1989 has been a remarkable year in which our hopes for a more peaceful and prosperous world stand high. And the world's statesmen are seeing one another more and working more closely together than ever before in our history. That is good news.
President Gorbachev deserves special credit for the historic changes which have swept across Europe. He understands people's aspirations and had the courage and vision to take the difficult decisions which helped them to become reality.
We were very pleased to welcome him to Britain earlier this year for a very successful visit. And I look forward to visiting the Soviet Union to see him in the coming year.
We congratulate him too on the success of his Summit meeting with President Bush and hope for the further meeting in 1990. [end p1]
We believe that the coming year will set your great country on the path to prosperity. Great changes do not come easily but the goal is worth all the effort for it is our children's future that we are building now.
We hope that you will all enjoy this Christmas season with the message of peace and goodwill which is uniting the people of Europe as never before.
I send you a special message of friendship from the British people, together with my own warm good wishes for a happy and rewarding New Year.