A/RES/56/105 Recognizing the extreme vulnerability of the poorest sectors of the population, in particular women and children, and the inadequacy of existing local and national institutions to deal with recurrent natural disasters, Noting that the various natural phenomena which have affected the region are one of the factors that have put at risk the biodiversity of Central America, Noting also the holding of the meeting of the Regional Consultative Group for the transformation and modernization of Central America, co-hosted by the InterAmerican Development Bank and the Government of Spain, in Madrid on 8 and 9 March 2001, at which the main theme was the revision of the regional strategy for strengthening regional integration and cooperation and their contribution to poverty reduction and the acceleration of sustainable growth, Taking into account that the Governments of the region have designated the period 2000–2004 as the Quinquennium for the Reduction of Vulnerability to and the Impact of Natural Disasters in Central America and that the Presidents of the region adopted the Strategic Framework for the Reduction of Vulnerability and Disasters in Central America, on 19 October 1999, in the Declaration of Guatemala II 2 which contains guidelines for the elaboration, updating, improvement and development of regional plans for the reduction of vulnerability to and the impact of natural disasters, the integrated management and conservation of water resources and the prevention and control of forest fires, Stressing that the achievement of the national priorities in the political, economic, social, cultural, environmental, public safety and regional integration fields, which are set out in the programme of the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America, is essential for reducing the vulnerability of the region to natural disasters and for promoting sustainable development, Considering the necessity of ensuring the elimination of anti-personnel mines from Central American territory as well as the rehabilitation and reintegration of mine victims in their communities in order to restore normal conditions for the integral development of that region, Recognizing the valuable and effective contribution made by the organs, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system and by the various governmental and non-governmental mechanisms, the donor community and the Regional Consultative Group for the transformation and modernization of Central America and the importance of the political dialogue and cooperation taking place between the European Union and Central America and the joint initiative of the industrialized countries of the Group of Twenty-four and the Group of Three (Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela) in the progress made towards consolidating peace, freedom, democracy and the implementation of the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America, Reaffirming the need to continue focusing attention on the situation in Central America, with a view to overcoming the underlying causes of the armed conflicts which have impeded the development of the region and avoiding a reversal of the achievements, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General; 3 _______________ 2 3 2 See A/54/630, annex. A/56/158.