United Nations A/RES/60/33 General Assembly Distr.: General 17 March 2006 Sixtieth session Agenda item 41 Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 30 November 2005 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/60/L.21)] 60/33. Deferral of the smooth transition period for the graduation of Maldives from the list of least developed countries The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 59/209 and 59/210 of 20 December 2004, Reaffirming its commitment to the process for graduation from the list of least developed countries and to the smooth transition strategy for countries graduating from that list, Giving due consideration to the unique destruction and damage caused by the Indian Ocean tsunami of 26 December 2004 to the social and economic infrastructure of Maldives, the homes of thousands of individuals and their livelihoods, the setback to the economy of the country and the disruption of its development plans, Inviting the international community to provide comprehensive support for the rehabilitation, reconstruction and risk reduction efforts being undertaken by the Government of Maldives, Expresses its deep concern at the consequences of the Indian Ocean 1. tsunami on Maldives; 2. Decides to defer, in the case of Maldives, for a period of three years until 1 January 2008, the commencement of the three-year smooth transition period for graduation from the list of least developed countries; Underlines the unique nature of this decision, taken in the context of the 3. unprecedented natural disaster caused by the tsunami of 26 December 2004. 58th plenary meeting 30 November 2005 05-48952