peacekeeping activity. International (peacekeeping) activities of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Participation of the armed forces of the Russian Federation in peacekeeping activities
MILITARY THOUGHT No. 6 (11-12)/1998, pp. 11-18
Peacekeeping activities of the Russian Armed Forces
Colonel GeneralV.M. BARYNKIN ,
doctor of military sciences
UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF the cardinal changes that have taken place in the international arena in recent years, a qualitatively new geopolitical situation has developed, characterized by a significant reduction in the threat of unleashing large-scale wars. At the same time, it is impossible not to notice the increased tension in certain regions of the world. The likelihood of crisis situations developing into open armed conflicts on the African continent, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, including the CIS, has become higher. The events in Georgia, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and in the Russian Federation itself (Ossetia, Ingushetia, Chechnya) testify to this rather eloquently.
Experiencing a period of complex socio-economic transformations, Russia is vitally interested in maintaining international, regional and domestic stability. Armed conflicts both within the country and near its borders cause significant damage to national-state interests, and therefore Russia's participation in all forms of peacekeeping is quite natural.
Peacekeeping activities for the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are largely new, despite the fact that practical participation in UN peacekeeping operations (OPM) began in October 1973, when the first group of Russian military observers was sent to the Middle East. And at present, six groups of Russian military observers with a total number of 54 people are participating in peacekeeping operations conducted under the auspices of the UN: four in the Middle East (one person each in Syria, Egypt, Israel and Lebanon), 11 on the Iraqi-Kuwait border , 24 in Western Sahara, nine in the former Yugoslavia, and three each in Georgia and Angola.
It should be noted that the role of military observers in the PKO is very limited and comes down mainly to monitoring the implementation of the agreements reached on a truce or ceasefire between the warring parties, as well as preventing (without the right to use force) their possible violations.
Peacekeeping efforts require a completely different scale and forms of participation when it is necessary to put out the fire of an outbreak of armed conflict between states or within it and force the warring parties to cease hostilities and restore peace. These extraordinary tasks today have to be solved by the Russian Armed Forces in a number of regions of Europe and the CIS. Thus, in April 1992, for the first time in the history of Russia's peacekeeping activities, a Russian battalion of 900 men was sent to the former Yugoslavia (in January 1994, it was increased to 1,200 men). Stationed in Croatia, he performed the tasks of separating the conflicting parties (Serbs and Croats). In February 1994, part of the Russian contingent of UN forces was redeployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina to ensure the separation of the warring parties (Bosnian Serbs and Muslims) and to monitor compliance with the ceasefire agreement. The Russian military contingent (a separate airborne brigade of two battalions with combat and logistic support units), numbering 1,600 people, also took part in Operation Joint Effort, carried out by the multinational forces from December 1995 and aimed at implementing the General Framework Agreement for Peace in this region. During the operation, the military block of issues determined by the Dayton Accords was practically fulfilled, while some political issues remained unresolved (the problem of the return of refugees to their places of former residence, the lack of freedom of movement of citizens, the status of the city of Brcko has not been determined). The main outcome was that, thanks to the presence of the peacekeeping force, after nearly four years of civil war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, peace was restored.
Today, the military contingent of the peacekeeping forces (MS) of Russia participate in OPM and on the territory of the CIS: in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova (two battalions of about 500 people), in South Ossetia (one battalion - over 500 people), in Tajikistan (a motorized rifle division - about 7000 people), in Abkhazia (three battalions - over 1600 people). Russian peacekeepers are represented by servicemen of two formations and separate units of the Ground and Airborne Forces. In total, since 1992, more than 70,000 Russian military personnel have become participants in the PKO (taking into account the rotation every six months).
At present, Russia, together with the representatives of the OSCE, is taking an active part in the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. Much has already been done, the ceasefire agreement reached has been maintained for more than four years. But a lot of work still needs to be done before a full settlement is reached. And we are ready to bring in the military contingent of the RF Armed Forces to establish peace in this region, if the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan so desire.
The initiative in solving major peacekeeping tasks is usually taken by a group of states under the auspices of the UN or an international organization that has the appropriate authority for this, and significant material and financial resources. Russia has never objected to such an interested participation in resolving conflicts on the territory of the CIS. However, as practice shows, the European states and the OSCE are in no hurry to participate on a large scale in the settlement of conflicts on the territory of the Commonwealth states, limiting themselves mainly to the functions of monitoring and assisting in establishing contacts between the conflicting parties. Russia cannot wait for them to reconsider their attitude to this problem, and therefore is forced to act independently, proceeding primarily from the interests of national security and international obligations assumed.
Russia's peacekeeping efforts in the CIS are natural and justified. Of course, the crisis processes in our country make it difficult for it to play the role of an authoritative arbiter capable of persuading, and if necessary, using economic power or military force, to force the parties to resolve the conflict by peaceful means, to ensure calm and restore stability in the region. Nevertheless, Russia is actually the only state on the territory of the former USSR, which not only shows a political interest, but also has sufficient military and material and technical resources to conduct operations to maintain and restore peace. Russia's non-participation in peacekeeping activities would deprive it of the opportunity to influence developments in the international arena, and in a broader sense would affect the authority of our country in the world community.
Already the first experience of peacekeeping activities by Russia and its Armed Forces in individual CIS countries and in other regions has yielded tangible positive results. In a number of cases, it was possible to achieve an end to armed clashes between the opposing sides, prevent the death of the civilian population and the destruction of the economy, localize (isolate) the conflict zone and stabilize the situation. Russia's duty is to do everything possible so that, first of all, former members of the same family cease to be at enmity with each other and restored good neighborly relations. The future of our country and its international prestige largely depends on how soon the bleeding wounds in the CIS states are healed.
The basis for the participation of the Russian Federation - a permanent member of the UN Security Council - in peacekeeping operations is the norms of international law: the UN Charter, decisions of the Security Council and its Military Staff Committee, resolutions of the UN General Assembly, the OSCE, as well as the Charter of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Agreement of the CIS Heads of State on the Military Observer Groups and the Collective Peacekeeping Force. A number of regulations in this area contain the Basic Provisions of the Military Doctrine of the Russian Federation, which states that our state contributes to the efforts of the world community, various collective security agencies to prevent wars and armed conflicts, maintain or restore peace, and considers it possible to use the Armed Forces and other troops to conducting operations to maintain or restore peace in accordance with the decision of the UN Security Council or international obligations.
To date, the Commonwealth has adopted a number of documents defining in the aggregate general mechanism and the most importantspecific details of peacekeeping operationsiterations. They can be divided into three main groups.
To first include the provisions of the Charter of the CIS adopted in January 1993, which establishes fundamental approaches to resolving disputes and preventing conflicts between member states of the Commonwealth.
Second group documents is devoted to specific issues of the formation and activities of the Collective Peacekeeping Forces in the CIS. On March 20, 1992, in Kyiv, at a meeting of the top leaders of the CIS member states, an Agreement on Military Observer Groups and Collective Peacekeeping Forces in the CIS was signed, and on May 15 of the same year in Tashkent, three protocols were signed: on the status of Military Observer Groups and Collective Forces peacekeeping in the CIS; on the temporary procedure for the formation and use of groups of military observers and collective forces in conflict zones between the CIS states, as well as a protocol on the staffing, structure, material, technical and financial support of these groups and forces. On September 24, 1993, the Agreement on Collective Peacekeeping Forces was signed, supplemented by documents on the status of their joint command and funding scheme. Despite the fact that these documents are not included in the list of official international legal acts on peacekeeping operations in the CIS, it was on their basis that the decision was made on the same day to form the Collective Peacekeeping Forces in the Republic of Tajikistan. On January 19, 1996, at a meeting of the top leadership of the CIS countries, the Concept for the Prevention and Settlement of Conflicts on the Territory of the CIS and the Regulations on Collective Peacekeeping Forces in the CIS were adopted.
