A/RES/54/171 Page 2 Recognizing that the tragic history of Cambodia requires special measures to assure the protection of the human rights of all people in Cambodia and the non-return to the policies and practices of the past, as stipulated in the Agreement signed in Paris on 23 October 1991, Desiring that the international community continue to respond positively to assist efforts to investigate the tragic history of Cambodia, including responsibility for past international crimes, such as acts of genocide and crimes against humanity, Bearing in mind the letter dated 15 March 1999 from the Secretary-General to the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Security Council5 and the report of the Group of Experts appointed by the Secretary-General in response to the request by the Cambodian authorities for assistance in responding to past serious violations of Cambodian and international law,6 Recognizing the legitimate concern of the Government and people of Cambodia in the pursuit of internationally accepted principles of justice and of national reconciliation, Recognizing also that accountability of individual perpetrators of grave human rights violations is one of the central elements of any effective remedy for victims of human rights violations and a key factor in ensuring a fair and equitable justice system and, ultimately, reconciliation and stability within a State, Welcoming the continuing role of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the promotion and protection of human rights in Cambodia, 1. Requests the Secretary-General, through his Special Representative for human rights in Cambodia, in collaboration with the office in Cambodia of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to assist the Government of Cambodia in ensuring the protection of the human rights of all people in Cambodia and to ensure adequate resources for the continued functioning of the operational presence in Cambodia of the Office of the High Commissioner and to enable the Special Representative to continue to fulfil his tasks expeditiously; 2. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General ,7 and notes in particular the concerns of the Special Representative about the problem of impunity, the need to promote and protect the independence of the judiciary and to establish the rule of law, and the need for the reform of police and the military; 3. Welcomes the agreement by the Government of Cambodia to extend the memorandum of understanding for the office at Phnom Penh of the High Commissioner until March 2002, enabling the office to continue its operations and to maintain its technical cooperation programmes, and encourages the Government to continue to cooperate with the office; 5 A/53/850-S/1999/231; see Official Records of the Security Council, Fifty-fourth Year, Supplement for January, February and March 1999, document S/1999/231. 6 Ibid., annex. 7 A/54/353. /...