Stage II of Helsinki negotiations begins
When
18 September 1973 (All day)
Where
Geneva
(OSCE)Flags of the 55 OSCE participating States at the Hofburg Congress Centre in Vienna. (OSCE) Photo details
The substantive working phase of the Helsinki negotiations (Stage II) took place in Geneva from 18 September 1973 to 21 July 1975.
Experts from the 35 participating States engaged in the first ever multilateral East-West negotiation process, producing the CSCE Final Act.
The Act, also known as the Helsinki Accords, was signed by the Heads of State or Government of the 35 States on 1 August 1975, the last day of the Helsinki Summit (Stage III). Forming the backbone of the Organization's activities, the Final Act outlines ten fundamental principles:
- 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
- fulfillment in good faith of obligations under international law