Right/13. International law

 

K. Yu. N. Zhadan V. N.
Kazan Federal University, Elabuga Institute, Russia
THE ISSUE OF RUSSIA'S COOPERATION WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

 

Before the world community at the present stage, and to Russia in particular, there are always the issues of cooperation with States and international organizations on various issues, given the political, economic, humanitarian and other interests for their interaction.

The subject of this review will have some questions about the international and Russian normative legal acts, the General theoretical positions that characterize Russia's cooperation with international organizations at the universal and regional levels, and is a continuation of a previously published author of materials about Russia's cooperation with the international community and organizations [1].

The main international legal instruments governing the cooperation of States and international organizations are the Charter of the United Nations (1945) [2] (hereinafter – UN), of the Vienna Convention on the law of treaties (1969) [3], the Vienna Convention on the representatives of States in their relations with international organizations of a universal character (1975) [4], the Convention on the legal status, privileges and immunities of intergovernmental organizations working in specific sectors of cooperation (1980) [5], the Vienna Convention on the law of treaties between States and international organizations or between international organizations (1986) [6] and others. These international legal acts define how the General rules of behavior of subjects of international law, the development of friendly relations between States, interaction and cooperation of States and international organizations, ensuring international peace and security, the participation of States in the international community and the rules of activities of international organizations.

Russian regulatory-legal acts governing the cooperation with international organizations are the provisions of the Constitution of the Russian Federation [7] and the Federal law of 15.07.1995 N 101-FZ "On international treaties of the Russian Federation" [8].

As you know, Russia cooperates with several hundred international organizations (in the literature called more than 300) that can be subdivided into three groups: 1) authorities and specialized organizations (agencies) of the UN; 2) the economic, political, humanitarian and other international organizations; 3) international clubs, communities, unions, etc.

Russia as the successor state of the former Soviet Union have made commitments on compliance and execution of previously signed international legal acts and international treaties. Therefore, as the legal successor of the USSR, Russia continued its membership in the UN and as a permanent member in the UN Security Council.

At the meetings of the General Assembly and the UN Security Council, Russia is actively involved not only in discussion and decision-making, but often initiates resolutions on topical issues and problems directed to the maintenance of international peace and security, solving international problems.

Russia is actively involved on international economic and social development in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the UN economic Commission for Europe (ECE) regional Commission of ECOSOC and international trade and problems of economic development in the work of the United Nations Conference on trade and development (UNCTAD).

No less important for Russia is to participate in the work of the specialized UN organizations, and more specifically in the activities of the UN industrial development organization (UNIDO), International labour organization (ILO), the International monetary Fund (IMF), United Nations educational, scientific and cultural organization (UNESCO), UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), world health organization (who), world trade organization (WTO), the International atomic energy organization (IAEA), Food and agriculture (FAO), the counter-terrorism Committee (CTC) of the UN Security Council, International criminal police organization (Interpol) and others.

Russia is actively involved in inter-regional international organizations, clubs and unions. Among these international organizations include: the Asia-Pacific economic cooperation (APEC) aimed at cooperating on issues of regional trade and investment liberalisation, increased economic development in the Asia-Pacific region; as part of the five member countries of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), which focused on economic cooperation and international integration; The Shanghai cooperation organization (SCO) aimed at economic cooperation in scientific-technical sphere and the development of joint investment projects and other areas.

Among international organizations there are so-called clubs, membership and conditions of entry into which is strictly not designed, nevertheless, they can be quite prestigious.

So, Russia, in 1997, entered into three such clubs – the London and Paris clubs in the "Big seven" (G7). In the "Big seven" leading industrialized countries (USA, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Japan and Italy), and therefore, the admission of Russia into this organization formed a "Big eight" (G8) countries of the world.

In 2014 the summit "Big eight" was planned in Russia (Sochi), but given the situation in Ukraine, it was replaced by the summit "seven" in Brussels.

Russia is in a larger club of "Great twenty" (G-20) countries with the most developed and developing economies. In the "Big twenty" consists of 19 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, UK, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Canada, China, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, USA, Turkey, France, South Korea, South Africa, Japan) and the European Union. Thus in the international media noted that the G20 represents two-thirds of the world's population, 85 per cent of GNP and 75% of world trade.

It is generally recognized that Russia has a strategic value of cooperation with countries-members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (hereinafter – CIS), as it is based on the economic and political component, and centuries of common space.

D. Kondratov noted that mutual trade is the main direction of economic cooperation of the CIS States. On the basis of policy documents of the CIS, including Strategy of economic development of the CIS up to 2020, building momentum 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 the volume of domestic production of the countries of the CIS, GDP growth and has beneficial effect on raising the standard of living of the population of the participating countries of this international organization [9, p. 59].

Russia in order to further economic cooperation of the CIS countries actively involved in the establishment and operation of new international organizations as the Eurasian economic community (EurAsEC existed in 2001-2014), Customs Union (1 July 2010), common economic space (1 January 2012) free trade Zone (20 September 2012) and the Eurasian economic Union (EAEU from 1 January 2015).

Is Russia's interest and cooperation with international organizations in Europe, both in terms of ensuring peace and security and economic, political, humanitarian and other areas.

