Stubb and Steinmeier propose Helsinki-like process for Middle East
Presidents of Finland and Germany call for a broad political process in the Middle East, citing the success of the Helsinki process during the Cold War.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier have published an article in the Financial Times proposing a solution for the Middle East similar to the Helsinki process of the 1970s. The Helsinki process, which culminated in the signing of the Helsinki Accords in 1975, demonstrated that trust is not required to start a process; rather, the process creates trust. The presidents emphasize that all parties must be involved in a Middle East process, just as 35 states participated in the Helsinki Final Act. They note that during the Helsinki process, confrontation gradually turned into cooperation. At the same time, the presidents acknowledge that today's Middle East is very different from Cold War Europe. However, they stress that complexity has never been a valid argument against dialogue; it is the strongest argument for it. According to the heads of state, there is a prevailing understanding both in and outside the region that a broader political process is needed, beyond the June memorandum of understanding between Iran and the US. The article also mentions that US armed forces have been striking targets in Iran for the tenth consecutive day. Iran has claimed to have attacked US military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. US officials reported that about 100 US service members have been injured in attacks on bases in the Middle East this month.
