The CIS arose as a result of the collapse of the USSR in the post-Union economic space. The agreement on the formation of the CIS was signed by the leaders of Belarus, the RSFSR and Ukraine in December 1991, which was subsequently joined by other republics of the former USSR, with the exception of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. The CIS includes 11 countries: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine (Georgia withdrew). The share of CIS countries in world GDP is less than 5%.
When creating the CIS, the founding states of this organization set the following tasks:
To carry out the procedure for the liquidation of the USSR, the division of the union inheritance, the acquisition of full sovereignty and international recognition by each participant at the lowest cost,
Create a common economic, scientific, technical, information and humanitarian space on the basis of the former union republics, taking into account the fact that all members of the CIS for a long time constituted a single national economic complex within a single state.
Today, as a result of the inconsistent actions of some member countries and the remaining significant differences in their interests, the CIS is going through difficult times. The Commonwealth quite successfully solved the first task: with minimal political costs, the sovereignty of the union republics was established. However, the second task - the creation of a functioning economic community - has not yet been solved. Therefore, one of the characteristic features of today's cooperation within the CIS is “multi-level” integration.
Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) The Treaty establishing the EurAsEC was concluded in October 2000 by Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan. On January 25, 2006, at the EurAsEC summit in St. Petersburg, Uzbekistan was admitted to the Community. The objectives of the association are:
Completion of the free trade regime in full,
Formation of unified customs tariffs and a unified system of non-tariff regulation measures,
Establishment of general rules for trade in goods and services and their access to internal markets,
Development of a coordinated position of the Community member states in relations with the WTO (World Trade Organization) and other international economic organizations,
Creation of a unified customs regulation system.
The main goal of the EurAsEC is the creation of a single economic space on the territory of the six specified states.
The highest body of the EurAsEC is the Interstate Council, which meets at least once a year at the level of heads of state and at least twice a year at the level of heads of government. The permanent bodies of the EurAsEC are: Integration Committee, Interparliamentary Assembly,
Community Court. By decision of the Interstate Council, representative offices of the Integration Committee may be opened in member countries of the Community.
Union of Belarus and Russia
It is the most advanced form of integration of the CIS countries. The agreement establishing the union was signed in December 1999, which was preceded by the signing of:
In 1995, the Agreement on the Customs Union, to which in 1995-1999. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan joined, "
In April 1996, the Treaty on the Formation of the Community of Belarus and Russia,
In April 1997, the Treaty on the Union of Belarus and Russia.
In December 1999, an agreement was signed on the creation of the Union State of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus. At the same time, the national sovereignty of the participating countries was preserved with the simultaneous formation of allied government bodies and supranational governing bodies. Russia and Belarus remain full members of the international community and retain their membership in international organizations. Each party retains its obligations and rights under international treaties.
The goals of the Union State are:
Formation of a single economic space,
Implementation of a unified social policy,
Carrying out a coordinated defense and foreign policy.
6.3. European Union: stages of evolution, functioning mechanism
The European Union was formed as the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1967 following the merger of regional organizations: the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC, 1951); the Treaty of Rome 1957 delayed the EEC; European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM).
On January 1, 1994, on the basis of the Maastricht 1 Treaty of 1992, the EEC became known as the European Union. Currently, the EU is the largest economic and political integration association, which includes 27 European states with a territory of more than 4.2 million square meters. km and a population of more than 484 million people. These are: Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France - the parent countries of the EU; Great Britain, Ireland and Denmark, which joined the community in 1973; Greece, which joined the Community in 1981; Spain and Portugal, which have been members of the Community since 1986; Finland, Sweden and Austria, which joined the Community in 1995; Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Malta and Cyprus, which joined the EU in May 2004; Bulgaria and Romania, which joined the EU on January 1, 2007.
One of the main objectives of the Maastricht Treaty was the completion of economic integration through the creation of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). It was emphasized that EMU with a single currency for the participating countries (Euro) would include only those countries that fulfill the requirements of mutual adaptation of economic systems. These requirements include:
The state budget deficit of countries joining EMU should not exceed 3% of GDP,
The accumulated public debt should not exceed 60% of GDP,
The inflation rate in the country for the 12 months preceding its entry into EMU should not exceed more than 1.5 percentage points average level inflation of the three EU countries that achieved the lowest inflation,
Compliance, for at least two years, with the established limits of exchange rate fluctuations ensured by the exchange rate mechanism of the European Monetary System (countries joining the EMU during this period must not devalue on their own initiative the exchange rate of the national currency in relation to the currency of any other member state EU),
Long-term interest rates (measured by their level over the last 12 months) in a country joining EMU should not differ by more than two percentage points from the average level of these rates in at least three EU countries that have achieved the greatest stability of this indicator.
Today, 16 EU countries meet the above standards and have a common currency - the euro: Austria, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Finland and France, Greece, Slovenia, Cyprus, Malta and Slovakia.
In its evolution, the EU has gone through all forms of integration: a free trade area; Customs Union; economic and monetary union; political union,
The process began on May 9, 1950, with a speech by French Foreign Minister Robert Schumann, who proposed merging the coal and steel industries of France and the Federal Republic of Germany. This concept was implemented in 1951 by the Paris Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, whose members were: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
In 1957, the Treaty of Rome established the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community. They were accordingly aimed at creating a customs union and breaking down internal trade barriers within the Community, as well as the development of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. This stage was characterized by the creation of a free trade zone (1958-1966).
In 1967, the executive bodies of the three Communities merged (European Coal and Steel Community, European Atomic Energy Community, European Economic Community), resulting in the creation of an integration group - the European Community with such main institutions as the European Commission, Council, Parliament and the Court. The formation of a customs union (1968-1986) and further expansion of the EU's scope of activities take place.
In 1971, the Agreement on the creation of a free trade area between the EU and EFTA was concluded. The beginning of integration in the monetary and financial sphere also belongs to this stage. In 1972, joint floating of the currencies of some EU member countries was introduced within certain limits (+2.25 - “currency snake”), and in 1979 the European monetary system began to function.
The next stage is the creation of a common market (1987-1992). On the basis of the Single European Act, as well as the White Rareg document signed in 1985 on the program for creating an internal market, EU countries eliminated the remaining barriers to the movement of goods and factors of production.
The last stage in the process of European integration was the Maastricht Treaty of 1992. This is the stage of creating an economic union (from 1993 to the present).
The functioning mechanism of the EU is based, first of all, on the political and legal management system, which includes both general or interstate bodies and elements of national-state regulation. The interstate governing bodies of the EU are:
1. Council of the European Union (CEU). It holds sessions at least twice a year at the level of heads of state and government, and also regularly meets at the level of various ministers (foreign affairs, economics, finance, Agriculture and etc.). 1
2. The EU Commission (EC) is an executive body, a kind of government of the EU, implementing the decisions of the EU.
3. The European Parliament (EP) with its seat in Strasbourg. Elected since 1979 by direct vote of citizens in all EU member countries.
4. The European Court, which ensures the correct interpretation and implementation of EU regulations (legislation).
5. European Social Fund for Guaranteeing and Guaranteeing Agriculture (FEOGA), which accounts for the majority of the EU budget
6. The European Social Fund, which facilitates the movement of labor within the EU and its adaptation to changing conditions in the integration space.
7. European Regional Development Fund, which promotes the structural restructuring of poorly industrialized or depressed regions.
8. The European Investment Bank, created on the basis of the equity participation of EU member countries in its fixed capital. Having the functions of a commercial bank, it provides loans to government agencies of EU member countries.
Largest international trade associations
Europe:
EFTA (European Free Trade Association)
America:
NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement)
MERCOSUR (South American public market)
CARICOM (Caribbean Community)
Asia:
APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Community)
ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)
SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Commonwealth)
Africa:
SADC (South African Development Committee)
ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African Countries)
COMESA (common market)
Main regional integration associations
EU – 27 countries (as of 2011) The European Union consists of 27 states.doc
They don't want to join the EU:
Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland
Aiming to join the EU:
Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia, Montenegro
In order to enter the European Monetary Union (16 countries in 2009), you must meet the following criteria:
low inflation rates;
low interest rates;
budget discipline;
stable currency.
Great Britain, Sweden, Denmark did not agree to the introduction of the euro.
EFTA– created in 1960 as an alternative to the EU. There were 7 states, now there are 4 (Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein).
NAPHTHA– USA, Canada, Mexico. Reasons for creation:
influence of transnational companies;
opposition to the EU;
maintaining competitiveness.
APEC– created in 1989 Headquarters: Singapore, includes 21 countries.
CIS– created in 1991 It included 12 states, now there are 11. (11 former Soviet republics: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan And Ukraine(from the former Soviet republics there were no Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia And Georgia).(The CIS was founded by the heads of the BSSR.doc)
There are several alternative integration associations in the CIS :
CSTO (collective security treaty organization) – 7 states. CSTO.doc
EurAsEC (Eurasian Economic Community) – 6 states. Eurasian Economic Community.doc
SCO (Shanghai organizational cooperation) SCO.doc
CES (common economic space). CU and SES.doc
GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova).
CDA (Commonwealth of Democratic Choice). Commonwealth of Democratic Choice.doc
MERCOSUR (South American public market): Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela). MERCOSUR.doc
Unfortunately, today, when since the collapse Soviet Union Twenty years have passed, not everyone knows which countries are part of the CIS. This especially applies to modern youth, to those who were born and studied in post-Soviet Russia. For them, the USSR is a state from the pages of history textbooks of the twentieth century, an unreal state of the past, with which nothing connects them.
Meanwhile, the former Soviet republics now maintain political and economic relations within the framework of the CIS - Commonwealth independent states. Today, the CIS consists of all the countries that were previously part of the USSR, with the exception of the three Baltic states. Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania now focus exclusively on the Western model of socio-economic and state-political development, and therefore they chose not to join the Commonwealth.
So, which countries are part of the CIS today? Firstly, these are the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Belarus, which founded this organization in December 1991. The parties agreed to respect each other’s sovereignty and develop interstate ties and relations in various spheres of society. They emphasized that the fraternal peoples who previously lived in the same big state, should be able to freely communicate with each other, exchange experiences and honor established traditions. Further, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Moldova and Kyrgyzstan joined the organization. All of the listed states have ratified the main document of the CIS - the charter. One of the provisions of the charter is the right of a country to withdraw from the Commonwealth with written notification to the participating countries one year before such withdrawal. In 2008, the Georgian authorities exercised this right, and in the summer of 2009 Georgia officially left the CIS. Turkmenistan participates in the work of the CIS in the role of a so-called “associate member”. This means that the Turkmen side makes all the necessary contributions, but only on those issues for which the organization has granted it such a right. Despite the fact that Ukraine was one of the founders of the CIS, this country has not yet ratified the CIS Charter. Thus, legally she is not a member of the organization, but in fact takes part in all discussions and influences the work of the Commonwealth.
