A/RES/61/12 projects and the Plan of Action for the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Afghanistan, and of a new plan after its expiry in 2007; 14. Invites the United Nations system, its relevant bodies and the international community to continue to provide technical assistance, as appropriate, to the States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization in developing and enhancing their early warning systems, preparedness, capacity for timely response and rehabilitation, with a view to reducing human casualties and mitigating the socio-economic impact of natural disasters and infectious diseases; 15. Takes note with appreciation of the strides made by the Economic Cooperation Organization in the sphere of external relations, and expresses its desire for the strengthening of the Organization’s relations with other international/regional organizations through the establishment of a mechanism to accord it the status of observer/dialogue partner and through the activation of contact groups in the relevant international forums; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 17. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the sub-item entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization”. 52nd plenary meeting 13 November 2006 4