such a decisive and powerful assertion of the people's will. We applaud these changes. The formal ending, of the cold war and the erosion of the rivalry between hostile Power.blocs is a vindication of one of the principal I objectives of the Non-Aligned Movement. As a denncratic society wedded to a multi-party system and a mixed economy, India welcomes the changes taking place in Eastern Europe. We have a deep and abiding commitment to individual rights and liberties and have always kept the uplifting of the common man as the central objective of our development process. Our Government is entirely committed to upholding these values and to promoting greater social justice and grCMth within our own society. We have placed renewed emphasis oo the agricultural and rural sector of our economy and are promoting a pattern of development which meets their needs and provides greater employment opportunities to our rural masses. It is but natural for us to hope that these favourable developments will also lead to an improvement in the prospects of millions in the developing countries still afflicted by abject poverty. It is to those millions that this special session is dedicated. Unfortunately, positive developments on the political and security side have not been matched by progress in the economic sphere for the developing countries. International economic co-operation, and particularly the dialogue needed to nurture it, remains more or less frozen. Meanwhile, the gap between the developed and the developing countries has widened even further. The developing countries as a whole feel excluded from the recent growth in the world economy. Even though some of them have maintained the gre7,,1th momentum, the vast majority of them are worse off as compared to what they were a decade ago. BC?/td A/S-18/PV. 2 79-80 (Mr. Gujral, India) If the emerging economic compulsions are not adequately accomnndated, the 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a speech by an Indian government official, discussing the country's stance on the changes taking place in Eastern Europe and its commitment to upholding democratic values and promoting economic development. The speaker highlights the need for international cooperation and economic development in developing countries, particularly those afflicted by poverty.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade, Employment