Now that we have figured out which countries are part of the CIS, let us note the main agreements adopted within the organization to date.
CIS members deserve special attention in the fight against illegal migration. Thus, on the one hand, states establish a softer border crossing regime, enshrined in the Customs Code Customs Union, and on the other hand, they are trying to prevent illegal movements across the territory of the post-Soviet space.
Now you know which countries are part of the CIS, and why this organization was created.
political union ( interstate association) most countries that were republics within the USSR until 1991.
CIS members: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia (until August 2009), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. Turkmenistan, which left the CIS as a full member in August 2005, has the status of an associate observer member.
Mongolia participates as an observer in a number of CIS structures (coordinating committees of the presidential offices on statistics, railways, etc.). The agreement on the formation of the CIS (also known as the “Belovezhskaya Agreement”) was signed on December 8, 1991 at the Viskuli residence near Brest (Belarus) by the highest leaders of Russia (B. Yeltsin), Belarus (S. Shushkevich) and Ukraine (L. Kravchuk) .
“The Commonwealth of Independent States, consisting of the Republic of Belarus, the RSFSR, and Ukraine,” said the statement by the leaders of the three countries, “is open to accession by all member states of the USSR, as well as for other states that share the goals and principles of this agreement.”
The appeal proclaimed that the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as a subject of international law would cease to exist.
On December 21, at a meeting in Almaty, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan joined the Agreement, adopting the Declaration on the Goals and Principles of the CIS, which stated the demise of the USSR and the need to resolve related problems.
In October 1993, Georgia became a full member of the CIS (on August 14, 2008, the Georgian parliament adopted a unanimous decision on Georgia’s withdrawal from the organization; on October 9, 2008, the Council of Foreign Ministers of the CIS countries adopted a formal decision to terminate Georgia’s membership in the Commonwealth from August 2009 G.).
On January 22, 1993, the CIS Charter was adopted, providing for the following areas joint activities states: ensuring human rights and fundamental freedoms; coordination foreign policy activities; cooperation in the formation and development of a common economic space, pan-European and Eurasian markets, customs policy; cooperation in the development of transport and communication systems; health and environment; issues of social and migration policy; fight against organized crime; cooperation in the field of defense policy and protection of external borders (Article 4 of the Charter).
The Charter was not ratified by Ukraine, Turkmenistan and Moldova, which formally does not allow them to be considered members of the Commonwealth, but Ukraine took an active part in the CIS.
The Commonwealth is not a state and does not have supranational powers (Article 1 of the Charter), but rather is a type of “soft” confederation. According to the initiators of its proclamation, the Commonwealth has become an option for a peaceful “divorce” former republics Soviet Union and prevented the development of events according to the bloody “Yugoslav scenario”.
In different years, both unrecognized self-proclaimed republics and independent states declared their intention to join the CIS (in 1991, 1992, 1996, 2006 - Abkhazia, in 1993 - Nagorno-Karabakh, in 1991–94, 2006 - Transnistria , in 1992, 1994 - Crimea, in February 1995 - the Republic of Serbian Krajina in Croatia, in April 1999 - Yugoslavia). However, such declarations had no practical continuation.
The highest authority of the CIS is the annual meeting of the heads of participating countries. To resolve issues of economic interaction, meetings of the heads of government of the CIS countries are regularly convened. Parliamentary Assembly The CIS (headquartered in St. Petersburg) unites the efforts of the legislative bodies of its member states in creating legal mechanisms for economic and political integration within the Commonwealth. The executive body of the CIS is located in the capital of Belarus, Minsk, and is headed by the executive secretary of the CIS, appointed by agreement of all participants of the Commonwealth (since 2007 - Sergei Lebedev).
The Treaty Organization was created within the CIS collective security(CSTO), which included Russia, Belarus, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Armenia. For some time, Uzbekistan suspended its membership in this military-political union, but subsequently resumed it.
One of the tools economic integration is the Eurasian Economic Union, created by a number of CIS countries. Another structure created within the CIS is the Union State of Belarus and Russia.
The 16-year experience of the existence of the Commonwealth of Independent States is still the subject of lively discussions, both in public opinion participating countries and outside the CIS.
The CIS member states still have serious territorial problems. Azerbaijan insists on the return of illegally, from its point of view, Nagorno-Karabakh occupied by Armenia, Moldova retains serious problems with Transnistria, which declared its independence.
The fact that the Commonwealth does not have real mechanisms for resolving territorial conflicts convinces opponents of the CIS of its ineffectiveness. On the other hand, it was the CIS that became the institution that was able to stop the bloodshed in Abkhazia and South Ossetia when it brought in peacekeeping forces there.
Thanks to the Commonwealth, regular contacts between heads of state, heads of government, parliamentarians, and the military, it was largely possible to preserve and even restore the economic and transport ties that existed during the USSR, and to coordinate positions in energy, industrial and agricultural policy, and in the social and cultural spheres.
Significant role in integration processes Russia and Kazakhstan play in the CIS countries. It was they who initiated the creation of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Eurasian Bank.
In addition to official meetings of the heads of the CIS countries, alternately held in the capitals of the states presiding over the Commonwealth (the last one was held in Dushanbe in 2007), informal summits of the leaders of the republics are also practiced. On February 22, 2008, at the initiative of Russian President V. Putin, such a meeting took place in Moscow.
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COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES (CIS), community of former republics of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Formed in accordance with the agreement signed on December 8, 1991 in Viskuli (the seat of the government of Belarus) by the leaders of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, as well as with the protocol to the said agreement, which was signed on December 21, 1991 in Alma-Ata (Kazakhstan) by the leaders of 11 -ty republics of the former USSR: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyzstan), Moldova (Moldova), Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. In December 1993, Georgia joined the CIS. Of the former republics of the USSR, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia were not included in the CIS. In August 2005, Turkmenistan ceased permanent membership and is currently an associate member of the CIS.
According to the CIS Charter (approved by the heads of member states in January 1993), the Commonwealth is not a state and does not have supranational powers. It is based on the principles of sovereign equality of all its members, each of which is an independent and equal subject of international law.
Commonwealth goals:
– implementation of cooperation between member states in political, economic, legal, cultural, environmental, humanitarian and other fields, cooperation in ensuring international peace and security, as well as achieving disarmament;
– creation of a common economic space, ensuring interstate cooperation and integration in the interests of comprehensive and balanced economic and social development of the member states;
– mutual assistance in order to create peaceful living conditions for peoples, ensuring collective security;
– peaceful resolution of disputes and conflicts between participating countries;
– assistance to citizens of member states in free communication, contacts and movement throughout the territory of countries that are members of the Commonwealth.
Relations between the CIS member states are based on the principles of respect for the sovereignty, self-determination and territorial integrity of countries and non-interference in their foreign policy and internal affairs, inviolability existing borders, non-use of force and resolution of disputes by peaceful means, as well as the rule of international law.
The total territory of the states that are part of the CIS (excluding the territory of Turkmenistan) is 21.6 million square meters. km., population – St. 275 million people (2006). The headquarters of the Commonwealth is located in Minsk (Belarus). In the CIS countries approx. 10% of the world's industrial potential and almost 25% of the world's proven reserves of natural resources.
The working language of the CIS is Russian. The Commonwealth has its own official symbols and flag.
History of the formation of the CIS.
The initial agreement on the creation of the CIS was signed in Belovezhskaya Pushcha December 8, 1991 by the Chairman of the Supreme Council of Belarus Stanislav Shushkevich, Russian President Boris Yeltsin and Ukrainian President Leonid Kravchuk. They announced the termination of negotiations organized by the President of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, to conclude a new union treaty, which was designed to reform the USSR. Gorbachev called the Belovezhskaya Agreement unconstitutional and stated that only the Congress of People's Deputies had the right to dissolve the Soviet Union. However, on December 10, the decision to create the CIS was ratified by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the Supreme Council of Belarus, and on December 12 by the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation. The 1922 treaty on the creation of the USSR was declared terminated. On December 13, after two days of negotiations in Ashgabat (the capital of Turkmenistan), the heads of state of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan announced their desire to join the newly created Commonwealth, and similar intentions were expressed by Azerbaijan and Armenia. On December 17, Gorbachev and Yeltsin reached an agreement on the dissolution of the USSR. On December 21, 1991, a meeting of the leaders of 11 former USSR republics took place in Alma-Ata; Georgia sent its observers to it. The participants of the meeting finally confirmed the cessation of the existence of the USSR. They adopted the Alma-Ata Declaration, confirming the mutual recognition of sovereignty and the inviolability of borders, as well as the intention to implement full cooperation and fulfill the international obligations of the former USSR. The Commonwealth was declared open both to the former republics of the Soviet Union and to other states that agreed with its principles and goals. The permanent place of the USSR in the UN Security Council was recognized for Russia.
The meeting participants agreed to create coordinating bodies (Councils of Heads of State and Heads of Government), maintain overall command of military-strategic forces and overall control over nuclear weapons. The four republics that had nuclear weapons on their territory (Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine) agreed to comply with and ratify the START Treaty concluded by the USSR (the Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, signed between the USSR and the USA in Moscow on July 31, 1991); Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine agreed to deliver their tactical nuclear weapons to Russia for destruction under joint control.
Until December 26, 1991, the Alma-Ata Agreements were ratified by the parliaments of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Georgia did not join the Commonwealth.
The first meeting of the heads of 11 CIS states took place on December 30, 1991 in Minsk. During it, an agreement was signed recognizing the need for a Unified Command of Strategic Nuclear Forces and joint control over weapons of mass destruction that were in service with the former USSR. With regard to conventional weapons, the CIS states recognized the principle of creating national armies in the former Soviet republics, subordinate to the CIS high command. The issue of creating the CIS armed forces was also discussed at the second meeting of heads of state, which took place on January 16, 1992 in Moscow. At the third meeting (Minsk, February 14, 1992), the leaders of 8 member states agreed in principle to maintain a unified command of the armed forces for two years. However, disagreements remained on this issue between the countries of the Community. At the fourth summit, held in Kyiv on March 20, 1992, an agreement was reached on the division of powers in military matters. In accordance with them, the CIS armed forces were to include strategic forces and joint-purpose forces (peacekeeping forces modeled on the UN “blue helmets”). This decision was recognized only by Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. In May 1992, at the fifth meeting in Tashkent, the heads of state of Armenia, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan signed a collective security pact (mutual military assistance) and agreed in principle on joint border control. In July of the same year, a decision was made to send peacekeeping forces to “hot spots” in the CIS; Azerbaijan did not agree with this decision.