Third group establishes a mechanism for making decisions on the conduct of specific peacekeeping operations on the territory of the Commonwealth, and also includes documents that allow regular renewal of the mandates of peacekeeping operations (for example, in Abkhazia, Tajikistan).
Domestic legal acts regulating the participation of military contingents of the Armed Forces in activities to maintain or restore international peace and security are: Federal Law “On the procedure for the provision by the Russian Federation of military and civilian personnel to participate in activities to maintain or restore international peace and security” (1995 d.), Decree of the President of the Russian Federation "On the formation of a special military contingent in composition of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation to participate in activities for the maintenance or restoration of international peace and security” (1996), Regulations on a special military contingent in composition of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation to participate in activities to maintain or restore international peace and security (1996) - In accordance with the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Defense in June 1996 approved the List of formations and military units of the Armed Forces intended for participation in activities to maintain or restore international peace and security. On December 7, 1996, the Minister of Defense signed an order “On measures to implement the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of October 19, 1996 No. 1251 “On approval of the Regulations on a special military contingent in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation to participate in activities to maintain or restore international peace and security ". By this order, the participation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in operations to maintain or restore international peace and security is recognized as one of the important areas of their activity. At the same time, the functions and principles of using the special military contingent of the Russian Federation comply with the legal standards for the use of the Collective Peacekeeping Forces of the CIS.
The decision to send military contingents of the Russian Armed Forces outside its borders to participate in peacekeeping activities is made by the President of the Russian Federation on the basis of the relevant resolution of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.
The peacekeeping forces of Russia can be involved in resolving the armed conflict on the basis of interstate agreements: as a third neutral mediator (the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova, South Ossetia, Georgia); as part of the Collective Peacekeeping Forces of the CIS (Republic of Tajikistan); as part of the Collective Peacekeeping Forces (Abkhazia); under the auspices of the UN, OSCE, other regional organizations (the former Yugoslavia).
General management of PKOs conducted on the territory of the CIS with the participation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is carried out Council of Heads of State - Members of the CIS in combination with control by an internationally recognized, multinational political organization (UN or OSCE), and PKOs conducted on the basis of bilateral agreements - by specially created joint (mixed) control commissions. A clear mandate should be developed in writing, outlining the objectives of the operation, its expected duration, those responsible for its implementation and their powers. For example, the Collective Peacekeeping Force in Abkhazia and the Collective Peacekeeping Force in Tajikistan have such a mandate.
However, the situation in local conflicts often develops in such a dangerous way that Russia has to act in essence without a carefully developed political mandate and a system of political control over the activities of peacekeeping forces. Nevertheless, even in such cases a positive effect is possible, as evidenced by the cessation of armed confrontation in South Ossetia and Transnistria, when the achieved ceasefire created the prerequisites for a political settlement of the conflict.
A necessary condition for conducting an OPM is consent of the parties. Russia proceeds from the fact that the LOs can be deployed and operate only after the preliminary signing of an appropriate agreement by the international body and the conflicting parties or receiving clear guarantees from the latter that they agree with the introduction of peacekeeping forces into the conflict zone and do not intend to oppose them. In other words, the deployment of these forces should take place, as a rule, after the stabilization of the situation and if the parties have the political will to resolve the conflict by political methods. This is all the more important because the ICJ often does not have all the means to enforce its mandate and is required to cooperate with the warring parties to this end.
The deployment of peacekeeping activities on the territory of the CIS countries also begins after a political decision (issuance of a mandate for PKO) by the Council of the Heads of State - members of the CIS. The Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth informs the UN Security Council and the OSCE Chairman of the decision.
The immediate motive for Russia's involvement in the PKO on the territory of the CIS countries is the appeal to it by other states with a request for assistance in resolving conflicts.
There are some peculiarities in the deployment of peacekeeping activities when an armed conflict takes place within a state. As experience shows, in this case, it is necessary to seek the consent of all the forces involved in the conflict to conduct the PKO, even if some of them do not represent state power. An example of this is the Agreement on the principles of a peaceful settlement in Transnistria, signed by the presidents of Russia and Moldova on July 21, 1992. In accordance with it, a mixed peacekeeping force was created, which includes military contingents of Pridnestrovie, Moldova and Russia. A similar agreement was also signed during the settlement of the conflict in South Ossetia.
In contrast to the practice of using UN peacekeeping forces, the Russian Ministry of Defense, as well as observers, in a number of cases were brought to the line of contact of the parties when a ceasefire had not yet been achieved. They became, as it were, a buffer between the opposing sides and formed a demilitarized zone. The contingent of the Ministry of Defense is currently located in this zone, and each unit has its own area of control. Units from the opposing sides are deployed together with the Russian ones, and the patrols, posts and outposts that are being assembled, as a rule, have a mixed composition.
In accordance with established international practice direct control of the OPM, conducted under the auspices of the UN, international peacekeeping forces are officially under the command of the UN Secretary-General, who acts on behalf of the Security Council. Russia, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, takes an active part in the exercise by this body of its control functions. With the consent of the Security Council, the UN Secretary General appoints his special representative to direct the operation, as well as the commander responsible for the military part of the action.
Management and control during the conduct of AARs on the territory of countries- CIS members are somewhat different from generally accepted international practice.
With the adoption of a political decision to conduct a specific peacekeeping operation and the conclusion of an appropriate interstate treaty (agreement), i.e. obtaining a mandate to carry it out, creates Mixed (Joint) Control Commission (JCC or JCC) on a multilateral basis. It organizes the entry of the MS into the conflict area, and in addition, it is endowed with the necessary powers of its governments to resolve political, economic, military and other issues in the areas of peacekeeping missions, determines the structure of the Joint Military Command and the Joint Staff of Peacekeeping Forces. They include representatives of the Russian MS and military formations of the conflicting parties. To ensure the security regime within the security zone, commandant's offices of the peacekeeping forces are being created. The direct management of each specific operation is entrusted to the commander appointed by the Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth. Military observers appointed by the parties, as well as observers from the UN, OSCE and other regional international organizations interact with the Control Commission, the Joint Staff. The management of the units of the MS is carried out by decision of the Joint Staff and is not much different from the usual army scheme.
Concerning composition of the peacekeeping forces, then the interests of Russia correspond to the option when, on the basis of intergovernmental agreements, they include military contingents from various states. The established practice of non-participation in PKOs by contingents from particularly interested countries or countries bordering on the state (states) on whose territory (or between which) a military conflict broke out is no longer considered the norm in the new realities. At the same time, agreements on the composition of forces have their own specifics in comparison with UN practice. For example, the Agreement on Principles for the Settlement of the Conflict in South Ossetia, signed on June 24, 1992 by the Russian Federation and the Republic of Georgia, formed a Joint Control Commission consisting of representatives of North and South Ossetia, Georgia and Russia. Under it, with the consent of the parties, the Mixed Peacekeeping Forces were created, as well as the Mixed Groups of Observers stationed along the perimeter of the security zone. The development of a mechanism for the use of these forces was entrusted to the Joint Control Commission. As a result of the measures taken in South Ossetia, it was possible to separate the warring parties, stabilize the situation, and then move on to finding ways for its political settlement.
