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Media advisory
From Geneva to Helsinki: What the OSCE’s founding legacy means for European security today and tomorrow
- Date:
- Place:
- VIENNA/BERN
- Source:
- OSCE Chairpersonship
VIENNA/BERN, 27 August 2026 – The Chairpersonship’s Conference on “From Geneva to Helsinki: Founding Process and Core Purpose of the OSCE”, to be held in Bern on 3 –4 September 2026, is the third of four thematic conferences organized by the Swiss OSCE Chairpersonship this year.
The event takes place as part of the conference of the International Committee of Editors of Diplomatic Documents (ICEDD) and constitutes a high-level segment bringing together historians, editors of diplomatic documents, diplomats and political representatives.
The conference focuses on the early phase of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE), from the preparatory consultations in Geneva to the adoption of the Helsinki Final Act in 1975. By revisiting the diplomatic processes and negotiations that shaped this milestone of Cold War diplomacy, the conference aims to highlight how participating States developed a framework for dialogue, confidence-building and co-operation across political divides.
At a time when the principles and mechanisms of co-operative security are being tested by profound geopolitical challenges, the conference will also explore the continued relevance of the Helsinki legacy and its implications for the future role of the OSCE as a platform for dialogue and stability across the OSCE region.
The high-level segment of the conference, to be held at the University of Bern, will feature addresses by the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, and OSCE Secretary General Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu, alongside distinguished historians, diplomats and experts. The event will be open to media representatives.
Media representatives are required to obtain accreditation in advance. Interested journalists are invited to register no later than Monday, 31 August 2026, at 12:00 (CET) via the following link.
Further information about the conference is available here. The Media Corner provides practical information on the venue, programme, accreditation, photos and useful links.
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