Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his comprehensive report of 6 September 1995 on the activities of the United Nations in providing assistance in mine clearance and on the operation of the Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Clearance,4 and takes note with interest of the proposals contained therein;
Welcomes, in particular, the efforts made by the United Nations to foster the establishment of national mine-clearance capacities in countries where mines constitute a serious threat to the safety, health and lives of the local population, and urges all Member States, particularly those that have a capacity to do so, to assist afflicted countries in the establishment and development of their national mine-clearance capacities;
3
Expresses its appreciation to Member States, United Nations organizations and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations that participated in the International Meeting on Mine Clearance for their strong expression of cooperation in the field of assistance in mine clearance, and particularly to States and regional organizations for their financial contributions to the Voluntary Trust Fund as well as for providing the necessary means to establish a de-mining standby capacity within the United Nations;
4
Appeals to Member States as well as to intergovernmental organizations and foundations to continue to contribute to the Voluntary Trust Fund and to continue to supply the necessary means to the United Nations to foster its de-mining standby capacity;
5
Invitesall relevant multilateral and national programmes and bodies to include, in coordination with the United Nations, activities related to mine clearance in their humanitarian, social and economic assistance activities;
6
Emphasizes again, in this connection, the importance of coordination by the United Nations of activities related to mine clearance, including those by regional organizations, in particular activities related to information and training;
7
Welcomes the efforts of the Department of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat to coordinate mine-related activities and, in particular, the establishment, in cooperation with other relevant United Nations organizations, of comprehensive mine-action programmes, and encourages the Department to continue and enhance those efforts within existing resources with a view to improving the effectiveness of assistance in mine clearance by the United Nations;
8
Calls uponthe Secretary-General to designate the Department of Humanitarian Affairs, the focal point in the United Nations for coordinating de-mining and related issues, as the repository of information and for encouraging and facilitating international research to improve mine-clearance methods;
9
UrgesMember States, regional organizations, governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations to continue to extend full assistance and cooperation to the Secretary-General and, in particular, to provide him with information and data as well as other appropriate resources which could be useful in strengthening the coordination role of the United Nations in the field of mine awareness, training, surveying, mine detection and clearance, scientific research on mine detection and clearance technology, and information on and distribution of medical equipment and supplies;
10
Calls uponMember States, especially those that have a capacity to do so, to provide the necessary information and technical and material assistance, as appropriate, and to locate, remove, destroy or otherwise render ineffective minefields, mines, booby traps and other devices, in accordance with international law;
11
UrgesMember States, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations and foundations that have the ability to do so to provide, as appropriate, technological assistance to mine-afflicted countries as well as to promote scientific research and development on humanitarian mine-clearance techniques and technology so that mine-clearance activities may be more effectively carried out at lower cost and through safer means, and to promote international collaboration in this regard;
12
Requeststhe Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-first session a report on the progress achieved on all relevant issues outlined in his reports to the Assembly at its forty-ninth5 and fiftieth 3/ sessions on assistance in mine clearance and on the operation of the Voluntary Trust Fund;