A few words must be said about the conflict in Tajikistan, since here the first attempt was made to put into practice the Agreement on Collective Peacekeeping Forces signed within the framework of the CIS. Adopted after a thorough study of trends in the development of the internal political situation in a number of republics of the former USSR, it reflects the desire of Russia and its neighbors, in parallel with practical measures to eliminate conflicts, to form stable mechanisms for peacekeeping activities within the Commonwealth to participate in possible PKOs. We do not rule out the possibility of bringing peacekeeping forces of other countries under the flag of the UN or the OSCE to peacekeeping operations in the CIS, if the need arises. The first example of such participation was Tajikistan, where in January 1993 a group of UN observers began to work.
International norms govern and use of force in PKOs. Russia believes that, henceforth, international peacekeeping forces will, as a rule, be armed only with small arms and light military equipment and will resort to the use of force only in self-defense (which is interpreted as countering armed attempts to obstruct the implementation of the mandate of the international forces).
An important principle in the use of international peacekeeping forces in PKOs is impartiality, those. refraining from actions that could harm the rights, position or interests of the parties to the conflict.
The norms of international law require maximum openness and publicity when conducting a peacekeeping operation (restrictions in this regard are possible only for security reasons). Unified (military and political) leadership of the operation and constant coordination of political and military actions must be ensured.
The implementation of these principles and requirements by the international community is considered a very important condition for both the success of a peacekeeping operation and the recognition of the legitimacy of certain actions carried out by groups of countries that have a mandate from the UN, the OSCE or other organizations.
The role of our country as an authoritative peacekeeping force is increasingly recognized in the world. In special decisions on Abkhazia and Tajikistan, the UN Security Council welcomed Russia's actions to resolve conflicts in these regions. In UN circles, it is noted that Russia's peacekeeping enriches the international practice of peacekeeping operations.
Russia actively participates in practical developments and consultations on peacekeeping activities with various international organizations (UN, OSCE, NATO and others), as well as with interested countries. So, in 1994, on the territory of the Totsk training ground and in 1995, on the territory of Fort Riley (Kansas, USA), joint Russian-American command and staff exercises of peacekeeping forces were held. They were preceded by the painstaking work of the leadership of the ministries of defense of Russia and the United States, experts, commanders of units assigned to the peacekeeping forces. A special “Russian-American guide to the tactics of peacekeeping forces during exercises” was developed and published in English and Russian. During the seminars and meetings, the parties came to a deeper understanding of the essence of peacekeeping operations, including such concepts as maintaining and restoring peace, logistics of operations, considered issues of joint decision-making and training of personnel, developed common symbols for designating troops during conducting joint exercises.
The units of the RF Armed Forces took part in the multinational peacekeeping exercises "Peace Shield-96" in Ukraine, "Centrazbat-97" in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The participation of units of the RF Armed Forces in the peacekeeping exercises "Centrazbat-98" on the territory of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, within the framework of the "Partnership for Peace" program - on the territory of Albania and on the territory of Macedonia is planned. According to the author, the practice of conducting such exercises is fully justified. It contributes to the mutual enrichment of peacekeeping experience and makes an undoubted contribution to the development of international cooperation in resolving conflicts in hot spots, and also lays the foundation for planning and developing joint peacekeeping exercises with NATO and the CIS countries.
Continues to develop legal framework for peacekeeping. In June 1998, the Federal Law “On the procedure for the provision by the Russian Federation of military and civilian personnel for participation in peacekeeping activities to maintain international peace and security” came into force, which determines the status and functions of peacekeeping forces, the procedure for their recruitment, as well as the financing of peacekeeping operations. In connection with the adoption of this law, the priority task in modern conditions is to develop an effective mechanism for its implementation, capable of ensuring coordinated efforts in the peacekeeping field of all interested ministries and departments.
I would like to pay special attention to funding the training and equipment of military units, intended to participate in the maintenance or restoration of international peace. The allocation of funds for the maintenance of military personnel during the period of participation in peacekeeping activities, in accordance with the Federal Law, should be carried out as a separate line of the federal budget. However, until now, these costs are also borne by the Ministry of Defense. At best, separate funding for peacekeeping activities can only begin in January 1999.
So, main positions and views of Russia on the issue of participation in international efforts to maintain peace are as follows:
First of all, Russia, being a permanent member of the UN Security Council, strives to take the most active and feasible part in peacekeeping activities;
Secondly, Russia gives priority to participation in peacekeeping activities within the framework of such organizations as the UN and the OSCE;
third, a military peacekeeping operation should be carried out only in addition to political settlement efforts, have clearly defined goals and political framework;
fourth, Russia is ready, on the basis of a UN mandate, to consider models and forms of participation of the Russian military in operations to maintain and restore peace conducted within the framework of other regional security structures.
In conclusion, let us emphasize that Russia's peacekeeping is in its vital interests. Armed conflicts create a tense situation in the immediate vicinity of Russia's borders, violate human rights, generate refugee flows, disrupt established transport communications and economic ties, lead to significant material losses, and can destabilize the political and economic situation in the country. Firmly pursuing a line on ensuring peace and security, fulfilling obligations under agreements with the CIS countries, Russia does not oppose its peacekeeping efforts to anyone, does not demand a special position and an exclusive role for itself, but stands for the widest participation in this activity of the UN, OSCE, other international institutions. The peoples of all the states of the Earth are interested in this. And our task is to contribute to the realization of their aspirations and hopes.
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The international activity of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation today is inextricably linked with the implementation of military reform in our country and the reform of the Armed Forces. As you know, the starting point for the reform of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation was the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of July 16, 1997 "On priority measures to reform the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and improve their structure." On July 31, 1997, the President approved the Concept for the Construction of the Armed Forces for the period up to the year 2000.
The military reform is based on a solid theoretical base, the results of the calculations, taking into account the changes that took place in the early 1990s. in the geopolitical situation in the world, the nature of international relations and the changes that have taken place in Russia itself. The main goal of the military reform is to ensure the national interests of Russia, which in the defense sphere are to ensure the security of the individual, society and the state from military aggression from other states.
Currently, to prevent war and armed conflicts in the Russian Federation, preference is given to political, economic and other non-military means. At the same time, it is taken into account that, while the non-use of force has not yet become the norm of international relations, the national interests of the Russian Federation require military power sufficient for its defense. In this regard, the most important task of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is to ensure nuclear deterrence in the interests of preventing both nuclear and conventional large-scale or regional war.
The protection of the national interests of the state assumes that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation must ensure reliable protection of the country. At the same time, the Armed Forces must ensure that the Russian Federation carries out peacekeeping activities both independently and as part of international organizations. The interests of ensuring Russia's national security predetermine the need for Russia's military presence in some strategically important regions of the world.
The long-term goals of ensuring Russia's national security also determine the need for Russia's broad participation in peacekeeping operations. The implementation of such operations is aimed at preventing or eliminating crisis situations at the stage of their inception.
Thus, at present, the country's leadership considers the Armed Forces as a factor of deterrence, as a last resort used in cases where the use of peaceful means has not led to the elimination of a military threat to the interests of the country. Fulfillment of Russia's international obligations to participate in peacekeeping operations is seen as a new task for the Armed Forces to maintain peace.
The main document that determined the creation of the peacekeeping forces of Russia, the principles of their use and the procedure for using them, is the Law of the Russian Federation "On the procedure for providing the Russian Federation with military and civilian personnel to participate in activities to maintain or restore international peace and security" (adopted by the State Duma on May 26, 1995 .). To implement this law, in May 1996 the President of the Russian Federation signed Decree 637 "On the formation of a special military contingent of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation to participate in activities to maintain or restore international peace and security."
