" Unity in diversity " - formula of federalism confirmed by life

Today in Kazan the conference under title " Constitutional status of regions of Russian Federation and other European countries a role of a regional legislative bodies in strengthening " unity in diversity" as organizers of which organizers came out the Chamber of regions of the Congress of local and regional authorities of Europe (CLRA ) and State council of Tatarstan.

Membership of participants - rather impressive: Russian ministers and senators, deputies of the RF State Duma, representatives of the RF President, legislative and executive bodies of Tatarstan authorities and from many Federation subjects, the countries of near abroad , scientists from the European countries, regions of Russia and the states of Commonwealth, and scientists of Republic Tatarstan. In total - more than 120 participants, Delegation of CLRA consisting of 27 persons (including 7 outstanding experts of the Council of Europe on affairs of federalism) headed president of CRLA J. di Stazi. The President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev took part in the conference. The work of conference is being covered by 70 representatives foreign, Russian and Tatarstan mass media.

Holding of such representative forum on the land of ancient Tatarstan is an event far not ordinary, - chairman of RT State Council Farid Mukhametshin said opening the conference. - Problems of federalism, constitutional status of regions, state construction in multinational and multicompound societies are extremely complex and do not have a uniform solution. Quite naturally therefore, that in conditions of transition stage of the Russian state, federalism, - as the principle of political system and vehicle of maintaining stability in relations between the federal centre and Federation subjects, - became a priority task of the further development of the country in XXI century.

This principle, noted further F.Mukhametshin, the most visible incarnation received in a number of the states of Europe which today is moving to the unique system of a state structure. And this system more and more is taking shape of Federation consisting of national federative states, and the states - with a various degree of decentralization and regionalization.

And leading tendency consists in transfer of separate state powers to the highest level - to the European Union and on the lowest - to regions. Namely the regions provide a base level of the Eurounion, introducing necessary democratism in managerial processes and embodying itself as subsidiarity principle. Regionalism and subsidiarity for a long time already became the principles acting as a strong basis of the European Federation.

- Accumulated experience of federalism in Europe has for us a special value as for a new Russia it is the unique alternative of the further development - it is Democracy, Federalism and Civil society. It is a triune task which to be settled, I am sure, we should together with united Europe, - head of Tatarstan parliament, being also a member of the Russian delegation in the Congress of local and regional authorities of Europe said in summary.

In the opening address the President of Republic Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev marked , that the success of the united Europe not to a small extent depends on its regions, among which there are much influential ones at the all-European level. If to draw the analogy, becoming of federalism and a real democratic state in Russia , capable to develop successfully for the sake of its peoples in new century is possible only under presence of strong regions among which a certain place is allocated also to Tatarstan consistently acting with initiatives on further federalization of the state.

- Despite of not abating voices, calling to return to the unitary structure and to liquidate the republics, the alternative to federalism does not exist, - the President of Tatarstan said. - Russia can not be built under a principle of the melting boiler, but only by a principle " unity in diversity ". Polyethnicity and poly-confessionalism - main elements of the Russian statehood.

Meanwhile, by M.Shaimiev's words, the federalism is not simply the form of state system but a special outlook which main feature is ability to appreciate the uniqueness and a variety of peoples and their cultures. In this connection he expressed a big regret concerning acceptance by the State Duma of the Russian Federation of the amendment to the law on the languages, ordering to use only Cyrillic, and contradicting European frame convention on protection of national minorities. Therefore the President of Tatarstan has expressed hope, that representatives of the Congress who in their activity come across such problems, would speak about the ways of its solution.

M.Shaimiev has stated also the vision of the further way of becoming the Russian federative state. In his opinion, the most acceptable tool is the principle of differentiation of powers between various levels of authority and agreement relations between the federal centre and individual subjects of Federation.

- Process of the concluding the agreements which started in 1994 from Tatarstan, has the right to life, - M.Shaimiev noted. - For the Republic of Tatarstan the Agreement of 1994 is strategic state act, a guarantee of well-being of its multinational people. And problems of the Kaliningrad oblast or the Chechen Republic are easier for solving through the mechanism of concluding bilateral contracts through federal legislation.

M.Shaimiev told also about the essence of "Model of Tatarstan ", directed on creating polyethnic, subsidiarial society, and also about place and role of Islam in Tatarstan.

According to deputy head of Administration of the RF President, chairman of the Commission under President on differentiation of powers between different levels of authority Dmitry Kozak, the Russian reforms in the field of federal relations and local self-management carried out under the initiative of President Vladimir Putin are directed on strengthening regional democracy and expansion of opportunities of the citizens for participation in government. And today in practice it is extremely important to realize the constitutional principles of federalism which in many respects remain the declaration for are not supported properly by legal levers.

The vice-president of RF Council of Federation Alexander Torshin and deputy to the Plenipotentiary of the RF President in the Volga federal district Leonid Gil'chenko transferred participants of conference the greeting from his chiefs Sergey Mironov and Sergey Kirienko with wishes of fruitful and constructive work.

Highly having estimated a level of the organization and representative membership of participants of the conference, the president of CRLA Dee Stazi made the brief review of the European models of federalism, especially having emphasized thus, that in Europe process of regionalization and decentralization are developing successfully.

- Europe should and is obliged to live in conditions of diversity , - J. Di Stazi. - And it is very good , that during working out the future constitution of European Union, motto of the Council of Europe " Unity in diversity was taken ".

Having noted, that today Russia is completely integrated in democratic community of the European states, he expressed hope, that the Russian authorities will support efforts of the Congress on accepting the European Charter on regional self-management.

Within two days the Russian and foreign politicians and scientists will discuss positive experience of some European models of federalism and local self-management, hold conversations on very important for Tatarstan and other subjects of the Russian Federation topics linked to reforming the Russian legislation, some problems of developing federal relations in Russia. The conference will end on July 12 by “Round table " on subject " Federalism as the tool of easing conflicts " and by acceptance of the final declaration. On the results of conference the edition of two collections of materials - in English and Russian languages is planned..