A/RES/53/191 Page 3 6. Notes with concern that the Global Mechanism did not begin operating on 1 January 1998; 7. Notes with appreciation the efforts made by the International Fund for Agricultural Development to establish the framework for the separate identity of the Global Mechanism within the Fund, and looks forward to a prompt start to its activities, in conformity with the provisions of the Convention and relevant decisions taken by the Conference of the Parties at its first session; 8. Urges all States parties to the Convention to pay promptly and in full on or before 1 January of each year, starting in 1999, the contributions required for the core budget of the Convention envisaged in the financial rules of the Conference of the Parties,8 so as to ensure continuity in the cash flow required to finance the ongoing work of the Conference of the Parties, the subsidiary bodies, the permanent secretariat and the Global Mechanism; 9. Notes with appreciation the financial support already provided on a voluntary basis by some States parties, and reiterates its appeal to Governments, all interested organizations and the private sector to make promptly further voluntary contributions in support of the activities and functioning of the Global Mechanism; 10. Calls upon Governments, regional economic integration organizations and other interested organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to contribute generously to the General Fund, the Supplementary Fund and the Special Fund, to be established by 1 January 1999 in accordance with the relevant paragraphs of the financial rules of the Conference of the Parties;9 11. Also calls upon developing countries that are parties to the Convention to accelerate the process of elaboration and adoption of national action programmes, and calls for the implementation of those adopted through, inter alia, the conclusion of partnership agreements, including consideration of the contributions of non-governmental organizations; 12. Further calls upon the international community, in particular the developed countries and the United Nations system, and invites the multilateral financial institutions and all other interested actors, to support the efforts of affected developing countries in the process of elaborating and implementing action programmes to combat desertification, including, as appropriate, interregional programmes and platforms of cooperation, by providing them with financial resources and other forms of assistance; 13. Invites the Conference of the Parties at its second session to facilitate and launch the process of elaborating and negotiating an additional regional implementation annex to the Convention for the countries of the Eastern and Central European region, with a view to finalizing it as soon as possible; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-fourth session on the outcome of the second session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, as well as on measures taken for the implementation of decisions adopted by the Conference at that session; 8 ICCD/COP(1)/11/Add.1, decision 2/COP.1, annex, para. 14. 9 ICCD/COP(1)/11/Add.1, decision 2/COP.1, annex, paras. 7-11. /...