A/RES/61/53 on the European Union Stabilization and Association Process, confirming that the future of the Western Balkans lies in the European Union, Noting the progress made by the countries of the region, including those of the Stabilization and Association Process, in fulfilling the criteria for membership in the European Union and, in this context, the start of the accession negotiations of Croatia and Turkey, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia becoming a candidate country for membership in the European Union, the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement with Albania and the opening of the negotiations for a stabilization and association agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, as well as resuming stabilization and association agreement negotiations with Serbia, pending full cooperation with the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, Stressing the role and responsibility of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, supported by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the European Union, and of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and its Kosovo Force for further promotion of stability in the region, and noting the Council of the European Union’s joint action establishing a European Union planning team, Reaffirming the validity of the Agreement for the delineation of the borderline between the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro, signed in Skopje on 23 February 2001, 3 and encouraging the parties to the Agreement and inviting all the parties involved in the process of settlement of the future status of Kosovo to respect the Agreement, to cooperate fully and to prepare for its timely implementation, Emphasizing the crucial importance of strengthening regional efforts in SouthEastern Europe on arms control, demining, disarmament and confidence-building measures and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and noting that, in spite of ongoing efforts, the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects persists in some parts of the region, Reaffirming its support for all regional initiatives on combating the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons, including the activities undertaken at the national level for their collection and destruction, Mindful of the importance of national, regional and international activities aimed at the creation of peace, security, stability, democracy, cooperation and economic development and the observance of human rights and goodneighbourliness in South-Eastern Europe, Reaffirming its determination that all nations should live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, 1. Nations; Reaffirms the need for full observance of the Charter of the United 2. Calls upon all States, the relevant international organizations and the appropriate organs of the United Nations to respect and support all the principles of the Charter and the commitments of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and through further development of regional arrangements, as appropriate, to eliminate threats to international peace and security and to help to _______________ 3 2 A/56/60-S/2001/234, annex.