A/RES/54/96E-K Page 3 Group of Three (Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela) in the progress made towards consolidating peace, democracy and the implementation of the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America, Reaffirming the need to continue focusing attention on the situation in Central America with a view to overcoming the underlying causes of the armed conflicts which have impeded the region’s development and avoiding a reversal of the achievements, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the reports of the Secretary-General on international assistance to and cooperation with the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America2 and on collaborative efforts to assist Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama and progress made with the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts of the affected countries,3 in particular their recommendations and conclusions; 2. Emphasizes the importance of supporting and strengthening the efforts of the Central American countries to implement the Strategic Framework for the Reduction of Vulnerability and Disasters in Central America, adopted by their Presidents in the Declaration of Guatemala II4 on 19 October 1999, and the projects and programmes of the Quinquennium for the Reduction of Vulnerability to and the Impact of Natural Disasters in Central America, in accordance with the process of transformation and sustainable development for the region for the next millennium, which contain basic guidelines for the prevention and mitigation of damage, with special emphasis on the most vulnerable groups and sectors, as identified by gender-based levels of poverty and marginality; 3. Notes the efforts and achievements relating to mine clearance in Central America, despite the negative impact of hurricane Mitch, and appeals to the organs of the United Nations system, in particular the Mine Action Service of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the Secretariat, and the Organization of American States as well as the international community to continue providing the material, technical and financial support needed by the Central American Governments to complete mine-clearance, mine-awareness and victim assistance activities in the region, in conformity with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and with the provisions of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction5 that relate to international cooperation and assistance; 4. Stresses the need for the international community to maintain its cooperation and assistance, including provision of financial resources, both bilateral and multilateral, with the Central American countries, to support the promotion of sustainable development and the consolidation of peace, freedom and democracy in the region; 5. Notes with satisfaction the progress achieved towards the implementation of the subregional cooperation programme in Central America of the United Nations Development Programme focusing on 2 3 4 5 A/54/350. A/54/130–E/1999/72 and Rev.1. A/54/630, annex. See CD/1478. 00 26240 /...