A/RES/56/216 16. 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 also 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; 17. Notes the efforts undertaken in 2001 by the Republic of Moldova and the mediators of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Russian Federation and Ukraine towards negotiation for a comprehensive political settlement of the Transdniestrian issue, based on full respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova, welcomes the fulfilment by the Russian Federation, ahead of the agreed time, of the commitments undertaken at the summit of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe held in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1999 on the withdrawal and disposal of the equipment limited by the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe 5 located in the Transdniestrian region of the Republic of Moldova by the end of 2001, and encourages the timely fulfilment of other commitments concerning the Republic of Moldova undertaken by the participating States of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Istanbul in 1999; 18. Welcomes the developments in the peace process in the Tshkhinvali region/South Ossetia, Georgia, and the steps to reduce the quantities of small arms and light weapons in that region, as well as the progress made in 2001 towards meeting the commitments made in Istanbul on the future of Russian forces in Georgia, including the closure of the Russian base at Vaziani and the withdrawal of the equipment from the Russian base at Gudauta, encourages the implementation of the other Istanbul commitments, and with regard to Abkhazia, Georgia, calls for the resumption of a constructive dialogue aimed at achieving a comprehensive settlement, including a definition of the political status of Abkhazia as a sovereign entity within the State of Georgia; 19. Acknowledges the significant contribution to stability and confidence in the region made by the border monitoring operation of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe along the border between Georgia and the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation; 20. Notes with satisfaction the engagement of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe towards cooperation with the five participating States of Central Asia, which has continued to grow in all dimensions, thus contributing to stability and prosperity in the region, as well as the commitment of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to assist in addressing specific threats to stability and security for the Central Asian participating States, and appreciates the valuable contribution of the Bishkek International Conference on enhancing security and stability in Central Asia, held on 13 and 14 December 2001, to addressing those problems, which are shared concerns among the participating States of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; 21. Fully supports the activities of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to achieve a peaceful solution to the conflict in and around _______________ 5 4 CD/1064.