A/RES/51/195 Page 2 by seventeen years of war, and stressing the importance of a return to peace and stability for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Afghanistan, bearing in mind that the country continues to suffer from an extremely critical economic situation as a landlocked, least developed and war-stricken country, Supporting the efforts of the United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan headed by Mr. Norbert Holl to bring about the restoration of peace, normalcy and national reconciliation and the reconstruction and rehabilitation of war-stricken Afghanistan, Deeply concerned about the problem of millions of anti-personnel landmines and unexploded ordnance in Afghanistan, which continue to prevent many Afghan refugees from returning to their villages and working in their fields, and disturbed by reports of new mines being laid, Concerned for the well-being of the unarmed civilian population of Afghanistan, in particular of Kabul, who face a long winter possibly deprived of basic foods, fuel and medicine owing to a renewal of hostilities around the capital, Bearing in mind the close interrelationship between ensuring peace and normalcy in Afghanistan and the ability of the country to take effective steps towards revitalizing the economy, and stressing that a cessation of armed hostilities between the warring parties in Afghanistan and political stability are indispensable if reconstruction measures are to have a lasting effect, Affirming the urgent need to continue international action to assist Afghanistan in restoring basic services and the infrastructure of the country, and welcoming the efforts of the United Nations Development Programme and other United Nations agencies, associated bodies and other humanitarian organizations and agencies, including relevant non-governmental organizations, in this respect, Expressing its appreciation for the assistance of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in its continuing support for the repatriation of Afghan refugees from neighbouring countries, Reaffirming the principle of non-refoulement as contained in article 33 of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees,2 Expressing its gratitude to all Governments that have rendered assistance to Afghan refugees, in particular the Governments of Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran, and recognizing the need for continuing international assistance for the maintenance abroad and the voluntary repatriation and resettlement of refugees and internally displaced persons, Expressing its appreciation to the States, intergovernmental organizations and associated bodies of the United Nations, as well as to other humanitarian organizations and agencies, including relevant non-governmental organizations, that have responded positively and continue to respond to the humanitarian needs of Afghanistan, as well as to the Secretary-General for his efforts to draw the attention of the international community to the acute 2 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. /...