A/RES/51/71 Page 3 as addressing the root causes of the refugee problem and working out modalities for a lasting solution; 9. Reiterates that the Plan of Action adopted by the Regional Conference on Assistance to Refugees, Returnees and Displaced Persons in the Great Lakes Region, held at Bujumbura from 15 to 17 February 1995, as endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 50/149, continues to be a viable framework for the resolution of the refugee and humanitarian problems in that region; 10. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner and other concerned entities to intensify protection activities by, inter alia, supporting the efforts of African Governments through appropriate capacity-building activities, including training of relevant officers, disseminating information about refugee instruments and principles and providing financial, technical and advisory services to accelerate the enactment or amendment and implementation of legislation relating to refugees; 11. Appeals to Governments, United Nations, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the international community to create conditions that can facilitate the voluntary return and the early rehabilitation and reintegration of refugees; 12. Appeals to the international community to respond positively to the third-country resettlement requests of African refugees in the spirit of solidarity and burden-sharing; 13. Commends the Governments of the Great Lakes and West African regions and the Office of the High Commissioner for their initiatives to promote repatriation within the framework of tripartite agreements on voluntary repatriation of refugees in the region; 14. Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to cooperate with the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in emergency humanitarian situations in Africa; 15. Welcomes the ongoing efforts undertaken by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, with host Governments, United Nations and non-governmental organizations and the international community, in addressing the negative impact of large-scale refugee influxes and concentrations on the environment and ecosystems of countries of asylum; 16. Notes with satisfaction the voluntary return of millions of refugees to their homelands following the successful repatriation and reintegration operations carried out by the Office of the High Commissioner, with the cooperation and collaboration of many countries hosting refugees, and looks forward to other programmes to assist the voluntary repatriation of all refugees in Africa; 17. Expresses its concern about the long stay of refugees in certain African countries, and calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner to keep its programmes under review in conformity with its mandate in the host countries, taking into account the increasing requirements there; /...