A/RES/52/201 Page 3 7. Renews its appreciation for the important work being carried out under the Convention towards enhancing cooperation with the Commission on Sustainable Development and biodiversity-related conventions; 8. Recognizes the importance of the implementation of the Convention at all levels, including through the preparation and the implementation of national strategies, plans and programmes; 9. Notes that the first national reports by States parties to the Convention, as required under article 26 of the Convention, are due to be submitted to the secretariat of the Convention no later than 1 January 19989 in accordance with the decision taken at the second meeting of the Conference of the Parties,10 calls upon Member States that are parties to the Convention to meet that requirement as soon as possible, and in that context invites the international community to assist developing countries in fulfilling that commitment; 10. Also notes the clarification of the administrative arrangements regarding the respective roles of the United Nations Environment Programme and the secretariat of the Convention in respect of personnel and financial matters, as detailed in the Administrative Arrangements between the United Nations Environment Programme and the secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity signed on 30 June 1997; 11. Calls upon States parties to the Convention to settle urgently any arrears and to pay their contributions in full and in a timely manner, in accordance with the decision of the Conference of the Parties regarding the contributions required for the Trust Fund for the Convention on Biological Diversity,11 so as to ensure continuity in the cash flow required to finance the ongoing work of the Conference of the Parties, the subsidiary bodies and the Convention secretariat; 12. Invites the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity to report to the General Assembly on the results of future meetings of the Conference of the Parties; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-third session the sub-item entitled "Convention on Biological Diversity". 77th plenary meeting 18 December 1997 9 Ibid., decision III/9. 10 See A/51/312, annex II, decision II/17. 11 See A/52/441, annex II, decision III/24.