The General Assembly,
 
      Recalling the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace,
contained in its resolution 2832 (XXVI) of 16 December 1971, and recalling
also its resolution 50/76 of 12 December 1995 and other relevant resolutions,
 
      Recalling also the report of the Meeting of the Littoral and Hinterland
States of the Indian Ocean held in July 1979,
 
      Emphasizing the need to foster consensual approaches, in particular
given the prevailing international climate, which is conducive to the pursuit
of such endeavours,
 
      Noting the initiatives taken by countries in the region to promote
cooperation, in particular economic cooperation, in the Indian Ocean area and
the possible contribution of such initiatives to overall objectives of a zone
of peace,
 
      Convinced that the participation of all the permanent members of the
Security Council and the major maritime users of the Indian Ocean in the work
of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Indian Ocean is important and would assist the
progress of mutually beneficial dialogue to develop conditions of peace,
security and stability in the Indian Ocean region,
 
      Having considered the report of the Ad Hoc Committee, including the
statement by its Chairman on 8 July 1996, as contained in paragraph 8 of the
report,
 
      1.    Takes note of the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Indian
Ocean;
 
      2.    Reiterates its conviction that the participation of all the
permanent members of the Security Council and the major maritime users of the
Indian Ocean in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee is important and would
greatly facilitate the development of a mutually beneficial dialogue to
advance peace, security and stability in the Indian Ocean region;
 
      3.    Requests the Ad Hoc Committee to examine its future work, taking
into account, inter alia, the statement made by its Chairman on 8 July 1996,
and to make recommendations for consideration by the General Assembly at its
fifty- second session;
 
      4.    Also requests the Ad Hoc Committee to hold a session during 1997,
of a duration of no more than three working days;
 
      5.    Further requests the Ad Hoc Committee to submit to the General
Assembly at its fifty-second session a report on the implementation of the
present resolution;
 
      6.    Requests the Secretary-General to continue to render all necessary
assistance to the Ad Hoc Committee, including the provision of summary
records; 
 
      7.    Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-second
session the item entitled "Implementation of the Declaration of the Indian
Ocean as a Zone of Peace".