The General Assembly,
 
      Recalling its resolution 48/2 of 13 October 1993, by which it granted
observer status to the Economic Cooperation Organization,
 
      Recalling also its resolution 50/1 of 12 October 1995, in which it
affirmed the need to strengthen the cooperation that already exists between
the entities of the United Nations system and the Economic Cooperation
Organization in the areas of economic and social development,
 
      Recalling further that the Charter of the United Nations provides for
the existence of regional arrangements or agencies for dealing with such
matters as maintenance of international peace and security and economic
cooperation as are appropriate for regional action, provided that their
activities are consistent with the purposes and principles of the United
Nations, 
 
      Bearing in mind that the Treaty of Izmir, signed at Izmir, Turkey, on 12
March 1977, later revised at Ashgabat on 11 May 1996 and signed at Izmir on 14
September 1996, created a permanent body for intraregional cooperation,
consultation and coordination in order to enhance economic, social and
cultural development,
 
      Taking note of the Ashgabat Declaration issued at the Fourth Summit
Meeting of the Heads of State and Government of the States members of the
Economic Cooperation Organization at Ashgabat on 14 May 1996,
 
      Taking note also of the recent measures by the Governments members of
the Economic Cooperation Organization to revitalize that organization through
the adoption of a new charter of the organization and related documents on its
reorganization and restructuring,
 
      Convinced that the maintenance and further strengthening of the
cooperation between the United Nations system and the Economic Cooperation
Organization promote the implementation of the goals and principles of the
Organization,
 
      1.    Takes note of the decision of the Heads of State and Government of
the States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization welcoming the
adoption of General Assembly resolution 50/1 on cooperation between the two
organizations and endorsing the cooperative arrangements entered into by the
Economic Cooperation Organization with various entities of the United Nations
system for joint efforts towards the implementation of the economic projects
and programmes of the Economic Cooperation Organization;
 
      2.    Notes with satisfaction the report of the Secretary-General on the
implementation of resolution 50/1, and invites the Secretary-General of the
United Nations to continue his efforts, in consultation with the
Secretary-General of the Economic Cooperation Organization, to promote and
expand cooperation and coordination between the two secretariats in order to
increase the capacity of the two organizations to attain their common
objectives;
 
      3.    Welcomes the inauguration of the Tejan-Sarakhs-Mashad railway
line, which illustrates the significance of the alternative road and railway
links which exist or are being developed in order to provide the land-locked
countries of the region of the Economic Cooperation Organization further
access to the seaport facilities of the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf, the
Gulf of Oman and the Caspian, Black, Mediterranean and Aegean Seas;
 
      4.    Urges the specialized agencies and other organizations and
programmes of the United Nations system to initiate, maintain and increase
consultation and programmes with the Economic Cooperation Organization and its
associated institutions in the attainment of their objectives;
 
      5.    Takes note of Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the
Pacific resolution 52/11 of 24 April 1996 on the strengthening of subregional
economic cooperation among the south-western countries members of the
Commission, including the countries members of the Economic Cooperation
Organization, in which the Commission is called upon to promote economic and
technical cooperation in trade, investment and transport and communications
among countries members of the Economic Cooperation Organization and the
request therein to the Executive Secretary of the Commission to report to the
Commission at its fifty-fourth session in 1998 on the progress in the
implementation of that resolution;
 
      6.    Calls upon the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the
Pacific, as the regional arm of the United Nations having all States members
of the Economic Cooperation Organization as its members, to assume a specific
role in promoting cooperation with the Economic Cooperation Organization;
 
      7.    Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly
at its fifty-second session a report on the implementation of the present
resolution;
 
      8.    Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-second
session the item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the
Economic Cooperation Organization".