The military contingent was brought into the conflict zone in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova on June 23, 1992 on the basis of the Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the Russian Federation on the principles of peaceful settlement of the armed conflict in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova. The total number of the peacekeeping contingent was about 500 people. On March 20, 1998, negotiations were held in Odessa on the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict with the participation of Russian, Ukrainian, Moldovan and Transnistrian delegations.
The military contingent was brought into the conflict zone in South Ossetia (Georgia) on July 9, 1992 on the basis of the Dagomys agreement between the Russian Federation and Georgia on the settlement of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict. The total number of this contingent was more than 500 people. A military contingent was brought into the conflict zone in Abkhazia on June 23, 1994 on the basis of the Agreement on a ceasefire and separation of forces. The total number of this contingent was about 1600 people.
Since June 11, 1999, Russian peacekeepers have been on the territory of the autonomous province of Kosovo (Yugoslavia), where in the late 90s. there was a serious armed confrontation between Serbs and Albanians. The number of the Russian contingent was 3600 people. A separate sector occupied by the Russians in Kosovo equalized the rights of the Russian Federation in resolving this interethnic conflict with the five leading NATO countries (USA, Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy).
The staffing of government bodies, military units and subdivisions of a special military contingent is carried out on a voluntary basis according to the preliminary (competitive) selection of military personnel undergoing military service under a contract. The training and equipment of the peacekeeping forces are carried out at the expense of the federal budget funds allocated for defense.
During the period of service as part of a special military contingent, military personnel enjoy the status, privileges and immunities that are granted to UN personnel in peacekeeping operations in accordance with the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations adopted by the UN General Assembly on February 13, 1996, the Convention on UN Security Council of December 9, 1994, Protocol on the Status of Military Observer Groups and Collective Peacekeeping Forces in the CIS of May 15, 1992.
The personnel of the special military contingent is equipped with small arms. When performing tasks on the territory of the CIS countries, personnel are provided with all types of allowances in accordance with the standards established in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Training and education of the military personnel of the peacekeeping contingent is carried out at the bases of a number of formations of the Leningrad and Volga-Ural military districts, as well as at the Higher Officer Courses "Shot" in the city of Solnechnogorsk (Moscow Region).
The CIS member states have concluded an Agreement on the training and education of military and civilian personnel for participation in collective peacekeeping operations, determined the procedure for training and education, and approved training programs for all categories of military and civilian personnel assigned to collective peacekeeping forces. The international activities of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation include joint exercises, friendly visits and other activities aimed at strengthening common peace and mutual understanding. On August 11, 2000, a joint Russian-Moldovan exercise of the peacekeeping forces "Blue Shield" was held.
In addition, Russian servicemen are part of the peacekeeping contingent of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. This contingent was formed in October 2007. It is intended primarily for participation in peacekeeping operations in the territories of the CSTO member states (by decision of the CSTO Collective Security Council), as well as outside these states (on the basis of the Mandate issued by the Council UN security).
Lesson 26
INTERNATIONAL (PEACEKEEPING) ACTIVITIES OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Subject: OBJ.
Module 3. Ensuring the military security of the state.
Section 6. Fundamentals of State Defense.
Chapter 5. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - the basis of the defense of the state.
Lesson number 26. International (peacekeeping) activities of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
Date: "____" _____________ 20___
The lesson was held by: teacher-organizer of life safety Khamatgaleev E.R.
Target: get acquainted with the main aspects of the international (peacekeeping) activities of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
Course of lessons
Class organization.
Greetings. Checking the list of the class.
Message about the topic and purpose of the lesson.
Knowledge update.
What are the main tasks performed by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in peacetime?
What are the main tasks of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation during the period of direct threat of aggression and in wartime?
What is the new system for recruiting units with soldiers and sergeants?
Why, in your opinion, is the fight against terrorism included in the list of the main tasks of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation?
Checking homework.
Listening to the answers of several students to homework (at the choice of the teacher).
Working on new material.
The main tasks of the Russian Federation to contain and prevent military conflicts include participation in international peacekeeping activities, including under the auspices of the UN and in the framework of interaction with international (regional) organizations.
The protection of the national interests of the state assumes that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation must ensure reliable protection of the country. At the same time, the Armed Forces must ensure that the Russian Federation carries out peacekeeping activities both independently and in cooperation with international organizations.
The Military Doctrine of the Russian Federation (2010) states that the tasks of the military-political cooperation of the Russian Federation include the development of relations with international organizations to prevent conflict situations, maintain and strengthen peace in various regions, including with the participation of Russian military contingents in peacekeeping operations.
For the implementation of peacekeeping operations under a UN mandate or under a CIS mandate, the Russian Federation provides military contingents in accordance with the procedure established by federal legislation and international treaties of the Russian Federation.
Thus, at present, the leadership of the country considers the Armed Forces as a factor of deterrence, as a last resort used in cases where the use of peaceful means has not led to the elimination of a military threat to the interests of the country. Fulfillment of Russia's international obligations to participate in peacekeeping operations is seen as a new task of the Armed Forces to maintain peace.
In recent years, military personnel from the peacekeeping units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have carried out tasks to maintain peace and security in four regions: in Sierra Leone, in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova, in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. For example, on the territory of Abkhazia, Russian peacekeepers cleared mines, restored life-support facilities for the population, checked the technical condition of the railway, and also repaired roads. Russian peacekeepers repeatedly provided significant assistance to representatives of the local population.
Currently, a military formation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is participating in the UN peacekeeping mission in Sudan.
The 15th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade has been formed to train Russian army personnel for participation in operations to maintain international peace and security. Its fighters can be part of peacekeeping contingents by decision of the President of the Russian Federation and in the interests of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the UN, the OSCE, the Russia-NATO Council and, if necessary, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
The staffing of government bodies, military units and subdivisions of a special military contingent is carried out on a voluntary basis according to the preliminary (competitive) selection of military personnel undergoing military service under a contract. The training and equipment of the peacekeeping forces is carried out at the expense of the federal budget allocated for defense.
During the period of service as part of a special military contingent, military personnel enjoy the status, privileges and immunities that are granted to UN personnel in peacekeeping operations in accordance with the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations adopted by the UN General Assembly on February 13, 1996, the Convention on UN Security Council of December 9, 1994, Protocol on the Status of Military Observer Groups and Collective Peacekeeping Forces in the CIS of May 15, 1992.
The CIS member states have concluded an Agreement on the training and education of military and civilian personnel for participation in collective peacekeeping operations, determined the procedure for training and education, and approved training programs for all categories of military and civilian personnel assigned to collective peacekeeping forces.
The international activities of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation include joint exercises, friendly visits and other activities aimed at strengthening common peace and mutual understanding.
In accordance with the agreement between the governments of the Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Norway "On cooperation in the search for missing persons and rescuing people in distress in the Barents Sea" in September 2008, a joint Russian-Norwegian exercise "Barents-2008" was held. On the part of Russia, a rescue and tugboat of the Northern Fleet and an aircraft of the Air Force of the Northern Fleet took part in the exercise.
Findings.
Thanks to its participation in peacekeeping operations, the Russian Federation contributes to the prevention of crisis situations at the stage of their inception.
A special military contingent of peacekeepers has been formed in the Russian Federation.
The international activity of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation includes activities aimed at strengthening common peace and mutual understanding.
