Külügyi Szemle - A Teleki László Intézet Külpolitikai Tanulmányok Központja folyóirata - 2003 (2. évfolyam)
2003 / 3. szám - EURÓPA - Sáfi Csaba: A Few Words on the Federal Law on State policy of the Russian Federation with regard to Fellow Countrymen Abroad
Csaba Sáfi The provisions of the law, however, cannot but imply the question: what extent and depth of assistance Russia is able to provide to fellow countrymen abroad on the basis of her current economic and financial situation? Since the law does not differentiate between Russians who have remained in the successor states following the disintegration of the Soviet Union and those of Russian descent living in Western countries, these latter ones are entitled to the same assistance as their fellow countrymen belonging to the first group who live at a much lower standard of living. Thus, the law seeks to settle the claims for assistance of the two great groups of fellow countrymen although their demands differ qualitatively, quantitatively and financially, and, therefore, are rather difficult to reconcile. That is, while in the case of fellow countrymen living in the "Far Abroad", primarily the conservation and maintenance of identity, and the formation of a positive relationship with Russia may seem the most important tasks, in the case of fellow countrymen living in the "Near Abroad", first of all the solution of financial, existential, and citizenship problems are the most pressing needs. Although it is well-known that the worth of both internal and international laws depends on how strongly they are enforced, it is important to mention that the law emphasises on several occasions that assisting fellow countrymen is not only in harmony with the internal laws of Russia but also in compliance with the universally accepted norms and principles of international law, moreover it takes into consideration the practices of this sort of other countries. This phrase also served to sooth the eventual concerns the successor states may have in connection to the law. From among the events of the three years that followed the adoption of the law, it is worth mentioning that the foreign policy concept of the RF was ready by the summer of 200023. It not only mentions fellow countrymen but regards the policy with regard to them as one of the most stressed areas of Russian foreign policy. The congress of fellow countrymen held in Moscow on October 11-12, 2001 was the other important event. Although the practical results of the congress were negligible, its symbolic significance was all the greater. The third event to be mentioned is that the Russian tongue received official status in Kirgizia as of January 2002. In sum, it can be concluded that a legal framework has come into existence with the adoption of the law that makes the unified legal and political approach of the problem possible. At the same time, the federal law on fellow countrymen contains numerous positive elements vainly if, due to the situation of the Russian economy and the tasks awaiting it, the lack of executive decrees and a central administrative organ, and the unsolved questions on the spheres of authority, it seems more like a wish list and not a legal contribution able to bring about real assistance. For this reason, the task of the upcoming period will be to fill this framework with content and ensure the financial background related to it. 50 Külügyi Szemle