Acute disputes between Russia and Ukraine over the problems of dividing the Black Sea Fleet of the former USSR and the overall command of strategic weapons were resolved after the corresponding agreements were reached between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine (June 1992).
Disagreements between the CIS states also existed on a number of other issues. In March 1992, the chairmen of the parliaments of the member states discussed the creation of a parliamentary assembly of the Commonwealth, whose tasks were to include the discussion and adoption of laws of an inter-republican nature. The delegations of Azerbaijan, Moldova, Ukraine and Turkmenistan did not sign an agreement on this issue. Differences in views on economic cooperation remained, incl. regarding the preservation of the ruble zone. At the sixth summit meeting (Moscow, August 1992), President of Ukraine Kravchuk refused to join the signed agreements on the creation of a joint economic court and common system missile defense. An agreement was concluded on the withdrawal of a number of former republics from the ruble zone. Countries that expressed a desire to maintain the ruble as a currency (Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova and Uzbekistan) agreed to pursue a common monetary policy under the leadership of the Russian Central Bank. It was also decided to send CIS peacekeeping forces to conflict zones on the territory of the former Soviet Union. In October 1992, at the seventh meeting of state leaders, held in Bishkek, it was decided to send CIS peacekeeping forces to Tajikistan, where there was a civil war. It was not possible to agree on the formation of a central Economic Cooperation Council; it was only decided to create an advisory committee on economic issues. The heads of state of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia and Uzbekistan signed an agreement on maintaining the ruble as a currency and the principle of creating a common Central Bank. The parliament of Azerbaijan, where the opposition Popular Front came to power, refused to ratify the treaty establishing the CIS, and the delegation of this country participated in the meeting as an observer.
The adoption of the CIS Charter during the eighth summit (Minsk, January 22, 1993) was again accompanied by controversy. The document was supported by the leaders of 7 states (Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus); the heads of Moldova, Ukraine and Turkmenistan rejected it, considering the powers assigned to the coordination bodies of the Commonwealth to be excessive. In March 1993, the defense ministers of 6 countries reached an agreement to strengthen military cooperation, however, a plan to create a common armed forces was not agreed upon (Russia considered it too expensive). In June 1993, a decision was made to abolish the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Commonwealth armed forces and create a Joint Staff to coordinate cooperation in the military field.
At the 9th summit meeting (Moscow, May 1993), the heads of 9 states approved the proposal of the presidents of Kazakhstan and Russia to create an economic union modeled on the European Union in the future. The President of Turkmenistan S.A. Niyazov opposed this, insisting on cooperation on the basis of bilateral agreements. In August of the same year, the presidents of Russia (B.N. Yeltsin), Kazakhstan (N.A. Nazarbayev) and Uzbekistan (I.A. Karimov) signed an agreement in Moscow, which provided for the formation of an economic and monetary union, open to the accession of others states It was intended to maintain the ruble as a common currency; The idea of creating a ruble zone was supported by Armenia. However, this agreement was not implemented; in November, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Armenia introduced their own currencies.
By the end of 1993, two unofficial groups of states were formed within the CIS. One of them (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) advocated greater coordination and increased cooperation in the fields of foreign policy, defense, monetary policy, economics and transport). The other (Turkmenistan and Ukraine) showed interest in limited cooperation, focusing on protecting their national interests. The situation was aggravated by acute conflicts in a number of CIS countries (the civil war in Tajikistan, the conflict in Transnistria and the Armenian-Azerbaijani war). In addition, the Central Asian states were interested, first of all, in closer cooperation with each other and in developing relations with neighboring Muslim countries - Iran, Pakistan and Turkey. With Heydar Aliyev coming to power in Azerbaijan in 1993, this country returned to the CIS. The head of state of Georgia, E.A. Shevardnadze, began to pursue a policy of rapprochement with the Commonwealth, and in December of the same year, Georgia became its member. At the next meeting of heads of state and government (Moscow, September 1993), the prime ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan signed an agreement on the creation of an economic union, which Georgia also joined. Turkmenistan became an associated member of the union in December 1993, and Ukraine - in April 1994. The members of the union spoke in favor of the formation of a common economic space based on the free movement of goods, services, labor and capital, on the development of an agreed monetary, tax, price, customs and foreign economic policy, on the convergence of regulatory methods economic activity and creation favorable conditions for the development of direct production links. In April 1994, Moldova ratified the CIS Treaty, thus officially becoming its full member. At the same time, she stated that she still did not intend to take part in the coordination of foreign policy and migration policy (these reservations were lifted by Moldova in October 2002). In April 1994, at the next summit meeting in Moscow, a number of economic agreements were signed and the mandate of the CIS peacekeeping forces in Tajikistan was extended, and in October of the same year, a convention was adopted on the protection of the rights of ethnic minorities.
The institutions of the Commonwealth gradually took shape. The duties of the CIS executive secretary were assigned in 1993 to Ivan Korochenya. At the summit meeting in Ashgabat (December 1993), the post of chairman of the Council of Heads of State of the CIS was established, with Russian President Yeltsin becoming the first chairman. In February 1994, Chairman of the Russian Federation Council Vladimir Shumeiko took the post of Chairman of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly. In October 1994, at a meeting of heads of state, government, ministers of foreign affairs and defense, an interstate commission on economic issues was formed with headquarters in Moscow. In February 1995, the presidents of the CIS countries approved a memorandum on maintaining peace and stability in Almaty; Commonwealth states pledged to refrain from exerting political, economic or other pressure on each other. In May 1995, the heads of the CIS states signed an agreement in Minsk on the creation of an interstate committee on monetary and financial issues, designed to coordinate the financial and credit policies of the CIS.
The greatest difficulties arose in coordinating issues military policy Commonwealth. Participants in the summit meeting held in May 1995 extended the mandate of the CIS peacekeeping forces in Tajikistan and Abkhazia. However, a number of states (Azerbaijan, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine) refused to join the agreement on joint protection of external borders and the general convention on human rights.
Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia agreed to create a customs union, however, at the next meeting of heads of state and government in Minsk (January 1996), it was not possible to achieve its expansion (in March of the same year, only Kyrgyzstan joined it). The leaders of the CIS countries extended the mandate of the peacekeeping forces in Tajikistan and reached an agreement on a joint air defense system. Ukraine refused to participate in its creation. In May 1996, at a meeting in Moscow, the heads of government approved an integration plan for 1996–1997 and a joint program to combat economic and organized crime. In March 1997, at a meeting of the presidents of 12 CIS countries, the formation of a commission to resolve regional conflicts was agreed upon.
Speaking at the CIS summit in October 1997 in Chisinau, Russian President Yeltsin said that the Commonwealth was working ineffectively, and many agreements were not being implemented (for example, agreements on the creation of the Central Bank, on the economic community of the Central Asian republics, on the economic union, on the common economic space, etc.). He demanded a reorganization of the CIS. At the next meeting of state leaders in April 1998 in Moscow, a new executive secretary of the Commonwealth was appointed - Boris Berezovsky (representative of Russia). But already in March 1999 he was removed “for activities incompatible with his position.” In April 1999, the heads of the CIS countries approved Yuri Yarov (RF) as the executive secretary of the CIS.
Disagreements in the Commonwealth continued into the end. 1990s At the April 1999 meeting of the presidents, it was not possible to agree on the extension of the collective security treaty signed in May 1992 (Moldova, Turkmenistan and Ukraine did not join it). The treaty expired on April 20, 1999. Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan signed a protocol renewing the treaty for the next five years. Azerbaijan, Georgia and Uzbekistan refused to extend it.
The CIS states, which were supporters of closer rapprochement, continued to strive for further interaction. On March 29, 1996, the presidents of Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan signed an agreement in Moscow on deepening integration in the economic and humanitarian fields. It was aimed at creating a closer association (“Community of Integrated States”), expanding cooperation in the economy, science, culture and social sphere while maintaining the sovereignty of the parties. It was envisaged to create mechanisms for coordinating foreign policy, a common security system and border security, as well as the creation of an interstate council (headed by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko) and a parity interparliamentary committee. On April 2, 1996, the presidents of Belarus and Russia signed an agreement in Moscow on the creation of the Commonwealth of Sovereign Republics. According to this document, both states pledged to closely cooperate in the field of foreign policy, economics and military issues, and it was planned to create joint bodies: a Council (with the participation of heads of state, government and parliaments) and a parity Parliamentary Assembly. On April 2, 1997, an agreement on the union of Russia and Belarus was signed. In February 1999, the presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan approved the creation of a common economic space; Tajikistan joined the customs union.
After Yeltsin's resignation, he was elected chairman of the Council of Heads of State of the CIS in January 2000. new president Russia Vladimir Putin. In the beginning. 2000 Foreign Ministers agreed to withdraw peacekeeping forces from Tajikistan in connection with the settlement of the situation in the country, as well as to extend the mandate of peacekeeping forces in Abkhazia. In June 2000, the presidents of the CIS countries adopted a statement that contained a refusal to revise the Soviet-American ABM agreement of 1972. It was also decided to create a joint Anti-Terrorism Center in Moscow to combat organized crime and religious fundamentalism.
In the beginning. In the 2000s, two camps actually emerged in the CIS. On the one hand, supporters of increased integration (Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan) in October 2000 transformed the customs union into the Eurasian Economic Community (Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine joined it as observers). In October 2005, Uzbekistan also announced its intention to join the community. In 2002, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan signed an agreement to create the Collective Security Treaty Organization. In February 2003, the presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine reached an agreement at a meeting in Novo-Ogarevo on the formation of the Common Economic Space (CES). The coordinating body of the SES was to be the interstate commission on trade and tariffs, not subordinate to the governments of the participating states. The SES was declared open for other countries to join. The possibility of introducing a single currency in the future was allowed.
