The Foreign Ministry’s statement on the anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act

August 1 is the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, in 1975. This document is of intransient importance as a symbol of détente and cooperation. It has played a major role in contemporary Europe, emerging as one of the foundations of the modern architecture of international relations.

Russia is wholly committed to the Helsinki Decalogue of principles of interstate relations in their interconnection, and to all political obligations assumed by the CSCE/OSCE. We call on the Eurasian-Atlantic community to abide by the letter and spirit of these obligations and principles. History shows that double standards and a selective approach to their application, attempts to strengthen one’s security at the expense of others, and interference in the internal affairs of other nations can result in serious risks to European stability.

Russia is in favour of enhancing the OSCE’s role and status in international affairs and strengthening it as a forum for political dialogue and decision-making on the most important security and cooperation issues. We are confident that a reliance on the unifying principles of the Helsinki Process, laid down by the leaders of the Euro-Atlantic states 40 years ago, will make this possible, given the due display of political will, maturity and wisdom, to overcome any crises, and will promote the formation of a single space of indivisible security and equitable, mutually beneficial cooperation on our continent.

August 1, 2015