Introducing the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe

Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is the world's largest regional security organization whose 56 participating States span from North America, through Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia, to the Russian Far East.

Participating states
Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uzbekistan.

What is the OSCE?

- It is the continuation of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe that began in Helsinki more than 30 years ago
- The Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe - a forum for political and security dialogue between representatives of 35 Eastern, Western and non-aligned countries - Helsinki conference 1973-1975
- three baskets: security, economy and humanitarian issues
decisions taken by consensus

Helsinki Final Act 1975
- the breakthrough document
- not a treaty, but a politically binding agreement
- the Declaration on Principles Guiding Relations between Participating States

The Declaration on Principles Guiding Relationsbetween Participating States
1. Sovereign equality, respect for the rights inherent in sovereignty (…)
3. Inviolability of frontiers
4. Territorial integrity of States (…)
6. Non-intervention in internal affairs
7. Respect for human rights and fundamental
freedoms including the freedom of thought,
conscience, religion or belief
8. Equal rights and self-determination of
Peoples (…)

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