In January 2003, Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma was elected chairman of the Council of Heads of State of the CIS. The influence of supporters of strengthening the CIS was felt in September 2003 at the summit meeting in Yalta. The leaders of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine approved the formation of the SES. At the proposal of the CIS Foreign Ministers, statements were approved on the basic principles of economic cooperation, decisions on the creation of a joint commission on interaction in the fight against illegal immigration, on extending the term of office of the head of the CIS Anti-Terrorism Center and the commander of the CIS Collective Peacekeeping Forces in Abkhazia. In June 2004, Russian representative Vladimir Rushailo became the executive secretary of the CIS. In September of the same year, at a summit meeting in Astana, Putin was elected the new chairman of the Council of Heads of State of the CIS.
On the other hand, there was a rapprochement between states that did not want integration with the participation of Russia. In October 1997, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine formed their own group to strengthen cooperation in trade, economics and transport links, as well as strengthen regional security. In April 1999, Uzbekistan joined it; The organization was named GUUAM (after the first letters of the names of the participating countries). In the beginning. In the 2000s, member countries took a number of measures to revive its activities, focusing primarily on trading Caspian oil and other resources in Western markets. In 2002 they announced the creation of a free trade zone. But differences between the GUUAM member countries made the emerging alliance unstable. Uzbekistan’s participation was not active, and Ukraine, interested in Russian gas supplies, was simultaneously seeking mutual understanding with the Eurasian Economic Community.
GUUAM’s activities intensified after a change of power occurred in Georgia and Ukraine in 2003–2004 (the so-called “color revolutions”). The policy of the new presidents of Georgia (Mikheil Saakashvili) and Ukraine (Viktor Yushchenko) was focused on the accession of their states to NATO and cooperation with the EU. Representatives of a number of GUUAM countries made statements expressing doubts about the potential and future role of the CIS. Thus, in September 2003, Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin expressed dissatisfaction with the creation of the Common Economic Space, which allegedly harmed the CIS. In November 2004, Georgian Defense Minister G. Baramidze said that the CIS is “yesterday.” In February 2006, Georgia officially withdrew from the CIS Council of Defense Ministers, citing its intention to join NATO. In April 2005, the Minister of Economy of Ukraine stated that further development of the CIS is problematic, and his country may reduce contributions to the Commonwealth budget. On the contrary, the anti-government uprising in Uzbekistan in the spring of 2005 and the condemnation by Western countries of measures to suppress the rebellion contributed to Uzbekistan's withdrawal from GUUAM. In August 2005, Turkmenistan moved from full to associate membership in the CIS.
Competence and main areas of activity of the CIS.
According to the CIS Charter, the areas of joint activity of the Commonwealth member states include:
– ensuring human rights and fundamental freedoms;
– coordination of foreign policy activities;
– cooperation in the formation and development of a common economic space, pan-European and Eurasian markets, as well as customs policy;
– cooperation in the development of transport and communication systems;
– health and environmental protection;
– issues of social and migration policy;
– fight against organized crime;
– cooperation in the field of defense policy and protection of external borders.
Cooperation in economic, social and legal areas, according to the Charter, was supposed to be in the following areas:
– formation of a common economic space on the basis of market relations and free movement of goods, services, capital and labor;
– coordination social policy, development of joint social programs and measures to reduce social tension in connection with the economic reforms;
– development of transport and communication systems, energy systems; coordination of credit and financial policies;
– promoting the development of trade and economic relations of the member states;
– encouragement and mutual protection of investments;
– assistance in standardization and certification of industrial products and goods;
– legal protection intellectual property;
– promoting the development of a common information space;
– implementation of joint environmental protection measures, provision of mutual assistance in eliminating the consequences of environmental disasters and other emergency situations;
– implementation joint projects and programs in the fields of science and technology, education, health, culture and sports;
– conclusion of bilateral and multilateral agreements on the provision of legal assistance; convergence in the field of national legislation.
The main agreements and projects in this area are:
– formation of the “Common Economic Space” (SES, proclaimed in 2003 by Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine). As of April 2006, an organizational group is in operation, drafts of 38 basic documents that form the basis of the CES are being developed, and within the next 2-3 years after their ratification it is planned to establish the functioning of the Customs Union;
– joint programs: “Interstate target program for the development of the CIS Forces Corps to eliminate the consequences of natural and man-made emergencies” (November 1998; participants – Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine; Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan has temporarily suspended its participation); "Interstate radio navigation program" (March 2001; Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and Ukraine participate); interstate program “Use of natural gas as a motor fuel for vehicles” (March 2001; participants – Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine); “Interstate comprehensive program for the rehabilitation of war veterans, participants in local conflicts and victims of terrorism” (May 2001; Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and Ukraine); “Interstate program for creating a network of information and marketing centers to promote goods and services to the national markets of the CIS member states” (November 2001; Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and Ukraine); “Interstate program for the implementation of the concept of forming a unified (common) educational space in the CIS” (November 2001; Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia and Tajikistan); “Program of the main events of cooperation between the CIS member states in the field of culture” (November 2001; Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and Ukraine); “Program of urgent measures to combat the AIDS epidemic” (May 2002; Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine); “Program of joint actions for the prevention and control of foot and mouth disease in the Commonwealth countries” (April 2004; Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine); "Agreement on humanitarian cooperation CIS member states" (August 2005).
In the field of collective security and military-political cooperation, the following tasks are put forward:
– coordination of policies in the field of international security, disarmament and arms control, as well as the policy of building armed forces;
– maintaining security in the Commonwealth, incl. with the help of military observer groups and collective peacekeeping forces;
– organization of mutual consultations in order to coordinate the positions of the CIS states in the event of a threat to the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of one or more member states or international peace; taking measures to eliminate the emerging threat, including peacekeeping operations and the use of armed forces;
– coordination of the activities of border troops and other services monitoring the security of the external borders of the CIS states;
– taking measures to resolve disputes and conflicts between CIS states;
– cooperation in the fight against crime and terrorism.
On May 15, 1992, in Tashkent, the CIS Collective Security Treaty was signed by Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Later it was joined by Azerbaijan (September 24, 1993), Georgia (December 9, 1993) and Belarus (December 31, 1993). The treaty entered into force on April 20, 1994. It confirmed the intention of states to renounce the use of force or the threat of its use, not to join military alliances, and to consider aggression against one of the participating states as aggression against all signatories to the treaty. On October 7, 2002, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan signed a charter establishing the Collective Security Treaty Organization.
The main interstate agreements regulating cooperation between the CIS countries in the military-political and security spheres are: “Program for the implementation of the Agreement on cooperation in the training and advanced training of military personnel for border troops (October 9, 1997; participants – Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan); “Program of military-technical cooperation of the CIS member states” (October 7, 2002; Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Ukraine); program “Creation and development of a unified system air defense CIS member states" (October 7, 2002; Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan); “Program for improving cooperation between CIS member states in the border area” (October 7, 2002; Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan); “Program of cooperation in the fight against illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors” (September 16, 2004; Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine); "Interstate program of joint measures to combat crime" (September 16, 2004; Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and Ukraine).
At the summit meeting of the CIS countries in August 2005 in Kazan, new documents were approved regulating cooperation between the Commonwealth states in this area: “Concept of military cooperation until 2010”, “Concept of a coordinated border policy”, “Program of cooperation in combating illegal migration for 2006– 2008,” “Program of cooperation in the fight against terrorism and other violent manifestations of extremism for 2005–2007.”
CIS financing.
The activities of CIS bodies and the implementation of joint programs are financed by the Commonwealth countries on the basis of the shared participation of member states. Expenses are established in accordance with special agreements on the budgets of CIS bodies. Budgets are approved by the Council of Heads of State on the proposal of the Council of Heads of Government of the participating states. The Council of Heads of Government determines the procedure for considering issues of financial and economic activities of Commonwealth bodies. The costs associated with the participation of representatives of individual member states, experts and consultants in the work of meetings and bodies of the CIS are borne by these states themselves.
When the executive bodies of the CIS were created in 1993, the participating countries agreed to pay their share of expenses based on the capabilities of the national budget. Thus, in 2004, state contributions to single budget CIS bodies were planned in the amount of 251,670.2 thousand Russian rubles. Contributions individual countries amounted (in thousand rubles): Russia – 112,139.8 (44.6%), Ukraine – 25,534 (10.1%), Kazakhstan – 16,471.2 (6.5%), Belarus – 16,360 .3 (6.5%), Uzbekistan – 13,472 (5.4%), Armenia – 12,346.8 (4.9%), Kyrgyzstan – 12,264.3 (4.9%), Tajikistan – 12,196, 7 (4.8%), Georgia - 9164.7 (3.6%), Moldova - 9133.4 (3.6%), Azerbaijan - 8240.4 (3.3%), Turkmenistan - 4346.6 ( 1.7%). Contributions were subject to monthly transfers. The contributed amounts were intended for the maintenance of Commonwealth bodies and holding meetings of the Councils of Heads of State, Heads of Government, Foreign Ministers and the CIS Economic Council. According to the approved draft budget, out of 251,670.2 thousand rubles for the activities of CIS bodies. expenses allocated 137,025.6 thousand rubles. (54.4%), of which for the activities of the CIS Executive Committee - 116,530.8 thousand rubles, the Interstate Statistical Committee of the CIS - 20,494.8 thousand rubles. 20,532.7 thousand rubles were allocated for the activities of the CIS Economic Court (resolution of disputes arising in the sphere of economic relations of the participating states). (8.2%). For international activities (support and development of contacts with international organizations in economic, military-political, peacekeeping, social and other fields) - 1333.6 thousand rubles. (0.5%). RUB 62,347.2 thousand were allocated for cooperation in the field of law enforcement and security. (24.8%), of which for the activities of the Bureau for Coordination of the Fight against Organized Crime and other types of crimes on the territory of the Member States - 18,305 thousand rubles, for the activities of the CIS Anti-Terrorism Center - 27,005.9 thousand rubles, for the Coordination Service of the Council of Border Troops Commanders - 17,036.3 thousand rubles. An amount of 30,431.1 rubles was allocated for military cooperation between the CIS states. (12.1%), including 28,470 thousand rubles. for the activities of the Headquarters for Coordination of Military Cooperation and 1961.1 thousand rubles. for the work of the Interstate Coordination Center for perpetuating the memory of defenders of the Fatherland. Expenses for the activities of the Temporary Operational Working Group to resolve the conflict in Abkhazia were not included in the CIS budget.
The CIS Executive Committee has the right to make changes to the functional, departmental and economic structure of expenses during budget execution.
