II. SUBMISSION OF REPORTS BY STATES PARTIES UNDER ARTICLE 19 OF THE CONVENTION 19. During the period covered by the present report nine reports from States parties under article 19 of the Convention were submitted to the Secretary-General. An initial report was submitted by Serbia and Montenegro.1 Second periodic reports were submitted by Belgium, Costa Rica, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Slovakia and The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. A fourth periodic report was submitted by Israel. A fifth periodic report was submitted by Chile. 20. As of 18 May 2007, the Committee had received a total of 203 reports. 21. As at 18 May 2007, there were 232 overdue reports (see annex V). 22. The Committee with only two sessions per year is only able to deal with 14 reports, consequently, over the last two years and as an exceptional measure, it has decided to consolidate overdue reports. This measure is reviewed on a case-by-case basis after the consideration of a report, in particular when the Committee considers that the information provided by the State party covers the entire overdue reporting period. The Committee indicates the new date and number of report that the State party should submit in the last paragraph of the concluding observations. 23. At its thirty-eighth session in May 2007, the Committee adopted a new procedure on a trial basis which includes the preparation and adoption of a list of issues to be transmitted to States parties prior to the submission of a State party’s periodic report. The State party’s replies to the list of issues would constitute the State party’s report under article 19 of the Convention. The Committee is of the view that this procedure could assist States parties in preparing focused reports. The lists of issues prior to reporting could guide the preparation and content of the report, and the procedure would facilitate reporting by States parties and strengthen their capacity to fulfil their reporting obligations in a timely and effective manner. 24. The Committee has decided to initiate this procedure in relation to periodic reports that are due in 2009 and 2010. It will not be applied to States parties’ reporting obligations where initial reports are concerned or to periodic reports for which a previous report has already been submitted and is awaiting consideration by the Committee. On 15 May 2007, the Committee met with States parties and introduced and discussed the new procedure. The Committee envisages adopting lists of issues for States parties whose reports are due in 2009, at its upcoming session in November 2007. The lists of issues will thereafter be transmitted to the respective States parties in December 2007, with a request that replies be submitted before the end of 2008, should the State party wish to avail itself of this new procedure. 1 See CAT/C/SRB/2 received prior to the declaration of independence by Montenegro in June 2006. 6