The General Assembly,
 
      Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, including resolution
50/75 of 12 December 1995,
 
      Reaffirming the primary role of the Mediterranean countries in
strengthening and promoting peace, security and cooperation in the
Mediterranean region,
 
      Bearing in mind all the previous declarations and commitments, as well
as all the initiatives taken by the riparian countries at the recent summits,
ministerial meetings and various forums concerning the question of the
Mediterranean region,
 
      Recognizing the efforts made so far and the determination of the
Mediterranean countries to intensify the process of dialogue and consultations
with a view to resolving the problems existing in the Mediterranean region and
to eliminate the causes of tension and the consequent threat to peace and
security,
 
      Recognizing also the indivisible character of security in the
Mediterranean and that the enhancement of cooperation among Mediterranean
countries with a view to promoting the economic and social development of all
peoples of the region will contribute significantly to stability, peace and
security in the region,
 
      Recognizing further that prospects for closer Euro-Mediterranean
cooperation in all spheres can be enhanced by positive developments worldwide,
in particular in Europe, in the Maghreb and in the Middle East,
 
      Noting the developments in the Middle East peace process that will lead
to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the region and
therefore to promoting confidence-building measures and a good-neighbourly
spirit among the countries of the area,
 
      Expressing satisfaction at the growing awareness of the need for more
joint efforts by all Mediterranean countries so as to strengthen economic,
social, cultural and environmental cooperation in the region,
 
      Reaffirming the responsibility of all States to contribute to the
stability and prosperity of the Mediterranean region and their commitment to
respect the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, as
well as the provisions of the Declaration on Principles of International Law
concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with
the Charter of the United Nations,
 
      Expressing its concern at the persistent tension and continuing military
activities in parts of the Mediterranean that hinder efforts to strengthen
security and cooperation in the region,
 
      Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on this item,
 
      1.    Reaffirms that security in the Mediterranean is closely linked to
European security as well as to international peace and security;
 
      2.    Expresses its satisfaction at the continuing efforts by
Mediterranean countries to contribute actively to the elimination of all
causes of tension in the region and to the promotion of just and lasting
solutions to the persistent problems of the region through peaceful means,
thus ensuring the withdrawal of foreign forces of occupation and respecting
the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries of
the Mediterranean and the right of peoples to self- determination, and
therefore calls for full adherence to the principles of non- interference,
non-intervention, non-use of force or threat of use of force and the
inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, in accordance with
the Charter and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations;
 
      3.    Commends the efforts by the Mediterranean countries in meeting
common challenges through coordinated overall responses, based on a spirit of
multilateral partnership, towards the general objective of turning the
Mediterranean basin into an area of dialogue, exchanges and cooperation,
guaranteeing peace, stability and prosperity;
 
      4.    Encourages Mediterranean countries to strengthen such efforts
through, inter alia, a lasting, multilateral and action-oriented cooperative
dialogue among States of the region;
 
      5.    Recognizes that the elimination of the economic and social
disparities in levels of development as well as other obstacles in the
Mediterranean area will contribute to enhancing peace, security and
cooperation among Mediterranean countries through the existing forums;
 
      6.    Recognizes also that respect and greater understanding among
cultures will contribute to enhancing peace, security and cooperation among
Mediterranean countries;
 
      7.    Calls upon all States of the Mediterranean region that have not
yet done so to adhere to all the multilaterally negotiated legal instruments
related to the field of disarmament, thus creating the necessary conditions
for strengthening peace and cooperation in the region;
 
      8.    Encourages all States of the region to favour the necessary
conditions for strengthening the confidence-building measures among them by
promoting genuine openness and transparency on all military matters, by
participating, inter alia, in the United Nations system for the standardized
reporting of military expenditures as well as by providing accurate data and
information to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms;
 
      9.    Encourages the Mediterranean countries to strengthen further their
cooperation in combating terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, which
poses a serious threat to peace, security and stability in the region and
therefore to the improvement of the current political, economic and social
situation;
 
      10.   Invites all States of the region to address, through various forms
of cooperation, problems and threats posed to the region, such as terrorism,
international crime and illicit arms transfers, as well as illicit drug
production, consumption and trafficking, which jeopardize the friendly
relations among States, hinder the development of international cooperation
and result in the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and the
democratic basis of pluralistic society;
 
      11.   Encourages the continued widespread support among the
Mediterranean countries for the convening of a conference on security and
cooperation in the Mediterranean, as well as the ongoing consultations to
create the appropriate conditions for its convening;
 
      12.   Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on means to
strengthen security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region;
 
      13.   Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-second
session the item entitled "Strengthening of security and cooperation in the
Mediterranean region".