Photo: ENRS
Rev. Frank-Dieter Fischbach, General Secretary of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), participated in the 13th European Remembrance Symposium and International Conference marking the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act. The event, titled “The Spirit of Helsinki Then and Now,” was held from 10–13 June, and organised by the European Network Remembrance and Solidarity.
During the symposium, participants reflected on the significance of the Helsinki Final Act, signed on 1 August 1975, as a landmark diplomatic achievement of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE). The gathering examined its enduring legacy and addressed today’s pressing questions of peace, human rights, and security in Europe and beyond.
Representing CEC, Fischbach brought greetings from Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain, CEC President. In his remarks, he described the Helsinki Final Act as “a pan-European document and a political process that embodies bridge-building and cohesion in Europe – aligning closely with the vision and mission of the Conference of European Churches.”
He recalled that while CEC had long supported peace and détente between East and West during the Cold War, it had also fallen short in advocating for oppressed Christians in the Eastern Bloc. “CEC must acknowledge that, in focusing on détente, it overlooked the plight of dissidents and the restrictions faced by churches in the East,” he said. “This failure was acknowledged in 1992, but remains a lesson in how peace cannot come at the cost of truth and justice.”
Fischbach emphasised the importance of continuing this legacy through CEC’s current work, particularly in light of the war in Ukraine. He highlighted CEC’s Pathways to Peace initiative, which fosters dialogue among churches to explore the concept of ‘just peace.’
“‘Just peace’ must include speaking the truth,” he stressed. “Our Ukrainian partners remind us that peace without truth and freedom is no peace at all.”
Calling for a renewed commitment to peacebuilding and human rights in today’s fragmented world, he asked: “Shouldn’t we, in this new era of rearmament, call again for treaties that guarantee and monitor disarmament? Every weapon produced to kill another human being marks a human failure.”
Looking ahead, Rev. Fischbach invited a broader conversation about Europe’s future. “A new Helsinki Process could help Europe find its way forward – inclusive, just, and committed to human dignity.”
CEC continues to engage its 114 Member Churches across Europe on themes of reconciliation, freedom, and the role of churches in promoting peace and justice.