The Charter of Paris for a New Europe includes new "Guidelines for the Future" together with the establishment of standing institutions like the Conflict Prevention Centre in Vienna, the Office for Free Elections in Warsaw and the Secretariat in Prague. The Charter also established three main political, consultative bodies: The Council of Ministers, consisting of foreign ministers from the participating States; a Committee of Senior Officials to assist the Council and manage day-to-day business; and regular summit meetings of heads of State or Government.
At the first summit meeting since Helsinki, the Heads of State or Government adopted the Charter of Paris, aimed at defining the OSCE's identity in a new international environment and taking advantage of new oppotunities for cooperation. The Charter of Paris of November 1990 marked the turning point in the history of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in the post-Cold War era, serving as a transition for the OSCE from its role as a forum for negotiation and dialogue to an active operational structure. The Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) was renamed the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe effective 1995. From 1974 to 1990, the CSCE (as its name implies) worked as one continuous conference. The Paris Summit Meeting in 1990 marked the beginning of institutionalization, reflecting the changes in Europe and the new challenges for the post-Cold War period.
Primary documents, including treaty text and associated memoranda, statements and other related material, as well as official factsheets, announcements, briefings speeches and other related material.
Chronological archive of news reports, commentary analysis and other related material.
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