Questions.
What is the significance and role of the international activities of the Russian Armed Forces?
What is the legal basis for conducting peacekeeping activities of the Russian Armed Forces?
Tasks.
Prepare a presentation on the topic “Status of a Russian peacekeeping force contingent”.
Using the "Additional materials" section, mass media and Internet materials, prepare reports on one of the topics: "Actions of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Kosovo (on the territory of the former Yugoslavia)", "Actions of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in South Ossetia in August 2008. ".
Additional materials to §26.
Use of Russian peacekeepers
The military contingent was introduced into the conflict zone in South Ossetia on July 9, 1992 on the basis of the Dagomys agreement between the Russian Federation and Georgia on the settlement of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict. The total number of this contingent was more than 500 people.
In August 2008, Russian peacekeepers participated in repelling an illegal invasion of the territory of South Ossetia by the armed forces of Georgia.
The invasion of the territory of South Ossetia began on the morning of 9 August. Targeted bombing airstrikes were carried out at the places of deployment of our peacekeepers. Georgian tanks and motorized infantry broke into the streets of the administrative center of South Ossetia - the city of Tskhinvali. The forces of Russian peacekeepers and South Ossetian units repulsed several attacks of the aggressor.
On the same day, a decision was made to provide assistance to peacekeepers and Russian citizens living in South Ossetia, who were subjected to actual destruction. The forces and means of the Russian peacekeepers have been strengthened. The peacekeeping group of Russian troops carried out an operation to curb Georgia's aggression against South Ossetia. The task set - to ensure peace in the region - was successfully completed.
Since October 1993, the 201st motorized rifle division of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation has been part of the Collective Peacekeeping Forces in the Republic of Tajikistan in accordance with the Treaty between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tajikistan. The total number of this contingent was more than 6 thousand people.
Since June 11, 1999, Russian peacekeepers have been on the territory of the autonomous region of Kosovo (Yugoslavia), where in the late 90s. there was a serious armed confrontation between the Serbs and Albanians. The number of the Russian contingent was 3600 people. Russian peacekeepers were in Kosovo until August 1, 2003. A separate sector occupied by the Russians in Kosovo equalized the rights of the Russian Federation in resolving this international conflict with the five leading NATO countries (USA, Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy).
In the African Republic of Sierra Leone in 2000-2005. there was a Russian peacekeeping contingent for aviation support of the UN mission. The tasks of the contingent included air escort and cover for columns of UN troops and humanitarian convoys. The number of the contingent was 115 people.
The Russian Federation bears a special responsibility for maintaining security in the CIS space. Thus, in Transnistria, in order to peacefully resolve the armed conflict and on the basis of the relevant agreement, there are still joint peacekeeping forces of Russia and Moldova.
End of lesson.
Homework. Prepare for retelling § 26 “International (peacekeeping) activities of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation” (pp. 128-131); complete tasks 1 and 2 (heading "Assignments", p. 130).
Giving and commenting on ratings.
These are collective actions of international organizations (UN, OSCE, etc.) of a political, economic, military and other nature, carried out after the outbreak of a conflict in accordance with the norms and principles of international law, aimed at resolving international disputes, preventing and ending armed conflicts mainly by peaceful means. to eliminate the threat to international peace and security. May include mediation, reconciliation of conflicting parties, negotiations, diplomatic isolation and sanctions.
Peacekeeping operations in general are actions aimed at inducing warring parties to an agreement.
In this case, the possible goals of the peacekeeping activities of the armed forces can be:
Forcing one or more warring parties to stop violent actions, to conclude a peace agreement between themselves or with the current government.
shield of the territory and (or) population from aggression.
The isolation of a territory or a group of people and the restriction of their contact with the outside world.
Observation (tracking, monitoring) of the development of the situation, collection, processing and dissemination of information.
Providing or assisting with the basic needs of the parties involved in the conflict.
Coercion in this context does not provide for the mandatory consent of all or any of the parties to the entry of a peacekeeping contingent.
The main tasks that can be entrusted to the contingents of the armed forces within the framework of a peacekeeping operation are:
observation and control over compliance with the terms of the truce and ceasefire;
preventive entry of troops into the area of potential conflict;
disengagement of the forces of the opposing sides and control over compliance with the terms of the truce;
maintaining and restoring order and stability;
securing humanitarian assistance;
ensuring the right of passage, imposing restrictions on movement;
establishment of restricted areas and control over them;
imposing and monitoring compliance with the sanctions regime;
forced separation of the belligerents.
As for the forced disengagement of the belligerents, the solution of this problem actually brings peacekeeping activities to the level of "combat" operations and is a reflection of the abandonment of the traditional approach in the use of exclusively light weapons by peacekeeping contingents and only for the purposes of self-defense. Such peace enforcement operations expand the possibilities for resolving conflict situations, but carry the risk of losing the status of an impartial arbiter by the peacekeeping forces.
The history of the participation of Russian military personnel in peacekeeping operations can be traced back to 1973, when a group of officers was included as observers in the UN Emergency Force in Sinai. In the UN Security Forces established in 1992 (in the former Yugoslavia), Russian military personnel for the first time took part in a UN peacekeeping operation as part of separate national military formations. Thus, the first Russian battalion participates in the separation of Serbian and Croatian forces in Croatia. Subsequently, on the basis of part of the forces of this battalion, transferred from the Serbian Krajina near Sarajevo, the second Russian battalion was deployed in Bosnia and Herzegovina. At present, two Russian divisions are carrying out purposeful preparations for the implementation of peacekeeping missions (including according to UN plans).
But on a much larger scale, Russia was involved in peacekeeping operations on the territory of the former USSR (in South Ossetia (since 1992), Moldova (1992), Tajikistan (1993) and Abkhazia (1994)).
There are several main stages in the development of the international community's approaches to the implementation of peacekeeping functions.
During the FIRST STAGE (from 1948 to 1956), two operations were organized, which continue to this day. Thus, within the framework of these operations were formed: the UN Truce Supervision Mission, created to monitor the ceasefire agreement between Israel and its Arab neighbors in 1948, and the UN military observer group in India and Pakistan, created in 1949 to monitor the line of demarcation between the two countries in Kashmir.
The SECOND STAGE of international peacekeeping (from 1956 to 1967) took place against the background of increasing tension in relations between the two main military-political blocs - the Warsaw Pact and NATO. which led to the gradual curtailment of peacekeeping activities under the auspices of the UN. During this period, no new peacekeeping operations were organized and only three of the previously established ones continued to operate.
THE THIRD STAGE (from 1967 to 1973 between the 2nd and 3rd Arab-Israeli wars) was characterized by the most fierce rivalry between the military-political groups of the West and the East.
At the FOURTH STAGE (chronologically associated with the end of the "October" war of 1973 in the Middle East and at the end of the 80s), peacekeeping again began to be considered as a means capable of ensuring control (monitoring) of the development of the situation in the event of a crisis development of conflict situations .
Stopping aggression.
Aggression (lat. - attack) is a military violation of the sovereignty of the state, its independence and the integrity of its borders. Aggression can also be economic, psychological, ideological, etc. In modern international law, there is a principle of legal responsibility for aggression, including coercive measures aimed at stopping aggression and restoring peace. Political and material responsibility for aggression is envisaged.
The suppression of aggression - will decide. the use of the state military. forces combined with non-military. means of influencing the aggressor to stop his armament. attacks. It is carried out by retaliatory strikes on the avenue by troops (forces) at the same time. using economics, polit., dipl. and other countermeasures at an early stage of the military. conflict in order to prevent its escalation and facilitate a subsequent settlement on terms acceptable to the country under attack.
