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Foreign Minister Steinmeier on the 40th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act

01.08.2015 - Press release

Foreign Minister Steinmeier issued the following statement on the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Helsinki Final Act on 1 August 1975:

Forty years ago, amidst the very coldest days of the Cold War, seemingly implacable enemies in East and West took a difficult yet momentous step towards understanding and confidence-building by signing the Helsinki Final Act. For us Germans, the dialogue of Helsinki is inextricably bound up with the round table dialogue in Berlin and the peaceful reunification of the two German states.

We should hold firm to the vision of Helsinki, to the vision of a Europe of trust and cooperation, especially at a time when new lines of conflict have emerged in Europe.

Find out more:

  • Dialogue instead of threat, cooperation instead of confrontation

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