60/285. The situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan

 The General Assembly,

 Seriously concerned by the fires in the affected territories, which have  inflicted widespread environmental damage,

1. Stresses the necessity to urgently conduct an environmental operation to  suppress the fires in the affected territories and to overcome their detrimental  consequences;

2. Welcomes the readiness of the parties to cooperate to that end, and  considers such an operation to be an important confidence-building measure;

3. Takes note of the intention of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to organize a mission to the region to assess the short- and long-term impact of the fires on the environment as a step in preparation for the environmental operation;

4. Calls upon, in this regard, the organizations and programmes of the  United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Environment Programme, in  cooperation with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, to  provide all necessary assistance and expertise, including, inter alia, the assessment  of and counteraction to the short- and long-term impact of the environmental degradation of the region, as well as in its rehabilitation;

5. Requests the Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and  Cooperation in Europe to provide a report on this matter to States members of the  General Assembly by 30 April 2007.

 98th plenary meeting

7 September 2006