WASHINGTON DC – In a powerful legislative move, a bipartisan group of US senators over the weekend introduced a resolution commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act – a Cold War-era agreement that defined the rules of engagement for a generation. But the resolution isn’t just a look back; it’s a stark warning about the present.
Sponsored by a coalition of senators including Roger Wicker (R-MS), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Tina Smith (D-MN), the bill is a rare moment of unity on a foreign policy issue that has once again taken center stage.
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The draft resolution, reviewed by Kyiv Post, praises the 1975 Helsinki Final Act for establishing a comprehensive vision of security built on principles like the inviolability of frontiers and the territorial integrity of participating states.
But in a significant and pointed section, the resolution pivots from historical tribute to a sharp rebuke of Russia’s modern-day actions. It states that the Helsinki principles have been “threatened in recent years by irresponsible acts of certain states,” explicitly calling out the “Russian Federation in its occupation of the territories of Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia.”
The resolution does not mince words, declaring that the “Russian Federation is responsible for the clear, gross, and uncorrected violation of all 10 principles of the Helsinki Final Act.”
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Speaking to Kyiv Post’s Washington correspondent on Sunday, two congressional sources familiar with the resolution, emphasized that this legislative action comes at a time when the echoes of the Cold War are being heard with increasing frequency.
The resolution serves as a clear signal from the US Senate that the principles that guided international relations for decades are still considered the bedrock of a stable world order – and that the United States will not ignore their violation.
The resolution urges all signatory states to uphold their commitments to the act, particularly in respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms.
It also calls on public officials and the American people to observe the anniversary, ensuring that the lessons of the Helsinki Accords – and the threats they were designed to prevent – are not forgotten.