We, the leaders of our seven countries and the representatives
of the European Community, salute the men and women around the
world whose courage and wisdom have inspired and brought about
the historic advances of democracy we have witnessed over the
past year. As we enter the final decade of this century, which
we intend should be a Decade of Democracy, we reiterate our
commitment
to support the strengthening of democracy, human rights, and
economic
reconstruction and development through market-oriented economies.
We emphasize the important opportunity provided in this forum
for representatives from Europe, Japan, and North America to
discuss
critical challenges of the coming years.
Europe is at the dawn of a new era. We welcome
enthusiastically
the profound and historic changes sweeping the continent. The
London Declaration on a Transformed North Atlantic Alliance
provides
a new basis for cooperation among former adversaries in building
a stable, secure, and peaceful Europe. We are determined to seize
all opportunities to achieve a Europe whole and free and
recognize
the European Community's contribution to that effort. We applaud
the unification of Germany, which is a tangible expression of
mankind's inalienable right to self-determination and a major
contribution to stability in Europe.
We welcome the replacement of repressive regimes in
Central and Eastern Europe by governments freely chosen by their
peoples. We applaud the introduction of the rule of law and the
freedoms that are the bedrock of a democratic state. We urge
Romania,
following recent events, to adhere to the positive trend taking
place in other countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
We welcome the intention of the Soviet Union to move toward
a democratic political system, as well as Soviet attempts to
reform
their economy along market principles. We commit ourselves to
working with the Soviet Union to assist its efforts to create
an open society, a pluralistic democracy, and a market-oriented
economy. Such changes will enable the Soviet Union to fulfill
its responsibilities in the community of nations founded on these
principles. We are heartened by indications that a constructive
dialogue is underway between the Soviet government and the Baltic
states, and we urge all sides to continue this dialogue in a
democratic
spirit.
The advance of democracy accompanied by market-oriented
economic
reforms is not just a European phenomenon. Since we last met,
we have witnessed the spread of democratic values in many parts
of the world.
In Asia, there are encouraging signs of new political
openness in Mongolia and Nepal. In the Philippines, the
government
continues to engage in courageous efforts to consolidate
democracy.
We acknowledge some of the recent developments in
China,
but believe that the prospects for closer cooperation will be
enhanced by renewed political and economic reform, particularly
in the field of human rights. We agree to maintain the measures
put into place at last year's Summit, as modified over the course
of this year. We will keep them under review for future
adjustments
to respond to further positive developments in China. For
example,
in addition to existing lending to meet basic human needs, we
will explore whether there are other World Bank loans that would
contribute to reform of the Chinese economy, especially loans
that would address environmental concerns.
In Africa, we hope that Namibia's attainment of independence
and democracy will be a positive example for freedom, pluralism,
and market-oriented economic reform throughout the continent.
We also welcome the positive developments that have taken place
in South Africa, especially the launching of talks between the
government and representatives of the black majority. We hope
this will lead to a peaceful transition to a non-racial democracy
and the complete dismantlement of the apartheid system. We will
continue to support this process and we call on all parties to
refrain from violence or its advocacy.
In Latin America, we welcome the re-establishment of freedom
and democracy in Chile. We applaud the recent fair and free
elections
in Nicaragua, as well as progress on the path to peace through
dialogue in El Salvador and Guatemala. We encourage the efforts
of the Panamanian government to re-establish democracy and the
rule of law. We note with satisfaction the positive evolution
in Haiti. We hope that Cuba will take steps to join the
democratic
trend in the rest of Latin America.
While we applaud the reduction of ideological conflicts that
have divided much of the world since the end of the Second World
War, we note with deep concern the reemergence of intolerance
affecting ethnic and religious groups. We agree that such
intolerance
can lead to conflicts, which can threaten fundamental human
rights,
as well as political and economic development.
We reaffirm our commitment to the fundamental principles we
seek to realize in our own societies, and we underscore that
political
and economic freedoms are closely linked and mutually
reinforcing.
Each of us stands ready to help in practical ways those countries
that choose freedom, through the provision of constitutional,
legal, and economic know-how and through economic assistance,
as appropriate.
In drawing from our different constitutional and
historical
experiences, we stand ready, individually and jointly in relevant
fora, to:
assist in the drafting of laws, including bills of
rights and civil, criminal, and economic framework laws;
advise in the fostering of independent media;
establish training programs in government, management,
and technical fields;
develop and expand people-to-people contacts and
exchange
programs to help diffuse understanding and knowledge.
In the same spirit, the recent G-24 Ministerial agreed
to extend its assistance in Central and Eastern Europe in
parallel
with progress in political and economic reform.
We agree the challenge facing the industrialized
democracies
is to continue the effort already underway in Europe while
expanding
efforts to support political reform and economic development in
other parts of the world. We call on our people and the people
of other democracies to join in this great endeavor.
SOURCE: Released by the Houston Economic Summit, July 10, 1990.
