A/RES/55/43 4 September 1997, 7 in which guidelines, principles and recommendations were addressed to Governments, civil society, the private sector, donor countries and the international community, Taking note with satisfaction of the seminars, workshops and conferences on democratization and good governance organized in 2000, as well as those held under the auspices of the International Conference of New or Restored Democracies, Taking note of the views of Member States expressed in the debate on this question at its forty-ninth, fiftieth, fifty-first, fifty-second, fifty-third, fifty-fourth and fifty-fifth 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, Bearing in mind also 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, Noting that a considerable number of societies have recently undertaken significant efforts to achieve their social, political and economic goals through democratization and the reform of their economies, pursuits that are deserving of the support and recognition of the international community, Noting with satisfaction that the Fourth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies will be held in Cotonou, Benin, from 4 to 6 December 2000, Stressing the importance of support by Member States, the United Nations system, the specialized agencies and other intergovernmental organizations for the holding of the Fourth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General, 8 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,8 and invites Member States to consider the proposals contained therein; 2. Commends the Secretary-General, and through him the United Nations system, for the activities undertaken at the request of Governments to support the efforts to consolidate democracy and for his contribution to the preparatory process and success of the Fourth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies; 3. Welcomes the work carried out by the follow-up mechanism to the Third International Conference of New or Restored Democracies on Democracy and Development; 4. Invites the Secretary-General, Member States, the relevant specialized agencies, programmes, funds and other bodies of the United Nations system, as well as other intergovernmental organizations, to collaborate in the holding of the Fourth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies; 7 8 2 A/52/334, appendix. A/55/489.