Stopping the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.
The active attempts of the world community to resolve the crisis caused by Iraq's occupation of Kuwait ended in vain. On January 17, 1991, in accordance with the decision of the UN Security Council, the multinational forces of the anti-Iraqi coalition began hostilities under the code name Desert Storm.
The political goals of this operation were to liberate Kuwait and return power to the legitimate government, restore stability in the Persian Gulf region; approval of the principles of the "new world order", as well as in changing the composition of the leadership of Iraq and its political course. The military goals of the operation were to destroy the military potential of Iraq, threatening Israel and some countries of the Middle East with its military power; in depriving Iraq of the ability to produce nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.
The operation began on the night of January 16-17, 1991. Allied air forces successfully bombarded military installations in Iraq, which in turn tried to initiate an all-Arab war by launching provocative missile attacks on Israel, which was not officially involved in the conflict. Saddam Hussein tried to start a kind of "ecological war" by dumping oil directly into the Persian Gulf and setting fire to oil rigs. The offensive of the Allied ground forces began on February 24, 1991, in 4 days the territory of Kuwait was liberated. On February 28 hostilities ended as Iraq agreed to a UN resolution to liberate Kuwait.
During 43 days of hostilities, Iraq lost 4 thousand tanks (95% of the total), 2140 guns (69%), 1865 armored personnel carriers (65%), 7 helicopters (4%), 240 aircraft (30%). The losses of the coalition amounted to 4 tanks, 1 gun, 9 armored personnel carriers, 17 helicopters, 44 aircraft. The 700,000-strong allied grouping of troops lost 148 people killed. The losses of the half-million Iraqi army are estimated at 9,000 killed, 17,000 wounded, and 63,000 captured. About 150,000 Iraqi army soldiers deserted during the fighting.
PRO system.
Anti-missile defense (ABM) is a set of measures of reconnaissance, radio engineering and fire nature, designed to protect (defend) protected objects from missile weapons. Missile defense is very closely related to air defense and is often carried out by the same systems.
The concept of missile defense includes protection against a missile threat of any kind and all the means that carry it out (including active protection of tanks, air defense systems that fight cruise missiles, etc.), but at the household level, when talking about missile defense, they usually mean " strategic missile defense" - protection against the ballistic missile component of strategic nuclear forces (ICBMs and SLBMs).
Speaking of missile defense, one can single out self-defense against missiles, tactical and strategic missile defense.
Self defense against missiles
Self-defense against missiles is the minimum unit of anti-missile defense. It provides protection against attacking missiles only for the military equipment on which it is installed. A characteristic feature of self-defense systems is the placement of all missile defense systems directly on the protected equipment, and all deployed systems are auxiliary (not the main functional purpose) for this equipment. Self-protection systems against missiles are cost-effective for use only on expensive types of military equipment that suffer heavy losses from missile fire. Currently, two types of self-defense systems against missiles are being actively developed: active tank protection systems and anti-missile defense of warships.
Tactical PRO
Tactical missile defense is designed to protect limited areas of the territory and objects located on it (troop groups, industry and settlements) from missile threats. The goals of such missile defense include: maneuvering (mainly high-precision aviation) and non-maneuvering (ballistic) missiles with relatively low speeds (up to 3-5 km / s) and not having the means to overcome missile defense. The reaction time of tactical missile defense systems ranges from several seconds to several minutes, depending on the type of threat. The radius of the protected area, as a rule, does not exceed several tens of kilometers. Complexes with a significantly larger radius of the protected area - up to several hundred kilometers, are often referred to as strategic missile defense, although they are not capable of intercepting high-speed intercontinental ballistic missiles, covered by powerful means of penetrating missile defense.
Existing tactical missile defense systems
short range
Tunguska
Pantsir-S1
Short Range:
MIM-104 Patriot PAC3
Medium and long range:
Aegis (AEGIS)
GBI (Ground Based Interceptor) missiles
KEI (Kinetic Energy Interceptor) missiles
Short Range:
Medium and long range:
Short Range:
iron dome
Medium and long range:
Strategic missile defense
The most complex, advanced and expensive category of anti-missile defense systems. The task of strategic missile defense is to fight strategic missiles - their design and tactics of use specifically provide for means that make it difficult to intercept - a large number of light and heavy decoys, maneuvering warheads, as well as jamming systems, including high-altitude nuclear explosions.
At present, only Russia and the United States have strategic missile defense systems, while the existing systems are capable of protecting only from a limited strike (single missiles), and over a limited area. In the foreseeable future, there are no prospects for the emergence of systems capable of protecting against a massive strike by strategic missiles.
The US Territory Missile Defense System (NMD) (National Missile Defense - NMD) is being created, according to statements by the American administration, to protect the country's territory from a nuclear missile strike from the so-called rogue countries, which in the United States include, in particular, North Korea, Iran and Syria (previously also Iraq and Libya). Russian politicians and the military have repeatedly expressed the opinion that in reality the American missile defense system threatens the security of Russia and, possibly, China, thereby violating nuclear parity. The deployment of missile defense bases has led to a deterioration in relations between the United States and Russia.
US missile defense system
The US missile defense system being created includes the following elements: a control center, early warning stations and satellites for tracking missile launches, interceptor missile guidance stations, and launch vehicles themselves for launching anti-missiles into space in order to destroy enemy ballistic missiles.
In late 2006 - early 2007, the US intention to deploy elements of the missile defense system in Eastern Europe, in close proximity to Russian territory, ran into sharp opposition from the Russian leadership, which gave rise to opinions about the beginning of the next round of the nuclear-missile arms race and the Cold War.
In early October 2004, the United States, declaring its concern about the emergence of Iran's medium-range missiles capable of hitting targets at a distance of 2 thousand km, decided to accelerate the deployment of a missile defense system in the United States and held consultations with European allies on the deployment of missiles -interceptors in Europe and their inclusion in the US missile defense coverage area.
Countries involved in the development of US missile defense: Great Britain, Ireland, Germany and France, Poland, South Korea, etc.
Development of Russian air defense
The Moscow air defense system is part of the Special Purpose Command (KSPN), created in September 2002 on the basis of the Moscow Air Force and Air Defense District as the head section of the country's aerospace defense.
Now the KSpN includes the 16th Air Army with headquarters in Kubinka (Moscow Region), which is armed with MiG-25 and MiG-31 interceptors, MiG-29 and Su-27 fighters, Su-24 front-line bombers and Su- 25, as well as two air defense corps (1st in Balashikha and 5th in Rzhev), equipped with S-300PM, S-300PMU1 and S-300PMU2 Favorit anti-aircraft missile systems.
On August 6, 2007, the first division equipped with the S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile system, capable of solving both air defense and non-strategic missile defense tasks, took up combat duty in Elektrostal near Moscow.
On August 18, 2004, Colonel-General Yuri Solovyov, commander of the SSN troops, announced that the Almaz-Antey air defense concern was developing a missile that could intercept and destroy targets "in near space."
On November 22, 2011, as part of a response to NATO's actions to create a European component of the missile defense system, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced an order for the immediate entry of a new 77Y6-DM Voronezh-DM class radar (object 2461), built in the western part of Russia in the city of Pionersky, Kaliningrad Region, on combat duty. On November 29, the station was included in the missile attack warning system. The station began pilot operation in 2011, it should cover the area of responsibility of stations in Baranovichi and Mukachevo located outside the Russian Federation. Its main task is to control the space and airspace of Europe and the Atlantic.
