Right/13. International law

Zhadan V. N.
Kazan Federal University, Elabuga Institute, Russia
On Russia's participation in international organizations

The Russian state at the present stage, as in the whole of the international community, quite often the questions arise about the interaction and cooperation with States and international organizations on various issues and problems related to environmental pollution, climate change, various epidemics and diseases, the fight against international terrorism, etc.

In the scientific literature and the media (hereinafter – mass media) analysis of positions, roles and other aspects of the interaction and cooperation of Russia with other countries and international organizations, the subject of many publications [1] that in no way deprives the author to Express their opinion on this issue.

The subject of this study are some of the issues that characterize the participation of Russia in international organizations.

Based on the subject of research interest are the following questions: in any Russian normative legal acts is determined by the participation of Russia in the international community; on the basis of what international legal acts of the Russian Federation participates in international organizations, with some international organizations are the partners of Russia; any international organization, initiated by Russia and what are their goals and objectives?

It is generally recognized that international relations is one of the most complicated and important spheres of modern public relations, but an important one, because every state seeks to be recognized in the world community. A kind of arena for "recognition" of the legitimacy of the state are international organizations in which States have recognized their representative offices.

In the preamble to the Constitution of the Russian Federation (hereinafter – RF) States: "We, the multinational people of the Russian Federation ... aware of himself as part of the global community ..." [2]. Moreover, neither the Constitution of the world, even with a democratic character, unlike the Constitution, does not contain words expressing the will of the people about the importance of integration into the world community. In other words, the multinational people of Russia openly declares that he is part of the global community, and therefore ready to interact and cooperate with other peoples and States anywhere in the world.

At the same time, proceeding from Chapter 1 "the Foundations of constitutional order" that Russia is an independent sovereign state and the rule of law as it needs mutually beneficial cooperation with the international community on the basis of universally recognized international principles and norms. This follows from part 4 of article 15 of the RF Constitution, which provides that "the commonly Recognized principles and norms of international law and the international treaties of the Russian Federation are a component part of its legal system. If an international Treaty of the Russian Federation establishes other rules, than provided by law, the rules of international Treaty" [2]. Their data constitutional provisions that generally recognized principles and norms of international law, international treaties of the Russian Federation are a constituent part of the Russian legal system, but if the laws conflict with the international treaties of the Russian Federation, the priority for Russia will be the last.

Thus Russia, taking the principles and norms of international law, and concluding international contracts, acknowledges that is aware that it is part of the global community.

The main international legal act for the world community, including the defining issues of interaction and cooperation of States and international organizations is the Charter of the United Nations (1945) (hereinafter – the UN). The UN Charter defines the fundamental principles, the Declaration on principles of international law (1970) they were elaborated, and the Helsinki Final act of the conference on security and cooperation in Europe (1975) supplemented by new principles of international law, that being its General rules, have the greatest importance for peace and international security, determine the rules of behavior of subjects of international relations.

It is generally accepted that the world's leading organization, including coordinating the international cooperation of States and international organizations is the United Nations. At the General Assembly and the UN Security Council regularly discusses issues on interaction and cooperation of States and international organizations on various issues related to pollution, climate change, combating international terrorism, etc.

Russia as a successor state of the former USSR assumed obligations unconditional adherence to and implementation of the previously ratified international legal acts and international treaties. Meanwhile, Russia continued membership of the USSR in the UN, including permanent membership in the UN Security Council. The Security Council includes 15 member countries, 5 countries are permanent members (Russia, USA, UK, France and China) and with veto power on decisions taken, and another 10 member countries elected in accordance with the procedure provided for in the UN Charter. The UN Security Council has the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security and its decisions are binding on all member countries of the UN.

As we know from the history of the XX century, during the "cold war" were two military-political blocs: the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (hereinafter NATO) and the Warsaw Treaty Organization (hereinafter – the MIA). In NATO, which was formed in 1949, entered the United States, Germany, Britain, Italy and other countries of the Western world. And as a response organization by the Soviet Union in 1955 was established the police Department. It includes the GDR, Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary and other countries of Soviet orientation. The distinctive feature of these organizations was that NATO was only the capitalist countries of the West, and in the police Department is socialist. It should be noted that this has caused the problem in the sense that the world has become bipolar.

At the end of XX century after disintegration of the USSR and the socialist bloc, NATO has not ceased to exist, and is constantly expanding the number of members and the area of influence. Moreover, NATO is conducting a very aggressive policy against Russia, expanding not only the number of member countries from the former socialist countries and Soviet republics, but also increasing the number of military bases around Russia. That in no way contributes to the reduction of tensions in the world, ensuring international peace and security, development of international cooperation.

Proof are the words of the Minister of foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov that "After the collapse of the bipolar system, all countries were convinced that a unipolar world can not be, because no power, even the USA are not able to conduct business in the international arena alone. Here the following important point: with the emergence of new centers of economic growth, financial power and political influence recognized the country was convinced that the new world order must be polycentric [3, p. 5]. As you know, in modern Western and other countries on a new level, announced Russia's "cold war".

In the system of bodies of the United Nations economic and social international cooperation, an important place belongs to the Economic and Social Council (hereinafter ECOSOC) of the United Nations. Russia participates in the work of the economic Commission for Europe ECOSOC.

In the activities of the UN agencies occupy a special place specialized organizations of the United Nations. Russia has signed agreements with many of the specialized UN organizations.

So, since 1992, Russia is the international monetary Fund (hereinafter IMF). The IMF is an international financial organization having the status of specialized Agency of the UN. At the time an active part in the elaboration of the Statute of the IMF took the USSR, but the process of "cold war" led to the fact that the Soviet government had not signed the agreement on the establishment of the Fund.

