Fifty years ago, in the midst of the Cold War, all eyes turned to Helsinki as Finland played host to a rare moment of East-West unity.
At the CSCE (Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe), the US and then-USSR leaders sat down to discuss their issues in Helsinki, resulting in an easing of the tensions between the two superpowers.
Today with talk of diplomacy breaking down and global powers making sudden moves, the echoes of the Cold War aren't hard to hear.
But what was life like in the Finnish capital back then?
"It was smaller than it is today, and even more provincial than it is today. Compared to today, the standard of living was not as high. There were no malls. The first supermarkets had opened only a few years earlier," Yle News' Eddy Hawkins told APN. "This was only 30 years after the end of World War II. You would see a lot of men, missing a limb, scarred from battle wounds."
Listen to the episode via this embedded player, on Yle Areena, via Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
The 1975 summit marked a milestone in Cold War diplomacy. It locked in post-war borders and gave human rights a foothold. Though no major breakthroughs occurred, it was a rare moment of cooperation, with 35 nations committing to dialogue over division.
Fifty years on, the summit’s legacy is once again in focus, as Finland chairs the organisation, which has since been renamed to OSCE.
This episode also explores the organisation's relevance today, in the shadow of Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine. Plus, we hear from a filmmaker whose new documentary reveals what really went on between leaders behind closed doors at the summit.
For a weekly roundup of the top stories from Finland, as well as an Yle Areena tip, sign up for Yle's newsletter service with your Yle ID.
Join the conversation!
Zena Iovino presented this episode of All Points North. The sound engineer was Tuomas Vauhkonen.
If you have any questions or want to share your thoughts, contact us via WhatsApp at +358 44 421 0909 or at yle.news@yle.fi and allpointsnorth@yle.fi.
Users with an Yle ID can leave comments on our news stories. You can create your Yle ID via this link. Our guidelines on commenting and moderation are explained here.