A/RES/57/157 Noting with grave concern the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic in the region and the need for increased financial resources and affordable essential drugs, Noting that the General Assembly of the Organization of American States has agreed to convene a special conference on security in Mexico City in May 2003, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of American States 1 and his continuing efforts to strengthen that cooperation; 2. Notes with satisfaction that the Organization of American States Special Mission for Strengthening Democracy in Haiti commenced operations in June 2002 and that the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala continues to collaborate with the Organization of American States on its thematic projects; 3. Recognizes the work of the Organization of American States towards the promotion and the protection of democracy in the Americas, in the field of regional cooperation and in connection with its task of coordination with the United Nations; 4. Welcomes the establishment of the Office of the Regional Adviser to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Santiago on 1 November 2001; 5. Also welcomes the efforts of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean to strengthen cooperation with inter-American institutions in various fields, including hemispheric integration, statistics, women and development; 6. Recommends that a general meeting of representatives of the United Nations system and of the Organization of American States be held in 2003 for the continued review and appraisal of cooperation programmes and of other matters to be mutually decided upon; 7. Expresses its satisfaction at the exchange with the Organization of American States of information and substantive reports, including reports on the advancement in the status of women, on matters relating to youth and on the eradication of poverty; 8. Emphasizes that the cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of American States should be undertaken in accordance with their respective mandates, scope and composition and be suited to each specific situation, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the sub-item entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of American States”. 75th plenary meeting 16 December 2002 2