A/RES/52/18 Page 3 Noting that a considerable number of societies have recently undertaken significant efforts to achieve their social, political and economic goals through democratization and the reform of their economies, pursuits that are deserving of the support and recognition of the international community, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General9 and its special focus on policies and principles and on the recent events shaping the emerging framework for intergovernmental action in the field of democratization, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;9 2. Expresses its appreciation for the observations and recommendations contained in the report with respect to electoral assistance, strengthening civil society, coordinating United Nations activities in democratization and governance and promoting democracy for the twenty-first century; 3. Takes note of the proposal of the Secretary-General that future conferences on democracy be open to all States Members of the United Nations that wish to participate; 4. Welcomes the decision of the Third International Conference of New or Restored Democracies to hold the next conference in an African country; 5. Also welcomes the offer of the Government of Benin to host at Cotonou the Fourth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies; 6. Commends the Secretary-General, and through him the United Nations system, for the activities undertaken at the request of Governments to support the efforts to consolidate democracy; 7. Recognizes that the Organization has an important role to play in providing timely, appropriate and coherent support to the efforts of Governments to achieve democratization within the context of their development efforts; 8. Stresses that activities undertaken by the Organization must be in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations; 9. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to improve the capacity of the Organization to respond effectively to the requests of Member States through coherent, adequate support of their efforts to achieve the goals of good governance and democratization; 10. Encourages Member States to promote democratization and to make additional efforts to identify possible steps to support the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies; 11. Invites the Secretary-General, Member States, the relevant specialized agencies and bodies of the United Nations system, as well as other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to contribute actively to the follow-up process of the Third International Conference of New or Restored Democracies on Democracy and Development; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution, including innovative ways and means to enable the 9 A/52/513. /...