Boris Yeltsin

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OCTOBER - DECEMBER 1999ISSN 1331 - 1132159Summit presentationUDC 327(100)concept of the Worldthe 21st Cen tury'•J.nBoris Yeltsin'Received on: 20. December 1999The recent changes in the international relations enabled a global transformation however,such changes should develop progressively allowing gradual adjustment and avoidingdestabilisation of the established international and regional organisations. Of special rel-evance is to establish a new culture of peace, free ofwars and conflicts as well as an interna-tional political structure of the world order that would meet the requirements of its practicalimplementation. To achieve this, it is vital to ensure a comprehensive international monitoringof the current international relations and crisis. Furthermore, democratisation of interna-tional relations constitutes an integral part of the world in the Zl" century. On the other hand,the right to self-determination should not be interpreted as allowing or encouraging any ac-tions violating or undermining, fully or partially, territorial integrity or political unity ofsovereign and independent States.© Institute for International Relations. All rights reserved.Keywords: international relations, conflicts, international peace and security.The changes that the world underwent in thelate 1980s and early 1990s have radically reshapedthe environment for the development of internationalrelations thus opening up a prospect for their globaltransformation. It is crucial, however, that this proc-ess should develop progressively to allow the worldcommunity to adapt itself to the new environment.Continuity should consist in preservation and con-solidation of the universal and regional organizationsestablished in the second half of the 20th century,primarily the United Nations that ensures global se-curity and stability.Today, an agreed strategy is an imperative re-sulting from the interdependence of States. The at-tainment of this objective should be accompaniedby democratization of international relations. Thisis in line with the realities of civilization at the endof the 20th century. The assertion of democratic norms1 This paper is based on the speech presented before the G-8Summit in Cologne, July 1999.. The First President of the Russian Federation.and principles of social organization and formationof civil society exercises a salutary influence on in-ternational relations as long as democratic Statesproject their prevailing social values onto them.The balance of these and other factors requiresa closer and multifaceted political interaction amongStates. This should be taken into account in draftingand adopting a concept of the world - internationalrelations in the 21 sr century.A concept of the world constitutes an agreedset of principles of interstate relations in the interna-tional arena, which should bring about a world with-out violence in the 21st century.The concept of the world presupposes an ag-gregate potential of all States to be used to respondto the challenges, risks and threats on the eve of the21 st century. The objective is to form a new cultureof peace which would embrace the development ofa system of values, a pattern of behavior and a wayof life where a world free of wars and conflicts wouldconstitute a top priority for nations and peoples; andand integral interpretation for the commonbenefit of mankind, and progressive develop-ment of international law;o wider use of verification and implementationas well as judicial mechanisms and proceduresto ensure additional guarantees against circum-vention of international law; ando more active use and strengthening of the pro-cedures and mechanisms of peaceful settle-ment of disputes, including the enhancementof the role of the International Court of Jus-tice, as well as all possible encouragement ofthe practice of the UN Secretary-General'sgood offices and intermediary efforts of hisrepresentatives.16~O~ ~C~R~O~A~TI~A~N~li~N~T~E~R~N~A~TI~O~N~A~L~R~EL~A~T~IO~N~ls~R~E~V~IE~Wthe establishment of national and international envi-ronment conducive to a lasting and enduring peace.With globalization, international security isbecoming increasingly indivisible. In this context, apolitical structure of the world order should meetthe requirements of its practical implementation. Itis important that all States be equally protectedagainst modem risks and threats and bear commonresponsibility for their elimination. Thus, the worldcommunity faces the imperative of establishing acooperative mechanism to manage the globalizationprocesses.Such a mechanism can be effective only if itis based on harmonized national and internationalefforts.It is vital to ensure a comprehensive interna-tional monitoring of the current international rela-tions and crises. A "coordinated ideology" is neces-sary for ensuring sustainable development.A special role in this process is assigned tothe United Nations which is the single universalmechanism to maintain international peace and se-curity. The UN Charter serves as a foundation of theconcept of a world in the 2151 century. It is vital toenhance the potential of the Organization and itsconsolidating role. In doing so, it is also importantnot only to preserve the primary responsibility of theSecurity Council for the maintenance of peace butto reinforce its control over emergence and manage-ment of conflict situations.Simultaneously, the objective of reforming andadapting the United Nations to a new environmentand improving its activities should also be attained.The goal is to equip