1975 Helsinki Accords

The Helsinki Accords were the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe held in Helsinki, Finland, during the summer of 1975. Thirty-five states, including the US, Canada, and all Europeans states except Albania and Andorra signed the declaration, as a crucial step to improvingrelations between the countries of the Soviet bloc and the West.

The Helsinki Accords' "Declaration on Principles Guiding Relations Between Participating States" (also known as "The Decalogue") enumerated 10 points:

1. Sovereign equality, respect for the rights inherent in sovereignty;
2. Refraining from the threat or use of force;
3. Inviolability of frontiers;
4. Territorial integrity of States;
5. Peaceful settlement of disputes;
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;
9. Co-operation among States;
10. Fulfilment in good faith of obligations under international law.

Adherence and progress were discussed on a regular basis during international conferences of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE). They later served as the groundwork for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), established under the Paris Charter in 1990.