A/RES/53/77 Page 4 Bearing in mind the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa,8 Welcoming the initiative taken by the Economic Community of West African States concerning the declaration of a moratorium on the importing, exporting and manufacture of light weapons in West Africa, Welcoming also the decision of the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its sixty-eighth ordinary session, held at Ouagadougou from 4 to 7 June 1998, concerning the proliferation of small arms and light weapons,9 Taking note with interest of the work of the Panel of Governmental Experts on Small Arms, in particular the recommendations contained in paragraphs 79 (a) and (g) of its report,10 Emphasizing the need to advance efforts towards wider cooperation and better coordination in the struggle against the accumulation, proliferation and widespread use of small arms through the common understanding of the meeting on small arms, held at Oslo on 13 and 14 July 1998,11 and the Brussels Call for Action adopted by the International Conference on Sustainable Disarmament for Sustainable Development, held at Brussels on 12 and 13 October 1998,12 1. Welcomes the initiative taken by Mali concerning the question of the illicit circulation of small arms and their collection in the affected States of the Saharo-Sahelian subregion; 2. Also welcomes the Declaration of a Moratorium on the Importation, Exportation and Manufacture of Small Arms and Light Weapons in West Africa, adopted by the heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States at Abuja on 31 October 1998,13 and urges the international community to give its support to the implementation of the moratorium; 3. Further welcomes the action taken by the Secretary-General in implementation of this initiative in the context of General Assembly resolution 40/151 H of 16 December 1985; 4. Thanks the Governments concerned in the subregion for the substantial support that they have given to the United Nations advisory missions, and welcomes the declared readiness of other States to receive the United Nations Advisory Mission; 8 A/52/871–S/1998/318; see Official Records of the Security Council, Fifty-third Year, Supplement for April, May and June 1998, document S/1998/318. 9 A/53/179, annex I, decision CM/Dec.432 (LXVIII). 10 A/52/298, annex. 11 See CD/1556. 12 A/53/681, annex. 13 A/53/763-S/1998/1194, annex; see Official Records of the Security Council, Fifty-third Year, Supplement for October, November and December 1998, document S/1998/1194. /...