the Committee's forty-second session, the representative stated that, following the cease-fire with the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1988, the number of death sentences passed in Iraq had declined markedly, and the decline had continued in 1991. He noted, in that regard, that 1,714 death sentences had been passed in the period 1987-1991, of which 1,223 had been carried out and 330 commuted to life imprisonment, with 161 persons having been pardoned. Revolutionary -41-