The incomplete transfer by the Commonwealth member states of shared contributions to the CIS budget (the debt for 2001–2002 amounted to 115.6 million rubles), as indicated in the documents at the summit meeting of the CIS heads of state in Yalta (2003), “put all Commonwealth bodies in the most difficult financial situation and led to the impossibility of their normal functioning and the full implementation of the tasks assigned to them.” The meeting participants considered it expedient to allow the Executive Committee to create a stabilization fund for the CIS budget (at the expense of funds received to repay debts, interest, sold property and valuables, etc.).
At the summit meeting in Astana (September 2004), the CIS budget for 2005 was planned in the amount of 296,510.7 thousand rubles. Contributions (as a percentage) were distributed between countries as follows: Russia - 44.5, Ukraine - 10.6, Kazakhstan - 6.5, Belarus - 6.4, Uzbekistan - 5.5, Armenia - 4.7, Kyrgyzstan - 4.7, Tajikistan – 4.7, Georgia – 3.7, Moldova – 3.6, Azerbaijan – 3.3 and Turkmenistan – 1.8. However, at a meeting of heads of government of the CIS countries (Tbilisi, June 2005), most countries called for a review of the funding procedure. In particular, the idea was put forward of establishing a funding rate depending on the size of the GDP of each country. The question of the principles of future financing will be resolved within the framework of the planned reform of the CIS and its institutions.
CIS institutions and bodies.
Interaction between the CIS member countries is carried out through a number of coordinating bodies.
Statutory bodies.
In accordance with the CIS Charter of 1993, the supreme body of the Commonwealth is the Council of Heads of State (CHS), formed simultaneously with the creation of the CIS. All member states are represented. The Council discusses and resolves fundamental issues of the Commonwealth related to the common interests of states, as well as any issues of interest to these states. The CIS makes decisions regarding amendments to the CIS Charter, the creation of new or abolition of existing CIS bodies, as well as the organization of the structure of the Commonwealth and the activities of its bodies. He is authorized to hear reports on the activities of Commonwealth bodies, approve their leaders, etc. According to the charter, meetings of the Council meet twice a year, and extraordinary meetings are held at the initiative of one of the member states. IN Lately meetings are held once a year. Decisions in the CHS are made on the basis of general agreement (consensus). Any member state can declare its disinterest in resolving a particular issue, however, this does not serve as an obstacle to the decision-making of the remaining members of the Commonwealth. The chairmanship of the CHS is carried out alternately by heads of state based on the principle of rotation for a period of no more than a year (with the possibility of extension). At the meeting of the CGG in September 2004 in Astana, the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, was elected chairman of the CGG.
The Council of Heads of Government (CHG) coordinates cooperation between the executive authorities of the CIS member states in economic, social and other areas of common interests. He carries out instructions given by the Council of Heads of State; implements provisions on the creation of an economic union and a free trade zone; adopts joint programs for the development of industry, agriculture, transport, communications, energy, science and technology, as well as cooperation in the areas of tariff, credit, financial and tax policy. The SGP creates bodies of the Commonwealth within its competence and approves their leaders, and also resolves issues of financial support for the activities of CIS bodies. The Council meets twice a year; Extraordinary meetings may be convened at the initiative of any of the Member States. The principles of decision-making and chairmanship in the CSG are the same as in the CSG. The Chairman of the SGP is the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Fradkov.
The Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs (CMFA, formed in 1993) coordinates the foreign policy activities of the CIS member states. Its members are the foreign ministers of the participating countries. According to the regulations approved by the State Duma on April 2, 1999, the Council of Foreign Ministers is the main executive body that ensures cooperation on major foreign policy issues of mutual interest. He acts in the period between the meetings of the CHS and the CST, making decisions on their behalf; organizes the implementation of decisions of these bodies; promotes the development of cooperation in the field of foreign policy and diplomacy, in the humanitarian and legal spheres; seeks ways to peacefully resolve conflicts and disputes; promotes the establishment of a climate of peace, harmony and stability, strengthening friendship and international cooperation. The Council of Foreign Ministers considers the implementation of the decisions of the CIS and the CPS, international treaties and agreements concluded within the CIS; gives conclusions and final recommendations on the draft agenda of the meetings of the CHS and the CSP; conducts consultations between participating states; organizes their interaction in the UN and other international organizations, etc. Meetings are usually held on the eve of meetings in the CHS and the CST. The Chairman of the Council of Foreign Ministers is Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
The Council of Defense Ministers (CMD) was formed by decision of the Council of State Duma in February 1992 as a body of the Council of Heads of State on issues of military policy and military development. The CMO includes the defense ministers of the CIS countries (with the exception of Moldova, Turkmenistan and Ukraine) and the Chief of Staff for the coordination of military cooperation of the CIS countries. The Council’s tasks include reviewing the concepts of military policy and military cooperation of the CIS states and submitting appropriate proposals for consideration by the CIS, as well as coordinating military cooperation and organizing the activities of a group of military observers and collective peacekeeping forces in the CIS. The CFR is called upon to develop proposals for coordinating the efforts of member states in the field of preventing armed conflicts, bringing together regulations in the field of military development and social protection of military personnel and persons discharged from military service. The CMO meets at least once every four months. The Chairman of the Council is Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov. CFR bodies – Headquarters for the coordination of military cooperation of the CIS countries and the CFR Secretariat. Since 1995, the Coordination Committee on Air Defense has been operating under the Council of Defense.
The Council of Commanders of Border Troops (CCPV) was established by the decision of the CHS on July 6, 1992 as a collegial body of the CHS and the CSG on the coordination of the protection of the external borders of the CIS and the economic zones of the participating countries. It consists of commanders or chiefs of border troops or other authorized representatives of the Commonwealth member states (with the exception of Azerbaijan, Moldova and Ukraine), as well as the chairman of the Coordination Service of the Council of Commanders. The JCCV is called upon to coordinate efforts to implement the decisions of the Joint State Duma, the Joint State Command and its own decisions relating to border issues; coordinate the actions of border troops to protect external borders and economic zones; contribute to the strengthening of the border troops of the participating countries and cooperation between them. Chairman of the Council – Vladimir Pronichev. Meetings of the SKPV are held at least once a quarter; The permanent working body is the Coordination Service.
The Economic Court of the CIS, according to the Charter of the Commonwealth, acts to ensure the fulfillment of economic obligations within the CIS. It was formed in accordance with the agreement on measures to ensure improved settlements between economic organizations of the Commonwealth countries (May 15, 1992) and the agreement on the status of the Economic Court (July 6, 1992). The parties to the agreement are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The competence of the Court includes resolving economic disputes between the states parties to the agreement that arise in the performance of economic obligations within the Commonwealth, and resolving issues of compliance of regulatory and other acts of states with these obligations and relevant agreements. Consideration of disputes is carried out at the request of interested states and CIS institutions. In addition, the Economic Court, when considering specific cases or at the request of states and institutions of the Commonwealth, provides an interpretation of the application of the provisions of agreements and acts of the CIS, as well as acts of the former USSR. In accordance with the agreement between the CIS and the Euro-Asian Economic Community of March 3, 2004, the CIS Economic Court also performs the functions of the court of this organization.
The Economic Court consists of an equal number of judges from each participating state. Judges are elected or appointed for a ten-year term by states from among judges of economic and arbitration courts and other specialists. The Economic Court is located in Minsk. The chairmen of the court and his deputies are elected by judges by a majority vote and approved by the Judicial Council for a five-year term. Since March 2003, Anara Kerimbaeva has been the chairman of the court. The highest collegial body of the Economic Court is the plenum, which consists of judges of the Economic Court and chairmen of the highest economic courts of the eight states parties to the agreement. The chairman of the plenum is the chairman of the court, the secretary of the plenum is elected by its members for a period of five years. The Plenum meets at least once a quarter.
The Interparliamentary Assembly (IPA) is an interstate body for cooperation between the parliaments of the CIS countries. It was established as a consultative institution to discuss issues and draft documents of mutual interest on March 27, 1992 on the basis of the Alma-Ata Agreement, signed by the heads of parliaments of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. By 1995, the IPA also included the parliaments of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova, and in 1999 the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. In May 1995, the heads of state of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and in 1997 Moldova signed the IPA Convention, according to which it became an interstate body for resolving issues of rapprochement and harmonization of legislative acts of the Commonwealth countries on the basis model legislation and recommendations adopted by it. Thus, the IPA has developed acts and recommendations relating to social rights and guarantees of citizens, protection of consumer rights, migration of labor resources, protection of civilians, rights of prisoners of war, etc.; works to create legislative mechanisms for the formation of a common cultural space and a free trade zone, coordination of policies in the field of science and technology, environmental protection, and the fight against crime and corruption. The Assembly makes recommendations on synchronizing the ratification of interstate and international treaties by the parliaments of the CIS countries. As part of the implementation peacekeeping activities in the Commonwealth, the IPA Council formed commissions to resolve conflicts in Nagorno-Karabakh, Transnistria, Abkhazia and Tajikistan. On the initiative of the IPA, annual St. Petersburg economic forums are held. The 10th anniversary forum took place in June 2006; 975 delegates from 50 countries took part in its work.
Delegations of parliaments of ten CIS member states take part in the plenary sessions of the IPA (held at least twice a year). The organization of the activities of the IPA is entrusted to its Council, which consists of the leaders of parliamentary delegations and meets four times a year. The Chairman of the Assembly Council is the Chairman of the Federation Council Federal Assembly Russia Sergei Mironov. The preparation of the events of the IPA and its Council is carried out by the Secretariat (located in St. Petersburg) with the Institute permanent representatives national parliaments. At the post Secretary General The Council is Mikhail Krotov; Permanent representatives of parliaments are ex-officio deputies to the Secretary General.
There are also permanent commissions of the IPA: on legal issues; in economics and finance; on social policy and human rights; on ecology and natural resources; on defense and security issues; on science and education; on culture, information, tourism and sports; on foreign policy issues; to study the experience of state building and local government; There is also a budgetary control commission.
The IPA maintains contractual relations with the Parliamentary Assembly of Northern Europe, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, the Central American Parliament, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, etc.
The CIS Human Rights Commission is a body that monitors the implementation of human rights obligations undertaken by the CIS countries. Established in accordance with the decision of the Commonwealth of Independent States on the approval of the Regulations on the Commission on Human Rights (September 24, 1993) and the CIS Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (May 26, 1995). In accordance with the convention, the regulations on the commission came into force on August 11, 1998. Its composition should include representatives of member states, and the chairmanship should be alternate. Minsk was chosen as the seat of the commission. To date, the commission has not been formed.
Executive bodies of the CIS.
