A/RES/53/26 Page 5 7. Emphasizes again the important role of the United Nations in the effective coordination of mineaction activities, including those by regional organizations, and welcomes in this regard the policy on mine action and effective coordination developed by the Secretary-General in annex II to his report,8 which encapsulates the key principles on which United Nations mine action is based and clarifies roles and responsibilities within the United Nations system; 8. Encourages the Secretary-General to develop further a comprehensive mine-action strategy, taking into consideration the impact of the landmine problem on rehabilitation, reconstruction and development, with a view to ensuring the effectiveness of assistance in mine action by the United Nations, and emphasizes in this respect the importance of further multisectoral assessments and surveys; 9. Welcomes the creation of the United Nations Mine Action Service within the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, its designation as the focal point for mine action within the United Nations system, and its ongoing collaboration with and coordination of all mine-related activities of United Nations agencies, funds and programmes; 10. Urges Member States, regional, governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations to continue to extend full assistance and cooperation to the Secretary-General and, in particular, to provide him with information and data as well as other appropriate resources that could be useful in strengthening the coordination role of the United Nations in mine action, particularly in mine awareness, training, surveying, mine detection and clearance, scientific research on mine-detection and mine-clearance technology, and assistance to victims, including information on and distribution of medical equipment and supplies; 11. Calls upon Member States, especially those that have the capacity to do so, to provide the necessary information and technical and material assistance, as appropriate, and to locate, remove, destroy or otherwise render ineffective minefields, mines, booby traps and other devices in accordance with international law, as soon as possible; 12. Urges Member States and regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations that have the ability to do so to provide, as appropriate, technological assistance to mineinfested countries and to promote scientific research and development on humanitarian mine-clearance techniques and technology so that mine-clearance activities may be carried out more effectively at lower cost and through safer means and to promote international collaboration in this regard; 13. Encourages Member States and regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations to continue to support ongoing activities to promote appropriate technology, as well as international operational and safety standards for humanitarian mine-clearance activities, including the early follow-up of the International Conference on Mine-Clearance Technology;9 14. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-fourth session a report on the progress achieved on all relevant issues outlined both in his previous reports to the Assembly on assistance in mine clearance and in the present resolution, and on the operation of the Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Clearance and other demining programmes; 9 See A/51/472, annex. /...