The Helsinki Accords, signed in 1975, aimed to reduce Cold War tensions and included baskets on security, trade, and human rights. What is this agreement commonly called?

• A. Helsinki Convening
• B. Helsinki Accords
• C. Paris Agreements
• D. CSCE Summit

Answer: (B)

The Helsinki Accords. Signed in 1975, these agreements brought together the Soviet Union and Western states to ease Cold War tensions and set out promises across three broad areas: security in Europe, cooperation in trade and other fields like science and the environment, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The standard shorthand used is the Helsinki Accords (also known as the Helsinki Final Act), reflecting that it was a formal set of agreements reached at the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, which later evolved into the OSCE. The other names don’t match the well-known term used to refer to this set of agreements.