A/RES/57/259 financial mechanism of the Convention, pursuant to article 21 of the Convention, and in this regard encourages the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, as the supreme body of the Convention, to take the appropriate decision to that effect at its next ordinary session in 2003, Expressing its deep appreciation for the generous offer of the Government of Cuba to host the sixth ordinary session of the Conference of the Parties, to be held at Havana from 25 August to 5 September 2003, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General; 4 2. Welcomes the decision taken by the Second Assembly of the Global Environment Facility that the Facility shall be available to serve as a financial mechanism of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa, 1 pursuant to article 21 of the Convention, if the Conference of the Parties to the Convention should so decide, and in this regard notes with satisfaction that the Assembly of the Global Environment Facility has requested the Council of the Facility to consider any such decision of the Conference of the Parties with a view to making the necessary arrangements; Invites the Conference of the Parties at its sixth session, in response to 3. the call of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the decision of the Second Assembly of the Global Environment Facility, to consider making the Facility a financial mechanism of the Convention as a means of promoting the availability of financial mechanisms, pursuant to article 21 of the Convention, while recognizing the complementary roles of the Facility and the Global Mechanism in providing and mobilizing resources for the elaboration and implementation of action programmes; 4. Encourages the Conference of the Parties and the Council and Assembly of the Global Environment Facility to continue to collaborate closely and effectively to facilitate the financing of the successful implementation of the Convention by supporting financial mechanisms such as the Facility, so as to fully achieve the objectives of the Convention; 5. Invites the Council of the Global Environment Facility at its May 2003 meeting to finalize and adopt the operational programme for land degradation, particularly desertification and deforestation; 6. Emphasizes that, in the light of the ongoing assessment of the implementation of the Convention, the affected developing countries that are parties to the Convention need the full and effective support of the Global Environment Facility, within its mandate, and other partners for capacity-building and other activities which assist them in meeting their obligations under the Convention; 7. Welcomes the successful and substantial third replenishment of the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund which will provide additional resources necessary to enable the Facility to continue to be responsive to the needs and concerns of its recipient countries; 8. Calls upon all countries and other entities in a position to do so to make additional contributions to the Global Environment Facility; _______________ 4 2 A/57/177.