A/RES/52/185 Page 2 Noting the improvement in the debt situation of a number of developing countries since the second half of the 1980s and the contribution that the evolving debt strategy has made to this improvement, noting with appreciation the debt-relief measures taken by creditor countries both within the framework of the Paris Club and through their cancellation and equivalent relief of bilateral official debt, and welcoming the even more favourable debt-relief measures taken by the Paris Club on the basis of the Naples terms of December 1994, Welcoming the admission of the Russian Federation to the Paris Club, Stressing the need for a full, swift implementation of those initiatives, which will further assist developing countries, in particular the poorest and heavily indebted countries, especially in Africa, in their efforts to improve their debt situation in view of their continued very high level of total debt stock and servicing burdens, Noting with concern the continuing debt and debt-servicing problems of indebted developing countries as constituting an element adversely affecting their development efforts and economic growth, and stressing the importance of alleviating the onerous debt and debt-service burdens connected with the various types of debt of many developing countries, on the basis of an effective, equitable, development-oriented and durable approach and, where appropriate, addressing the full stock of debt of the poorest and most indebted developing countries as a matter of priority, Noting that the developing countries that have continued, at great cost to themselves, to meet their international debt and debt-service obligations in a timely fashion have done so despite serious external and domestic financial constraints, Expressing concern that despite the debt-relief measures taken so far, those measures have not yet fully provided effective, equitable, development-oriented and durable solutions to the outstanding debt and debtservicing problems of a large number of developing countries, in particular the poorest and heavily indebted countries, which continue to face serious debt problems, Noting the situation in some creditor countries with economies in transition in addressing the external debt and debt-servicing problems of developing countries, Stressing the need for continuing global economic growth and the necessity for a continuing supportive international economic environment with regard to, inter alia, terms of trade, commodity prices, improved market access, trade practices, access to technology, exchange rates and international interest rates, and noting the continued need for resources for the sustained economic growth and sustainable development of the developing countries, in accordance with the relevant General Assembly resolutions and recent United Nations conferences, Stressing also the importance of finding durable solutions to the non-Paris Club bilateral debt, which has become a serious challenge to many developing countries, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the debt situation of the developing countries as at mid-1997;3 2. Recognizes that effective, equitable, development-oriented and durable solutions to the external debt and debt-servicing problems of developing countries can contribute substantially to the strengthening of the global economy and to the efforts of developing countries to achieve sustained economic growth and sustainable development, in accordance with the relevant General Assembly resolutions and recent United Nations conferences; 3 A/52/290. /...