AUSTRIA

AUSTRIA / ÖSTERREICH.

Vienna Meeting of the Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE).
Air view of Vienna, with Danube river and Danube Canal (Donaukanal).
Stamp and minishet issued on 04.11.1986.
Face value: 6 shilling.
Design: Ferdinand Dorner.
Engraving: Wolfgang Seidel (b. 1946).
Print: 6,500,000 copies.
Size (minisheet): 90 x 70 mm.

Catalogues
- Michel No. Block 8.
- StampWorld No. 1912.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 1696.

The Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) was a key element of the détente process during the Cold War. Although it did not have the force of the Treaty, it recognize the boundaries of postwar Europe and established a mechanism for minimizing political and military tensions between East and West and improving human rights in the Communist bloc. The first phase was the Meeting of Foreign Ministers in Helsinki in 1973, the second negotiations held in Geneva from 1973 to 1975, and the third the Helsinki summit in 1975. The final document was signed in Helsinki Finland on August 1, 1975 by 33 European nations, the United States and Canada. It is often called the Helsinki Agreement. In 1994, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) was established as a successor to CSCE. The Vienna Meeting, started on November 4, 1986, lasted until January 19, 1989.