A/RES/61/266 17. Notes with appreciation the work carried out by the United Nations information centres, including the United Nations Regional Information Centre, in favour of the publication of United Nations information materials and the translation of important documents into languages other than the official languages of the United Nations, with a view to reaching the widest possible audience and extending the United Nations message to all corners of the world in order to strengthen international support for the activities of the Organization; and encourages United Nations information centres to continue their multilingual activities in the interactive and proactive aspects of their work, especially by arranging seminars and debates to further the spread of information and the understanding and exchange of views regarding United Nations activity at the local level; 18. Recalls its resolution 61/244, in which it reaffirmed the need to respect the equality of the two working languages of the Secretariat, reaffirmed the use of additional working languages in specific duty stations as mandated, and in that regard requested the Secretary-General to ensure that vacancy announcements specified the need for either of the working languages of the Secretariat, unless the functions of the post required a specific working language; 19. Also recalls paragraph 17 of section II of its resolution 61/244, in which it acknowledged that the interaction of the United Nations with the local population in the field was essential and that language skills constituted an important element of the selection and training processes, and therefore affirmed that a good command of the official language(s) spoken in the country of residence should be taken into account as an additional asset during those processes; 20. Stresses that the employment of staff shall continue to be carried out in strict accordance with Article 101 of the Charter of the United Nations and in line with the relevant provisions of General Assembly resolutions; 21. Also stresses that the promotion of staff in the Professional and higher categories should be carried out in strict accordance with Article 101 of the Charter and in line with the provisions of resolution 2480 B (XXIII) and the relevant provisions of resolution 55/258 of 14 June 2001; 22. Encourages United Nations staff members to continue to use actively existing training facilities to acquire and enhance their proficiency in one or more of the official languages of the United Nations; 23. Recalls that linguistic diversity is an important element of cultural diversity, and takes note of the entry into force on 18 March 2007 of the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions; 4 24. Welcomes the decision taken by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on 17 November 1999 that 21 February should be proclaimed International Mother Language Day, and calls upon Member States and the Secretariat to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by peoples of the world; 25. Proclaims 2008 International Year of Languages, pursuant to the resolution adopted by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its thirty-third session on 20 October 2005, 5 _______________ 4 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirty-third Session, Paris, 3–21 October 2005, vol.1 and corrigenda: Resolutions, chap. V, resolution 41. 5 Ibid., resolution 51; see also A/61/780, enclosure. 4