A/RES/54/96E-K Page 2 Noting that, as the century draws to a close, the Central American countries have achieved significant progress towards the consolidation of democracy and good governance, the strengthening of civilian Governments, respect for human rights and the rule of law and the promotion of State and economic reforms, sustainable development and regional integration, reflecting the desire of the Central American peoples to live and prosper in a climate of peace and solidarity, Stressing the importance and effectiveness of the commitments undertaken by the Central American Presidents at various regional presidential summits, in particular those which constitute the global framework for promoting and consolidating peace, democracy and sustainable human development in Central America, Recognizing that hurricane Mitch, the worst disaster to strike the Central American region in this century, underscored the extreme vulnerability of the poorest sectors of the population, in particular women and children, which were the most severely affected, and the inadequacy of existing local and national institutions to deal with natural disasters, Noting that the various natural phenomena which have affected the region are one of the factors that have put at risk the biodiversity of Central America, Taking into consideration that, at the second Consultative Group Meeting for the Reconstruction and Transformation of Central America, co-hosted by the Inter-American Development Bank and the Government of Sweden and held in Stockholm from 25 to 28 May 1999, the Governments of the region, the principal donors and representatives of civil society renewed their commitment to democratic change and sustainable human development as the best means of reducing economic, social and ecological vulnerability to disasters, and looking forward to the next round of Consultative Group Meetings, to be held in Nicaragua and Honduras in February 2000, Taking into account that the Governments of the region have designated the period 2000–2004 as the Quinquennium for the Reduction of Vulnerability to and the Impact of Natural Disasters in Central America and have adopted a strategic framework for the reduction of vulnerability and disasters in Central America, which contain guidelines for the elaboration, updating, improvement and development of regional plans for the reduction of vulnerability to and the impact of natural disasters, the integrated management and conservation of water resources and the prevention and control of forest fires, Stressing that the achievement of the national priorities in the political, economic, social, cultural, environmental, public safety and regional integration fields, which are set out in the programme of the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America, is essential for reducing the region’s vulnerability to natural disasters and for promoting sustainable human development, Considering the necessity of ensuring the elimination of anti-personnel mines from Central American territory as well as the rehabilitation and reintegration of mine victims in their communities in order to restore normal conditions for the integral development of the region, Recognizing the valuable and effective contribution made by the organs, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system and by the various governmental and non-governmental mechanisms, the donor community and the Consultative Group for the Reconstruction and Transformation of Central America and the importance of the political dialogue and cooperation taking place between the European Union and Central America and the joint initiative of the industrialized countries of the Group of Twenty-four and the 00 26240 /...