A/RES/49/76 Page 7 Mindful of the provisions of Article 11, paragraph 1, of the Charter of the United Nations stipulating that a function of the General Assembly is to consider the general principles of cooperation in the maintenance of international peace and security, including the principles governing disarmament and arms limitation, Bearing in mind that the changed international environment has created new opportunities for the pursuit of disarmament, as well as posed new challenges, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the regional centres, 11/ Convinced that the initiatives and activities mutually agreed upon by Member States of the respective regions aimed at fostering mutual confidence and security, as well as the implementation and coordination of regional activities under the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme, would encourage and facilitate the development of effective measures of confidencebuilding, arms limitation and disarmament in these regions, Welcoming the programme of activities carried out by the regional centres, which have contributed substantially to understanding and cooperation among the States in each particular region and have thereby strengthened the role assigned to each regional centre in the areas of peace, disarmament and development, Recognizing the need to provide the regional centres with financial viability and stability so as to facilitate the effective planning and implementation of their respective programmes of activities, Expressing its gratitude to the Member States and international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations that have contributed to the trust funds of the three regional centres, 1. Commends the activities being carried out by the regional centres in identifying and broadening the understanding of pressing disarmament and security issues and exploring optimum solutions under given specific conditions prevailing in each region, in accordance with their mandates; 2. Encourages the regional centres to continue intensifying their efforts in promoting cooperation with subregional and regional organizations and among the States in their respective regions to facilitate the development of effective measures of confidence-building, arms limitation and disarmament, with a view to strengthening peace and security; 3. Also encourages further use of the potential of the regional centres to maintain the increased interest in and momentum for revitalization of the Organization to meet the challenges of a new phase of international relations in order to fulfil the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations related to peace, disarmament and development, taking into account the guidelines and recommendations for regional approaches to __________ 11/ A/49/389. /...