A/RES/51/5
Page 2
indicating the progress made by the Organizing Commission for that Congress,
under the direction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Bearing in mind that on 7 September 1977 the Panama Canal Treaty and the
Treaty concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal,
known as the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, were signed in Washington, which
stipulate that, at noon on 31 December 1999, the Canal, including all
improvements, is to come under the control of the Republic of Panama,
Acknowledging the importance that the international community attaches
to the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the
Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco) and the positive implications that the
strengthening of the nuclear-weapon-free regime established by that Treaty has
for the permanent neutrality of the Panama Canal,
Welcoming the fact that, in anticipation of the holding of the Congress,
Panama has ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 3/
universally recognized as the framework for the adoption of national, regional
and global measures in maritime matters, in harmony with chapter 17 of
Agenda 21 4/ adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development,
Reaffirming the utility of the Panama Canal for international maritime
transport and the growth of the world economy, and the need to tackle the
problems of interoceanic communication in the twenty-first century,
Noting with appreciation the activities being undertaken in various
spheres by Governments, organizations and programmes of the United Nations
system and other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in
support of the holding of the Universal Congress,
Recognizing that the next stages of preparation and organization of the
Congress require increased efforts and the availability of greater resources,
1.
Notes with satisfaction the report of the Secretary-General on the
implementation of resolution 50/12; 1/
2.
Reiterates its firm support for the initiative of the Government
of Panama, and urges it to continue to intensify its efforts to organize the
Universal Congress on the Panama Canal at Panama City from 7 to
10 September 1997;
3/
Official Records of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law
of the Sea, vol. XVII (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.84.V.3), document
A/CONF.62/122.
4/
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
publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions Adopted by
the Conference, resolution 1, annex II.
/...