United Nations A/RES/56/194 General Assembly Distr.: General 21 January 2002 Fifty-sixth session Agenda item 98 (b) Resolution adopted by the General Assembly [on the report of the Second Committee (A/56/561/Add.2)] 56/194. International cooperation to reduce the impact of the El Niño phenomenon The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/200 of 18 December 1997, 53/185 of 15 December 1998, 54/220 of 22 December 1999 and 55/197 of 20 December 2000 and Economic and Social Council resolutions 1999/46 of 28 July 1999 and 1999/63 of 30 July 1999, and taking note of Council resolution 2000/33 of 28 July 2000, Noting that the signing of the memorandum of cooperation between Ecuador and the World Meteorological Organization 1 constitutes a major step in the process for the establishment of an international centre for the study of the El Niño phenomenon, Noting also the contributions made by regional and global climate-study organizations and specialized Internet information services, which have led to improved scientific understanding and prediction capabilities in the area of climate variability, Reaffirming the importance of developing strategies at the national, subregional, regional and international levels that aim to prevent, mitigate and repair the damage caused by natural disasters that result from the El Niño phenomenon, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General; 2 2. Commends the measures adopted by the host country for the establishment of an international centre for the study of the El Niño phenomenon, and encourages the Government of Ecuador to continue its efforts aimed at the completion of that process; 3. Encourages the centre, once established, to strengthen its links with other relevant regional and global climate-study organizations, as well as with Internet _______________ 1 2 01 49255 A/C.2/56/2, appendix. A/56/76-E/2001/54.