[Pages S5213-S5214]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 20--RECOGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF 
THE HELSINKI FINAL ACT AND REAFFIRMING THE UNITED STATES' COMMITMENT TO 
                       ITS PRINCIPLES AND VALUES

  Mr. WICKER (for himself, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Tillis, Ms. Smith, Mr. 
Boozman, Mr. Fetterman, Mrs. Britt, and Mrs. Shaheen) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Foreign Relations:

                            S. Con. Res. 20

       Whereas August 1, 2025, is the 50th anniversary of the 
     signing of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in 
     Europe Final Act (referred to in this resolution as the 
     ``Helsinki Final Act'');
       Whereas, on August 1, 1975, 35 nations, including the 
     United States, Canada, and the nations of Europe, signed the 
     Helsinki Final Act, marking a historic milestone in 
     international diplomacy during the Cold War;
       Whereas the Helsinki Final Act established a comprehensive 
     concept of security that encompasses political-military, 
     environmental and economic, and human rights and humanitarian 
     dimensions;
       Whereas the Helsinki Final Act codified 10 principles in 
     the Declaration on Principles Guiding Relations Between 
     Participating States (commonly known as ``The Decalogue''), 
     which--
       (1) all participating states committed to respect and put 
     into practice in their relations with each other; and
       (2) have formed a basis for the international order in the 
     region encompassing the participating states of the 
     Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) 
     since its inception in 1975;

       Whereas these principles, adopted on the basis of consensus 
     by all participating states and repeatedly reaffirmed, 
     enshrine--
       (1) the sovereign equality of all participating states and 
     respect for the rights inherent in sovereignty;
       (2) refraining from the threat or use of force among 
     participating states;
       (3) the inviolability of frontiers of the 57 participating 
     states;
       (4) the territorial integrity of participating states;
       (5) the peaceful settlement of disputes among participating 
     states;
       (6) nonintervention in internal affairs;
       (7) respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, 
     including the freedom of thought, conscience, religion, or 
     belief;
       (8) equal rights and self-determination of peoples;
       (9) cooperation among participating states; and
       (10) fulfillment in good faith of obligations under 
     international law;

       Whereas the Helsinki Final Act, for the first time in the 
     history of international agreements, recognized that respect 
     for, and implementation of, commitments to human rights and 
     fundamental freedoms are integral to stability and security 
     within and among nations;
       Whereas the principles of the Helsinki Final Act have been 
     threatened in recent years by irresponsible acts of certain 
     states, including the actions of the Russian Federation in 
     its occupation of the territories of Ukraine, Moldova, and 
     Georgia and which constitute a threat to the stability and 
     security of Europe and the world;
       Whereas the Russian Federation is responsible for the 
     clear, gross, and uncorrected violation of all 10 principles 
     of the Helsinki Final Act;
       Whereas the scourge of anti-Semitism persists throughout 
     the OSCE region and should continue to be called out, 
     condemned, and opposed by all participating states;
       Whereas Congress contributed to advancing the aims of the 
     Helsinki Final Act by creating the Commission on Security and 
     Cooperation in Europe (commonly known as the ``Helsinki 
     Commission'') to monitor and encourage compliance with 
     provisions of the Helsinki Final Act;
       Whereas the Helsinki Commission consists of 9 United States 
     senators, 9 members of the United States House of 
     Representatives, and 3 representatives from the Executive 
     Branch of the United States Government;
       Whereas the Helsinki Final Act ultimately led to the 
     creation of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in 
     Europe, which was designed to prevent, manage, and resolve 
     conflict within and among the participating states;
       Whereas the legacy of the Helsinki Final Act continues to 
     serve as a guiding framework for--
       (1) addressing security challenges;
       (2) defending the rule of law; and
       (3) supporting the rights of individuals against 
     authoritarian oppression and aggression;

       Whereas successive United States administrations since the 
     Helsinki Final Act was signed in 1975 have made the Helsinki 
     Final Act's Principles Guiding Relations Between 
     Participating States a basis for United States policy toward 
     Europe and the entire OSCE region;
       Whereas Congress has strongly supported and encouraged the 
     United States to promote improved compliance with these 
     guiding principles, including by raising its concerns about 
     noncompliance in a direct and frank manner, and continues to 
     provide such support and encouragement; and
       Whereas, in the face of renewed threats to sovereignty, 
     democracy, and human rights, particularly in Eastern Europe 
     and Eurasia, the principles of the Helsinki Final Act remain 
     significant and foundational to a comprehensive concept of 
     security: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) commemorates the 50th anniversary of the signing of the 
     Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in 
     Europe and recognizes the importance of the Helsinki 
     Principles and the OSCE;
       (2) reasserts the commitment of the United States to the 
     full implementation of the Helsinki Final Act and to 
     continued participation in the OSCE;

[[Page S5214]]

       (3) urges all participating states to abide by their 
     respective obligations under the Helsinki Final Act, 
     including respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, 
     which are vital to the functioning of democracy;
       (4) calls on public officials, educators, librarians, and 
     the people of the United States to join Congress in 
     observance of this anniversary with appropriate programs, 
     ceremonies, and activities; and
       (5) conveys to all signatory states of the Helsinki Final 
     Act that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, 
     democratic principles, economic liberty, peaceful resolution 
     of conflicts among participating states, respect for the 
     sovereignty and territorial integrity of participating 
     states, and the implementation of related commitments 
     continue to be vital elements in promoting security, 
     prosperity, and peace throughout the region covered by the 
     OSCE.

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