European security.
The Declaration, approved at the meeting of heads of state and government of the OSCE participants in Helsinki on July 9-10, 1992 (Helsinki-11), notes that the OSCE is a forum that determines the direction of the process of forming a new Europe and stimulates this process (p. 22). The package of decisions adopted there also provides for the creation of OSCE anti-crisis mechanisms, including peacekeeping operations. In particular, it was determined that at the first stage of the settlement of crisis situations, the mechanism of peaceful settlement of disputes, missions of special rapporteurs and fact-finding missions are used. If the conflict escalates, a decision may be made to conduct a peacekeeping operation. Such a decision is taken by consensus by the Council of Ministers or by the Governing Council acting as its agent. The consent of directly interested parties is required for the operation to be carried out. Operations involve sending groups of military observers or peacekeeping forces. Personnel for participation in OSCE peacekeeping operations are provided by individual participating States.
Operations can be carried out in the event of conflicts both between participating States and within them. Their main tasks are to monitor the ceasefire, monitor the withdrawal of troops, provide support for the maintenance of law and order, provide humanitarian assistance, etc. Operations are non-coercive and carried out in a spirit of impartiality. The overall political control and direction of the peacekeeping operation is exercised by the Steering Committee. It is envisaged that OSCE operations are carried out with due regard for the role of the UN. In particular, the Helsinki decisions establish a provision that the OSCE chairman informs the UN Security Council in full about OSCE operations.
In conducting peacekeeping operations, the OSCE can draw on the resources and expertise of existing organizations such as the EU, NATO, WEU, and the CIS. The OSCE decides on a case-by-case basis whether to use the assistance of such organizations.
The OSCE has gained some experience in conducting peacekeeping operations at various levels. Its missions were sent to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Tajikistan, Nagorno-Karabakh, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo. Their mandates were tailored to the specific situation in the area of operations and included the task of establishing close contacts with representatives on the ground and further strengthening the dialogue initiated between the parties involved in the conflict.
In 1994, at the Budapest Meeting of Heads of State and Government, the Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security was adopted, which entered into force on January 1, 1995. The document focuses on ensuring national security in line with common efforts to strengthen security and stability in the OSCE region and beyond. It emphasizes that security is indivisible and that the security of each of the participating States is inextricably linked to the security of all other participating States. The states undertook to develop mutual cooperation. In this context, the key role of the OSCE was emphasized. The document provides for joint and national measures in such areas of indivisible security as disarmament, the fight against terrorism, the exercise of the right to individual and collective self-defense, confidence-building, the creation of healthy economic and environmental conditions, etc.
1996 Lisbon Declaration on a Common and Comprehensive Security Model for Europe in the 21st Century. laid the foundations for European security. It involves the creation of a common security space, the fundamental elements of which are the comprehensive and indivisible nature of security and adherence to shared values, obligations and norms of behavior. Security must be based on cooperation and based on democracy, respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, the market economy and social justice. No OSCE participating State should strengthen its security at the expense of the security of other States.
The OSCE brings together 55 sovereign and independent states in the Euro-Atlantic space and is considered the largest regional organization on security issues.
Adopted in Istanbul at the OSCE summit on November 19, 1999, the Istanbul Declaration, the Charter for European Security and the Vienna Document for Negotiation on Confidence and Security Building Measures laid the legal foundation for the formation of a comprehensive European security system in the 21st century.
The Charter for European Security is a unique document that is in fact the constitution for the new Europe. It recognizes the OSCE as the main organization for the peaceful settlement of disputes in its region and the main instrument in the field of early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict reconstruction.
The Commonwealth of Independent States is called upon to ensure security in the Eurasian space of the former USSR. Important documents in this area have been adopted within the CIS.
The CIS Charter includes provisions on collective security and on conflict prevention and dispute resolution arising from the Collective Security Treaty of May 15, 1992 and the Agreement on Military Observer Groups and Collective Peacekeeping Forces of March 20 of the same year. The Charter of the CIS establishes in Art. 12 the right to use, if necessary, the Joint Armed Forces in the exercise of the right to individual or collective self-defense in accordance with Art. 51 of the UN Charter, as well as the use of peacekeeping operations.
On the basis of the Collective Security Treaty of 1992, the participants of which were nine states: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the Collective Security Council (CSC) was created. It consists of the heads of states - parties to the Treaty and the Commander-in-Chief of the CIS Allied Armed Forces. The CSC is authorized to hold consultations in order to coordinate the positions of the participating states in the event of a threat to the security, territorial integrity and sovereignty of one or more states or a threat to peace and international security: to consider issues of providing necessary assistance, including military, to the state - the victim of aggression; take the necessary measures to maintain or restore peace and security.
A completely different situation is emerging with regard to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which claims to play the main role in ensuring security and stability in Europe. NATO is based on the interstate North Atlantic Treaty signed on April 4, 1949, which entered into force on August 24 of the same year. Its members are 23 states: Belgium, Great Britain, Germany, Greece, Denmark, Iceland, Spain, Italy, Canada, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, USA, Turkey, France, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
The parties to the Treaty pledged to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force in any way inconsistent with the purposes of the UN, to resolve all their disputes by peaceful means, and to promote the further development of peaceful and friendly international relations.
A complex political and military structure has been created to carry out the goals of the North Atlantic Treaty. The highest body of NATO is the North Atlantic Council (NAC), which operates at various levels: heads of state and government, foreign ministers, ambassadors who are permanent representatives. In the latter case, it is treated as a Permanent Council. Within the framework of the Council, broad political consultations are held on all issues of foreign relations, issues of ensuring security, maintaining international peace, and military cooperation are considered. Decisions are taken unanimously. A permanent working body has been created - the Secretariat, headed by the NATO Secretary General
To ensure cooperation between the Alliance and non-NATO European countries, the Partnership for Peace (PfP) program and the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC) were established in 1991 to lead the program. In connection with the ongoing transformations in NATO, a new expanded PfP program has been introduced, which could provide more active cooperation between NATO members and non-members in the defense and military fields, including in crisis situations, as is already the case in the organization of the Support Force implementation of the Dayton Accords (IFOR) and the Stabilization Force (SFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Within its framework, NATO member and non-member countries are expected to participate in the creation of Partner Headquarters Elements (SEP) and Multinational Operational Forces (MOF) for crisis management operations.
Instead of the NACC, at the session of the NATO Council on May 30, 1997, the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) was created, consisting of 44 countries, including all NATO member states, all former republics of the USSR, all former participants in the Warsaw Pact, as well as Austria, Finland, Sweden and Switzerland. The purpose of the EAPC is to hold multilateral consultations on a wide range of issues, including political, security, crisis management, peacekeeping operations, and others.
The partnership between Russia and NATO was established by the signing on 27 May 1997 in Paris of the Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security between the Russian Federation and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The Act states that Russia and NATO will work together to contribute to the creation in Europe of a common and comprehensive security based on a commitment to common values, obligations and norms of behavior in the interests of all states. The Act also emphasizes that it does not affect the primary responsibility of the Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and security and the role of the OSCE as a common and comprehensive organization in its region.
Further, on May 28, 2002, in Rome, the “Declaration of the Heads of State and Government of the Russian Federation and NATO Member States” was adopted. In particular, it notes: “As initial steps in this regard, we agreed today to undertake the following cooperation efforts.
