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... The Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, which
opened at Helsinki on 3 July 1973 and continued at Geneva from 18
September 1973 to 21 July 1975, was concluded at Helsinki on 1
August 1975 by the High Representatives of Austria, Belgium,
Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland,
France, the German Democratic Republic, the Federal Republic of
Germany, Greece, the Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands,
Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the
United Kingdom, the United States of America and Yugoslavia. ...
... During the meetings of the second stage of the Conference,
contributions were received, and statements heard, from the
following non-participating Mediterranean States on various
agenda items: the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, the
Arab Republic of Egypt, Israel, the Kingdom of Morocco, the
Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia. ...
... Motivated by the political will, in the interest of peoples,
to improve and intensify their relations and to contribute in
Europe to peace, security, justice and co-operation as well as to
rapprochement among themselves and with the other States of the
world, ...
... Determined, in consequence, to give full effect to the
results of the Conference and to assure, among their States and
throughout Europe, the benefits deriving from those results and
thus to broaden, deepen and make continuing and lasting the
process of détente, ...
PAGE: Questions relating to Security in Europe [go to this PAGE]
... Considering that solidarity among peoples, as well as the
common purpose of the participating States in achieving the aims
as set forth by the Conference on Security and Co-operation in
Europe, should lead to the development of better and closer
relations among them in all fields and thus to overcoming the
confrontation stemming from the character of their past
relations, and to better mutual understanding; ...
PAGE: 1. (a) Declaration on Principles Guiding Relations between Participating States [go to this PAGE]
... The participating States, ...
... Recognizing that this commitment, which reflects the
interest and aspirations of peoples, constitutes for each
participating State a present and future responsibility,
heightened by experience of the past; ...
... Reaffirming, in conformity with their membership in the
United Nations and in accordance with the purposes and principles
of the United Nations, their full and active support for the
United Nations and for the enhancement of its role and
effectiveness in strengthening international peace, security and
justice, and in promoting the solution of international problems,
as well as the development of friendly relations and co-operation
among States; ...
... Declare their determination to respect and put into
practice, each of them in its relations with all other
participating States, irrespective of their political, economic
or social systems as well as of their size, geographical location
or level of economic development, the following principles, which
all are of primary significance, guiding their mutual relations: ...
PAGE: I. Sovereign equality, respect for the rights inherent in sovereignty [go to this PAGE]
... The participating States will respect each other's sovereign
equality and individuality as well as all the rights inherent in
and encompassed by its sovereignty, including in particular the
right of every State to juridical equality, to territorial
integrity and to freedom and political independence. They will
also respect each other's right freely to choose and develop its
political, social, economic and cultural systems as well as its
right to determine its laws and regulations. ...
... The participating States will respect each other's sovereign
equality and individuality as well as all the rights inherent in
and encompassed by its sovereignty, including in particular the
right of every State to juridical equality, to territorial
integrity and to freedom and political independence. They will
also respect each other's right freely to choose and develop its
political, social, economic and cultural systems as well as its
right to determine its laws and regulations. ...
... Within the framework of international law, all the
participating States have equal rights and duties. They will
respect each other's right to define and conduct as it wishes its
relations with other States in accordance with international law
and in the spirit of the present Declaration. They consider that
their frontiers can be changed, in accordance with international
law, by peaceful means and by agreement. They also have the right
to belong or not to belong to international organizations, to be
or not to be a party to bilateral or multilateral treaties
including the right to be or not to be a party to treaties of
alliance; they also have the right to neutrality. ...
... Within the framework of international law, all the
participating States have equal rights and duties. They will
respect each other's right to define and conduct as it wishes its
relations with other States in accordance with international law
and in the spirit of the present Declaration. They consider that
their frontiers can be changed, in accordance with international
law, by peaceful means and by agreement. They also have the right
to belong or not to belong to international organizations, to be
or not to be a party to bilateral or multilateral treaties
including the right to be or not to be a party to treaties of
alliance; they also have the right to neutrality. ...
PAGE: II. Refraining from the threat or use of force [go to this PAGE]
... The participating States will refrain in their mutual
relations, as well as in their international relations in
general, from the threat or use of force against the territorial
integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other
manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations and
with the present Declaration. No consideration may be invoked to
serve to warrant resort to the threat or use of force in
contravention of this principle. ...
... The participating States will refrain in their mutual
relations, as well as in their international relations in
general, from the threat or use of force against the territorial
integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other
manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations and
with the present Declaration. No consideration may be invoked to
serve to warrant resort to the threat or use of force in
contravention of this principle. ...
