CERD UNITED NATIONS International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination Distr. GENERAL CERD/C/64/CO/4 10 May 2004 Original: ENGLISH COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION Sixty-fourth session 23 February-12 March 2004 CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER ARTICLE 9 OF THE CONVENTION Concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA 1. The Committee considered the fifteenth to seventeenth periodic reports of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, respectively due from 1998 to 2002, submitted as one document (CERD/C/431/Add.5), at its 1626th and 1627th meetings (CERD/C/SR.1626 and 1627), held on 2 and 3 March 2004. At its 1639th meeting (CERD/C/SR.1639), held on 11 March 2003, it adopted the following concluding observations. A. Introduction 2. The Committee welcomes the reports submitted by the State party and the opportunity to resume its dialogue with the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, in a context more favourable than in 1998. The Committee was encouraged by the attendance of a delegation and expresses its appreciation for its efforts to respond to the questions asked. 3. The Committee appreciates the efforts made by the State party to comply with the reporting guidelines of the Committee, but regrets the lack of information regarding the practical implementation of the Convention and the lack of answers on issues raised in the previous concluding observations. GE.04-41472 (E) 210504