The importance of the UN in Contemporary World.

The UN was established on 24 October 1945 by 51 countries committed (обязаться) to preserving peace through international cooperation and collective security. Today, nearly every nation in the world belongs to the UN: membership now totals nearly 200 countries. Members of the UN agree to accept the obligations of the UN Charter. According to the Charter, the UN has four purposes: to maintain international peace and security, to develop friendly relations among nations, to cooperate in solving international problems and in promoting respect for human rights, and to be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations. The maintenance of peace, and the prevention of armed conflict are the vital concerns of the UN. Respect for human rights at all times and in all places is a fundamental principle of the Organization. In 1949, the International law Commission decided not to put the law of armed conflict on its agenda as attention to this branch of international law might be seen as a lack of trust in the capacity of the UN to maintain peace and security. From the outset (начало) UN bodies have cited (ссылаться) the Geneva Conventions and Protocols, and have urged States to ratify, or to be guided by them. The application of humanitarian law features constantly in the debates and decisions of the Commission on Human Rights and the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities.

5. Rapidly developing countries and significant for international relations

 

Developing countries are represented by the group of Asian, African and Latin American countries. The last include the former colonies, semi-colonies and independent formerly countries, which were behind by reason of the imperialistic pressure from the states with developed capitalism. They are differed by socioeconomic structure and by sociopolitical orientation. The general features, which may unite them in single group, are:

- the great scale of poverty dissemination;

- the low level of the labor capacity;

- the high population growth rate;

- the high rate of unemployment;

- the great dependence from agricultural industry and fuel and raw material export;

- subordinate position;

- the weakness in the international economic system.

Although, sometimes some of them are so considerably developing on per capita income, on economic and social structure, that it is difficult to unite them all in single group. Today there are about 150 developing countries.

Despite of great differences between Third World countries, it is necessary to evaluate all common things which unite these states not only formal, but also real, where there is a similar position on global problems. Developing countries need in acceleration of economic growth, strengthening of national economy, industrialization, transfer of agriculture on machining base, elimination of the cultural backwardness. The major objective is the achievement of economic independence.

Their agricultural structure is often oriented on the developed countries’ needs. Unfair change, the robbery of natural resources, high interests and payment sizes for external debts disrupt their economic facilities to become developed.

During the last decades there is a trend of some diminution of West’s role and strengthening of developing countries in world economy. It prognoses that in future this trend will continue. The existing forecasts are indicative in that. According to the forecast of IMEMO RAS in 2007, in the period till 2020 the highest growth rate will be demonstrated by China and India. The growth rate of Russian gross domestic product will also surpass the midworld. EU will surrender the first place of gross domestic product to China. At the same time, the US will not only save but also strengthen its GDP per capita, and Russia will take only the 40^th place. China, India, Republic of Korea and other developing countries, who today are on state-of-the-art, will overtake Western countries. Thus, in 2020 China will fulfill 20 per cent of world volume of R&D (research and development), and USA – 28 per cent.

The crisis in 2008 will correct the making earlier forecasts and decelerate the world economic growth rate. The existing estimates will be reviewed under the impact of new phenomenon in world politics, economy, science and technology. Nevertheless, developing economies will develop quicker then developed, and their position in the world agriculture will increase.

In the developing world the amount of states, which may offer quality product, is growing.

However, the companies from developing countries have not so comprehensive facilities in the scientific and technological fields. Often the most modern sector of its economy only serves the sectors of developed countries. Western countries will keep scientific-technical advantage and of course will stay the fundamental source of new knowledge for rest world.

Developing countries are important power in modern sociopolitical life. Brazil, Russia, India, China (BRIC) are characterized as the most fast developing countries in modern world. The word “BRIC” is similar with English word “brick”. Thereby, this term is used for describing the group of states, which will help to increase the future growth of global economy. Advantageous location of these states provides the existence in them a large amount of important for global economy resources: Brazil is rich by agriculture, Russia is the largest exporter of mineral resources, India has cheap intellectual asset, and China is the owner of cheap labor resources.

There are the main resources, which the economies of these states are based on. High population size in country determines the low-cost labor in it and high rates of economic growth.

Finally, it is forecasting that the great sizes of economies of these countries will give them an opportunity to transform the economic growth in political power, what bring to formation of new economic elite and decrease the influence of “gold billion”.

14. NATO: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an alliance of 26 countries from North America to Europe committed to fulfilling the goals of the North Atlantic Treaty signed on 4 April 1949. The NATO headquarters are in Brussels, Belgium, and the organization constitutes a system of collective defence whereby its member states agree to mutual defense in response to an attack by any external party. In accordance with the Treaty, the fundamental role of NATO is to safeguard the freedom and security of its member countries by political and military means. NATO provides a forum in which the United States, Canada and European countries can consult together on security issues of common concern and take joint action in addressing them. NATO is committed to defending its member states agaist aggression and to the principle that attack against one or several members would be considered as an attack against all. Today NATO’s forces are helping to bring stability to Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq and Darfur. Dialogue and cooperation with non-NATO countries are helping to overcome the divisions of the Cold War era and to extend security and stability well beyond NATO borders.