Проблемы становления Союза Беларуси и России

Abstract

The emergence of the Union between Belarus and Russia is taking place along with the activitizion of search for the most acceptable and mutually advantageous forms of cooperation among the CIS member-states. On the one hand, the idea of no viable alternative for establishing strong CIS is reaffirming itself among the member-states, on the other hand the recent years show the growth of the tendency of turning the relationships among the CIS member-states onto the bilateral basis. Thus the establishment of the Union between Belarus and Russia looks quite justified, it presents neither challenge nor opposition to the other CIS member-states, nor exerts any pressure upon them. The way to that Union was not smooth and the shaping of the position of Treaty sides was not easy either. Proceeding from the character of disagreements and discussions on this topic it is possible to outline the following set of the most characteristic and important issues of the further formation of the Union: 1. Forms in which the Union of Belarus and Russia (a single state, a confederation and so on) should finally result — the first opinion - a single state, rapid determined reintegration (supported by the 'Left' and 'patriotic' forces); —the second opinion - a certain confederation with preserving the sovereignty of both states (supported by 'centrist' organizations). 2. The correlation of legislative acts of the Union with the national legislation, the level of their legal binding force or advisability On the one hand, there are proposals to interpret the decisions of the Higher Council and other supranational bodies even without their ratification as binding for the Union as a whole, on the other hand there exists a proposal to synchronize the legislation first and to establish a general parliament of the Union. 3. The economic aspects The existence of a big amount of discrepancies in the principles of the economic policy formation, the differencies in a number of conceptual issues - the open market or 'market socialism'; the issues of reforms going at different rates. 4. The issues of external political and economic activities of the Union The consideration of the reaction of the Western countries to the establishment of the Union, the issues of the subject of international law. 5. Military cooperation The development of the common position on the principal documents on disarmament, the issues of NATO expansion, the issues of urgency and even the necessity of close military and political integration and collective security.