Helsinki+Accords+-+12-13

=**HELSINKI ACCORDS**=



**A brief description of the event**

Helsinki accords, an agreement that was met upon in 1975, dealt with the territorial borderlines within Europe and the human rights issues. The 33 nations that were involved in the conferences that began in Helsinki, Finland in 1973 agreed that they should recognize the borders as they were by the end of Cold War and these border lines were beyond dispute. This agreement was the ultimate step that was taking during the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. Not only dealing with border disputes, this agreement also dealt with human rights issues that were present in USSR as the Soviets abused human rights by mistreating the people. The agreement demonstrates the emphasis that was placed upon the importance of securing human rights by promotion of international law and nonviolent solutions to conflicts. USSR had to adhere by such consensus in exchange for its recognition of dominance in other European regions.

**The outcome of this event**

The main components of this agreement are as it follows:

Basket 1: Recognition of the European borders and such border lines were inviolable Basket 2: More relationships were built among the areas ascross the Iron curtain regarding trade and technological improvement Basket 3: To deal with human rights (freedom of speech), the USSR was forced to comply with such agreement and reduce the human rights abuse that was present in USSR.

The border that was recognized was in advantage of USSR in that the Soviets were recognized for taking over the Baltic states.

The agreement came upon an establishment of “Helsinki Watch groups” which were responsible for investigating and addressing the human rights abuses in USSR. These groups were part of a non-governmental organization that eventually led to the creation of the International Helsinki Federation and Human Rights Watch.



**Dates** July - August 1, 1975: 33 nations (including U.S., Canada, and most European nations) signed the Helsinki Accords

**A list of "major players" involved** //Main countries//: both the Federal Republic of Germany and German Democratic rEpublic, U.S., France, UK, Czechoslovakia, USSR

//Other countries involved//: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, HOly See, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Yugoslavia

//Head of States involved//: President Ford of U.S., Leond Brezhnev (General Secretary of the Communist Party) of the USSR

**How this event influenced the Cold War as a whole** With such territorial recognition of USSR and other European nations, the involved countries were still reluctant to agree to the territorial borderlines because they were unwilling to accept USSR’s power over numerous European regions. This agreement to first settle the territorial disputes and address the problems that come from human rights settled the ongoing tension during Cold War and also raised USSR’s power by the inviolable rules for borderline and respect for territorial integrity. This also later served as the foundation for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Bibliography "Helsinki Accords." //American History and World History at Historycentral.com the largest and most complete history site on the web//. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Apr. 2013. < [|//http://www.historycentral.com/Today/HelsinkiAccords.html//] >.

"Helsinki Agreement." //National Cold War Exhibition at Royal Air Force Museum Cosford//. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Apr. 2013. < [] >.

"What Is the Helsinki Agreement? | eHow.com." //eHow | How to Videos, Articles & More - Discover the expert in you. | eHow.com//. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Apr. 2013. < [] >.

External Link:

//Link to the actual, real Helsinki Agreement of 1975// []