A/RES/48/80 Page 3 Convinced of the need for concerted international cooperation in order to protect and safeguard Antarctica and its dependent ecosystems from external environmental disturbances for future generations, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the report of the Seventeenth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, which took place at Venice, Italy, from 11 to 20 November 1992; 6/ 2. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the state of the environment in Antarctica, 7/ and requests the Secretary-General to explore the possibilities of publishing, as official documents of the United Nations, extracts of data received from the various organizations in the preparation of future annual reports, within existing resources; 3. Reiterates - while noting the cooperation of some United Nations specialized agencies and programmes at the Seventeenth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting - the need for the Secretary-General or his representative to be invited to the meetings of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties; 4. Encourages - while welcoming the decision of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties to provide information regarding the Seventeenth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting - the Parties to provide to the Secretary-General, on a continuing basis, more information and documents covering all aspects of Antarctica, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on his evaluations thereof to the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session; 5. Welcomes the commitment made by the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties under chapter 17 of Agenda 21, adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, 8/ as provided for in article III of the Antarctic Treaty, 9/ to continue: To ensure that data and information resulting from scientific (a) research activities conducted in Antarctica are freely available to the international community; (b) To enhance access of the international scientific community and specialized agencies of the United Nations to such data and information, including the encouragement of periodic seminars and symposia; ____________ 6/ A/48/482. 7/ A/48/449. 8/ See Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (A/CONF.151/26/Rev.1 (Vol. I and Vol. I/Corr.1, Vol. II, Vol. III and Vol. III/Corr.1)) (United Nations publications, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. 9/ United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 402, No. 5778. /...