A/64/215 Eritrea (2005); Ethiopia (2005); Fiji (2006); Gambia (2006); India (1993); Iran (Islamic Republic of) (2005); Israel (2002); Jamaica (2008); Liberia (2006); Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (2005); Papua New Guinea (2006); Russian Federation with respect to the Republic of Chechnya (2000); Saudi Arabia (2005); Syrian Arab Republic (2005); Tunisia (1998); Turkmenistan (2003); United States of America (2004); Uzbekistan (2006); and Yemen (2005). The Special Rapporteur regrets that some of these requests are long-standing. C. Key press statements 11. On 22 December 2008, the Special Rapporteur issued a joint statement with other mandate holders, welcoming the announcement by President-elect of the United States Barack Obama to close the Guantánamo Bay detention facilities and to strengthen the fight against torture. 12. On 23 January 2009, the Special Rapporteur issued a statement with another mandate holder applauding the executive order setting a timeline for the closure of the Guantánamo Bay detention centre and offered to help resolve the outstanding issues related to that closure. 13. On 9 February, jointly with other special procedures mandate holders, the Special Rapporteur issued a statement expressing their deep concern at the deteriorating human rights situation in Sri Lanka, particularly the shrinking space for critical voices and the fear of reprisals against victims and witnesses that had led to unabated impunity for human rights violations. 14. On 17 April 2009, the Special Rapporteur issued a joint statement with other mandate holders condemning the execution of nine men following an unfair trial in the Sudan. 15. On 18 June 2009, jointly with other mandate holders, the Special Rapporteur issued a statement expressing grave concerns at excessive police force, arbitrary arrests and killings in the Islamic Republic of Iran. 16. On 25 June, on the occasion of the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the Committee against Torture, its Subcommittee on Prevention, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture and the Special Rapporteur issued a statement that called for ensuring that all persons with disabilities had the right to enjoy all human rights and were fully protected from torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment. 17. On 7 July 2009, the Special Rapporteur issued a joint statement with other mandate holders expressing grave concern about reports of killings, ongoing arrests, the use of excessive police force and the ill-treatment of detainees in the Islamic Republic of Iran. 18. On 21 July 2009, jointly with other mandate holders, the Special Rapporteur issued a statement reiterating the request to the authorities of the Russian Federation to extend an invitation to visit the country. 6 09-43792