A/RES/52/198 Page 2 Recognizing also the support provided during the interim phase of the Convention to the launching of national, subregional and regional action programme processes in response to the resolution on urgent action for Africa,2 and the support provided to the interim activities in other regions carried out by Governments, regional economic integration organizations, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations, as well as by specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system, Noting the offer made by the Secretary-General to provide administrative and support arrangements in the framework of an institutional linkage of the Convention secretariat to the United Nations, Taking note of the decision of the Conference of the Parties,3 on the basis of the offer made by the Secretary-General, that the Convention secretariat should be institutionally linked to the United Nations, while not being fully integrated into the work programme and management structure of any particular department or programme, Taking note also of the financial rules of the Conference of the Parties, its subsidiary bodies and the secretariat of the Convention,4 adopted by the Conference at its first session, whereby, inter alia, the Secretary-General, at 1 January 1999, is requested to establish trust funds (general, supplementary and special funds) for the purposes of the Convention, to be managed by the head of the Convention secretariat in accordance with the relevant financial rules and within the duly delegated authority, Taking note further of the decision of the Conference of the Parties at its first session5 that the General Assembly be requested to decide, bearing in mind the institutional linkage of the Convention secretariat to the United Nations and the large number of States that are parties to the Convention, to finance from the regular programme budget of the United Nations the conference-servicing costs arising from sessions of the Conference of the Parties and its subsidiary bodies for the duration of the institutional linkage, Taking note of the reports of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for the Elaboration of an International Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa on its tenth session, held in New York from 6 to 17 January 1997,6 and its resumed tenth session, held at Geneva from 18 to 22 August 1997,7 and the report of the Conference of the Parties on its first session,8 Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of General Assembly resolution 51/180,9 in particular paragraph 15, 1. Approves the institutional linkage between the secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly 2 Ibid., appendix III, resolution 5/1. 3 ICCD/COP(1)/11/Add.1, decision 3/COP.1. 4 Ibid., decision 2/COP.1. 5 Ibid., decision 4/COP.1. 6 A/52/82, annex. 7 A/52/82/Add.1, annex. 8 ICCD/COP(1)/11 and Add.1. 9 A/52/549. /...