The Impact of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe on the Activities of the III/II Group Chief of the Ministry of the Interior

Abstract

During the Cold War decades, the opposing sides made serious efforts to weaken the other, to gain clear military superiority, to increase their sphere of influence, and to hinder their opponents’ efforts in this direction, in which the secret services played a prominent role. At the same time, in view of the devastating consequences of the two world wars, European countries also sought to establish cooperation for security purposes in order to prevent new
conflicts. One such initiative was the creation of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe in 1973.
The Hungarian People’s Republic participated in the work of the EBEÉ from the beginning. The final declaration was signed by János Kádár himself, who in his speech spoke positively about the results of the meeting and the future of cooperation between the signatories. This, as well as the fact that the declaration was signed by the leading powers of the two Cold War blocs and the leaders of the European socialist countries, held the possibility of easing international relations. In my article, I examine whether this influenced and, if so, in what way and to what extent the Hungarian state security at the time, more closely speaking, the task performance of the Hungarian counter-espionage.