Аб рэалізацаі ў міжнароднай практыцы прынцыпу раўнапраўя і самавызначэння народа

Abstract

The principle of equality and self-determination of peoples is one of the fundamental principles of modern international law. It is enshrined in the UN Charter and specified in other international legal documents. But its realization often goes contrary the principles of territorial integrity and border inviolability of states. The right for self-determination means the right of every people to determine freely its political status and realize its development. This realization can lead to the formation of a new independent state through decolonization or separation from an existing state. Some peoples or the separated parts of one people can unite and form one state. This can be also preceded by separation. In philosophy, self-determination is understood as the realization by the peoples of the striving to gain the most favourable position concerning the environment. This, in particular, presupposes the formation of big states at the expense of the territories of other peoples. The international community consists of states and protects primarily their interests. That is why it puts limitations on the possibilities of the realization of the self-determination right. Only the population of colonies is recognized to have this right in full. Its realization should not violate the territorial integrity and political unity of sovereign states. Though the latter should adhere to the self- determination principle and get the goverment which represents the whole people of the territory in question. The international community prefers the self- determination issues to be settled within the existing state borders and only by peaceful means. The opposite attempts were successful only in certain favourable international situations.