... Accordingly, the participating States will refrain from any
acts constituting a threat of force or direct or indirect use of
force against another participating State. Likewise they will
refrain from any manifestation of force for the purpose of
inducing another participating State to renounce the full
exercise of its sovereign rights. Likewise they will also refrain
in their mutual relations from any act of reprisal by force. ...
... Accordingly, the participating States will refrain from any
acts constituting a threat of force or direct or indirect use of
force against another participating State. Likewise they will
refrain from any manifestation of force for the purpose of
inducing another participating State to renounce the full
exercise of its sovereign rights. Likewise they will also refrain
in their mutual relations from any act of reprisal by force. ...
... Accordingly, the participating States will refrain from any
acts constituting a threat of force or direct or indirect use of
force against another participating State. Likewise they will
refrain from any manifestation of force for the purpose of
inducing another participating State to renounce the full
exercise of its sovereign rights. Likewise they will also refrain
in their mutual relations from any act of reprisal by force. ...
PAGE: III. Inviolability of frontiers [go to this PAGE]
... The participating States regard as inviolable all one
another's frontiers as well as the frontiers of all States in
Europe and therefore they will refrain now and in the future from
assaulting these frontiers. ...
... The participating States regard as inviolable all one
another's frontiers as well as the frontiers of all States in
Europe and therefore they will refrain now and in the future from
assaulting these frontiers. ...
... Accordingly, they will also refrain from any demand for, or
act of, seizure and usurpation of part or all of the territory of
any participating State. ...
PAGE: IV. Territorial integrity of States [go to this PAGE]
... IV. Territorial integrity of States ...
... The participating States will respect the territorial
integrity of each of the participating States. ...
... The participating States will respect the territorial
integrity of each of the participating States. ...
... Accordingly, they will refrain from any action inconsistent
with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United
Nations against the territorial integrity, political independence
or the unity of any participating State, and in particular from
any such action constituting a threat or use of force. ...
... The participating States will likewise refrain from making
each other's territory the object of military occupation or other
direct or indirect measures of force in contravention of
international law, or the object of acquisition by means of such
measures or the threat of them. No such occupation or acquisition
will be recognized as legal. ...
PAGE: V. Peaceful settlement of disputes [go to this PAGE]
... The participating States will settle disputes among them by
peaceful means in such a manner as not to endanger international
peace and security, and justice. ...
... Participating States, parties to a dispute among them, as
well as other participating States, will refrain from any action
which might aggravate the situation to such a degree as to
endanger the maintenance of international peace and security and
thereby make a peaceful settlement of the dispute more difficult. ...
... Participating States, parties to a dispute among them, as
well as other participating States, will refrain from any action
which might aggravate the situation to such a degree as to
endanger the maintenance of international peace and security and
thereby make a peaceful settlement of the dispute more difficult. ...
PAGE: VI. Non-intervention in internal affairs [go to this PAGE]
... The participating States will refrain from any intervention,
direct or indirect, individual or collective, in the internal or
external affairs falling within the domestic jurisdiction of
another participating State, regardless of their mutual
relations. ...
... The participating States will refrain from any intervention,
direct or indirect, individual or collective, in the internal or
external affairs falling within the domestic jurisdiction of
another participating State, regardless of their mutual
relations. ...
... They will accordingly refrain from any form of armed
intervention or threat of such intervention against another
participating State. ...
... They will likewise in all circumstances refrain from any
other act of military, or of political, economic or other
coercion designed to subordinate to their own interest the
exercise by another participating State of the rights inherent in
its sovereignty and thus to secure advantages of any kind. ...
... Accordingly, they will, inter alia, refrain from direct or
indirect assistance to terrorist activities, or to subversive or
other activities directed towards the violent overthrow of the
regime of another participating State. ...
PAGE: VII. Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief
[go to this PAGE]
... The participating States will respect human rights and
fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of thought,
conscience, religion or belief, for all without distinction as to
race, sex, language or religion. ...
... Within this framework the participating States will
recognize and respect the freedom of the individual to profess
and practice, alone or in community with others, religion or
belief acting in accordance with the dictates of his own
conscience. ...
... The participating States on whose territory national
minorities exist will respect the right of persons belonging to
such minorities to equality before the law, will afford them the
full opportunity for the actual enjoyment of human rights and
fundamental freedoms and will, in this manner, protect their
legitimate interests in this sphere. ...
