Write an essay on the Helsinki Final Act.
Answers
Answer:
On 1 August 1975, the 35 Heads of State and Government of the 35 member states signed the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE, since 1995 Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE).
The signing of the Helsinki Final Act is considered to be a historic breakthrough at the height of the Cold War: For the first time, the leading nations of the West (including the US) and the Eastern Bloc (including the Soviet Union) signed a comprehensive accord, expressing their willingness for cooperation in various topics and spheres of activity.
Ten principle
In the Final Act’s catalogue of principles (the so-called «Helsinki Decalogue») the member states defined ten basic rules that should guide their future relations. Principle VII states, among other points, the following on the importance of human rights:
«The participating States recognize the universal significance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for which is an essential factor for the peace, justice and wellbeing necessary to ensure the development of friendly relations and co-operation among themselves as among all States».
By acknowledging the universal significance of human rights they were declared to be a legitimate subject of international relations and thus no longer classified as internal affairs of states. But there was a conflict of norms on the horizon since Principle VI also postulated the non-intervention in internal affairs. As a result, the Soviet Union and its allies repudiated Western criticism after the signing of the Helsinki Final Act.
Answer:
On 1 August 1975, the 35 Heads of State and Government of the 35 member states signed the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE, since 1995 Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE).
The signing of the Helsinki Final Act is considered to be a historic breakthrough at the height of the Cold War: For the first time, the leading nations of the West (including the US) and the Eastern Bloc (including the Soviet Union) signed a comprehensive accord, expressing their willingness for cooperation in various topics and spheres of activity.