The CIS Executive Committee was formed by decision of the Council of Heads of State of the CIS on April 2, 1999 on the basis of the CIS Executive Secretariat, the apparatus of the Interstate Economic Committee of the Economic Union, and the working apparatus of a number of interstate and intergovernmental industry bodies. The Committee is designed to ensure the activities of the Councils of Heads of State, Heads of Government, Foreign Ministers and the Economic Council; develop proposals for the CIS strategy; carry out legal processing of documents; analyze the progress of implementation of decisions and agreements, as well as systematically informing the highest bodies of the Commonwealth. The Executive Committee is a permanent body, the location of the committee is Minsk. The Chairman of the Executive Committee is appointed by the Council of Heads of State. In 1999, Vladimir Rushailo was appointed to the post of chairman of the committee.
The CIS Economic Council is the main executive body that ensures the implementation of agreements and decisions of the CIS and the CGS concerning the formation and operation of a free trade zone, as well as other issues of socio-economic cooperation. It is accountable to the CSG and the CSG of the Commonwealth, established in accordance with the decision of the CSG on improving and reforming the structure of the CIS bodies (April 2, 1999). The Regulations on the Economic Council were approved in January 2000. The Council is designed to promote the deepening of economic cooperation within the CIS, the formation of a free trade zone and the free movement of goods, services, labor and capital. Its tasks include developing proposals for cooperation between firms, joint programs and projects for the development of industry, agriculture, transport and resource development; expansion of cooperation in issues of education, healthcare, social protection and culture. The Council develops and submits draft relevant decisions to the CSG and the CGG and provides them with reports on development trends, reviews the progress in fulfilling obligations, conducts economic consultations, collects information, etc.
The Economic Council consists of deputy heads of government of the CIS member countries. Its meetings are held at least once a quarter. The chairman of the council is the Minister of Industry and Energy of the Russian Federation Viktor Khristenko. The permanent body of the Economic Council is the Commission on Economic Affairs (located in Moscow), consisting of authorized representatives of states to the Economic Council and meeting at least once a month.
Council of Permanent Plenipotentiary Representatives of the Commonwealth member states to the statutory and other bodies of the Commonwealth. Established in accordance with the decision of the Council of Foreign Ministers. Meetings of the Council are held at least once a month. Chairman – Amirkhon Safarov, Permanent Plenipotentiary Representative of Tajikistan.
Industry cooperation bodies.
Within the CIS there is approx. 70 industry cooperation bodies that are designed to promote the development of multilateral interaction between member states. They agree on the principles and rules of such cooperation in specific areas of economics, science, humanitarian affairs, military development, etc. and facilitate the implementation of practical agreements. The composition of these bodies, as a rule, includes heads of the relevant executive authorities of the CIS countries. Industry cooperation bodies, within their competence, accept recommendations and also submit proposals for consideration by the Council of Heads of Government.
The following industry bodies are currently active. In the field of industry and construction:
– Interstate Council of Heads of Ministries and Departments for Cooperation in the Field of Mechanical Engineering (established 1993); Interstate Council on Antimonopoly Policy (1993); Intergovernmental Council for Cooperation in Construction Activities (1994); Advisory Council for the Support and Development of Small Business (1997); Interstate Council on Industrial Safety (2001); Advisory Council of Heads of State (Executive) Power Bodies Managing State Material Reserves (2004).
In the field of agriculture:
– Intergovernmental Council on Agro-Industrial Complex (1993); Intergovernmental Council for Cooperation in the Field of Veterinary Medicine (1993/1995); Intergovernmental Coordination Council on Seed Issues (1996).
In the field of transport and communications:
– Council on Aviation and Airspace Use (1991); Interstate Council on Space (1991); Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communications (1991); Rail Transport Council (1992); Interstate Advisory Council "Radio Navigation" (1993); Coordination Council of Intergovernmental Courier Communications (1993); Transport coordination meeting; Intergovernmental Council of Road Builders (1998); Interstate Coordination Council of the interstate television and radio company “Mir” (2005).
In the field of scientific and technological progress:
– Interstate Coordination Council for Scientific and Technical Information (1992); Interstate Council for Standardization, Metrology and Certification (1992); Interstate Council for the Protection of Industrial Property (1993); Interstate Scientific and Technical Council (1995); Coordinating Council for Informatization (2002); Administrative Council of the Eurasian Patent Organization.
In the field of energy:
– Electricity Board (1992); Intergovernmental Council on Oil and Gas (1993); Intergovernmental Council for Cooperation in the Field of Chemistry and Petrochemistry (1993); Commission on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy (1997).
In the field of natural resources:
– Intergovernmental Council on Exploration, Use and Protection of Subsoil (1997); Intergovernmental Council on timber industry complex And forestry (1998).
In the field of trade, finance, customs policy and insurance:
– Council of Heads of Foreign Economic Agencies; Interstate Bank (1993); Council of Customs Directors (1993); Interstate Currency Committee (1995); Interstate Council on Exhibition and Fair Activities (1995); Leasing Confederation (1997); International Association exchanges (2000); Council of Chief Executives of Supreme Audit Institutions (2000); Coordination Council on Accounting under the CIS Executive Committee (2000); Council of Leaders of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (2002); Council of Heads of State Bodies for Regulation of the Securities Market (2003); Interstate Coordination Council of Heads of Insurance Supervision Bodies (2005).
In the field of ecology:
– Interstate Environmental Council (1992); Interstate Council on Hydrometeorology (1992); Interstate Council on Geodesy, Cartography, Cadastre and Remote Sensing of the Earth (1992).
In the field of natural and man-made emergencies:
– Interstate Council for emergency situations natural and man-made (1993).
In the field of security and crime control:
– Council of Ministers of Internal Affairs (1996); Council of Heads of Security Agencies and special services(1997); Coordinating Council of Prosecutors General (2000); Joint Working Commission of the States Parties to the Agreement on Cooperation in the Suppression of Offenses in the Field of Intellectual Property (2000); Anti-Terrorism Center (2000); Coordination Council of Heads of Tax Investigation Bodies (2000); Joint Commission of the States Parties to the Agreement on Cooperation in the Fight against Illegal Migration (2004); Bureau for coordination of the fight against organized crime and other types of crimes in the CIS.
In the field of education, culture and social policy:
– Advisory Council on Labour, Migration and social protection population (1992); Health Cooperation Council (1992); Committee on the Affairs of Soldiers-Internationalists under the Council of Heads of Government (1992); Council of Chairmen of Defense Sports and Technical Organizations (Societies) (1993); Tourism Council of the States Parties to the Agreement (1994); Council for Cooperation in the Field of Culture (1995); Council for Cooperation in Education (1997); Interlibrary Loan Section (1999). Meetings of the Interstate Committee for the Dissemination of Knowledge and Adult Education (1997) have not been held since 2002.
In the field of law:
– Scientific Advisory Center for Private Law of the CIS (1994); Council of Chairmen of Higher Arbitration, Economic, Economic and Other Courts Resolving Cases on Disputes in the Economic Sphere (2002); Legal Advisory Council; Advisory Committee of Heads of Legal Services of Ministries of Foreign Affairs (2004); Council of Ministers of Justice (2005); CIS observer mission for presidential and parliamentary elections.
In the field of information and statistics:
– Council of Heads of Statistical Services (1991); Council of Heads of State Information Services (Inform Council, 1995); Interstate Council for Cooperation in the Field of Periodicals, Book Publishing, Book Distribution and Printing (1999); Advisory Council of Government Leaders archival services (2004).
The Joint Consultative Commission on Disarmament Issues (1992) is not functioning. The work of the CIS temporary operational working group to resolve the conflict in Abkhazia (1999) has been suspended.
A number of specialized international organizations have also been created within the CIS: the Coordination Council of the International Union “Commonwealth of Public Organizations of Veterans (Pensioners) of Independent States” (1991); Interstate TV and Radio Company "Mir" (1992); International Union consumer cooperation (1992); International Academy of Viticulture and Winemaking (1996); International Agro-Industrial Union (Soyuzagro, 2002), etc.
CIS reforms.
From the beginning In the 2000s, some member countries put forward proposals to reform the Commonwealth of Independent States. On September 16, 2004, the Council of Heads of State made a fundamental decision on the need to reform the CIS bodies. This topic was discussed at meetings of representatives of the ministries of foreign affairs of member states and expert meetings, and in August 2005 it was considered at meetings of the Council of Foreign Ministers. The developed proposals formed the basis of the draft document presented to the participants of the meeting of the Council of State Duma (Kazan, August 26, 2005).
The improvement and reform of CIS bodies is aimed at implementing measures to further enhance the activities of Commonwealth bodies and strengthen integration processes. In the field of economic cooperation, it is envisaged to increase the responsibility of the Economic Council and the Commission on Economic Affairs for the implementation of relevant decisions, expand the functions of the Interstate Statistical Committee, give the Council of Permanent Representatives of Member States to the CIS bodies the status of a Commonwealth body, and study ways to improve the efficiency of the Economic Court.
In the field of military cooperation, it was decided to abolish the Coordination Headquarters and transfer its functions to the Secretariat of the Council of Defense Ministers, reduce the Coordination Service of the Council of Border Troops Commanders by 10% and intensify interaction within the framework of the Coordination Meeting of the Heads of Law Enforcement Agencies of the CIS Countries (includes the Coordination Council of Prosecutors General, the Council of Ministers of Internal Affairs Affairs, Council of Heads of Security Agencies and Special Services, Council of Commanders of Border Troops, Coordination Council of Heads of Tax (Financial) Investigation Bodies, Council of Heads of Customs Services with the participation of heads of Ministries of Foreign Affairs).
Preparations for reforms in the executive apparatus of the CIS continue: optimization of the structure and activities of the Executive Committee (these decisions should be made by the Council of Foreign Ministers and the Council of Permanent Plenipotentiaries of Member States) and an inventory of sectoral cooperation bodies (the Executive Committee and the Council of Representatives should submit recommendations for consideration by the Councils of Heads states and governments). The Council of Ministers of Justice of the CIS States was formed and the regulations on it and on the Interstate Council of Heads of Supreme Financial Control Institutions of the CIS Member States were approved.
The CHS continues to take stock of the legal framework of the Commonwealth. The Executive Committee and the Council of Representatives are tasked with analyzing the methods of decision-making in the CIS bodies, based on the practice of international organizations. The Executive Committee and the Council of Representatives should also prepare proposals to improve the work of the CIS Observer Mission in elections and referendums and consider additional proposals from states to improve cooperation within the CIS, including: conceptual issues, financing, etc. Russia proposed creating a “group in the Commonwealth high level» with the participation of persons enjoying authority in member states (modeled on the UN “group of wise men”). 2006 was declared “the year of the CIS”.
