A/RES/55/179 welcomes the direct dialogue between the Presidents of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia, and encourages them to continue their efforts in working with the Co-Chairmen of the Minsk Group to expedite agreements that would serve as a basis for the resumption of full-scale negotiations within the Group; 17. Stresses the importance of all parties doing their utmost to ensure that the ceasefire along the line of contact is strictly observed until a comprehensive agreement resolving the conflict is signed, and commends the efforts taken by the Co-Chairmen of the Minsk Group since the Istanbul Summit to diminish tensions in the region and to prepare, in coordination with the United Nations and other international agencies, support measures that would facilitate the implementation of a political settlement; 18. Welcomes efforts undertaken in 2000 to strengthen cooperation between the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the United Nations in Georgia, and with regard to Abkhazia, Georgia, welcomes the completion of the joint assessment mission to the Gali district in November 2000 to evaluate conditions for the return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their former places of permanent residence; 19. Fully supports the efforts of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe aimed at achieving a settlement of the problems in the Transdniestrian region of the Republic of Moldova, recalls the commitment by the Russian Federation to complete the withdrawal of the Russian forces from the territory of the Republic of Moldova by the end of 2002, as agreed at the Istanbul Summit, and welcomes the willingness of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe together with the Republic of Moldova to facilitate this process, within their respective abilities, by the agreed deadline; 20. Welcomes the establishment of enhanced dialogue between the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Central Asian participating States and the readiness of that organization to contribute, inter alia, together with the United Nations, to strengthening cooperation in the region, as well as the commitment of that organization to promote democratic institutions and assist the Central Asian countries in addressing security issues, the problem of organized crime and economic and environmental concerns, and takes note in this respect of the international conference on enhancing security and stability in Central Asia, held in Tashkent on 19 and 20 October 2000, which was organized jointly by the Chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention with the assistance of the Government of Uzbekistan; 21. Also welcomes the in-depth discussions on cooperation of the United Nations, the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe with regard to interaction and complementarity of rapid response mechanisms at the meeting of the Ministerial Council held in Vienna, and requests the Secretary-General to continue exploring with the Chairman-in-Office and the Secretary-General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe possibilities for further enhancement of cooperation, information exchange and coordination between the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; 4