A/RES/52/18 Page 2 Recalling its resolution 49/30 of 7 December 1994 in which it recognized the importance of the Managua Declaration4 and Plan of Action5 adopted by the Second International Conference of New or Restored Democracies in July 1994, as well as its resolutions 50/133 of 20 December 1995 and 51/31 of 6 December 1996, Taking note of the Universal Declaration on Democracy, adopted by the Inter-Parliamentary Council at its session held at Cairo on 16 September 1997,6 Also taking note of the International Conference on Governance for Sustainable Growth and Equity, held in New York from 28 to 30 June 1997, Noting with satisfaction the holding of the Third International Conference of New or Restored Democracies on Democracy and Development at Bucharest from 2 to 4 September 1997, and the adoption of the document entitled "Progress Review and Recommendations" 7 in which the progress towards democratization and consolidation of democratic institutions was assessed and guidelines, principles and recommendations were addressed to Governments, civil society, the private sector, donor countries and the international community, Noting in particular the recommendations addressed to the United Nations system and the international financial organizations, contained in that document,8 Welcoming the inclusion of a Civil Society Forum in the proceedings of the Bucharest Conference, Noting the efforts of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to encourage education for democracy, Taking note of the views of Member States expressed in the debate on this question at its forty-ninth, fiftieth, fifty-first and fifty-second sessions, Bearing in mind that the activities of the United Nations carried out in support of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate democracy are undertaken in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and only at the specific request of the Member States concerned, Also bearing in mind that democracy, development and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing and that democracy is based on the freely expressed will of the people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and on their full participation in all aspects of their lives, 4 A/49/713, annex I. 5 Ibid., annex II. 6 A/52/437, annex IV. 7 A/52/334, annex, appendix. 8 Ibid., sect. IV. 98-77057 /...