... 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 well-
being necessary to ensure the development of friendly relations
and co-operation among themselves as among all States. ...
... 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 well-
being necessary to ensure the development of friendly relations
and co-operation among themselves as among all States. ...
... In the field of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the
participating States will act in conformity with the purposes and
principles of the Charter of the United Nations and with the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They will also fulfil
their obligations as set forth in the international declarations
and agreements in this field, including inter alia the
International Covenants on Human Rights, by which they may be
bound. ...
PAGE: VIII. Equal rights and self-determination of peoples [go to this PAGE]
... The participating States will respect the equal rights of
peoples and their right to self-determination, acting at all
times in conformity with the purposes and principles of the
Charter of the United Nations and with the relevant norms of
international law, including those relating to territorial
integrity of States. ...
... The participating States will respect the equal rights of
peoples and their right to self-determination, acting at all
times in conformity with the purposes and principles of the
Charter of the United Nations and with the relevant norms of
international law, including those relating to territorial
integrity of States. ...
... The participating States reaffirm the universal significance
of respect for and effective exercise of equal rights and self-
determination of peoples for the development of friendly
relations among themselves as among all States; they also recall
the importance of the elimination of any form of violation of
this principle. ...
... The participating States reaffirm the universal significance
of respect for and effective exercise of equal rights and self-
determination of peoples for the development of friendly
relations among themselves as among all States; they also recall
the importance of the elimination of any form of violation of
this principle. ...
PAGE: IX. Co-operation among States [go to this PAGE]
... IX. Co-operation among States ...
... The participating States will develop their co-operation
with one another and with all States in all fields in accordance
with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United
Nations. In developing their co-operation the participating
States will place special emphasis on the fields as set forth
within the framework of the Conference on Security and Co-
operation in Europe, with each of them making its contribution in
conditions of full equality. ...
... The participating States will develop their co-operation
with one another and with all States in all fields in accordance
with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United
Nations. In developing their co-operation the participating
States will place special emphasis on the fields as set forth
within the framework of the Conference on Security and Co-
operation in Europe, with each of them making its contribution in
conditions of full equality. ...
... The participating States will develop their co-operation
with one another and with all States in all fields in accordance
with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United
Nations. In developing their co-operation the participating
States will place special emphasis on the fields as set forth
within the framework of the Conference on Security and Co-
operation in Europe, with each of them making its contribution in
conditions of full equality. ...
PAGE: X. Fulfilment in good faith of obligations under international law [go to this PAGE]
... The participating States will fulfil in good faith their
obligations under international law, both those obligations
arising from the generally recognized principles and rules of
international law and those obligations arising from treaties or
other agreements, in conformity with international law, to which
they are parties. ...
... The participating States confirm that in the event of a
conflict between the obligations of the members of the United
Nations under the Charter of the United Nations and their
obligations under any treaty or other international agreement,
their obligations under the Charter will prevail, in accordance
with Article 103 of the Charter of the United Nations. ...
... The participating States express their determination fully
to respect and apply these principles, as set forth in the
present Declaration, in all aspects, to their mutual relations
and co-operation in order to ensure to each participating State
the benefits resulting from the respect and application of these
principles by all. ...
... The participating States express their determination fully
to respect and apply these principles, as set forth in the
present Declaration, in all aspects, to their mutual relations
and co-operation in order to ensure to each participating State
the benefits resulting from the respect and application of these
principles by all. ...
... The participating States, paying due regard to the
principles above and, in particular, to the first sentence of the
tenth principle, "Fulfilment in good faith of obligations under
international law", note that the present Declaration does not
affect their rights and obligations, nor the corresponding
treaties and other agreements and arrangements. ...
... The participating States express the conviction that respect
for these principles will encourage the development of normal and
friendly relations and the progress of co-operation among them in
all fields. They also express the conviction that respect for
these principles will encourage the development of political
contacts among them which in time would contribute to better
mutual understanding of their positions and views. ...
... The participating States declare their intention to conduct
their relations with all other States in the spirit of the
principles contained in the present Declaration. ...
... The participating States declare their intention to conduct
their relations with all other States in the spirit of the
principles contained in the present Declaration. ...
PAGE: (b) Matters related to giving effect to certain of the above Principles (i) (ii) [go to this PAGE]
... The participating States, ...
... Declare that they are resolved to respect and carry out, in
their relations with one another, inter alia, the following
provisions which are in conformity with the Declaration on
Principles Guiding Relations between Participating States: ...
