Helsinki Accords

Helsinki Accords Facts for kids
The following fact sheet contains interesting facts and information on Helsinki Accords

Helsinki Accords Facts for kids

Helsinki Accords Facts - 1: In the summer of 1975, the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) met and produced the Helsinki Accords which, in keeping with Detente, attempted to improve diplomatic and political relations between the Communist bloc and the West.

Helsinki Accords Facts - 2: The Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe opened at Helsinki, Finland on 3 July 1973 and continued at Geneva from 18 September 1973 to 21 July 1975, was concluded at Helsinki on 1 August 1975 when the agreement was signed by representatives of all the participating nations.

Helsinki Accords Facts - 3: The participating States reaffirmed their commitment to peace, security and justice and the continuing development of friendly relations and co-operation

Helsinki Accords Facts - 4: United States President Ford pursued the concept of Detente aimed at easing tensions between the East and West. With this in mind he made the decision to attend the final stages of the 1975 Conference on European Security and Cooperation in Helsinki, Finland to sign the Helsinki Accords.

Helsinki Accords Facts - 5: The 35 countries who signed the Helsinki Accords were 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 USSR, the UK, the USA and Yugoslavia.

Helsinki Accords Facts - 6: The parties who signed the Helsinki Agreement agreed to the following principles:

1. Sovereign equality and 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. Cooperation among States

10. Fulfillment in good faith of obligations under international law

Helsinki Accords Facts - 7: The Conference was hailed as a success and the Helsinki Accords was viewed as a significant step towards reducing Cold War tensions.

Helsinki Accords Facts - 8: The Helsinki Accords was a formal agreement but was not binding as the Accords did not have the same status as a treaty.

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Helsinki Accords Facts for kids

Facts about the Helsinki Accords for kids
The following fact sheet continues with facts about Helsinki Accords.

Helsinki Accords Facts for kids

Helsinki Accords Facts - 9: The USSR went on to ignore its promises about human rights which led many people to disagree with the continuation of Detente.

Helsinki Accords Facts - 10: Although the Soviets chose to ignore the agreements made about the Civil Rights of its people, many of their own people took the Helsinki Accords seriously.

Helsinki Accords Facts - 11: Critics of the Helsinki Accords believed that the agreements gave far too much control of Eastern Europe to the Soviet Union. The famous Soviet dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn denounced the Accords as “the betrayal of Eastern Europe”.

Helsinki Accords Facts - 12: A number of human rights groups emerged to monitor the USSR's compliance with the Helsinki Accords. Organizations such as the Helsinki Watch were founded by a collection of Soviet dissidents and became one of the loudest critics of Soviet human rights policies.

Helsinki Accords Facts - 13: The Soviet Civil Right issues would not be resolved until the 1980's when Glasnost was introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev and the Collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Helsinki Accords Facts - 14: Ronald Reagan was elected President and condemned the Soviet Union for breaking their promises. Reagan went on to denounce President Ford for refusing to meet with Alexander Solzhenitsyn and for signing the Helsinki Accords which he said gave “the American seal of approval for the Soviet empire in Eastern Europe.”

Helsinki Accords Facts - 15: The period of Detente came to an end and the strong anti-communist views of the aspirations of the Helsinki Accords

Helsinki Accords Facts for kids

Helsinki Accords - President Gerald Ford Video
The article on the Helsinki Accords provides detailed facts and a summary of one of the important events during his presidential term in office. The following Gerald Ford video will give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 38th American President whose presidency spanned from August 9, 1974 to January 20, 1977.

Helsinki Accords

● Interesting Facts about Helsinki Accords for kids and schools
● Summary of the Helsinki Accords in US history
● Facts about the effects of Detente
● Gerald Ford Presidency from August 9, 1974 to January 20, 1977
● Fast, fun, Helsinki Accords about major events in his presidency
● Foreign & Domestic policies of President Gerald Ford
● Gerald Ford Presidency and foreign policy for schools, homework, kids and children