A/RES/54/31 Page 5 15. Welcomes the decision of the Commission to convene an open meeting during its seventh session, aimed at familiarizing States with the necessity to implement the provisions of article 76 and annex II to the Convention relating to the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, and encourages States to attend the meeting; 16. Approves the convening by the Secretary-General of the seventh session of the Commission in New York from 1 to 5 May 2000 and, if necessary, an eighth session from 28 August to 1 September 2000; 17. Urges States to take all practicable steps to prevent the pollution of the sea by dumping of radioactive materials and industrial wastes, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter 12 and its amendments; 18. Calls upon States to become parties to and to implement the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter;13 19. Encourages States to continue to support the regional seas programme, which has achieved success in a number of geographic areas, and to work within the United Nations Environment Programme to enhance cooperation in the protection of the marine environment; 20. Calls upon States to cooperate fully with the International Maritime Organization to combat piracy and armed robbery against ships, including by submitting reports on incidents to that organization; 21. Also calls upon States to implement the International Maritime Organization guidelines on preventing attacks of piracy and armed robbery and to cooperate with the International Maritime Organization Correspondence Group, established to draw up standard guidelines for Governments in investigating attacks against ships and prosecuting offenders, and with other initiatives of the organization in this area; 22. Urges all States, in particular coastal States in affected regions, to take all necessary and appropriate measures to prevent and combat incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea, including through regional cooperation, and to investigate or cooperate in the investigation of such incidents wherever they occur and bring the alleged perpetrators to justice, in accordance with international law; 23. Urges States to become parties to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation and its Protocol, 14 and to ensure its effective implementation; 24. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the annual comprehensive report on oceans and the law of the sea6 prepared by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Offic e of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat, as well as for the other activities of the Division, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention and the mandate set forth in resolutions 49/28 and 52/26; 12 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1046, No. 15749. 13 IMO/LC.2/Circ.380. 14 International Maritime Organization publication, Sales No. 462.88.12E. /...