Helsinki Summit 1975

Black-and-white photograph of Leonid Brezhnev, General-Secretary of the Communist Party of the USSR, signing the Final Act at the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, Helsinki, 1 August 1975. Brezhnev is focused on signing the document, with Turkey's Prime Minister Suleyman Demirel seated to his left, observing. A nameplate reading 'U.R.S.S.' is visible in the foreground, along with microphones and a folder.

Stage II of Helsinki negotiations begins

The substantive working phase of the Helsinki negotiations (Stage II) took place in Geneva from 18 September 1973 to 21 July 1975.

Date:: 18 September 1973
Location:: Geneva
Source:: Summits / Ministerial Councils

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Experts from the 35 participating States engaged in the first ever multilateral East-West negotiation process, producing the CSCECSCE
Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe 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