Organization for Security and Co-operation in EuropeHelsinki Final Act signed by 35 participating States
When: 1 August 1975
Where: Helsinki
Forming the backbone of the Organization's activities, the Final Act covers several themes:
- Sovereign equality, respect for the rights inherent in sovereignty
- Refraining from the threat or use of force
- Inviolability of frontiers
- Territorial integrity of States
- Peaceful settlement of disputes
- Non-intervention in internal affairs
- Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms (including the freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief)
- Equal rights and self-determination of peoples
- Co-operation among States, and Fulfillment in good faith of obligations under international law.
The participating States divided the CSCE's areas of activity into three dimensions (or baskets). The first dimension covers political and military aspects of security. The second dimension comprises economic and environmental aspects of security, including economic development, science, technology and environmental protection. The third dimension involves human aspects of security.
Links
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Helsinki Final Act
Final act of the 1st CSCE Summit of Heads of State or Government, Helsinki -
Stage I of the CSCE - Final Recommendations of the Helsinki Consultations adopted
The CSCE formally opened in Helsinki on 3 July 1973. In this first stage, which lasted until 7 July, 35 Foreign Ministers from all of Europe (except Albania), the USA and Canada adopted the Final Recommendations on the Helsinki Consultations. -
Stage II of Helsinki negotiations begins
The substantive working phase of the Helsinki negotiations (Stage II) took place in Geneva from 18 September 1973 to 21 July 1975. -
Stage II of Helsinki negotiations finish
Stage II of the CSCE negotiations in Helsinki began on 18 September 1973 and represented the substantive working phase. -
Helsinki Summit - Beginning of Stage III of the CSCE negotiations
The beginning of the 1975 Helsinki Summit marked the conclusion of the formative stages of the CSCE.