A/RES/57/156 20. Welcomes the Vilnius Declaration on Regional Cooperation and the Consolidation of Democratic Stability in Greater Europe, adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 3 May 2002, 9 and the efforts of the Council to promote cooperation among the regional organizations, initiatives and processes in Europe and between them and the United Nations and other international organizations; 21. Commends the work of the Council of Europe in relation to the protection of national minorities, in particular the monitoring by the Committee of Ministers of the implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities; 10 22. Reiterates its appreciation for the active role of the Council of Europe in the tripartite meetings between the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Council; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to continue exploring, with the SecretaryGeneral of the Council of Europe, possibilities for further enhancement of cooperation, information exchange and coordination between the United Nations and the Council; 24. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the sub-item entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe”, and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe in implementation of the present resolution. 75th plenary meeting 16 December 2002 _______________ 9 See A/56/942, annex II. Human Rights: A Compilation of International Instruments, vol. II: Regional Instruments (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.XIV.1), sect. B, No. 34. 10 4