Strengthening the United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme, in particular its technical cooperation capacity A/RES/69/197 Concerned about the growing degree of penetration of criminal organizations and their financial and economic resources into the economy, Expressing concern at the involvement of organized criminal groups, as well as the substantial increase in the volume, rate of transnational occurrence and range of criminal offences related to trafficking in precious metals and stones in some parts of the world and the potential use of trafficking in precious metals and stones as a source of funding for organized crime, other relevant criminal activities and terrorism, Deeply concerned about the connections, in some cases, between some forms of transnational organized crime and terrorism, and emphasizing the need to enhance cooperation at the national, subregional, regional and international levels in order to strengthen responses to this evolving challenge, Recognizing that countering transnational organized crime and terrorism is a common and shared responsibility, and stressing the need to work collectively to prevent and combat transnational organized crime, corruption and terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Emphasizing that transnational organized crime must be addressed with full respect for the principle of the sovereignty of States and in accordance with the rule of law as part of a comprehensive response to promote durable solutions through the promotion of human rights and more equitable socioeconomic conditions, Expressing deep concern about environmental crimes, including trafficking in endangered and, where applicable, protected species of wild fauna and flora, 19 and emphasizing the need to combat such crimes by strengthening international cooperation, capacity-building, criminal justice responses and law enforcement efforts, Emphasizing that coordinated action is critical to eliminate, prevent and combat corruption and disrupt the illicit networks that drive and enable trafficking in wildlife and forest products, including timber and timber products, Encouraging Member States to develop and implement, as appropriate, comprehensive crime prevention policies, national and local strategies and action plans based on an understanding of the multiple factors that contribute to crime and to address such factors in a holistic manner, in close cooperation with all stakeholders, including civil society, Stressing that social development should be an integral element of strategies to foster crime prevention and economic development in all States, Recognizing the need to maintain a balance in the technical cooperation capacity of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime between all relevant priorities identified by the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council and their subsidiary bodies, Recognizing also that, thanks to their broad membership and wide scope of application, the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the United Nations Convention against Corruption offer an important basis for international cooperation, inter alia, for extradition, mutual legal assistance and confiscation and asset recovery, and provide an effective mechanism that should be further utilized and implemented, _______________ 19 See Economic and Social Council resolution 2013/40 on crime prevention and criminal justice responses to illicit trafficking in protected species of wild fauna and flora. 6/14