The Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe: A Reappraisal

From 22 November 1972 to 8 June 1973 the diplomatic delegations of thirty-fi ve countries – the US, Canada, and all European states but self-excluded Albania – gathered informally in Helsinki for the Multilateral Preparatory Talks (MPT) on the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE). The MPT Final Recommendations of the Helsinki Consultations set the rules and agenda for the negotiations and established a conference in three phases, the last of which was undefi ned as to date and, most importantly, the political level of the representatives.