Second Heads of State Summit, Paris

The Cold War was over. As the Heads of State of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe gathered in Paris for their second Summit, they knew that the profound changes that had swept across the continent would mean change for the Organization too.

There were 34 participating States present in Paris, one less than in Helsinki 15 years previously. The two Germanys had been reunited just a few weeks prior to the Summit, and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl was quick to acknowledge this.

"If proof of the CSCE's vitality were ever needed, then it has been provided not least by the propitious turning-point in the history of my country and people. After more than 40 years of division, we Germans were able at the beginning of October to achieve our unity.

"Without the foundation laid 15 years ago for a peaceful order encompassing the whole of Europe, it would not have been possible today to accomplish German unity and to restore the historical unity of our continent, as we are doing here in Paris. As an idea and as a forum for forward-looking policies, the CSCE has stood the test of time," said Kohl.

"A glorious day for Europe"

US President George Bush, while noting that it was "a glorious day for Europe", added that the continent was nonetheless "entering unknown waters. The CSCE is ideally suited to help its Member States navigate."

Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev added that: "1990 will be the decisive year of the age which we are leaving behind us, an age marked by two world wars and almost half a century of nuclear antagonism between our social systems."

The final document of the Summit was the Charter of Paris for a New Europe. "The era of confrontation and division of Europe has ended," it proclaimed.

"We declare that henceforth our, relations will be founded on respect and co-operation. Europe is liberating itself from the legacy of the past. The courage of men and women, the strength of the will of the peoples and the power of the ideas of the Helsinki Final Act have opened a new era of democracy, peace and unity in Europe.

"Ours is a time for fulfilling the hopes and expectations our peoples have cherished for decades: steadfast commitment to democracy based on human rights and fundamental freedoms; prosperity through economic liberty and social justice; and equal security for all our countries.

Towards an ambitious future

"The ten principles of the Final Act will guide us towards this ambitious future, just as they have lighted our way towards better relations for the past fifteen years. Full implementation of all CSCE commitments must form the basis for the initiatives we are now taking to enable our nations to live in accordance with their aspirations."

One of the key decisions of the Charter of Paris was that the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the participating States would meet annually as a Council, starting in Berlin (1991). The preparatory work for these meetings would be carried out by a Committee of Senior Officials (CSO).

The Charter of Paris also established the first of the CSCE's institutions:

• A Secretariat in Prague to provide administrative support for meetings of the Council, the CSO and other high-level consultations.
• An Office for Free Elections in Warsaw (later to become the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights).
• A Conflict Prevention Centre in Vienna to assist the Council in reducing the risk of conflict.

Also in Paris, the Participating States welcomed the signing by 22 nations of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe.

The institutionalization of the CSCE, heralding the beginning of its transformation into today's OSCE, was under way.