Osce - Declarations

Copenhagen Document on the Human Dimension of the CSCE (1990)

2010-08-28T11:26:11Z

The Document of the Copenhagen Meeting of the Conference on the Human Dimension of the CSCE (5-29 June 1990) establishes that the protection and promotion of human rights is one of the basic purposes of government and that their recognition constitutes the foundation of freedom, justice and peace. The document outlines and formally recognizes in the CSCE context a number of new human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The Challenges of Change - Helsinki Summit Declaration (1992)

2010-08-27T11:17:49Z

The cautious institutionalization initiated at the Paris Summit accelerated as the CSCE found itself overtaken by the violent ethnic conflicts in the former URSS and the Balkans. On the occasion of the summit the CSCE officially becomes a regional arrangement in the sense of Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter, thus clearly confirming its operational role.

Helsinki Final Act (1975)

2010-08-27T11:11:41Z

Backbone of the activities of the CSCE/OSCE, the Helsinki final Act was signed as a politically binding agreement by 35 States at the Helsinki Summit in 1975. The final Act divides areas of activity into three baskets: the first covers issues related to security in Europe; the second concerns cooperation in the field of economics, science, technology and environment; the third involves cooperation in the humanitarian sector and in other fields such as culture and education. Basket one contains “the Decalogue”, a declaration of ten principles supposed to guide the relations between participating States.

The Lisbon Declaration on a Common and Comprehensive Security Model for Europe for the Twenty-First Century

2010-08-27T10:56:54Z

The Declaration on a Common and Comprehensive Security Model for Europe for the Twenty-First Century, setting out guidelines for negotiations on a new European security charter, was adopted in Lisbon on 3 December 1996.

Towards a Genuine Partnership in a New Era - Budapest Summit Declaration 1994

2010-08-27T10:39:54Z

At the Budapest Summit on 5 and 6 December 1994, participating States adopted a U.S. proposal to rename the CSCE as the “Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe”. The decision which took effect on 1 January 1995, however, did not alter the nature of CSCE commitments or its status and institutions. A proposal by the Russian Federation to transform the CSCE into an international organization with legal status was finally rejected.

Charter for European Security

2010-08-27T10:05:33Z

Although the Kosovo crisis and renewed fighting in Chechnya, lagged the consultations, the Charter for European Security was adopted on 19 November 1999.

Charter of Paris for a New Europe

2010-08-27T08:44:03Z

The multilateral process initiated in Helsinki was further developed during the second CSCE Summit, held in Paris in November 1990, which laid the foundations of the institutionalization process and defined a common democratic foundation for all participating states in a new Europe free of dividing lines. The Charter of Paris enshrines a set of common values affirming the direct relevance to security not only of the respect for human rights but also of democratic governance and a free market economy.