Governments must always comply with the undertakings and commitments deriving from membership of international organizations and their adherence to human rights treaties. The world has a long history of conflicts and wars. Most nations have been at war with their neighbors and consequences of this century's wars are still felt. Authoritarian ambition has always been at the root of conflicts. No democracies have ever waged war on other democracies .
Democracies respect the rights of their own citizens, and also of others.
They are less inclined to deprive citizens of other states of their own choices. The recent history of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union has shown that Europeans still can, at the end of this century, resort to war. It is the duty of all states to conduct international affairs in such a way as to eliminate conflicts and encourage good neighborly relations and cooperation . All states, large and small, must renounce the use of force or threat thereof in their relations with other states. All states are equal international subjects and no one state can claim spheres of interest or influence.