Third Heads of State Summit, Helsinki

9-10 July 1992: Against a background of renewed conflict in the Balkans, the third Summit of Heads of State is held in Helsinki, the final document of which is entitled The Challenges of Change.

The CSCECSCE
Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe Heads of State returned to the Finnish capital, where the Helsinki Final Act was signed, for their third Summit, which took place on 9-10 July 1992.

The predictions of a peaceful and prosperous future for Europe that were made at the Paris Summit in 1990 had proven too optimistic. The collapse of communism had brought not peace, but a savage conflict to the Balkans.

The Final Document of Helsinki 1992, The Challenges of Change, acknowledged that Europe was faced with "challenges and opportunities, but also with serious difficulties and disappointments.

Warfare in the CSCE region

"For the first time in decades we are facing warfare in the CSCE region. New armed conflicts and massive use of force to achieve hegemony and territorial expansion continue to occur," it noted.

"The loss of life, human misery, involving huge numbers of refugees have been the worst since the Second World War. Damage to our cultural heritage and the destruction of property have been appalling."

The suspension of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from the Helsinki Summit and from future CSCE meetings was also confirmed.

Determined, however, to respond vigorously to this situation, the Heads of State at Helsinki decided to:

• Create a High Commissioner on National Minorities.
• Create a Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC).
• Outline the role of the Economic Forum.

The role of the new High Commissioner on National Minorities was to provide "early warning and, as appropriate, early action ... in regard to tensions involving national minority issues that have the potential to develop into a conflict within the CSCE area."

In another measure designed to reduce the risk of future conflicts, the participating States decided to establish a new Forum for Security Co-operation, with a strengthened Conflict Prevention Centre, in Vienna.

Importance of economic development

Recognizing the importance of economic development to peace and stability in Europe, the CSCE Ministers had earlier agreed at the Prague Council Meeting on 30 January 1992 to establish an Economic Forum within the framework of the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO).

"The CSO will convene as the Economic Forum to give political stimulus to the dialogue on the transition to and development of free-market economies as an essential contribution to the building of democracy," noted the Heads of State.

It would also "suggest practical efforts for the development of free-market systems and economic co-operation, and to encourage activities already under way" in organizations such as the OECD, the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the UN Economic Commission for Europe.

Also in Helsinki, the participating States welcomed the signing of the Treaty on Open Skies by 26 nations and adopted the Declaration on the Treaty on Open Skies.