Fight against terrorism: Strengthen cooperation based on a multifaceted approach, including joint assessments of the threat of terrorism to security in the Euro-Atlantic area, focused on specific threats, for example, Russian and NATO military forces, civil aviation or infrastructure of critical importance; as a first step, conduct a joint assessment of the terrorist threat to the peacekeeping forces of Russia, NATO and partner countries in the Balkans.
Today, there are practically no hotbeds of conflict left in Europe - the only two serious "hot spots" at the turn of the century are the Balkans and Transnistria. However, the trends existing in international relations do not allow us to hope that the world, even in the long term, will be free from wars and conflicts. In addition, the negative legacy of the Cold War has not been fully overcome - NATO's eastward expansion is still perceived in Russia and a number of other states as a threat to their own security. A very sharp reaction was also caused in Moscow by the US plans to deploy anti-missile defense elements in Europe. In turn, Europe was very wary of the growth of Russia's military spending, and the announcement of its withdrawal from the CFE Treaty (Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe) also caused concern.
War.
War - a conflict between political entities - states, tribes, political groups, etc., taking place in the form of armed confrontation, military (combat) actions between their armed forces.
As a rule, war is aimed at imposing one's will on the opponent. One political subject is trying to change the behavior of another, to force him to give up his freedom, ideology, property rights, to give away resources: territory, water area, etc.
According to Clausewitz, "war is the continuation of politics by other, violent means." The main means of achieving the goals of war is organized armed struggle as the main and decisive means, as well as economic, diplomatic, ideological, informational and other means of struggle. In this sense, war is organized armed violence, the purpose of which is to achieve political goals. Total war is armed violence carried to its extreme limits. The main tool in the war is the army.
Military writers usually define war as an armed conflict in which the rival factions are sufficiently equal in strength to make the outcome of the battle uncertain. Armed conflicts of militarily strong countries with tribes that are at a primitive level of development are called appeasements, military expeditions, or the development of new territories; with small states - interventions or reprisals; with internal groups - uprisings, rebellions or internal conflicts (civil war). Such incidents, if the resistance is strong enough or prolonged in time, may reach sufficient magnitude to be classified as a "war"
Marxism-Leninism views warfare as a socio-political phenomenon, inherent only in class socio-economic formations. Under the primitive communal system there was no private property, no division of society into classes, and there was no valorization in the modern sense of the word. Numerous armed clashes between clans and tribes, despite some of their outward resemblance to warfare of class society, differ in social content. The reasons for such clashes were rooted in a method of production based on the use of primitive tools and did not ensure the satisfaction of the minimum needs of people. This pushed some tribes to earn a livelihood by armed attack on other tribes in order to seize food, pastures, hunting and fishing grounds. An important role in relations between communities was played by the disunity and isolation of primitive clans and tribes, blood feuds based on blood kinship, etc.
1.2. International peacekeeping activities of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
According to official UN data, by the mid-1990s, during the major post-war conflicts, the death toll exceeded 20 million people, more than 6 million maimed, 17 million refugees, 20 million displaced persons, and these numbers continue to grow.
It can be seen from the foregoing that at the present stage the world community is faced with a serious danger of being drawn into the verses of numerous, unpredictable in their consequences, difficult to control armed conflicts on various grounds, which is a destabilizing factor in the progress of society and requires additional efforts of states in the field of internal and external politics, since any conflict, in its essence, poses a threat to any states and peoples. In this regard, international peacekeeping activities have moved forward in recent years in a number of priority areas of foreign and domestic policy of many states.
The practical participation of Russia (USSR) in UN peacekeeping operations began in October 1973, when the first group of UN military observers was sent to the Middle East.
Since 1991, Russia's participation in these operations has intensified: in April, after the end of the war in the Persian Gulf, a group of Russian military observers (RVI) of the UN was sent to the region of the Iraqi-Kuwait border, and in September - to Western Sahara. From the beginning of 1992, the sphere of activity of our military observers extended to Yugoslavia, Cambodia and Mozambique, and in January 1994 to Rwanda. In October 1994, a UN RVN group was sent to Georgia, in February 1995 - to Angola, in March 1997 to Guatemala, in May 1998 - to Sierra Leone, in July 1999 - to East Timor, in November 1999 - to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Currently, ten groups of Russian military observers and UN staff officers with a total number of up to 70 people are participating in peacekeeping operations under the auspices of the UN in the Middle East (Lebanon), on the Iraqi-Kuwait border, in Western Sahara, in the former Yugoslavia, in Georgia, in Sierra Leone, in East Timor, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The main tasks of military observers are to monitor the implementation of armistice agreements, a ceasefire between the warring parties, as well as to prevent, through their presence without the right to use force, possible violations of the agreements and agreements of the conflicting parties.
In April 1992, for the first time in the history of Russian peacekeeping, on the basis of Resolution N743 of the UN Security Council and after the necessary domestic procedures (decision of the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation) were completed, a Russian infantry battalion of 900 people was sent to the former Yugoslavia, which in January 1994 reinforced by personnel, BTR-80 armored personnel carriers.
In accordance with the political decision of the Russian leadership, part of the forces of the Russian contingent of UN forces in February 1994 was redeployed to the Sarajevo region and, after an appropriate reinforcement, was transformed into the second battalion (numbering up to 500 people). The main task of this battalion was to ensure the separation of the parties (Bosnian Serbs and Muslims) and to monitor compliance with the ceasefire agreement.
In connection with the transfer of powers from the UN to NATO in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the battalion of the Sarajevo sector in January 1996 ceased its peacekeeping missions and was withdrawn to Russian territory.
In accordance with the decision of the UN Security Council on the completion of the UN mission in Eastern Slovenia on January 15, 1998, the Russian infantry battalion (up to 950 people), which performed the tasks of separating the parties (Serbs and Croats), was withdrawn in January this year. from Croatia to the territory of Russia.
In June 1995, a Russian peacekeeping unit appears on the African continent.
In August 2000, a Russian aviation unit was again sent to the African continent to join the UN peacekeeping mission in Sierra Leone. This is a Russian aviation group consisting of 4 Mi-24 helicopters and up to 115 personnel.
Russia bears the main material costs with the participation of a special military contingent of the RF Armed Forces in maintaining international peace and security in zones of armed conflicts on the territory of the CIS member states.
Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova. The military contingent was brought into the conflict zone from July 23 and from August 31, 1992 on the basis of the Moldovan-Russian agreement on the principles of the peaceful settlement of the armed conflict in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova of July 21, 1992.
The main task is to monitor compliance with the terms of the truce and help maintain law and order.
South Ossetia. The military contingent was brought into the conflict zone on July 9, 1992 on the basis of the Georgian-Russian Dagomys agreement of 24.6. 1992 on the settlement of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict.
The main task is to ensure control over the ceasefire, the withdrawal of armed formations, the disbandment of the self-defense forces and the maintenance of a security regime in the zone of control.
Abkhazia. The military contingent was brought into the zone of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict on June 23, 1994 on the basis of the Agreement on a ceasefire and disengagement of forces of May 14, 1994.
The main tasks are blocking the conflict area, monitoring the withdrawal of troops and their disarmament, guarding important facilities and communications, escorting humanitarian supplies, and others.
Tajikistan. 201 honey with reinforcements became part of the CIS Collective Peacekeeping Forces in October 1993 on the basis of the Treaty between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tajikistan on cooperation in the military field of 25.5.1993. The Agreement of the Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth of Independent States on Collective Peacekeeping Forces and joint measures for their material and technical support.
The main tasks are to assist in the normalization of the situation on the Tajik-Afghan border, the protection of vital facilities and others.