A/RES/55/34 security through the organization of regional meetings, which has come to be widely known within the Asia-Pacific region as the “Kathmandu process”, Expressing its appreciation to the Regional Centre for its organization of the twelfth regional disarmament meeting in Asia and the Pacific, held at Kathmandu from 15 to 17 February 2000, the United Nations Conference on Disarmament Issues, held at Akita, Japan, from 22 to 25 August 2000, and the regional seminar on illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons, held at Jakarta on 3 and 4 May 2000, Welcoming the idea of the possible creation of an educational and training programme for peace and disarmament in Asia and the Pacific for young people with different backgrounds, to be financed from voluntary contributions, Noting the important role of the Regional Centre in assisting region-specific initiatives of Member States, including its assistance in the work related to the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia, Appreciating highly the important role that Nepal has played as the host nation of the headquarters of the Regional Centre, 1. Reaffirms its strong support for the forthcoming operation and further strengthening of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific; 2. Underlines the importance of the Kathmandu process as a powerful vehicle for the development of the practice of region-wide security and disarmament dialogue; 3. Expresses its appreciation for the continuing political support and financial contributions to the Regional Centre, which are essential for its continued operation; 4. Appeals to Member States, in particular those within the Asia-Pacific region, as well as to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make voluntary contributions, the only resources of the Regional Centre, to strengthen the programme of activities of the Centre and the implementation thereof; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, taking note of paragraph 6 of General Assembly resolution 49/76 D of 15 December 1994, to provide the Regional Centre with the necessary support, within existing resources, in carrying out its programme of activities; 6. Expresses its appreciation for the generous offer of His Majesty’s Government of Nepal to bear the operational cost of the Centre for it to function from Kathmandu; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to expedite his ongoing consultations with other concerned Member States and interested organizations, and urges him to conclude them by 31 July 2001 to assess the possibility of enabling the Centre to operate effectively from Kathmandu as soon as possible; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 13