A/RES/52/171 Page 2 Supporting the current efforts being undertaken by the newly independent and developing landlocked States in Central Asia and their transit developing neighbours, through relevant multilateral, bilateral and regional arrangements, to address issues regarding the development of a viable transit infrastructure in the region, Taking note of the report prepared by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on the transit environment in the landlocked States in Central Asia and their transit neighbours,2 and considering that the problems of transit transport facing the Central Asian region need to be seen against the backdrop of economic changes and accompanying challenges, including especially the impact of those changes on the international and intraregional trade of the countries concerned, Recognizing that, to be effective, a transit transport strategy for the newly independent and developing landlocked States in Central Asia and their transit developing neighbours should incorporate actions that address both the problems inherent in the use of existing transit routes and those associated with the early development and smooth functioning of new alternative routes, and welcoming, in this context, further cooperation of landlocked States with all interested countries, Noting that there have been a number of important developments at the subregional and regional levels, including the signing of a transit transport framework agreement among States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization at Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 9 May 1998, the signing on 26 March 1998 by the heads of State of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the Economic Commission for Europe and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific of the Tashkent Declaration on the United Nations special programme for the economies of Central Asia,3 the implementation of the expanded Transport Corridor-Europe-Caucasus-Asia programme and the signing of the Baku Declaration4 on 8 September 1998, Emphasizing once again the importance of strengthening international support measures to address further the problems of the newly independent and developing landlocked States in Central Asia and their transit developing neighbours, 1. Notes with appreciation the contribution of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to improving the efficiency of the transit transport system in the landlocked States in Central Asia and their transit developing neighbours; 2. Invites the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the Governments concerned, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the Economic Commission for Europe and relevant regional and international organizations and in accordance with approved programme priorities and within existing financial resources, to continue elaborating a programme for improving the efficiency of the current transit environment in the newly independent and developing landlocked States in Central Asia and their transit developing neighbours; 2 A/53/331, annex. 3 A/53/96, annex II. 4 A/C.2/53/4, annex. /...