The development of the CSCE process : Toward the institutionalization of detente

The Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) in which 33 European countries, Canada and the United States participated, started in July 1973 and ended in August 1975 with the conclusion of the so-called 'Helsinki Agreement'. The Helsinki Agreement sets forth not only the ten principles that govern international relations among the countries, but also terms of cooperation in promoting economic exchange and the solution of humanitarian problems. CSCE later came to show rather unexpected development of the so-called 'Helsinki process', a multilateral following up and process of cooperation based on the provisions of the Helsinki Agreement, thus contributing to the institutionalization of detente in East-West relations in Europe. The aims of this paper are; first, to view the process of realization of the CSCE, originally proposed by the USSR and later joined by the West; second, to study the CSCE procedure and negotiation process; third, to discuss the differing interpretations of some key issues of the Final Accord, including the question of 'recognition of the status quo in Europe', and the question of 'the right to intervene' in human rights problems of other participating countries; and, finally, to analyze the development of the Helsinki process with particular emphasis on the two main issues of the process, that is, the human rights issue, and the issue of confidence building measures