... To refrain from any use of armed forces inconsistent with
the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United
Nations and the provisions of the Declaration on Principles
Guiding Relations between Participating States, against
another participating State, in particular from invasion of
or attack on its territory.
...
... To refrain from any use of armed forces inconsistent with
the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United
Nations and the provisions of the Declaration on Principles
Guiding Relations between Participating States, against
another participating State, in particular from invasion of
or attack on its territory.
...
... To refrain from any manifestation of force for the purpose
of inducing another participating State to renounce the full
exercise of its sovereign rights.
...
... To refrain from any act of economic coercion designed to
subordinate to their own interest the exercise by another
participating State of the rights inherent in its
sovereignty and thus to secure advantages of any kind.
...
... To promote, by all means which each of them considers
appropriate, a climate of confidence and respect among
peoples consonant with their duty to refrain from propaganda
for wars of aggression or for any threat or use of force
inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations and
with the Declaration on Principles Guiding Relations between
Participating States, against another participating State.
...
... To promote, by all means which each of them considers
appropriate, a climate of confidence and respect among
peoples consonant with their duty to refrain from propaganda
for wars of aggression or for any threat or use of force
inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations and
with the Declaration on Principles Guiding Relations between
Participating States, against another participating State.
...
... To make every effort to settle exclusively by peaceful means
any dispute between them, the continuance of which is likely
to endanger the maintenance of international peace and
security in Europe, and to seek, first of all, a solution
through the peaceful means set forth in Article 33 of the
United Nations Charter.
To refrain from any action which could hinder the peaceful
settlement of disputes between the participating States.
...
... The participating States, ...
... Decide that, on the invitation of Switzerland, a meeting of
experts of all the participating States will be convoked in order
to fulfil the mandate described in paragraph 1 above within the
framework and under the procedures of the follow-up to the
Conference laid down in the chapter "Follow-up to the
Conference".
...
... This meeting of experts will take place after the meeting of
the representatives appointed by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs
of the participating States, scheduled according to the chapter
"Follow-up to the Conference" for 1977; the results of the work
of this meeting of experts will be submitted to Governments.
...
PAGE: 2. Document on confidence-building measures and certain aspects of security and disarmament [go to this PAGE]
... The participating States, ...
... Determined further to refrain in their mutual relations, as
well as in their international relations in general, from the
threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or
political independence of any State, or in any other manner
inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations and with the
Declaration on Principles Guiding Relations between Participating
States as adopted in this Final Act; ...
... Determined further to refrain in their mutual relations, as
well as in their international relations in general, from the
threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or
political independence of any State, or in any other manner
inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations and with the
Declaration on Principles Guiding Relations between Participating
States as adopted in this Final Act; ...
... Recognizing the need to contribute to reducing the dangers
of armed conflict and of misunderstanding or miscalculation of
military activities which could give rise to apprehension,
particularly in a situation where the participating States lack
clear and timely information about the nature of such activities; ...
... Recognizing that there are other ways in which individual
States can contribute further to their common objectives; ...
PAGE: I Prior notification of major military manoeuvres Prior notification of other military manoeuvres Exchange of observers
Prior notification of major military movements Other confidence-building measures [go to this PAGE]
... They will notify their major military manoeuvres to all
other participating States through usual diplomatic channels in
accordance with the following provisions: ...
... Notification will be given of major military manoeuvres
which take place on the territory, in Europe, of any
participating State as well as, if applicable, in the adjoining
sea area and air space. ...
... In the case of a participating State whose territory extends
beyond Europe, prior notification need be given only of
manoeuvres which take place in an area within 250 kilometres from
its frontier facing or shared with any other European
participating State, the participating State need not, however,
give notification in cases in which that area is also contiguous
to the participating State's frontier facing or shared with a
non-European non-participating State. ...
... In the case of a participating State whose territory extends
beyond Europe, prior notification need be given only of
manoeuvres which take place in an area within 250 kilometres from
its frontier facing or shared with any other European
participating State, the participating State need not, however,
give notification in cases in which that area is also contiguous
to the participating State's frontier facing or shared with a
non-European non-participating State. ...
... In the case of a participating State whose territory extends
beyond Europe, prior notification need be given only of
manoeuvres which take place in an area within 250 kilometres from
its frontier facing or shared with any other European
participating State, the participating State need not, however,
give notification in cases in which that area is also contiguous
to the participating State's frontier facing or shared with a
non-European non-participating State. ...
