A/RES/57/44 Expressing concern about the very difficult humanitarian situation in countries of the region, Noting with grave concern that adverse weather conditions have contributed to the drought currently affecting the region, in particular in rural areas, Recognizing the valuable and effective economic and financial contribution the United Nations system and the international community have continued to make towards complementing national and subregional efforts to advance the process of democratization, rehabilitation, reconciliation and development in the region, Welcoming the establishment of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa of the Security Council and of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on African Countries Emerging from Conflict within the framework of the Economic and Social Council, Welcoming also the fact that the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement in Angola on 4 April 2002, resulted in the cessation of all hostilities and created unprecedented conditions for the resolution of all pending questions of the Lusaka Protocol 4 and its full completion, Expressing its grave concern at the dire humanitarian situation in Angola, which is hampering national efforts towards economic rehabilitation and reconstruction as well as regional development projects, and bearing in mind that the main responsibility for improving the humanitarian situation and creating conditions for long-term development and poverty reduction in Angola lies with the Government of Angola with, where appropriate, the participation of the international community, Expressing satisfaction over the initiatives to bring peace to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, launched by the Community in collaboration with the African Union, the United Nations and other entities, and recognizing that the InterCongolese Dialogue is an essential element of the peace process for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Noting with satisfaction the efforts by the facilitator of the Inter-Congolese Dialogue, Sir Ketumile Masire, the former president of the Republic of Botswana, aimed at ensuring a peaceful settlement of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Welcoming with satisfaction the signing on 30 July 2002 of the Pretoria Agreement between the Governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda, 5 under the auspices of President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, in his capacity as chairman of the African Union, and the Secretary-General, and the signing on 6 September 2002 of the Luanda Agreement between the Governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Uganda under the mediation of President José Eduardo dos Santos of Angola, as steps towards a durable peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Noting with concern the high prevalence in the region of the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and other communicable diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis, which have farreaching social and economic consequences, _______________ 4 5 2 S/1994/1441, annex. S/2002/914, annex.