The OSCE today is the largest international organization. Her sphere of competence includes problems of resolving conflicts without the use of weapons, ensuring the integrity and inviolability of the borders of the participating countries, and ensuring the basic rights and freedoms of ordinary people. The history of the birth of this deliberative body goes back to the post-war period, when the question arose about preventing destructive and bloody wars between countries.
The significance that they put in the Conference on Cooperation and Security in Europe is explained by the fact that in world history there have been no precedents for holding meetings of this level. The final act, signed in Helsinki, laid the foundation for the security of the continent for many years to come.
OSCE Background
The 1975 Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe was the result of events taking place in the world since the beginning of the 20th century. World War I devastated the tornado swept across the European continent, causing much grief. The main desire of all people was to prevent such conflicts in which there are no winners. For the first time, the Soviet Union came back with the initiative to create an advisory body on collective security issues in the 1930s.
However, disagreements between different systems prevented the leading powers of Europe from working out uniform rules together with the USSR. As a result, the lack of unity and a common approach to security issues on the continent led in many respects to the repeated terrible war, which claimed even more lives than the 1st World War.
But the example of the anti-fascist coalition showed that even countries with different political systems can effectively cooperate in the name of a common goal. Unfortunately, the Cold War interrupted this good intention. The formation of NATO in 1949, then the bloc of Warsaw Pact countries divided the world into two warring camps. Today it seems like a terrible dream, but the world really lived in anticipation of a nuclear war, in the USA people built thousands of individual bomb shelters with a long-term supply of water and food in case of conflict.
In these conditions, when one careless step on the part of any of the warring parties could be misunderstood and lead to dire consequences, it became especially necessary to develop uniform rules and rules of the game, binding on everyone.
Training
The countries of the eastern part of the continent made a great contribution to the Conference on Cooperation and Security in Europe. In January 1965, in Warsaw, the USSR and other countries took the initiative to develop common norms and rules for collective security and mutual cooperation of all countries of the European continent. This proposal was developed at subsequent meetings of the GAC in 66 and 69, when the Declaration on Peace and Cooperation and a special appeal to all European countries were adopted.
At the meeting of ministers of the airborne countries in 69 and 70 in Prague and Budapest, an agenda has already been formulated, which will be submitted to the Conference on Cooperation and Security in Europe. In parallel with this, a process of establishing dialogue with Western countries took place.
An agreement was signed with Germany, which confirmed the existing borders at that time. And in 1971, an agreement was already concluded between the four leading powers on the status of West Berlin. This significantly eased the tension on the continent and legally consolidated the results of the post-war world order.
A large contribution to the Conference on Cooperation and Security in Europe was made by neutral countries, which least of all wished to be caught between two warring forces. Finland made a proposal to organize this event, as well as to conduct preliminary meetings on its territory.
In 1972, in the small town of Otaniemi near Helsinki, official consultations began on all sides. These events lasted for more than six months. As a result, it was decided to hold a Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, the date of which was becoming a reality. The summit was to be held in three stages, and its agenda included:
- Safety in Europe.
- Scientific, technical, environmental and economic interaction.
- Human rights, humanitarian issues.
- Following actions.
First step
The Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, the year of which will go down in history, began on July 3, 1973 in Helsinki and lasted until the 7th. It was attended by 35 states.
A. Gromyko introduced the draft General Declaration on Collective Security. GDR, Hungary, Poland made their proposals on economic and cultural cooperation. Germany paid much attention to human rights issues, Italy, England, Canada.
As a result of the five-day negotiations, it was decided to follow the recommendations of the so-called Blue Book and formulate the final act at the second stage of the negotiations.
Second phase
Neutral Switzerland also contributed to the Conference on Cooperation and Security in Europe. The second stage of negotiations took place in Geneva and lasted a long time, starting on September 18, 1973. The main round ended two years later - on July 21, 1975. Commissions were set up on the first three issues on the agenda, as well as a working group to discuss the fourth item.
In addition, work was carried out in 12 subcommissions, in which all interested parties took part. During this time 2500 meetings of the commission were held at which 4700 proposals of the final agreement were considered. In addition to formal meetings, there were many informal meetings between diplomats.
This work was not easy, because the dialogue was conducted by countries with different political systems, openly at odds with each other. Attempts were made to introduce projects that could open up the possibility of direct intervention in the internal affairs of states, which in itself was contrary to the spirit of the plan.
Be that as it may, this titanic work did not go in vain, all documents were agreed upon and submitted for signing the Final Act.
The last stage and the signing of the final document
The final Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe was held in Helsinki from July 30 to August 1, 1975. It was the most representative meeting of the heads of state in the history of the continent. It was attended by all the leaders of 35 countries participating in the agreement.
It was at this meeting that an agreement was signed on the principles that laid the foundation for collective security and cooperation on the continent for many years.
The main part of the document is the Declaration of Principles.
According to it, all countries must respect territorial integrity, respect the inviolability of borders, settle conflicts peacefully and respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of their citizens. Thus ended the Helsinki Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, the year of which was a new milestone in relations between states.
Security and Collaboration
The first main section of the final document proclaimed the principle of the peaceful resolution of conflicts. All disputes between states should not be resolved by force. For the sake of avoiding misunderstandings, countries should openly notify everyone about major military exercises, about the movements of large armed groups, and invite observers in these cases.
The second section addresses cooperation issues. It discusses the exchange of experience and information in the field of science and technology, the development of common norms and standards.
In the name of people
The largest section deals with issues that concern most people - the humanitarian sphere. In connection with the diametrically opposite view of relations between the state and the individual between the eastern and western camps, this section caused the most controversy in consultations.
It stipulates the principles of respect for human rights, the possibility of crossing borders, guarantees for family reunion, cultural and sports cooperation between citizens of different countries.
Guarantees of the implementation of principles
The final, but not the last part of the document is the “Next Steps” section. It establishes the possibility of meetings and consultations of the participating countries in the name of observing the main principles of the Meeting. This part was supposed to turn the final document into a real force, and not a waste of time.
The end of the 20th century was the period of the collapse of the socialist camp. Borders collapsed, and the integrity of states became an empty phrase. All this was accompanied by unprecedented suffering of ordinary people, wars in the territories of the former Yugoslavia, the USSR.
The reaction to these events was the reorganization of the political and declarative body into a real organization in 1995 - the OSCE.
Today, in the light of recent events, with the threat of the resumption of conserved military conflicts in the very center of the continent, the role of the 1975 Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe is more relevant than ever. This event clearly showed that even sworn enemies can agree among themselves for the sake of peace and stability.