who had been responsibfe for violacions of human rights and breaches of the la"J' president elfonsin and Mr. Steel nelcomed the present strengthening of democracy in r,atin America' which eJas leadinq to the re€coration of ihe rights' freedom ancl dignj.ty of lndividuals and peoples. They agreed that that was essential in order to further development and stability in the r'torld. President Alfonsin and Mr. steel underscored the iftporEance of co-operation anong the democratic countries in order to strengthen democraLic values and institutions in Ehe lrorld, and expressed their confidence that Ehe consolidation and enhancement of democracy in Latin America woutd facilitate growj'ng co-operation with Europe. Both conmended the role played by the liberal parties' as members of theLiberal.Internatronal.infurtheringLhatco-operation,andexpressedtheir hope that contacts between the politicai parties of the tvto continents would be screngthened. President alfonsin and Mr. Steel indicated their firm conviction that the persistence of the economic crisis and the external debt presenled the greatest threat to democracy and peace in Latin America' They emphasized tha! it was important to understand the direct link begween established democracy and econonic prog.."" for Ehe vreIl-being of peoples and social stabili!Y' In that regard' they stressed the need to rry t; "cnieve more sEable financial and trade conditions that were long-lasting and rlss restrictive, and lhey emphasized the urgency of convening a neeting of the Governments of creditor and deblor countries in order to find a political s6lution to the problem of the external clebt'A/40/734 Eng I ish Page 3 President Alfonsin and Mr. steel exchanged ideas on Ehe situat.ion in cencralAnerica' reiterating tbeir suppor! for ttle etforts of the contadora countrles.President Alfonsin referred to Arqentina's participation in the recenEry fornedcontadora support GEoup, composed of denocratic coverntnents of Latin Amerrca.Mr. Steel lrelcomed the setting up of that croup.
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the strengthening of democracy, human rights, and economic development in Latin America, with a focus on the role of international cooperation and the need for a political solution to the external debt crisis. The conversation between President Alfonsin and Mr. Steel touches on various topics, including the importance of economic development, the need for sustainable financial and trade conditions, and the urgency of convening a meeting to address the external debt issue.

**Category**
International trade, Humanitarian aid and relief