A/RES/55/136 bridging the existing gap between the developing and the developed countries in the crucial field of public information and communications; 8. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-General 5 on programme 23 (Public information) of the proposed medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005, and, emphasizing that the implementation of the broad objectives outlined in the proposal should be in accordance with the objectives set forth in relevant General Assembly resolutions regarding questions relating to information, requests the Secretary-General to proceed with the submission of the proposal to the Committee for Programme and Coordination for consideration, taking into account the amendments made by the Committee on Information at its twenty-second session, in accordance with section I of Assembly resolution 53/207 of 18 December 1998; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to focus, in particular, on educational institutions as key and indispensable partners of the United Nations in its efforts fully to inform the peoples of the world of its aims and activities; 10. Encourages the Secretary-General to strengthen further consultative arrangements between the Department of Public Information and other substantive departments of the Secretariat, in particular those dealing with development issues; 11. Reaffirms that United Nations information centres should continue to publicize United Nations activities and accomplishments in the areas of economic and social development, poverty eradication, debt relief, health, education, elimination of illiteracy, women’s rights, children’s rights, the plight of children in armed conflict, the sexual exploitation of children, the eradication of drug trafficking and environmental issues, as well as other issues of relevance; 12. Welcomes the contribution of the Department of Public Information to the efforts of the Secretary-General in closing the digital divide as a means of spurring economic growth and as a response to the continuing gulf between developed and developing countries, and, in this context, requests the Department further to enhance its role; 13. Recalls its resolution 54/113 of 10 December 1999 concerning the proclamation of 2001 as the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, and encourages the Secretary-General to strengthen the public information capacity of the Department of Public Information with a view to disseminating information on and drawing international attention to the dialogue among civilizations and the impact it could have on promoting mutual understanding, tolerance, peaceful coexistence and international cooperation; 14. Welcomes the decision taken by the Department of Public Information to launch a new web site to publicize the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to implement the promotional campaign to ensure that the Year enjoys the broadest international support and to report thereon and also on all follow-up activities in this respect to the Committee on Information at its twenty-third session; 15. Recalls its resolutions 53/202 of 17 December 1998 and 54/254 of 15 March 2000, concerning the designation of the fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly as the Millennium Assembly of the United Nations and the convening, as an integral part of the Millennium Assembly, of the Millennium Summit of the 5 4 A/AC.198/2000/8.