The participants of the meeting in Kazan (August 2005) approved the Concept of a coordinated border policy, the Protocol on the approval of the Regulations on the organization of interaction between border and other departments of the participating states in providing assistance in the emergence and resolution/liquidation of crisis situations on external borders, the Program of cooperation in combating illegal migration on 2006–2008 and the Program of Cooperation in the Fight against Terrorism and Other Violent Manifestations of Extremism for 2005–2007. Proposals made by Ukraine regarding cooperation in the field of pensions, international legal consolidation of state borders of the CIS countries, the creation of transport and energy corridors and a number of other issues were submitted for consideration to the Executive Committee and the Economic Council of the Commonwealth.
Internet resources: http://cis.minsk.by/
http://pravo.kulichki.ru/zak/megd/
http://www.kaznachey.com/azs/337/
Literature:
Pustogarov V.V. The CIS is an international regional organization. – In: Russian Yearbook of International Law. 1992. St. Petersburg, 1992
Charter of the Commonwealth of Independent States. Commonwealth. 1993, no. 1
Moiseev E.G. International legal framework for cooperation between CIS countries. M., 1997
Construction complex of Russia and CIS member states. Annual Directory. M., 1997
Mikhaleva N.A. Workshop on constitutional law of the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States. M., 1998
Moiseev E.G. International legal status of the CIS. – In: International public law. M., 1998
Collection of legal acts adopted at the meeting of the Council on Railway Transport of the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States on passenger transportation issues. M., 1998
Commonwealth of Independent States. Quick reference preliminary statistical results. M., 1998
Strategy for joint innovative development of the CIS member states. St. Petersburg, 1998
Commonwealth of Independent States and countries of the world. Statistical collection. M., 1999
Gagut L.D. CIS: new way development in the 21st century. M., 2000
Lazutova M.N., Selezneva N.A., Subetto A.I. Comparative analysis of laws on education of the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Baltic States. M., 2000
Decisions of the Economic Court of the Commonwealth of Independent States(1994–2000.). Minsk, 2000
Modern economic and social development CIS countries to turn of the XXI century(problems and prospects). St. Petersburg, 2000
Commonwealth of Independent States. Statistical Yearbook. M., 2000
Socio-economic problems of transitional society from the practice of CIS countries. M., 2000
Countries of the Customs Union: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan. M., 2000
Mantusov V.B. CIS: economic integration or divorce?(P prospects, features, problems). M., 2001
Materials of the International Scientific and Practical Conference dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the CIS. Minsk, August 27–28, 2001 M., 2001
Pshenko K.A. Commonwealth of Independent States: formation of a common cultural and educational space. St. Petersburg, 2001
CIS. Yearbook. M., 2001
Boboev M.R., Mambetaliev N.T., Tyutyuryukov N.N. Tax systems of foreign countries: Commonwealth of Independent States. M., 2002
CIS. Yearbook. M., 2002
Kazhenov A. International legal personality of the Commonwealth of Independent States. Belarusian Journal of International Law and international relations. 2002, № 1
Advisory Council on Labor, Migration and Social Protection of the Population of the Member States of the Commonwealth of Independent States. Collection of basic documents. M., 2002
CIS. Yearbook. M., 2003
Scientific notes - 2003. M., Publishing House of the CIS Center of the Institute of Current international problems Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry, 2003
Mantusov V.B., Mishakov S.S. CIS countries in the WTO: accession process, problems, prospects. M., 2004
CIS. Yearbook. M., 2004
Sharkov Yu.M. Current situation and prospects for development of the CIS. M., 2004
Bogolyubova N.M., Nikolaeva Yu.V., Pshenko K.A. International humanitarian cooperation and the Commonwealth of Independent States. St. Petersburg, 2005
a political union (interstate association) of most countries that, until 1991, were republics within the USSR.
CIS members: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia (until August 2009), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. Turkmenistan, which left the CIS as a full member in August 2005, has the status of an associate observer member.
Mongolia participates as an observer in a number of CIS structures (coordinating committees of the presidential offices on statistics, railways, etc.). The agreement on the formation of the CIS (also known as the “Belovezhskaya Agreement”) was signed on December 8, 1991 at the Viskuli residence near Brest (Belarus) by the highest leaders of Russia (B. Yeltsin), Belarus (S. Shushkevich) and Ukraine (L. Kravchuk) .
“The Commonwealth of Independent States, consisting of the Republic of Belarus, the RSFSR, and Ukraine,” said the statement by the leaders of the three countries, “is open to accession by all member states of the USSR, as well as for other states that share the goals and principles of this agreement.”
The appeal proclaimed that the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as a subject of international law would cease to exist.
On December 21, at a meeting in Almaty, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan joined the Agreement, adopting the Declaration on the Goals and Principles of the CIS, which stated the demise of the USSR and the need to resolve related problems.
In October 1993, Georgia became a full member of the CIS (on August 14, 2008, the Georgian parliament adopted a unanimous decision on Georgia’s withdrawal from the organization; on October 9, 2008, the Council of Foreign Ministers of the CIS countries adopted a formal decision to terminate Georgia’s membership in the Commonwealth from August 2009 G.).
On January 22, 1993, the CIS Charter was adopted, providing for the following areas of joint activity of states: ensuring human rights and fundamental freedoms; coordination of foreign policy activities; cooperation in the formation and development of a common economic space, pan-European and Eurasian markets, customs policy; cooperation in the development of transport and communication systems; health and environmental protection; issues of social and migration policy; fight against organized crime; cooperation in the field of defense policy and protection of external borders (Article 4 of the Charter).
The Charter was not ratified by Ukraine, Turkmenistan and Moldova, which formally does not allow them to be considered members of the Commonwealth, but Ukraine took an active part in the CIS.
The Commonwealth is not a state and does not have supranational powers (Article 1 of the Charter), but rather is a type of “soft” confederation. According to the initiators of its proclamation, the Commonwealth became an option for a peaceful “divorce” of the former republics of the Soviet Union and prevented the development of events according to the bloody “Yugoslav scenario”.
In different years, both unrecognized self-proclaimed republics and independent states declared their intention to join the CIS (in 1991, 1992, 1996, 2006 - Abkhazia, in 1993 - Nagorno-Karabakh, in 1991–94, 2006 - Transnistria , in 1992, 1994 - Crimea, in February 1995
Republic of Serbian Krajina in Croatia, in April 1999 - Yugoslavia). However, such declarations had no practical continuation.
The highest authority of the CIS is the annual meeting of the heads of participating countries. To resolve issues of economic interaction, meetings of the heads of government of the CIS countries are regularly convened. The CIS Parliamentary Assembly (headquartered in St. Petersburg) unites the efforts of the legislative bodies of the member states in creating legal mechanisms for economic and political integration within the Commonwealth. The executive body of the CIS is located in the capital of Belarus, Minsk, and is headed by the executive secretary of the CIS, appointed by agreement of all participants of the Commonwealth (since 2007 - Sergei Lebedev).
Within the CIS, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) was created, which included Russia, Belarus, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Armenia. For some time, Uzbekistan suspended its membership in this military-political union, but subsequently resumed it.
One of the instruments of economic integration is the Eurasian Economic Union (Eurasian Economic Union), created by a number of CIS countries. Another structure created within the CIS is the Union State of Belarus and Russia.
The 16-year experience of the existence of the Commonwealth of Independent States is still the subject of lively debate both in the public opinion of the member countries and outside the CIS.
The CIS member states still have serious territorial problems among themselves. Azerbaijan insists on the return of Nagorno-Karabakh, illegally, from its point of view, occupied by Armenia; Moldova still has serious problems with Transnistria, which has declared its independence.
The fact that the Commonwealth does not have real mechanisms for resolving territorial conflicts convinces opponents of the CIS of its ineffectiveness. On the other hand, it was the CIS that became the institution that was able to stop the bloodshed in Abkhazia and South Ossetia when it brought in peacekeeping forces there.
Thanks to the Commonwealth, regular contacts between heads of state, heads of government, parliamentarians, and the military, it was largely possible to preserve and even restore the economic and transport ties that existed during the USSR, and to coordinate positions in energy, industrial and agricultural policy, and in the social and cultural spheres.
Russia and Kazakhstan play a significant role in integration processes in the CIS countries. It was they who initiated the creation of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Eurasian Bank.
In addition to official meetings of the heads of the CIS countries, alternately held in the capitals of the states presiding over the Commonwealth (the last one was held in Dushanbe in 2007), informal summits of the leaders of the republics are also practiced. On February 22, 2008, at the initiative of Russian President V. Putin, such a meeting took place in Moscow.
Source: Great Current Political Encyclopedia
CIS COUNTRIES
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) - regional international organization(international treaty), designed to regulate cooperative relations between countries that were previously part of the USSR. The CIS is not a supranational entity and operates on a voluntary basis.
The CIS includes the following countries:
1. Azerbaijan
2. Armenia
3. Belarus
4. Kazakhstan
5. Kyrgyzstan
6. Moldova
7. Russia
8.Tajikistan
9. Uzbekistan
10.Ukraine
Citizens from countries that are part of the CIS use a simplified procedure for obtaining a “Work Permit” on the territory of the Russian Federation. To carry out labor activities, these citizens only need to obtain a “Work Permit” - to work in commercial organizations, or Patent - for work with private individuals.
To the employer, upon hiring foreign citizens to work from the CIS countries, there is no need to obtain a “Permit to attract and use foreign workers,” which greatly simplifies the procedure for hiring these citizens.
CIS - GENERAL INFORMATION
Agreement establishing the Commonwealth of Independent States signed on December 8, 1991 by the leaders of the Republic of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine. The parties to the Agreement stated that the USSR as a subject of international law and a geopolitical reality ceases to exist. The Contracting Parties formed the Commonwealth of Independent States. The Agreement formulates the main directions and principles of cooperation, defines the scope of joint activities, implemented on an equal basis through the common coordinating institutions of the Commonwealth.
The Contracting Parties guaranteed the fulfillment of international obligations arising for them from treaties and agreements of the former USSR. The protocol to the agreement on the creation of the CIS was signed by the heads of eleven states on December 21, 1991 in Almaty. It is an integral part of the Agreement on the Creation of the Commonwealth, signed on December 8, 1991, and determines that all these eleven countries form the CIS on an equal basis (Georgia joined the Commonwealth of Independent States in December 1993 in accordance with the Decision of the Council of Heads of State of the CIS).
