a possible comprehensive international convention against transnational organized crime, held in Warsaw from 2 to 6 February 1998, Expressing its appreciation to the Government of Argentina for hosting the informal preparatory meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee, held in Buenos Aires from 31 August to 4 September 1998, Expressing its appreciation to the Government of Thailand for hosting the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Seminar on Building Capacities for Fighting Transnational Organized Crime, held in Bangkok on 20 and 21 March 2000, Deeply concerned by the negative economic and social implications related to organized criminal activities, and convinced of the urgent need to strengthen cooperation to prevent and combat such activities more effectively at the national, regional and international levels, Noting with deep concern the growing links between transnational organized crime and terrorist crimes, taking into account the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, Determined to deny safe havens to those who engage in transnational organized crime by prosecuting their crimes wherever they occur and by cooperating at the international level, Strongly convinced that the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime will constitute an effective tool and the necessary legal framework for international cooperation in combating, inter alia, such criminal activities as money-laundering, corruption, illicit trafficking in endangered species of wild flora and fauna, offences against cultural heritage and the growing links between transnational organized crime and terrorist crimes, 1. Takes note of the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of a Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,2 which carried out its work at the headquarters of the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention in Vienna, and commends the Ad Hoc Committee for its work; 2. Adopts the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and the Protocol against 2 2 A/AC.254/34.