The main threat to Russia – it economic and social situation – as asserted in the “National Security Concept of Russian Federation”

The main threat to Russia – it economic and social situation – as asserted in the “National Security Concept of Russian Federation” – Page 44

From now on, Russia formally rejects taking upon itself unilaterally the commitment not to be the first to use nuclear weapons. At the end of 1997, the commitment was signed under the name of “National security Concept of Russian Federation”.  The document envisages that, in case of beginning the military involvement, for our protection, our nation will apply every available order of strength and means, which means, including nuclear weapons.

However, the authors of the concept suppose that today and the near future, it’s unlikely that Russia could be harmed by the external threat of war. The main dangers to our country can be found from the inside itself. They are focused, said in the document, “internal political, internal economic and spiritual spheres”.

According to one of the concept’s developers, the secretary deputy of Security Council of Russian Federation, this 35-pages-document, developed within several years, for the first time in Russian history has reflected the system of views towards the security of the individual, the society and the country.

“The concept pays attention to the definition of national interests and threat evaluation of Russian Federation’s security; provision to Russia’s security in economic and external political spheres; strengthening the unity of society; development the statehood; formation of national polity to prevent the criminality and corruption; construction of the Russia’s contemporary military policy and provision for security in the defenses sphere.

The main purpose of provision for national security in the document has been emphasized, are the creation and maintenance economic, political, international and military-strategic situation of our country.

Essentially, the National security Concept is the sort of staring point, theoretical base, in terms of which eventually could develop the sorts of necessary programme documents, as defense doctrine, doctrine of economic security. It is the basic for the execution of military reform. At least it is getting clearer that what kind of military forces needed to Russia, and what kind of conflict we have to prepare for.

Last but not least, it’s the first time that on the official strong level (apart from Security Council, in the development if the concept accepted the collaboration of the government, the State Duma, the Federation Council) scientifically established for our country against the external threat of war. Which means – bigger strength can be used to solve the internal problem.  

Brazil – for the forthcoming integrations – page 45

For the time being talks about Pan-America Free Trade Zone are progressing slowly

There remain about two months, until the opening of the second meeting at Chilean capital, between the heads of Northern, Central, and Southern American countries, on which they will continue to discuss the problems related to the creation of Pan-American Free Trade Zone. A decision of principle about this was accepted in 1994 at the first summit in Miami.  However, the last meeting has shown that, the road to the continental economic integration is considerably longer than expected.

Brazil has actively joined in the protection of interests not only socially but also regionally. A year before at the meeting of the foreign trade representatives department, Brazil and other members of South American Common market (where Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay also enter in) demanded that the Congress of USA to rejected the rights to revise the commercial contract, which concluded the administration of Clinton with foreign partner. This measure received the name of “Fast track”.

The requirement of “Fast track” was an element of tactics belonged to the Latin-American and on the forum of Department of Commerce at Belo Horizonte. The point was to put off the signing of an agreement about PAFTZ (Pan-American Free Trade Zone), of which Brazil and other countries of the area were in the state of unavailability, not enough for creation the competitive economy until 2005.

The Congress of USA has agreed to receive “Fast track” in principle, but suggested/laid down the request/demand: future agreement must completely correspond to the internal economic commercial law. However, it is exactly on these foundations that the United State can freely manipulate the amounts and the prices on import from Latin America, to put into the additional taxes and  

The position of Latin America – page 46

The Latin Americans are trying to win the time. Brazil, for example, obviously aims at broadening the circle of partners at Republic of South Africa and thus, securing its position before the negotiations with such strong competitors as USA and Canada. As a result, RSA has substantially been broadened. Venezuela, Columbia, Peru, and Ecuador state that they are ready to join in the partnership. Chile and Bolivia have already become associate members of the sub-regional economic association last year.

Despite the different kind of maneuver, Brazil and its partners do not aim at disrupting the negotiations of the Pan American Free Trade Zone at all; instead, they merely try to get more profitable export tariff from the US. Once again, the meetings at Costa Rica have shown, in the course of which RAS offered to create an ad hoc commissions by ironing out the commercial contradictions. Thus, in exchange for the liberalization of investments in the telecommunicational sector, which the USA is especially interested in, at the same time they are requested to discuss the matter of removal the Americans and Canadian customs barriers on the competitive agricultural production from Latin America.

It is precisely that the agreement on this matter was unable to reach.

The USA would never approve of creating an independent economic area in South America. This area is accounting for 18% of American export, and European and Asian competitors have become more active on this market.

Perhaps, this is why North America became flexible. Recently, for example, Americans agreed that the liberalization of commerce has taken place gradually and began not in 1998 as the US had expected, but no sooner than 2005.