A/RES/54/82 Page 4 contribute to bridging the existing gap between the developing and the developed countries in the crucial field of public information and communications; 6. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on programme 23, Public information, of the proposed medium-term plan for the period 2002-20055 and, emphasizing that the implementation of the broad objectives outlined in the proposal should be in accordance with the objectives set forth in relevant General Assembly resolutions regarding questions relating to information, requests the Secretary-General to proceed with the submission of the proposal to the Committee for Programme and Coordination for consideration, in accordance with section I of General Assembly resolution 53/207 of 18 December 1998; 7. Requests the Secretary-General also to focus in particular on educational institutions as key and indispensable partners of the United Nations in its efforts fully to inform the peoples of the world of its aims and activities; 8. Takes note with appreciation of the efforts of the Secretary-General to strengthen the public information capacity of the Department of Public Information for the formation and day-to-day functioning of the information components of peacekeeping and other field operations of the United Nations, and requests the Secretariat to continue to ensure the involvement of the Department from the planning stage of such future operations through interdepartmental consultations and coordination with other substantive departments of the Secretariat; 9. Encourages the Secretary-General further to strengthen consultative arrangements between the Department of Public Information and other substantive departments of the Secretariat, in particular those dealing with development issues; 10. Recalls its resolution 53/22 of 4 November 1998 concerning the proclamation of 2001 as the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, and encourages the Secretary-General to strengthen the public information capacity of the Department of Public Information with a view to disseminating information on and drawing international attention to the dialogue among civilizations and the impact it could have on promoting mutual understanding, tolerance, peaceful coexistence and international cooperation; 11. Also recalls its resolution 53/202 of 17 December 1998 concerning the designation of the fiftyfifth session of the General Assembly as the Millennium Assembly of the United Nations and the convening, as an integral part of the Millennium Assembly, of the Millennium Summit of the United Nations, and encourages the Secretary-General to formulate and implement an effective public information strategy in this regard so as to ensure that the Summit will enjoy broad international support; 12. Emphasizes that all publications of the Department of Public Information should fulfil an identifiable need, should not duplicate other publications of the United Nations system and should be produced in a cost-effective manner; 13. Takes note with appreciation of the efforts of the Secretary-General to move the Dag Hammarskjöld Library in the direction of a virtual library, and requests him, at the same time, to enrich the stock of books and journals in the Library, including publications on peace and security and 5 A/AC.198/1999/8. /...