A/RES/58/149 international support for the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development 8 is essential, notably as it relates to refugees, returnees and displaced persons, Reaffirming that the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, 9 together with the 1967 Protocol thereto, 10 as complemented by the Organization of African Unity Convention of 1969, remains the foundation of the international refugee protection regime in Africa, Recognizing that the fundamental principles and rights embodied in those conventions have provided a resilient protection regime within which millions of refugees have been able to find safety from armed conflicts and persecution, Welcoming in that regard the Declaration adopted at the Ministerial Meeting of States Parties to the 1951 Convention and/or its 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees, held at Geneva on 12 and 13 December 2001, 11 as an expression of their collective commitment to full and effective implementation of the Convention and the Protocol, Recalling the Comprehensive Implementation Plan adopted by the Special Meeting of Governmental and Non-Governmental Technical Experts convened by the Organization of African Unity and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at Conakry from 27 to 29 March 2000 on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Organization of African Unity Convention governing the specific aspects of refugee problems in Africa of 1969, and noting its endorsement by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its seventy-second ordinary session, held at Lomé from 6 to 8 July 2000, 12 Commending the convening of the first African Union Ministerial Conference on Human Rights in Africa at Kigali on 8 May 2003, and recalling the attention paid to issues relevant to refugees and displaced persons in the Kigali Declaration 13 adopted by the Conference, Recognizing the contributions made by African States to the development of regional standards for the protection of refugees and returnees, and noting with appreciation that countries of asylum are hosting refugees in a humanitarian spirit and in a spirit of African solidarity and brotherhood, Recognizing also the need for States to address resolutely the root causes of forced displacement and to create conditions that facilitate durable solutions for refugees and displaced persons, and stressing in that regard the need for States to foster peace, stability and prosperity throughout the African continent to forestall large refugee flows, Convinced of the need to strengthen the capacity of States to provide assistance to and protection for refugees, returnees and displaced persons and of the need for the international community, within the context of burden-sharing, to _______________ 8 A/57/304, annex. United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. 10 Ibid., vol. 606, No. 8791. 11 HCR/MMSP/2001/10, annex I. 12 See A/55/286, annex I, decision CM/Dec.531 (LXXII), para. 8. 13 See MIN/CONF/HRA/Decl.1 (I). 9 2