A/67/44 States parties whose reports were considered sent representatives to participate in the examination of their respective reports. The Committee expressed its appreciation for this in its concluding observations. 47. At its forty-seventh session, taking into consideration the situation in the State party, the Committee invited the Syrian Arab Republic to submit a special report to the Committee by 9 March 2012. The State party declined to submit a report and to send representatives to participate in the dialogue with the Committee. 48. Country Rapporteurs and alternate Rapporteurs were designated by the Committee for each of the reports considered. The list appears in annex XII to the present report. 49. In connection with its consideration of reports, the Committee also had before it: (a) General guidelines regarding the form and contents of initial reports to be submitted by States parties under article 19, paragraph 1, of the Convention (CAT/C/4/Rev.3); (b) General guidelines regarding the form and contents of periodic reports to be submitted by States parties under article 19 of the Convention (CAT/C/14/Rev.1). 50. The Committee has been issuing lists of issues for periodic reports since 2004. This resulted from a request made to the Committee by representatives of the States parties at a meeting with Committee members. While the Committee understands the wish of States parties to have advance notice of the issues likely to be discussed during the dialogue, it nonetheless must point out that the drafting of lists of issues has increased the Committee’s workload. This is particularly significant in a Committee with such a small membership. B. Concluding observations on States parties’ reports 51. The text of concluding observations adopted by the Committee with respect to the above-mentioned reports submitted by States parties, as well as on the Syrian Arab Republic, is reproduced below. 52. Belarus (1) The Committee against Torture considered the fourth periodic report of Belarus (CAT/C/BLR/4) at its 1036th and 1039th meetings, held on 11 and 14 November 2011 (CAT/C/SR.1036 and 1039), and adopted the following concluding observations at its 1053rd meeting (CAT/C/SR.1053). A. Introduction (2) While welcoming the submission of the fourth report of Belarus, the Committee regrets that it was submitted nine years late, which prevented the Committee from conducting an analysis of the implementation of the Convention in the State party following its last review in 2000. (3) The Committee regrets that no representatives of the State party could come from the capital to meet with the members of the Committee during the current session; however, it notes with appreciation the opportunity to engage in a constructive dialogue covering many areas under the Convention. B. Positive aspects (4) The Committee welcomes the fact that the State party has ratified or acceded to the following international instruments: (a) Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (3 February 2004); and GE.12-44492 11