A/RES/52/176 Page 2 the countries of the area for the promotion of political, economic, social, cultural and environmental progress, the establishment of the subsystem and of the regional social policy, the new model of democratic Central American security and the implementation of other agreements adopted at the presidential summit meetings, which taken together constitute the global frame of reference for maintaining and consolidating the peace process and the basis for a mutually advantageous redefinition of relations between Central America and the international community, Welcoming the Agreement on a Firm and Lasting Peace signed by the Government of Guatemala and the Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca on 29 December 1996,3 whereby all the agreements signed within the context of the peace process and under the auspices of the United Nations came into force, thereby putting an end to the last and most long-standing armed confrontation in the region, Recognizing the progress made in the fulfilment of the commitments contained in the Guatemala Peace Agreements, implementation of which is being verified by the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala, including those relating to the demobilization and reintegration of former combatants into civilian life, the treatment of returnees, the establishment of special commissions, the promotion and protection of human rights and progress with respect to constitutional reforms, Recognizing with satisfaction the role played by the peacekeeping operations and observer and monitoring missions of the United Nations, which carried out successfully their mandate in Central America pursuant to the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly, respectively, Welcoming the changes and progress made by the peoples of Central America, whose efforts have brought about, inter alia, constitutional reforms, the strengthening and demilitarization of civil society, the creation of new political forms, the holding of free and pluralistic elections, the creation of mechanisms for the protection and promotion of human rights, freedom of expression, the strengthening of democratic institutions and of the rule of law, the execution of judicial reform processes and the adoption of a fairer development model providing greater opportunities for the Central American peoples, Emphasizing the importance of the end of a critical period in Central American history and the start of a new phase free from armed conflict, with freely elected Governments in each country and with profound political, economic, social and other changes which have created a climate conducive to the promotion of economic growth and further progress towards the consolidation and further development of democratic, just and equitable societies, Reaffirming that the re-establishment of firm and lasting peace and democracy in Central America is a dynamic and ongoing process that faces serious structural challenges and whose continuation and consolidation are closely related to progress in human development, including the alleviation of extreme poverty, the promotion of economic and social justice, judicial reform, the safeguarding of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for minorities and the satisfaction of the basic needs of the most vulnerable groups among the people of the region, issues which have been a primary source of tension and conflict and which deserve to be discussed with the same urgency and dedication as was the case in the settlement of the armed conflicts, Emphasizing the joint participation of the presidents of the Central American countries in the general debate at its fifty-second session, during which, in accordance with the commitments undertaken, they reaffirmed their decision and political will to continue doing their utmost to expedite, gradually and progressively, the Central American Union referred to in the Declaration of Nicaragua of 2 September 1997, 3 A/51/796-S/1997/114, annex II; see Official Records of the Security Council, Fifty-second Year, Supplement for January, February and March 1997, document S/1997/114. /...