L 314/40 Official Journal of the European Union 14.11.2012 COUNCIL DECISION 2012/700/CFSP of 13 November 2012 in the framework of the European Security Strategy in support of the implementation of the Cartagena Action Plan 2010-2014, adopted by the States Parties to the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles 26(2) and 31(1) thereof, Whereas: (1) The Union should aim for a high degree of cooperation in all fields of international relations, in order, inter alia, to preserve peace, prevent conflicts and strengthen inter- national security, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. On 12 December 2003, the European Council adopted the European Security Strategy identifying global chal- lenges and threats, and calling for a rule-based inter- national order based on effective multilateralism and well-functioning international institutions. The European Security Strategy acknowledges the United Nations Charter as the fundamental framework for inter- national relations and advocates strengthening the United Nations (the UN’) and equipping it to fulfil its responsi- bilities and to act effectively. United Nations General Assembly Resolution 51/45 of 10 December 1996 urged all States to pursue vigorously an effective, legally-binding international agreement to ban the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines. The Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stock- piling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (the Convention’) was opened for signature on 3 December 1997 and entered into force on 1 March 1999. It constitutes the only compre- hensive international instrument dealing with all aspects of anti-personnel mines, including their use, stockpiling, production, trade, clearance and victim assistance. On 23 June 2008 the Council adopted Joint Action 2008/487|CESP (') in support of the universalisation and implementation of the Convention. As of 1 October 2012, 160 States have expressed their consent to be bound by the Convention. () O] L 165, 26.6.2008, p. 41. ) On 3 December 2009, the States Parties to the Convention adopted the Cartagena Action Plan 2010- 2014 (the Cartagena Action Plan’) on the universali- sation and implementation of all aspects of the Convention. They thereby recognised and further encouraged the full participation in and contribution to the implementation of the Convention by the Inter- national Campaign to Ban Landmines (the ICBL), the International Committee of the Red Cross (‘the ICRC), national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, Inter- national Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (‘the IFRC’), the UN, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (the GICHD’), inter- national and regional organisations, mine survivors and their organisations, and other civil society organisations, as provided for in action No 62 of the Cartagena Action Plan. On 3 December 2010, the States Parties to the Convention adopted the Directive of the States Parties to the Implementation Support Unit’ (the ISU’) in which the States Parties agreed that the ISU should provide advice and technical support to States Parties on the implementation and universalisation of the Convention, facilitate communication among the States Parties, and promote communication and information regarding the Convention both towards States not parties to the Convention and to the public. The ISU was mandated to liaise and coordinate as appropriate with relevant international organisations participating in the work of the Convention, including the ICBL, the ICRC, the IFRC, the UN and the GICHD. On 2 December 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/29 on the implemen- tation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction. The General Assembly recalled that at the Second Review Conference of the Convention the international community had reviewed the implementation of the Convention, and that the States Parties to the Convention had adopted the Cartagena Action Plan, stressing the importance of the full and effective implementation of, and compliance with, the Convention, including through the implemen- tation of the Cartagena Action Plan. The States Parties to the Convention invited all States that had not yet done so to ratify or accede to the Convention, and urged all States to remain seized of the issue at the highest political level and to promote adherence to the Convention through bilateral, sub-regional, regional and multilateral contacts, outreach, seminars and other means.