Tomorrow OSCE commemorates 25th Anniversary of the signing of the Helsinki Final Act

VIENNA, 18 July 2000 - Tomorrow, 19 July, the Austrian Chairmanship of the OSCE will pay tribute to the signing of the Final Act of the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE). This historic event took place on 1 August 1975 in Helsinki. Representatives of the media are cordially invited to take part.

The commemorative celebration will open with a speech by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Austria's Foreign Minister, Benita Ferrero-Waldner. Hans-Dietrich Genscher, the former Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany, and first Chairperson-in-Office, will deliver the keynote address. In recognition of the Helsinki Final Act as a platform for dissidents and civil rights activists in their struggle for freedom and human rights, the commemoration will feature panel discussions on "The Impact of Helsinki 1975 on the Dissidents" and "Civil and Human Rights in the OSCE Area Today."

As part of the commemorative celebration of the 25th anniversary, the Open Society Archives will open an exhibition of unique documents and photographs portraying the development of the human rights movement in the OSCE region. It will highlight the work of the Helsinki Committees and the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights.

WHEN: Wednesday, 19 July 2000 WHERE: Vienna Hofburg, Redoutensaal

Beginning: 2 p.m. Josefsplatz entrance

For accreditation, please bring your OSCE press badge or valid press card. Parking is available for press on Wednesday from 13:30 - 20:00 in the OSCE-reserved parking area on Heldenplatz for those with clearly marked "Presse" signs. Interested media representatives are requested to bring their press credentials with them.

The exhibition will be opened at 19.00 by OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner and IHF Executive Director Aaron Rhodes at the Austrian National Library on 19 July. The exhibition is open to members of the press accredited to the Commemorative Meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council.