A/RES/58/211 1. Decides to declare 2006 the International Year of Deserts and Desertification; 2. Designates the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa, as focal point of the Year, in conjunction with the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Development Programme, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and other relevant bodies of the United Nations; Invites all countries to establish national committees or focal points and 3. to celebrate the Year by arranging appropriate activities; 4. Calls upon all relevant international organizations and Member States to support the activities related to desertification, including land degradation, to be organized by affected countries, in particular African countries and the least developed countries; Encourages countries to contribute, as they are able, to the Convention 5. and to undertake special initiatives in observance of the Year with the goal of enhancing the implementation of the Convention; Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its 6. sixtieth session on the status of preparations for the Year. 78th plenary meeting 23 December 2003 2