Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

:For other uses, see OSCE (disambiguation).

History

The organization was established in 1973 as the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE). Talks had been mooted about a European security grouping since the 1950s but the Cold War prevented any substantial progress until the talks at Dipoli in Helsinki began in November 1972. These talks were held at the suggestion of the Soviet Union which wished to use the talks to maintain its control over the communist countries in Eastern Europe. Western Europe, however, saw these talks as a way to reduce the tension in the region, furthering economic cooperation and obtaining humanitarian improvements for the populations of the Communist Bloc.

Related Topics:
Cold War - Helsinki - Soviet Union - Communist - Eastern Europe - Western Europe - Economic - Communist Bloc

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The recommendations of the talks, "The Blue Book", gave the practical foundations for a three-stage conference, the Helsinki process. The CSCE opened in Helsinki on July 3, 1973 with 35 states sending representatives. Stage I only took five days to agree to follow the Blue Book. Stage II was the main working phase and was conducted in Geneva from September 18, 1973 until July 21, 1975. the result of Stage II was the Helsinki Final Act which was signed by the 35 particpating nations during Stage III, which took place in Helsinki from July 30 to August 1, 1975.

Related Topics:
July 3 - 1973 - Geneva - September 18 - July 21 - 1975 - Helsinki Final Act - July 30 - August 1

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The concepts of improving relations and implementing the Act were developed over a series of follow-up meeting, with major gatherings in Belgrade (October 4, 1977 - March 8, 1978), Madrid (November 11, 1980 - September 9, 1983), and Vienna (November 4, 1986 - January 19, 1989).

Related Topics:
Belgrade - October 4 - 1977 - March 8 - 1978 - Madrid - November 11 - 1980 - September 9 - 1983 - Vienna - November 4 - 1986 - January 19 - 1989

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The collapse of Communism required a change of role for the CSCE. The Paris Charter for a New Europe which was signed on November 21, 1990 marked the beginning of this change. With the changes capped by the re-naming of the CSCE to the OSCE on January 1, 1995, accordingly to the results of the conference held in Budapest, in 1994.

Related Topics:
Communism - Paris Charter for a New Europe - November 21 - 1990 - January 1 - 1995 - Budapest - 1994

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In Istanbul on November 19, 1999, the OSCE ended a two-day summit by calling for a political settlement in Chechnya and adopting a Charter for European Security.

Related Topics:
Istanbul - November 19 - 1999 - Chechnya - Charter for European Security

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After a group of 13 democratic US senators petitioned Secretary of State Colin Powell to have foreign election monitors oversee the 2004 US presidential election, the State Department acquiesced, and President Bush invited the OSCE to do so. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1187060/posts

Related Topics:
Democratic - US - Senators - Secretary of State - Colin Powell - 2004 US presidential election - State Department

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Structural History

The Chairman in Office for -

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• 2005: Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel
• 2004: Bulgarian Foreign Affairs Minister Solomon Passy
• 2003: Netherlands Foreign Minister Jaap de Hoop Scheffer

Fiscal History

Budget (in Millions of Euros, not adjusted for inflation) for -

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• 2005: ?
• 2004: 180.8
• 2003: 165.5
• 2002: 167.5
• 2001: 194.5
• 2000: 202.7
• 1999: 146.1
• 1998: 118.7
• 1997: 43.3
• 1996: 34.9
• 1995: 18.9
• 1994: 21
• 1993: 12

Participating States