No 4 (2014): Post-Soviet Area: Ukrainian Crisis, Eurasian integration, Energy and Security

The article examines the key aspects of the accession of the Republic of Crimea to the Russian Federation as the example of enforcement of the people’s right to self-determination, secured in UN Charter. International law basis of the accession, as well analysis of key reasons and consequences of this international precedent are under consideration.

On the background of the Ukrainian crisis of 2013-2014 one makes more comparisons between the events in Ukraine and the “Arab spring” of 2011, says that the technologies of the “Arab spring” came to Ukraine. Is that really so? What are the common and the different factors of the events in these countries? The author of the article considers that the Ukrainian crisis of 2013-2014 can be regarded as a link in the chain of the so-called color revolutions in the different countries and regions of the world during the 2000s-2010s only by a long stretch of the imagination. Despite the formal resemblance the Ukrainian crisis seems to be an independent phenomenon, caused by the entwinement of the internal and external factors; both were of great importance. But the events of the “Arab spring” were mainly formed on the basis of the internal factors.

The following article discusses the latest developments in Ukraine in 2013-2014. Different point of views of the Asia-Pacific region and countries like China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Vietnam and Indonesia will be considered in this topic. During this period, the country is experiencing a political crisis, that affects the Ukraine itself, as well as international relations in the described region. The point of view on these matters by the countries of the Asia-Pacific rim must be taken into account too.

The article considers the significance of teaching the course of history as a means, that can influence the integration process in CIS countries. It is noted that the studying of traditions and culture of the host country helps them to adapt to Russian social life. Besides, it is emphasized that the general historical knowledge creates the condition for overcoming ethnic and cultural barriers and it becomes one of the spiritual factors of Eurasian integration. Particular attention is paid to the content of the course in which specific historical examples show that Russia was founded and developed through the unity and interaction of different nations, traditions and cultures.

The article on the extensive factual material considered priorities and formation of the Customs Union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus in the conditions of the Commonwealth of Independent States, after the collapse of the USSR. Highlights the positive role of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan N.A. Nazarbayev to realize these issues. All issues are analyzed with the help of large legal framework, which was formed between Russia and Kazakhstan in the field of realization of the Customs Union countries and other countries of the CIS goals.

The article highlights geopolitical importance of the Fergana Valley as a factor of instability in the interstate relations of Central Asia countries. Fergana Valley is a territory that accumulates collisions and conflicts, urgent problems and issues of the Central Asia region (delimitation and demarcation of boundaries, poverty, lack of agricultural and fertility lands, lack of water resources, unemployment, ethnic collisions, and etc.) Therefore, analysis of the main problems in the Fergana Valley plays a big role in understanding of the situation in Central Asia and outside the region.

This paper analyzes the legislative instruments regulating energy cooperation relations in the framework of the Customs Union and Common Economic Space of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia. Formulate five basic pillars of a common energy market.

The article considers peculiarities of the geoeconomics and geopolitics of Central Asia through the system of transport corridors and their economical impact to the CA countries. The special attention is paid to the railway construction project in the region. Considered the possible scenarios of Russia's actions in the CA. Particular attention is paid to the nature of the Russian presence in Central Asia and the potential participation of the Russian Federation in the construction of the railways in this region.

The article describes the process of establishment and development of relations between the Arab Gulf countries, members of the GCC, and the post-Soviet states of the Central Asia. The internal and external factors affecting the bilateral relationship are examined.

The article is devoted to applied methods of foreign policy analysis of CIS countries. Expectations of the population in foreign policy are considered on the basis of opinion polls, analysis of exports and imports, membership in international organizations, content analysis of doctrinal foreign policy documents, as well as vote on the most pressing issues in the UN General Assembly are analysed. Conclusions presented in the article is only a part of the project of analysis of the foreign policy of the CIS countries, implemented at the Department of Theory and History of International Relations of People's Friendship University of Russia.

Interview is dedicated to the study of the CIS countries in Europe at the present stage. O.A. Morgunova talks about the relevance, problems and impact on the decision-making of foreign policy in the research of post-Soviet by European scientists.

This article describes the emerging competition in the country between the graduates of various foreign high schools. This issue may become very topical for Kazakhstan in the nearest future, and it can directly affect the country’s vector of development of foreign policy. Kazakhstan’s graduates of universities of Russia, China, Turkey and Western countries have entered into serious competition for the leading position in the national elite in the politics, economics and business areas.

The article covers the relevant international legal instruments governing the recognition of foreign documents on education and promoting academic mobility.

The article examines the status of the Russian language in the Kyrgyz Republic in the context of bilateral humanitarian cooperation between Russia and Kyrgyzstan.

The implementation of various activities of foreign diplomatic service of each state follows certain traditions, conventions and rules, which is called diplomatic protocol. Diplomatic service became one of the types of public service of the Ethiopian empire, created in order to meet government objectives in the field of foreign policy with the Emperor Haile Selassie I coming to the power. The article discusses the features of the diplomatic protocol of the Ethiopian Empire.