Упрощенная HTML-версия
Author : V. Likhachev
Vice President, The Russian Association of International Law, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipo-
tentiary, Doctor of Science (Law)
THE NEW (2016) FOREIGN POLICY CONCEPT of the
Russian Federation is based on fundamental trends in the in-
ternational system of the 21st century. This, without any
doubt, predetermines the axiology and applied orientation of
the document approved by Russian President V.V. Putin. Its
adoption reflects Russia's geopolitical responsibility for the
progressive development of the world order. Russia's interna-
tional legal position is an essential component of this intellec-
tual, conceptual approach, ensuring the harmony and dialectics
of international and national sovereign interests. Its presence is logical and objective, proceeding from
the premise that the international agenda includes a wide range of strategic problems that can be ef-
fectively resolved only on the basis of the principles and institutions of law and democracy.
Russia's new Foreign Policy Concept is a code of relevant and strategically important ideas and proposals
about reforming international relations in the 21st century.
The general declarations and goals, which are in line with the spirit and letter of the Russian Constitu-
tion, are spelled out in the specific provisions of the Foreign Policy Concept. They encompass a sig-
nificant portion of Russia's intentions and objectives in the international arena as a democratic and
legal entity.
In stressing the relevance and importance of Russia's new Foreign Policy Concept, it is essential to take
note of the document's new element such as the inclusion of issues related to the international legal
entity status of states and international organizations.
Naturally, the Russian document was bound to respond to these trends. As a result, very important
provisions appeared in it, including the identification of essential factors in the impact of states on in-
ternational politics; the identification of ideological values and recipes for modernizing state political
systems that are imposed from the outside and strengthen the negative reaction of societies to con-
temporary challenges; the recognition of the role of the UN, endowed with international legitimacy, as
a center for regulating international relations and coordinating world politics in the 21st century; setting
the goal of further strengthening the UN capability to ensure its effective adaptation to new world re-
alities while preserving its interstate nature; prohibition of support for nongovernmental entities, in-
cluding terrorist and extremist organizations; a call to counter any attempts to use human rights concepts
as a tool of political pressure and interference in the internal affairs of states, among other things, for
the purpose of their destabilization and changing legitimate governments.
From a practical and image perspective, it is advisable to hold presentations of the Russian Foreign
Policy Concept through the efforts of the Foreign Ministry, Russian missions abroad, Russian media
outlets (RT, RIA Novosti, ITAR-TASS, Interfax and Sputnik, among others), as well as the organizations
of compatriots living abroad, with a focus on Russia's strategy and practice in the legal regulation of
international relations.
http://interaffairs.ru
How to Build a Law-Governed World: The Russian Perspective