In the framework of the United Nations among the specialized organizations in which Russia takes part, are the international criminal police organization (Interpol), a specialized counter-terrorism Committee (CTC) of the UN Security Council, the UN educational, scientific, and cultural organization (hereinafter UNESCO) and others.

In UNESCO are 186 States, including Russia. For Russia it is important to have membership in UNESCO, because the organization aims to create favorable conditions for introducing people to education and culture to eliminate illiteracy, to disseminate knowledge about the UN and human rights.

The largest specialized organization of the UN is the international labour organization (hereinafter ILO). Information and expertise of the ILO is used to create in Russia modern system of labour relations. Since 1959, operates the Moscow branch, and from 1997 – ILO.

22 August 2012, Russia became an official member of the world trade organization (hereinafter – WTO), 156 country. As stated in the international media, the WTO controls about 97% of world trade. However, the major task of the WTO are: the liberalization of international trade, promoting economic growth of the participating countries, and, consequently, to improve the welfare of their populations.

In the system of international organizations and decision-makers on security and cooperation in Europe are among the leaders of the Organization for security and cooperation in Europe (hereinafter – OSCE). The OSCE is a regional organization for security and co-operation, involving 57 countries from Europe, North America and Central Asia.

Strategic importance for Russia has trade-economic and military-political cooperation in the Commonwealth of Independent States (hereinafter – CIS).

So, D. Kondratov noted that mutual trade is the main direction of economic cooperation of the CIS States. Based on policy documents of the CIS, including Strategy of economic development of the Commonwealth of independent States for the period up to 2020, increasing the turnover of mutual trade is a key direction of economic integration within the Commonwealth. This entails the expansion of foreign trade relations between its participants, which in turn positively affects levels of domestic production of the countries of the CIS, GDP growth and has beneficial effects on improving the living standards of the population of the participating countries of this international organization [4, p. 59].

For the purposes of inter-state integration and to further economic cooperation of the CIS countries, Russia is actively involved in the establishment and functioning of international organizations such as the Eurasian economic community (EurAsEC existed in 2001-2014), Customs Union (1 July 2010), common economic space (1 January 2012), free trade Area of the CIS (20 September 2012) and the Eurasian economic Union (EAEU operates 1 January 2015).

Concrete steps are being made towards the development of economic cooperation within the group of five countries, which takes its name from the first letters of the participating countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (the BRICS). Similar issues are to be resolved in cooperation with the Shanghai cooperation organization (hereinafter SCO). This is supported by the Program of multilateral trade and economic cooperation until 2020, adopted in the framework of the SCO. The purpose of this programme is the development of leading industrial sectors, which implies collaboration in scientific-technical sphere and the development of joint investment projects.

At the VII summit of the BRICS and the SCO, held on 8-9 July 2015 in Ufa, Russia called for closer coordination of macroeconomic policies of the BRICS and the SCO. Support was expressed for the idea of increasing mutual trade and exchange of investments, which is reflected in the economic cooperation Strategy until 2020 [5].

E. Andreev and A. Ratner in an article "the Potential of BRICS and the SCO" note that "...soon the BRICS of international informal associations can evolve into influential international unit". And it is a natural process, because in the countries included in the BRICS, a more rapid economic development compared with the countries of "seven" [6, p. 114].

Thus, on the basis of international legal acts, analysis of the constitutional-legal norms and materials from the media, as well as scientific approaches and understanding of the author considers some questions regarding the participation of Russia in international organizations.

References:

1. See: Vardomsky L. B. Eurasian economic community: specifics and problems of development / Vardomsky L. B., Kuzmina E. M., Shurubovich A.V. // problems of forecasting. – 2005. – N 6. – P. 116-131; Doronina N. G. World trade organization: history of establishment and legal aspects of the entry / Doronina N. G., Lavrenov V. S. // Journal of Russian law. – 2004. – N 11. – P. 81-97; Zueva K. OSCE: yesterday, today, tomorrow // World economy and international relations. – 2005. – N 4. – P. 39-46; Martyanov V. Russia in a changing world // Free thought. – 2009. – N 12. – P. 139-148; Russia and international organizations [Electronic resource]. – Access mode: http://russia.yaxy.ru/rus/base/team/645.html (reference date: 15.02.2016); Sukharev O. S. the Russian economy in the global world // Economy and management. – 2008. – N 1. – P. 10-14, etc.

2. The Constitution of the Russian Federation (adopted by popular vote 12.12.1993) (as amended, amended by the Laws of the Russian Federation on amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation of 30.12.2008 N 6-FKZ, from 30.12.2008 N 7-FKZ, from 05.02.2014 N 2-FKZ, dated 21.07.2014 N 11-FKZ) // Sz the Russian Federation. – 2014. – N 31. – PT. 4398.

3. S. Lavrov. Russian diplomacy and challenges of the XXI century: interview // international life. – 2012. – N 9. – P. 4-5.

4. Kondratov D. Trade and economic cooperation in the CIS: opportunities for expanded // problems of theory and management practice. – 2013. – N 5. – P. 59-64.

5. "BRICS and the SCO, have laid the foundations for a new system of world governance": the media on the summits in Ufa [Electronic resource]. – Access mode: http://cont.ws/post/100079 (reference date: 15.02.2016).

6. Andreeva E., Ratner A. the Potential of the BRICS and the SCO // World economy and international relations. – 2015. – N 4. – P. 111-114.