the United Nations with a capa-bility to efficiently respond to the ongoing worlddevelopments. It should in particular include an in-crease in the Security Council membership, strength-ening of all components of the UN peacekeepingpotential, including the capability of rapid deploy-ment of peacemaking operations, also through thesystem of the UN stand-by agreements.Strengthening the international legal basis ofthe world order, ensuring supremacy of law in inter-national affairs should be a priority task of the worldcommunity. It presupposes the following:o strict observance of the universally recognizedprinciples of international law and interna-tional obligations, elaboration of their agreed"The world order of the 2151 century meansmultipolarity based on integration capabilities oftheregions and their interaction in the interests of sta-bility and security. The movement to multipolarityreflects the will of the majority of the members ofthe world community, and its real and potentialcenters of influence.The enhancement of the regional factor in thedevelopment of international relations should be ac-companied by the regions' openness to cooperation.International and regional stability should beprovided through partnership interaction of theUnited Nations with regional organizations. Beingthe most developed regional organization and the solePan-European peace-keeping and security institutionthe OSCE could playa special role in this respectunder Chapter VIII of the UN Charter. This couldmean the adjustment of the universal (through theUnited Nations) and regional (through the OSCE)vectors of influence shaping the character and con-figuration of a future security architecture. TheUnited Nations' interaction with security and coop-eration structures in other regions of the world shouldfollow the same pattern.Democratisation of international relations con-stitutes and integral part of the world in the 2151 cen-tury and presupposes the following:"o renunciation of claims to global dominanceand achievement of general accord on progresstowards shaping a multipolar world order;o renunciation of excessive military capabilities,creation, under the UN auspices, of a global~LOCTOBER - DECEMBER 1999system to monitor non-proliferation of mis-siles and missile technologies;o encouragement of establishment of efficientinternational and national mechanisms andprocedures to ensure national minorities'rights in sovereign States; ando active involvement of "civil society's" poten-tial in resolving international problems.Humanisation of international relations is aprerequisite for the achievement of a world free fromviolence. Its main elements are the following:o minimising coercive measures permitted un-der international law, including improvementof the practice of imposition, application andlifting of sanctions and a clear delineation oftheir humanitarian limits;o minimizing human sufferings, inter alia, in thecourse of armed conflicts, including assistanceto victims of violations of international hu-manitarian law;o human rights for all, including higher aware-ness of the population about human rights is-sues and humanitarian law; ando transparency and accountability of interna-tional financial institutions and their enhancedinteraction with the United Nations with aview to better taking into account social fac-tors.'JCivilised international relations rest on inad-missibility of armed encroachments upon States, onits adequate realization in international legal princi-ples and norms at global, regional, and bilateral lev-els, as well as on application of this ban to intrastateconflicts. Arbitrary military measures in circumven-tion of the UN Security Council, including for pre-vention of a so-called humanitarian catastrophe areinadmissible.Legal aspects of the use of force in interna-tional relations in the context of globalization shouldbe clearly defined and additional criteria applicableto the use of force under the UN Charter, includingin humanitarian emergencies, should be developed.A clear interpretation of humanitarian crises underinternational law should be worked out.Human rights issues cannot be considered asfalling under the exclusive internal jurisdiction of161States. Obligations of States in this field arising fromgeneral norms of international law constitute obli-gations to the world community as a whole.The international community is not only enti-tled but also obliged to respond to violations by aState of its obligations in the sphere of human rights.However, in each particular case such a responseshould be based on norms of international law, beadequate, proportionate and undertaken on behalf ofthe international community embodied in the UnitedNations Security Council whose representative char-acter and competence in this regard are beyond doubt.Prevention of conflicts and preventive diplo-macy should become main instruments of removingtensions in international relations. It is necessary, infurtherance of the UN Charter, to develop a packageof political and legal measures in this field. The prac-tice of imposing sanctions against a State should bereviewed.The concept of the world should rely on ap-propriate rules of conduct by States in the interna-tional arena. It is important to find a rational corre-lation between principles of international law andthe mechanism of their implementation.The issue of interrelation of generally recog-nized principles of international law acquires a par-ticular significance. It is important to deepen theawareness that the exercise of rights under any ofthese principles should not prejudice