Alma-Ata Declaration signed on December 21, 1991 by the leaders of eleven states. The document notes commitment to the goals and principles of the Agreement on the establishment of the Commonwealth of Independent States, and states that the interaction of the Commonwealth participants will be carried out on the principle of equality through coordinating institutions formed on a parity basis. The commitment to cooperation in the creation and development of a common economic space, pan-European and Eurasian markets was confirmed. The member states of the Commonwealth guaranteed, in accordance with their constitutional procedures, the fulfillment of international obligations arising from treaties and agreements of the former USSR.
Charter of the Commonwealth of Independent States adopted by the Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth on January 22, 1993 in Minsk. The Charter of the Commonwealth defines the conditions for membership of states in the CIS, formulates the goals and principles of interstate cooperation, interaction in the economic, social and legal fields, inter-parliamentary relations, and enshrines the sovereign equality of all its members. It is emphasized that the CIS states are independent and equal subjects of international law. A state that shares the goals and principles of the Commonwealth and has accepted the obligations contained in the CIS Charter by joining it with the consent of all member states can become a member of the Commonwealth.
The member states of the Commonwealth build their relationships in accordance with the principles of respect for sovereignty and independence, the inviolability of state borders, the territorial integrity of states, non-use of force or threat of force, non-interference in internal affairs, the supremacy of international law in interstate relations, taking into account the interests of each other and the Commonwealth as a whole .
Rules of procedure of the Council of Heads of State and the Council of Heads of Government The Commonwealth of Independent States was approved by the Decision of the Council of Heads of State on May 17, 1996. The decision was signed by the presidents of all CIS member states. The rules of procedure determine the procedure for the work of the Council of Heads of State and the Council of Heads of Government of the Commonwealth, the organization of their meetings, as well as the procedure for the preparation and adoption of documents submitted for their consideration.
Symbols of the Commonwealth of Independent States. On January 19, 1996, the heads of state adopted the Decision on the Regulations on the flag of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Decision on the Regulations on the emblem of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
CIS. Beautiful emblem
CIS - Commonwealth of Independent States - an abbreviation of the name of the new association of former union republics of the USSR, which became independent states after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991
The formation of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) occurred on December 8, 1991 as a result of the signing of a corresponding agreement in Viskuli (Brest region, Belarus) by the heads of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus
List of CIS member countries (2016)
- Azerbaijan
- Armenia
- Belarus
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Moldova
- Russia
- Tajikistan
- Uzbekistan
Members of the CIS are those states that, within 1 year (from January 22, 1993 to January 22, 1994), assumed the obligations arising from the Charter adopted on January 22, 1993 by the Council of Heads of State. Ukraine and Turkmenistan have not signed the Charter
- 1991, December 8 - the heads of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus Kravchuk, Yeltsin and Shushkevich signed an agreement on the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the creation of the CIS (Beloveshsky Agreement)
- 1991, December 10 - The agreement was ratified by the parliaments of Belarus and Ukraine
- 1991, December 12 - Agreement ratified Supreme Council RF
- 1991, December 13 - meeting in Ashgabat (Turkmenistan) of the heads of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan. who expressed consent for their countries to join the CIS
- 1991, December 21 - in Almaty, the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine adopted the Declaration on the goals and principles of the CIS and signed the Protocol to the agreement on the creation of the CIS
- 1991, December 30 - in Minsk, at another meeting of the CIS heads of state, the highest body of the CIS was established - the Council of Heads of State
- 1992, October 9 - CIS TV channel “Mir” was created
- 1993, January 22 - the CIS Charter was adopted in Minsk
- 1993, March 15 - Kazakhstan was the first of the post-Soviet republics to ratify the CIS Charter
- 1993, December 9 - The CIS Charter was ratified by Georgia
- 1994, April 26 - Moldova was the last of the post-Soviet republics to ratify the CIS Charter
- 1999, April 2 - The CIS Executive Committee was created
- 2000, June 21 - The CIS Anti-Terrorism Center was created
- 2008, August 14 - The Georgian Parliament decided to withdraw the country from the CIS
- 2009, August 18 - Georgia officially ceased to be a member of the CIS
- Economic Cooperation
- Cooperation in the field of ecology
- Cooperation in the field of ensuring the rights and freedoms of CIS citizens
- Military cooperation
- Cooperation in the development of transport, communications, energy systems
- Cooperation in the fight against crime
- Cooperation in migration policy
- Council of Heads of State of the CIS
- Council of Heads of Government of the CIS
- CIS Executive Committee
- Council of Foreign Ministers of the CIS
- Council of CIS Defense Ministers
- Council of Ministers of Internal Affairs of the CIS countries
- Council of the United Armed Forces of the CIS Countries
- Council of Commanders of Border Troops of the CIS Countries
- Council of Heads of Security Agencies of the CIS Countries
- Interstate Economic Council of the CIS
- Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS
In addition, in the CIS Charter there is the concept of a founding state of the CIS.
The founding state of the CIS is considered to be the state whose parliament ratified the Agreement on the Creation of the CIS dated December 8, 1991 and the Protocol to this Agreement dated December 21, 1991. Turkmenistan has ratified these documents. Ukraine has only ratified the Agreement. Thus, Ukraine and Turkmenistan are founders of the CIS, but not its members
The protocol of December 21, 1991 was also not ratified by the parliaments of Russia and Ukraine, and on March 5, 2003, the State Duma Committee of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on CIS Affairs came to the conclusion that the Russian Federation is de jure not a founding state of the CIS and a member state
All this confirms the well-known truth - the law that the drawbar, where you turn, comes out there
History of the creation of the CIS
Ratification is giving legal force document (for example, an agreement) with its approval by the relevant authority of each of the parties. That is, ratification is the state’s agreement to comply with the terms of the treaty.
Protocol
to the Agreement on the establishment of the Commonwealth of Independent States, signed on December 8, 1991 in Minsk by the Republic of Belarus, the Russian Federation (RSFSR), Ukraine
The Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Moldova, the Russian Federation (RSFSR), the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan and Ukraine on an equal basis and as High Contracting Parties form the Commonwealth of Independent States.
The Agreement on the establishment of the Commonwealth of Independent States comes into force for each of the High Contracting Parties from the moment of its ratification.
Based on the Agreement on the Creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States and taking into account the reservations made during its ratification, documents regulating cooperation within the Commonwealth will be developed.
This Protocol is an integral part of the Agreement on the establishment of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Done in Alma-Ata on December 21, 1991 in one copy in Azerbaijani, Armenian, Belarusian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Moldavian, Russian, Tajik, Turkmen, Uzbek and Ukrainian languages. All texts are equally valid. The original copy is kept in the archives of the Government of the Republic of Belarus, which will send a certified copy of this Protocol to the High Contracting Parties
CIS goals
The unified command of military-strategic forces and unified control over nuclear weapons have been preserved, issues of defense and protection of external borders are being resolved jointly
Governing bodies of the CIS
On October 28, 2016, a meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the member countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was held in Minsk. Leader of Belarus Lukashenko: “...the critical mass of accumulated issues is causing us in Belarus to have an alarming mood about the prospects of...the CIS...Justified criticism has intensified in our countries due to dissatisfaction with both the pace and practical results development of integration. We are hearing alarming signals from business... it is worth taking a critical look at the legal framework of the CIS. Over the past 25 years, we have signed an incredible amount of decisions, treaties and agreements. Are they all relevant and necessary today? I really want that during Russia’s chairmanship in 2017 we will be able to get clear answers: in the name of what has integration been carried out all these years and what goal is ultimately being pursued?”
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At the beginning of the holiday season, the question of choosing a summer vacation destination is on the minds of many Russian residents. In this regard, the question is: “Is Abkhazia part of Russia?” is asked more and more often.
Background
During the Soviet Union, Abkhazia was part of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic. But the local population was unhappy with this, periodically demanding separation from Georgia.
At the end of the 80s of the last century, this discontent escalated into an armed conflict, during which people died in Sukhumi.
On August 25, 1990, Abkhazia declared independence. In response, Georgia sent troops into the territory of the republic. Russia became a mediator between the warring parties. In 1994, a ceasefire agreement was signed, and peacekeeping troops controlled the situation.
Over the years, Georgia has tried more than once to return lost territory. But the Abkhaz Republic remained independent.
Abkhazia on the map
Today's situation
Today the Republic of Abkhazia is unrecognized state. Its independence is recognized by 5 UN member countries. These include: Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru and Tuvalu.
Map of the Republic of Abkhazia
Many Russians are confident that Abkhazia is part of Russia. Their confidence is based on several facts:
- You can enter there using an internal passport.
- Russians do not need visas to enter.
- 90% of Abkhazians are citizens of the Russian Federation.
- The currency of the republic is the Russian ruble.
However, Abkhazia is a separate state. Its statehood is confirmed by its own coat of arms, flag and anthem, as well as the existence of border controls between neighboring countries.
How to cross the border
The checkpoint for crossing the interstate border is located on the Psou River, not far from Adler. Russian citizens do not need a visa to enter. There are no restrictions on the time they can stay in the country.
When crossing the Russian-Abkhazian border, a Russian citizen presents one of the following documents:
Border crossing rules
- General passport.
- International passport.
- Diplomatic or service passport.
- Sailor's passport.
Citizens serving in Russian army, present command permission and a vacation certificate (in which Abkhazia is indicated as the place of arrival).
To travel with children, you need a birth certificate with proof of citizenship or a passport (for children over 14 years old). A minor citizen traveling without parents must have permission to leave the Russian Federation from at least one of the parents, which indicates the timing and direction of the trip, certified by a notary. When a child travels with one of the parents, consent to travel from the other is not required.
Tourists wishing to enter the country by car should have a license and registration certificate for the car. If the car belongs to another person, the driver must have a general power of attorney, certified by a notary and allowing travel outside the Russian Federation.
Georgian authorities consider Abkhazia to be Georgian territory occupied by Russia. Therefore, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not recommend that citizens of the Russian Federation who have a mark on crossing the Abkhaz border in their international passport use this document to travel to Georgia.
In November 2014, the presidents of the Abkhaz Republic and Russia signed the Treaty on Alliance and Strategic Partnership. Paragraph 2 of Article 4 of this document states that Russia will help strengthen the international ties of the neighboring republic and promote the official recognition of its independence by other countries. This indicates that the small Caucasian republic will not become part of the Russian Federation, remaining an independent state.
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