According to the Declaration of Rambouillet in 1975 and the traditional press releases issued following the meetings of Heads of State , The Group of Eight consists of the most democratic and most of the industrialized world . The activities of the Club more than thirty years has confirmed all of the substantive criteria to join: democratic political system, large economy, high level of economic and institutional development, full convertibility of national currency, the accession to WTO, OECD ( Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), IEA (International Energy Agency), dedication to the purposes and principles of international cooperation.
Russia is a member of the G8? - only respond to some (but not all) of the requirements mentioned, even in the presence of features Additional extraordinary, is not sufficient for a country is part of this group. For a population as China and India surpass all the G8 members combined. China's GDP in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP, Purchasing power parity) exchange rates, is higher than the GDP of each country of the club except the U.S.. That is behind only Indian in the U.S. and Japan. China, India and Pakistan possess nuclear weapons. Saudi Arabia is the largest supplier of oil to the world market. But each of these elements is not sufficient to join the most exclusive club in the world today.
Russia today meets only one criterion of the Group, namely the size economy calculated according to the PPP. In 2005 its GDP was the tenth in the world. Although this place is behind China, India and Brazil, it is still in front of Canada (13 ˚). According to the GDP calculated according to exchange rates, Russia in 2005 was the thirteenth in the world, less than one and a half in Canada, and behind countries not members of the Group such as China, Spain, Brazil, Korea and India. According to all the other criteria, the present-day Russia does not meet the parameters of the Group of Eight . The Russian ruble is not a currency fully convertible for capital transactions, Russia is not a member of WTO, OECD and IEA . This, in itself, excluding the involvement of Russian representatives in the discussions on currency matters and those of world trade within the club.
Russia is not an economically advanced country . For GDP per capita according to PPP , Russia is at 69 ˚ place in the world. Its GDP is 33% of the average level of the G7 countries, while GDP per capita according to the exchange rates down to 15% of the average level of the G7. For the average annual rate of inflation over the past five years, Russia is to be at 161 ˚ place among 180 countries in the world (ie back ten-fold). Since 2005, Russia is not a politically free country . According to the index of political rights Freedom House, it occupies the 168 ˚ place among 192 countries of the world , based on the index of corruption of Transparency International, is at 126 ˚ place out of 159 countries, according to the f avoritismo decisions government is 85 ˚ of 106 countries, as regards the protection of property rights is 88 ˚ to 108 countries, and for the independence of the judiciary , is to ' place between 84 ˚ 102 countries (the last three indexes are calculated by the World Economic Forum). The G8 as a group of democratic states no longer exists.
ANOTHER G8 - If you were to form groups of countries whose level of economic development, institutional and political corresponded better to the current state of affairs in Russia, the G8 would be out a bit 'different. For GDP per capita: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Botswana, Venezuela, Uruguay, Thailand, Mexico, Oman, the average annual rate of inflation over the past five years: Russia, Mozambique, Guinea, Iran, Nigeria, Eritrea, Haiti, Venezuela, for the level of political and civil liberties: Russia, Chad, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Oman, Rwanda, Somalia, the rate of destruction of the basic institutions of the modern state and civil society in the last 15 years: Russia, Nepal, Belarus, Tajikistan, Gambia, Solomon Islands, Zimbabwe, Venezuela.
are critical differences between 7 and Russia on almost all substantive issues on the agenda of global objectives pursued by their governments, on the behavior in the international arena. The wars of the citations and chickens at the expense of neighboring countries to Russia, now many people are now electric and Wine (mineral water that falls?). Russian officers in the mass media hysteria has broken out propaganda against Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Baltic countries, Europe, USA. Gone are all among the enemies of today's international leadership in Russia, and the role of the main targets of a new "war Cold 'which in fact is being conducted . At the same time also emerged the new friends: the current leaders of Belarus, Uzbekistan, Iran, Algeria, Venezuela, Myanmar, Hamas . This too is a kind of G8. The vast difference between the Seven and Russia are not random. At their base are the fundamental differences in the vision of the contemporary world, in the conception of what is possible and what is not acceptable in the work of state power, in the background values. There has been armed, suggesting that, for ideological concepts such as' vertical of power ',' State as a corporation, "" energy superpower ", denial of human rights.
ATTEND OR NOT ATTEND? - that Russia today does not meet the criteria of the G8 is not already the subject of serious discussions. The answer is obvious. "No one in the capitals of seven in a hurry to go to St. Petersburg", diplomats say. The question that commits them today is different: it is appropriate for their leader to attend summit in St. Petersburg?
idealists urged a boycott. The pragmatists say it would be a slap in the face and still recommend going , "unless that Russia does not attack the Ukraine." Whatever happens, scandal is inevitable. Indeed, it has already started, because otherwise it would be difficult to define the debate about Russia and its president in the club, on the conditions, ways and forms of participation of the heads of Seven summit.
efforts have brought the fruits of pragmatic , however modest energy security and the desire to try again to persuade the Russian leadership to accept democratic values \u200b\u200b. But to expect substantial results on these issues is naive. The Russian authorities have already shown what they mean by energy security. Instead of liberalizing and privatizing, they are doing the exact opposite, both within and outside the country, trying to impose to the rest of the world non-market methods. Seven will agree?
The idea of \u200b\u200beducating the Russian leadership to the spirit of democratic values \u200b\u200bis rather unprofessional, ineffective and ridiculous. Who can seriously think that after listening to the leaders of the seven Russian authorities will change radically? Stop destroying civil society? Ensure free elections in 2007 and 2008? Stop the campaign of intimidation of opponents?
abolish anti-democratic laws? Stop direct the judicial system? Revoking control over the media? Readmit dismissed reporters and editors? Reopen the closed newspapers? Returned to the people and businesses illegally applied the fines? Cease to meddle in the affairs of business? Will stop the nationalization of private companies? Make the assets confiscated from the owners? Return billions of dollars of state? Will process bureaucrats, judges and prosecutors who take illegal decisions? The same Russian authorities have rejected such a good game to pedantry: the G8 is not a school of good conduct. In the gentleman's club is not concerned about it. But the mere fact that we are discussing how to educate the Russian leadership, it means that Russia is not perceived as a natural member of this club even by those who want to go to Petersburg. A confirmation of the fact of death in most of the G8, as a club.
A WARM WELCOME TO THE DICTATOR OF THE WORLD! - What will happen after the summit in 2006? Whatever the thinking of leaders of the seven, only it will be important that this meeting will actually be seen in their countries, in Russia, in the world. How will it be used. It will not be accepted as support that the current Russian leadership. Political and moral support to efforts to destroy the law, violating human rights, stifles freedom of speech, liquidate democracy, discredit the non-governmental organizations, nationalization of private property, use energy as a political weapon, to attack the democratic neighbors . Going to St. Petersburg, the leaders of the Seven give evidence of their indifference to the fate of freedom and democracy in Russia. The best confirmation of what the Russian leadership repeats between us and Western leaders there is no distinction in principle, they, like us, they merely give the impression of being interested in upholding human rights and market economy; They, like us, they merely enhance freedom and democracy only in name.
The summit in St. Petersburg will also be an encouragement for the authoritarian regimes around the world. A triumph for the dictators of today and tomorrow. No one should doubt whether after such a summit will be the world more or less freedom, more or less democracy, more or less aggression. The summit in St. Petersburg will make inevitable the formal liquidation of this club . It will be replaced by a G7 reborn or a G4, a G3 or a new organization. For Russia, this will become an academic. In the new club there will be room for Russia.
(Translated by Pavel Kozlov)
