United Nations A/RES/56/196 General Assembly Distr.: General 7 February 2002 Fifty-sixth session Agenda item 98 (c) Resolution adopted by the General Assembly [on the report of the Second Committee (A/56/561/Add.3)] 56/196. Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/204 of 20 December 2000 and other resolutions relating to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa, 1 Expressing its deep appreciation to the Government of Germany for the generous manner in which it hosted and provided facilities for the fourth session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, Noting with satisfaction that the fifth session of the Conference of the Parties was held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 1 to 12 October 2001, Expressing its deep appreciation to the Government of Switzerland for the organization of the fifth session of the Conference of the Parties and its special events in Geneva, Welcoming the decision taken by the Council of the Global Environment Facility at its May 2001 session to pursue the designation of land degradation, primarily desertification and deforestation, as a focal area of the Facility, as a means of enhancing its support for the successful implementation of the Convention, Acknowledging that desertification and drought are problems of a global dimension in that they affect all regions of the world and that joint actions of the international community are needed to combat desertification and/or mitigate the effects of drought, including the integration of strategies for poverty eradication, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General; 2 _______________ 1 2 01 49267 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. A/56/175.