A/RES/51/197 Page 4 Welcoming the adoption of resolutions 49/16 of 17 November 1994 and 51/8 of 25 October 1996, in which it recognized the exceptional circumstances that still prevail in Nicaragua, Recognizing the importance of the effective support of the United Nations and governmental and non-governmental mechanisms in taking steps to launch new initiatives in the framework of the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America, and of the results of the inter-agency workshop held at Montelimar on 19 March 1996, which aimed to establish a strategic alliance between all agencies of the United Nations system working in the region, Stressing the importance of promoting national debates on the character of macroeconomic policies most conducive to sustainable human development goals and to a lasting peace in Central America, as well as the ongoing policy dialogue carried out in this regard by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,10 1. Commends the efforts of the peoples and Governments of the Central American countries to consolidate peace and promote sustainable development by implementing the agreements adopted at the summit meetings, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to give the fullest possible support to the initiatives and activities of the Governments of the Central American countries; 2. Supports the decision of the Presidents of the Central American countries to declare Central America a region of peace, freedom, democracy and development, and encourages the initiatives of the Central American countries, in the framework of the integrated strategy for sustainable development and in the context of the summit meetings, to consolidate Governments that base their development on democracy, peace, cooperation and respect for human rights; 3. Draws attention to the decision of the Presidents of the Central American countries embodied in the Declaration of Guácimo,11 in which the national and regional strategy known as the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America2 became an integrated initiative reflected in a programme of immediate action in the political, moral, economic, social and environmental fields, through which the Central American countries hope to become, with the support of the international community, an example of sustainable development for other regions; 4. Emphasizes the work accomplished by the Central American Integration System in favour of subregional integration to promote economic growth oriented towards human development and in the strengthening of democracy and the consolidation of peace in the region, and calls upon Member 10 A/51/338. 11 A/49/340-S/1994/994, annex; see Official Records of the Security Council, Forty-ninth Year, Supplement for July, August and September 1994, document S/1994/994. /...