... In the case of a participating State whose territory extends
beyond Europe, prior notification need be given only of
manoeuvres which take place in an area within 250 kilometres from
its frontier facing or shared with any other European
participating State, the participating State need not, however,
give notification in cases in which that area is also contiguous
to the participating State's frontier facing or shared with a
non-European non-participating State. ...
... In the case of a participating State whose territory extends
beyond Europe, prior notification need be given only of
manoeuvres which take place in an area within 250 kilometres from
its frontier facing or shared with any other European
participating State, the participating State need not, however,
give notification in cases in which that area is also contiguous
to the participating State's frontier facing or shared with a
non-European non-participating State. ...
... Notification will contain information of the designation, if
any, the general purpose of and the States involved in the
manoeuvre, the type or types and numerical strength of the forces
engaged, the area and estimated time-frame of its conduct. The
participating States will also, if possible, provide additional
relevant information, particularly that related to the components
of the forces engaged and the period of involvement of these
forces. ...
... Notification will contain information of the designation, if
any, the general purpose of and the States involved in the
manoeuvre, the type or types and numerical strength of the forces
engaged, the area and estimated time-frame of its conduct. The
participating States will also, if possible, provide additional
relevant information, particularly that related to the components
of the forces engaged and the period of involvement of these
forces. ...
... The participating States recognize that they can contribute
further to strengthening confidence and increasing security and
stability, and to this end may also notify smaller-scale military
manoeuvres to other participating States, with special regard for
those near the area of such manoeuvres. ...
... The participating States recognize that they can contribute
further to strengthening confidence and increasing security and
stability, and to this end may also notify smaller-scale military
manoeuvres to other participating States, with special regard for
those near the area of such manoeuvres. ...
... To the same end, the participating States also recognize
that they may notify other military manoeuvres conducted by them. ...
... The participating States will invite other participating
States, voluntarily and on a bilateral basis, in a spirit of
reciprocity and goodwill towards all participating States, to
send observers to attend military manoeuvres. ...
... The participating States will invite other participating
States, voluntarily and on a bilateral basis, in a spirit of
reciprocity and goodwill towards all participating States, to
send observers to attend military manoeuvres. ...
... The participating States will invite other participating
States, voluntarily and on a bilateral basis, in a spirit of
reciprocity and goodwill towards all participating States, to
send observers to attend military manoeuvres. ...
... The inviting State will determine in each case the number of
observers, the procedures and conditions of their participation,
and give other information which it may consider useful. It will
provide appropriate facilities and hospitality. ...
... In accordance with the Final Recommendations of the Helsinki
Consultations the participating States studied the question of
prior-notification of major military movements as a measure to
strengthen confidence. ...
... Accordingly, the participating States recognize that they
may, at their own discretion and with a view to contributing to
confidence-building, notify their major military movements. ...
... In the same spirit, further consideration will be given by
the States participating in the Conference on Security and
Co-operation in Europe to the question of prior notification of
major military movements, bearing in mind, in particular, the
experience gained by the implementation of the measures which are
set forth in this document. ...
... The participating States recognize that there are other
means by which their common objectives can be promoted. ...
... In order to make a fuller contribution to their common
objective of confidence/building, the participating States, when
conducting their military activities in the area covered by the
provisions for the prior notification of major military
manoeuvres, will duly take into account and respect this
objective. ...
PAGE: II Questions relating to disarmament [go to this PAGE]
... The participating States recognize the interest of all of
them in efforts aimed at lessening military confrontation and
promoting disarmament which are designed to complement political
détente in Europe and to strengthen their security. They are
convinced of the necessity to take effective measures in these
fields which by their scope and by their nature constitute steps
towards the ultimate achievement of general and complete
disarmament under strict and effective international control, and
which should result in strengthening peace and security
throughout the world. ...
PAGE: III General considerations [go to this PAGE]
... Having considered the views expressed on various subjects
related to the strengthening of security in Europe through joint
efforts aimed at promoting détente and disarmament, the
participating States, when engaged in such efforts, will, in this
context, proceed, in particular, from the following essential
considerations: ...
... The interrelation between the security of each participating
State and security in Europe as a whole and the relationship
which exists, in the broader context of world security, between
security in Europe and security in the Mediterranean area;
...
... Respect for the security interests of all States
participating in the Conference on Security and Co-operation in
Europe inherent in their sovereign equality;
...
... The importance that participants in negotiating fora see to
it that information about relevant developments, progress and
results is provided on an appro