Russia actively enough participates on the issues of security and cooperation in the framework of the Organization for security and cooperation in Europe (hereinafter – OSCE). While the OSCE comprises 57 countries from Europe, North America and Central Asia.

As you know, in the European space an important place in the cooperation of European States is the Council of Europe, which Russia joined on 28 February 1996, which was adopted Federal law dated 23.02.1996 N 19-FZ "On accession of the Russian Federation to the Statute of the Council of Europe" [10]. While Russia has assumed certain obligations, including to comply with the Statute of the Council of Europe (1949), to ratify the Convention on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms (1950) and its protocols [11] and other legal acts. Of course, this situation is positive, as it allowed the citizens of Russia to submit individual (collective) complaints of violations of human rights in the European Court of human rights (hereinafter – ECHR).

The truth has arisen, and problems of the participation of Russian deputies in the parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (hereinafter – PACE) and its resolutions. During participation in the work of the PACE against Russia often adopted anti-Russian resolution (for example, the situation in the Chechen Republic and Russia's recognition of independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia "condemns the Russian military aggression and the annexation of the Crimea", etc.). Moreover, the Russian delegation for the accession of Crimea into Russia was deprived of voting rights in the Assembly, excluded from all decision-making bodies are prohibited to participate in the observation missions of PACE, which applies in 2017.

All is not "rosy" in terms of cooperation of Russia with the ECHR, as there is quite a large practice of treatment of citizens of Russia and foreign citizens in this inter-state judicial body, and there are problems with execution and compliance adopted by the ECtHR of decisions of the Constitution and the decisions of the constitutional Court of the Russian Federation. An example is the decision of the ECHR according to Russia's "Dima Yakovlev law" that banned the adoption of children by prospective parents from the United States [12].

Russia is actively cooperating with the European Union (hereinafter – EU), which is a continuation of cooperation of the former USSR, but based on the new agreement on partnership and cooperation between the EU and Russia (1994), which entered into force on 1 December 1997.

Cooperation of Russia with the European Union is economic and social and humanitarian issues, as well as at the parliamentary level. At the same time, the European Parliament in 2014 in connection with the situation in Ukraine has adopted a resolution which "strongly condemns Russia for the annexation of Crimea, waging an undeclared hybrid war against Ukraine with the use of the armed forces and support for illegally armed groups", etc.

In 2014 on the initiative of the USA and for international isolation of Russia was introduced to the economic, individual and other sanctions joined by EU countries, the countries "the Big seven" and some other States. The introduction of sanctions against Russia were settled in connection with the annexation of Crimea to Russia, the military conflict in the Donbass and the proclamation on the part of the territory of Donetsk and Lugansk national republics, as Pro-Russian. The sanctions the US, EU and other countries, Russia responded with the introduction of adequate measures and sanctions.

Russia cooperates with other European organisations, including with the Council of Baltic sea States (CBSS) and the black sea economic cooperation (BSEC) that was established to organize cooperation in political, economic, social, humanitarian, ecological and other spheres.

Russia cooperates with other international organizations on other continents and regions, which requires independent consideration.

Thus, the analyzed theoretical provisions and scientific approaches, and proposed the author's understanding of Russia's cooperation with some international organizations.

 

Literature:

1. See: Zhadan V. N. Russia's Participation in the activities of international organizations // Tauride research Explorer. – 2016. – N 3 (8). – P. 88-94; Zhadan V. N. Constitutional and legal framework of Russia's cooperation with the international community // Young scientist. – 2016. – N 5. – P. 486-491; Zhadan V. N. Russia and the European international organizations: problems and prospects in international relations // Young scientist. – 2016. – N 8. – P. 739-745, etc.

2. The Charter of the United Nations (as amended on 16.09.2005). URL: http://docs.cntd.ru/document/1900507

3. Vienna Convention on the law of treaties (Concluded in Vienna on 23.05.1969). URL: http://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_12754/

4. Vienna Convention on the representation of States in their relations with international organizations of a universal character (done at Vienna 14.03.1975). URL: http://www.consultant.ru/cons/cgi/online.cgi?req=doc;base=INT;n=15600#0

5. Convention on the legal status, privileges and immunities of interstate economic Organizations active in certain areas of cooperation (Concluded in Budapest 05.12.1980). URL: http://www.consultant.ru/cons/CGI/online.cgi?req=doc;base=INT;n=15456#0

6. Vienna Convention on the law of treaties between States and international organizations or between international organizations (Concluded in Vienna 21.03.1986). URL: http://www.consultant.ru/cons/cgi/online.cgi?req=doc&base=INT&n=15605#0

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

8. Federal law of 15.07.1995 N 101-FZ (as amended on 12.03.2014 N 29-FZ) "About international treaties of the Russian Federation". URL: http://docs.cntd.ru/document/9012279

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

10. Federal law dated 23.02.1996 N 19-FZ "On accession of the Russian Federation to the Statute of the Council of Europe. URL: http://base.consultant.ru/cons/cgi/online.cgi?req=doc;base=LAW;n=15675

11. Federal law of 30.03.1998 N 54-FZ "On ratification of the Convention on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms and the Protocols thereto". URL: http://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_18263/

12. Policy, 17.01.2017. Russia appeals ECHR ruling on the "law of Dima Yakovlev". URL: http://tass.ru/politika/3947384