The General Assembly,
 
      Recalling its resolution 49/5 of 21 October 1994 relating to the
promotion of cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of
American States,
 
      Having examined the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation
between the United Nations and the Organization of American States,
 
      Recalling that the purposes of the United Nations are, inter alia, to
achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an
economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character and in promoting and
encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and to be a
centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these
common ends,
 
      Bearing in mind that the Charter of the United Nations provides for the
existence of regional arrangements and agencies for dealing with such matters
relating to the maintenance of international peace and security as are
appropriate for regional action and whose activities are consistent with the
purposes and principles of the United Nations,
 
      Recalling that the Charter of the Organization of American States
reaffirms these purposes and principles and provides that that organization is
a regional agency under the terms of the Charter of the United Nations,
 
      Noting with satisfaction that the third general meeting between
representatives of the United Nations system and of the Organization of
American States was held at United Nations Headquarters on 17 and 18 April
1995,
 
      Welcoming the fact that the Secretary-General of the Organization of
American States attended the special commemorative meeting of the United
Nations on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary,
 
      Expressing its satisfaction at the way in which the United Nations
Under- Secretary-General for Political Affairs and the Assistant
Secretary-General of the Organization of American States have been performing
their work of coordination between the two bodies,
 
      Recalling its resolutions 47/20 A, 47/20 B, 48/27 B, 49/27 B, 49/5 and
50/86 B of 24 November 1992, 20 April 1993, 8 July 1994, 12 July 1995, 21
October 1994 and 3 April 1996, respectively,
 
      Aware that the effective consolidation of a new international order
requires regional action in harmony with that of the United Nations,
 
      1.    Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his
initiative in convening a meeting between the United Nations and the heads of
regional organizations on 15 and 16 February 1996, welcomes the participation
of the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States in that
meeting, and recommends that similar meetings be held more frequently;
 
      2.    Expresses its satisfaction at the close cooperation between the
two organizations and, in particular, the support which they both gave to the
conduct of the parliamentary municipal and presidential elections in Haiti
from June to December 1995, and at the joint operations of the International
Civilian Mission to Haiti;
 
      3.    Also expresses its satisfaction at the support given by the
Electoral Observer Mission in the general elections in Nicaragua held on 20
October 1996, when the United Nations system also provided technical
assistance;
 
      4.    Further expresses its satisfaction at the close cooperation
between the two organizations in the observation and verification of the
electoral process, and recognizes the effectiveness of that cooperation when
it is requested by national authorities;
 
      5.    Welcomes the meetings between the Secretary-General of the United
Nations and the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States, as
well as the regular meetings between their representatives throughout the
period under review;
 
      6.    Also welcomes the signature on 17 April 1995 of the Collaboration
Agreement between the United Nations and the Organization of American States;
 
      7.    Emphasizes that the cooperation between the United Nations and the
Organization of American States should be in accordance with their respective
mandates, scope and composition and should take place in forms that are suited
to each specific situation, in accordance with the Charter of the United
Nations; 
 
      8.    Recommends that general meetings between representatives of the
United Nations system and the Organization of American States be held when
deemed necessary to continue to review and appraise progress, and that
sectoral and focal point meetings be held on areas of priority or mutually
agreed issues, continuing with the modality of operating through the focal
points already established;
 
      9.    Expresses its appreciation for the efforts of the
Secretary-General in the promotion of cooperation between the United Nations
and the Organization of American States, and expresses the hope that he will
continue to strengthen the mechanism for cooperation between the two
organizations;
 
      10.   Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly
at its fifty-third session a report on the implementation of the present
resolution;
 
      11.   Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-third
session the item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the
Organization of American States".