the realizationof the others. The right to self-determination, for one,with all its importance, can not and should not beinterpreted as allowing or encouraging any actionsviolating or undermining, fully or partially, territo-rial integrity or political unity of sovereign and in-dependent States. The idea of inadmissibility of en-couraging or supporting separatist movements andinternational terrorism appears to be important, too.The contents of the new principles developed by thecontemporary international practice should be ex-posed more thoroughly, in particular, those of equalpartnership, indivisibility of security, solidarity andtransparency.The extent of threats capable of destroyinginternational security, plunging the world into a stateof chaos and instability remains considerable. Thesethreats include the danger of proliferation of nuclear,biological, chemical and other types of weapons ofmass destruction; regional conflicts whose numberskeep growing; the danger of a new spiral of the arms162 CROATIAN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS REVIEWrace on a higher technological and information ba-sis; the widening gap between rich and poor coun-tries; organized crime and international terrorism;illicit traffic in drugs; vulnerability of the naturalsystems, environment, etc. There have emerged con-flicts of a new generation, indicative of current struc-tural changes in international relations, which requirean adequate response from the international commu-nity.These events are developing against the back-ground of globalization that exerts an ever strongerinfluence on the system of international relations,structure of international, regional and national se-curity. While contributing to world and nationalprogress, the globalization poses great risks. Notevery State can gain today from its advantages andbenefits. The political task now on the world com-munity's agenda consists in providing access to it toas many countries as possible, protecting their econo-mies against the world market fluctuations and cre-ating conditions for social progress.In the context of globalization, the implemen-tation of a common, harmonized international policyof sustainable development, including the settlementof the debt problem and the liberalization of worldcommodity, technology and financial markets be-comes especially urgent. What is needed is a set ofmeasures to eradicate poverty, increase employment,create additional economic opportunities for womenand protect the rights of children. One of the mostserious problems of the 21 st century - the removal ofessential disparities in the levels of social and eco-nomic development among countries and regions ofthe world - will have to be resolved.It is necessary to secure maximum transpar-ency and openness in exchanging the results of thethird scientific and technological revolution. Theyshould benefit all mankind.The continuing population growth in the thirdworld in the 21 Sl century can spill over national bor-ders and become a factor of global threat." Counter-acting this threat and controlling the populationgrowth should become an integral component ofpolitical planning in the 21 Sl century.. .Demilitarisation of international relations isalso a major political issue. Limitation of, reductionin, and control over arms and armed forces consti-tute a materia!" prerequisite for assuring security ofStates..,Objectively, the political significance of themilitary factor has decreased which is an importantoutcome of the end of the global cold-war confron-tation. Increasing interdependence and inter-penetra-tion of economies and financial systems significantlyreduce the risk of a large-scale military confronta-tion or local anned conflicts. The importance of eco-nomic and other non-military dimensions of inter-national and national security and stability is grow-ing. This creates vital preconditions for further stepsto be taken in the disarmament area. The followingissues are to be considered:o preservation and strengthening in the 21 st cen-tury of the system of international legal re-gimes regulating the activities of States in thefield of disarmament control. Universalizationof treaties and agreements underlying suchregimes, primarily the Treaty on the Non-Pro-liferation of Nuclear Weapons, Comprehen-sive Nuclear- Test-Ban Treaty and others;o continuation and intensification of measuresto ensure regional stability, including the crea-tion of zones free from nuclear weapons andother weapons of mass destruction as well asprovision of security guarantees in interna-tional conflicts;o overcoming the impasse in the process ofmultilateral disarmament, primarily nucleardisarmament;o use of space exclusively for peaceful purposes,ensuring observance of the principle of non--use of force or threat of force from the outerspace;o promotion of information and technologicalsecurity;o substantial enhancement of the role ofthe UNSecurity Council and the Conference on Dis-armament in the management of these proc-esses. Multipolarity objectively calls for shift-ing emphases to multilateral security fora.,.The disarmament process should be imple-mented at the global and regional levels.The concept of the world, following the de-velopment of its strategic political parameters, shouldbe further elaborated in the economic, environmen-tal, information and other dimensions vital for theinternational community. It is an indispensable con-dition for the preservation of stability in all its as-pects. •

Concept of the world in the 21st century

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