RUSSIA’S MEDVEDEV UNDERLINES SUPERIORITY OF LAW IN DOMESTIC, FOREIGN POLICY-MAKING

Yelena Studneva

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev underlines the superiority of law in domestic and foreign policy-making. Medvedev was addressing German policy-makers, public leaders and members of the German legislature in Berlin where he arrived on a formal visit.

The President of Russia spoke about the need for the overhaul of the United Nations which has to be an adequate reflection of today’s multipolar world and, secondly, the need for an overwhelming approval of overhaul plans. He said the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe should embody the unity of European nations. In his view, that organization is kept from turning into a full-fledged continental structure that aims for the reproduction of bloc policies. Medvedev said moves to build a really big Europe required open and honest discussion of all existing concerns. A pan-European summit could trigger off efforts to phrase a continental security agreement, which is why –the future world order is closely linked to the fate of Europe and to the fate of the whole Euro-Atlantic region, which means the fate of all European civilization. I have absolute certainty, Dmitry Medvedev said, that the problems of Europe will not be resolved unless its identity and the organic unity of all its integral parts, including the Russian Federation are achieved. Russia today is returning to the global politics and economy. Using all its natural, financial and intellectual resources and possibilities.

Dmitry Medvedev underlined that Russia attaches paramount importance to the perfection of its political system and to the development of the civil society institutions. He also said that Russia had done much to create a multi-party system on the basis of the renewed legislation on elections. The support of non-governmental organizations is also one of the priority directions in the Russian policy. In conclusion Russia’s President underlined that the plans for a long-term development of Russia and Germany are under discussion at the moment, and that they would be discussed more than once at the big international forums. And one of them is the Investment Forum that has opened in St. Petersburg today. Russia is interested to continue practical cooperation with all countries in the settlement of the most important problems of global development. Completing his speech, the Russian leader said that it had become especially visible in Berlin that history links, not separates. And who will realize this will never be a looser. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev underlines the superiority of law in domestic and foreign policy-making. Medvedev was addressing German policy-makers, public leaders and members of the German legislature in Berlin where he arrived on a formal visit.

RUSSIA SEES LATIN AMERICA AS ONE OF THE CENTERS OF MULTIPOLAR WORLD

Russia sees Latin America as one of the centers of a multipolar system of international relations. The announcement was made at the meeting in the Russian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday, where the delegates discussed the details of Russia`s cooperation with Latin America.

The delegation emphasized a high level of political dialogue between the two continents and a constructive character of cooperation on the key international issues. Among the main tasks the sides are facing nowadays are the development of strategic partnership and the creation of technical alliances with the most influential countries of the regions. In an interview with the Voice of Russia, Director of the Center of Economic Studies of the Institute of Latin America Vadim Teperman provided more details about the issue…

Russia and Brazil have already achieved a strategic partnership agreement. Over the past few years our countries have been actively cooperating in the spheres of high technologies and space exploration. We do not rule out a possibility that Russian rockets will be launched from the Brazil spaceport as it is located very close to the equator. We also develop technical and energy cooperation with other countries of Latin America. The Soviet Union used to build electric power stations there, and now, after a 10-year pause, Russia resumes this activity in Latin America. The Power Machines Company, which is the leading manufacturer and supplier of complex decisions in the field of power engineering, regularly wins tenders and constructs electric power stations in Brazil, Argentine, Mexico, Chile, etc. Russia has long established contacts with the two major integration companies there- with Mercosur and the Andean Community of Nations. But now it is high time to switch to more definite forms of cooperation. That is, for example, an agreement on preferential trade.

Following the results of the Wednesday meeting, Russia`s Foreign Ministry noted that to strengthen its positions in the Western hemisphere Russia needs the coordination of efforts of all national institutions. It was decided to launch the implementation of a special program aimed at Russian integration in the economy of Latin America.