A/RES/56/48 Stressing the urgent need to address the plight of refugees and internally displaced persons in Africa, and noting in this context the efforts made to implement the recommendations of the Organization of African Unity Ministerial Meeting on Refugees, Returnees and Displaced Persons in Africa, held in Khartoum on 13 and 14 December 1998, 11 as well as the endorsement by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its seventy-second session of the Comprehensive Implementation Plan, adopted at the Special Meeting of Governmental and NonGovernmental Technical Experts organized by the Organization of African Unity and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Conakry from 27 to 29 March 2000, 12 Recognizing the importance of developing and maintaining a culture of peace, tolerance and harmonious relationships based on the promotion of economic development, democratic principles, good governance, the rule of law, human rights, social justice and international cooperation, Recognizing also the need to improve coordination and harmonization among the various United Nations initiatives established to assist the development of Africa, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General; 1 2. Welcomes the cooperation existing between the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations and, in this respect, the continuing participation in and constructive contribution of the Organization of African Unity and its specialized agencies to the work of the United Nations, its organs and specialized agencies, and calls upon the two organizations to enhance the involvement of the Organization of African Unity in all United Nations activities concerning Africa; 3. Calls upon the Secretary-General closely to involve the Organization of African Unity and its specialized agencies in the implementation of the commitments contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,5 especially those that relate to meeting the special needs of Africa; 4. Requests the Secretary-General, together with the Organization of African Unity, to take the necessary measures for the speedy and effective implementation of the recommendations of the biennial meeting of the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations, held in Addis Ababa on 10 and 11 April 2000, in particular those priority areas specified in section III of the report of the Secretary-General submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session; 13 5. Stresses the need for closer cooperation and coordination between the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations in the area of peace and security, particularly with regard to conflict prevention, peacekeeping, peacemaking, post-conflict reconstruction and peace-building and support for the democratization processes and good governance; 6. Requests the United Nations to extend full cooperation and support to the Organization of African Unity in the implementation of the Solemn Declaration on the Conference on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation in Africa,4 an initiative which creates a synergy between the various activities currently _______________ 11 A/54/682, annex II. A/55/286, annex I, CM/Dec.531 (LXXII), para. 8. 13 See A/55/498. 12 3