Anniversary publication of OSCE documents launched in Yerevan

 YEREVAN, 22 December 2010 – The Armenian translation of three key OSCE documents prepared by the OSCE Office in Yerevan together with the Armenian Foreign Ministry was presented today to the Armenian public.

The publication is to mark the 35-year anniversary of the “Helsinki Final Act”, the 20^th anniversaries of the “Charter of Paris for a New Europe” and the “Copenhagen Document”, and the 10-year anniversary of the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

Representatives of Armenia’s state administration, National Assembly, civil society, international community and media participated in the presentation. 

“The three OSCE documents that we have published are the OSCE’s “genetic code” as no single decision may be taken within the organization that eclipses or violates the principles of these basic documents,” said Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, the Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan. “We hope this publication will contribute to a better understanding of the OSCE principles and values among the Armenian public”.

“Armenia attaches great importance to full and fair implementation of the OSCE/CSCE  principles and commitments, as a prerequisite for the regional security and stability. In the rapidly changing international environment it is crucial for the OSCE participating States to fully comply with their commitments and implement the OSCE norms and principles”, said Armenian Deputy Minister Arman Kirakossian.

The Armenian version of the anniversary documentary prepared by the OSCE Secretariat on the history of the Helsinki Final Act was shown during the event.

The Helsinki Final Act is a founding document of the OSCE, adopted in 1975 to reduce tensions between the East and the West during the Cold War. Its ten basic principles are guiding the conduct of the participating States vis-a-vis their citizens, as well as between each other.

The Charter of Paris for a New Europe signed in 1990 marked a turning point in the history of the organization, officially proclaiming the end of the Cold War, and starting the institutional transformation of the then Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

The Copenhagen Document of 1990 addresses the human dimension of the OSCE security policy, including the democratic elections, minority rights protection and the rule of law.