A/RES/51/149 Page 3 Bearing in mind the serious threat that mines and other unexploded devices pose to the safety, health and lives of personnel participating in humanitarian, peacekeeping and rehabilitation programmes and operations, Aware that the rate of mine clearance needs to accelerate substantially if the global landmine problem is to be tackled effectively, Concerned about the limited availability of safe and cost-effective mine-detection and mine-clearance equipment as well as the lack of global coordination in research and development to improve the relevant technology, and conscious of the need to promote progress in this field and to foster international technical cooperation to this end, Encouraged by the initiative taken by the Government of Denmark in hosting and organizing the International Conference on Mine Clearance Technology at Elsinore from 2 to 4 July 19967 with the support and cooperation of the Department of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat and by the work of the Conference, notably in relation to international standards and procedures for humanitarian mine-clearance operations, which can serve as a basis on which to advance the safety, effectiveness and professionalism of these operations throughout the world, Recognizing that, in addition to the primary role of States, the United Nations has an important role in the field of assistance in mine clearance, Noting with satisfaction the inclusion in the mandates of several peacekeeping operations of provisions relating to mine-clearance work carried out under the direction of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the Secretariat, in the context of such operations, Commending the activities already undertaken by the United Nations system, donor and recipient Governments, the International Committee of the Red Cross and non-governmental organizations to coordinate their efforts and seek solutions to the problems related to the presence of mines and other unexploded devices, Also commending the role of the Secretary-General, through the work of the Department of Humanitarian Affairs, in increasing public awareness of the problem of landmines, and in the establishment of the central landmine database and inventories of mine-awareness materials and mine-clearance techniques, Welcoming the statement by the President of the Security Council at the 3693rd meeting of the Council, on 30 August 1996, on demining in the context of United Nations peacekeeping,8 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his comprehensive report on the activities of the United Nations on assistance in mine clearance and the operation of the Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in 7 See A/51/472, annex. 8 Official Records of the Security Council, Fifty-first Year, Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1996, document S/PRST/1996/37. /...