A/RES/57/298 the administration and conduct of the election process to the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in compliance with the Dayton/Paris peace accords, 6 and for the support given to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the preparation and conduct of general elections on 5 October 2002, which were held largely in line with international standards for democratic elections, as well as for its continued substantive support to the Property Law Implementation Plan process, which is due to be completed by 2003; 19. Underlines the importance of regional cooperation as a means of fostering good-neighbourly relations, stability and economic development, welcomes the implementation of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe as an important long-term and comprehensive initiative to promote good-neighbourly relations, stability and economic development, and welcomes the commitment of participating States of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to contribute further to the goals of the Stability Pact; 20. Expresses its deep concern that in spite of the efforts undertaken by the Republic of Moldova and the mediators of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, no progress was achieved in 2002 towards negotiation of a comprehensive political settlement of the Transdniestrian problem, based on full respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova, regrets that, notwithstanding all these efforts, the Transdniestrian side continues to obstruct the negotiation process, welcomes the efforts made by the Russian Federation to fulfil its commitments undertaken at the summit of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe held in Istanbul in 1999, and also welcomes the commitment of the Russian Federation to complete the withdrawal of Russian forces as early as possible and its intention to do so by 31 December 2003, provided necessary conditions are in place; 21. Supports the efforts of the Portuguese chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Government of Belarus to find a mutually acceptable decision regarding the field presence in Belarus of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; 22. Welcomes the activities of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to promote the peace process in the Tshkhinvali region/South Ossetia, Georgia, namely the results achieved in the meeting at Castelo Branco, Portugal, and the steps to reduce the quantities of small arms and light weapons in that region, as well as the work of the Mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Georgia in facilitating a number of projects aimed at involving the local community in that process, and, in accordance with the commitments made at the Istanbul summit, supports the desire of the parties to complete negotiations regarding the duration and modalities of the functioning of the Russian military bases at Batumi and Alkhalkalaki and other Russian military facilities within the territory of Georgia, and takes note of the transparent visit of the military experts of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to the Gudauta base in Abkhazia, Georgia, which was a milestone on the way to a speedy and legal transfer of the Gudauta facilities; _______________ 6 General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the annexes thereto, initialled in Dayton, United States of America, on 21 November 1995 and signed in Paris on 14 December 1995 (A/50/790-S/1995/999). 5