Long Russian minus in the budget PACE: how to reduce the balance of the office?
A couple of weeks ago, Igor Morozov, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federation Council, explained why Moscow would continue to pay contributions to PACE. Now the picture has changed to the opposite: other people, namely, State Duma Speaker V. Volodin, reported that Russia had blocked for a third a contribution to the Council of Europe intended for the current financing of PACE.
23 on May was announced that Russia will continue to pay contributions to the PACE, although it does not participate in the assembly. The fact is that contributions go in a package with other payments to the Council of Europe and cannot be divided, noted in a conversation with the correspondent RIA News" Igor Morozov, member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federation Council.
“The whole problem is that Russia contributes to the Council of Europe in a package for the work of our country in all the organizations of the Council of Europe, and this contribution cannot be divided between the ECHR, the Council of Ministers and the PACE,” Mr. Morozov commented on the situation with PACE.
Morozov believed that in case of non-payment of the contribution to the Council of Europe, the question of Russia’s withdrawal from this organization would arise, and this does not meet the interests of Moscow: “It’s impractical for us to leave the Council of Europe as a pan-European organization, we will lose too much politically”.
At the same time, the senator admitted that the situation in which the delegation from Russia does not participate in the work of PACE, but pays contributions, is “illogical.” The senator is especially embarrassed by the situation when “monitoring groups come to Russia for our money and criticize us”.
The conclusion that Mr. Morozov made: “... in the case of the CE, we are in a dead-down regulatory situation.”
In Russia, the “problem” with “batch” deposit of money was cut down just like one known Gordian knot cut historical personality. About how Russia came out of the impasse, said V. Volodin.
The transfer of the next installment was simply blocked.
Russia blocked about 2017 million euros in 11, that is, a third of its contribution to the Council of Europe, which was intended to finance the Parliamentary Assembly, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said on Tuesday.
“Blocked the listing. And Valentina Ivanovna [Matvienko] said this, and Lavrov, and we talked about it - a third were blocked, ”he was quoted as saying. TASS.
“Funding during the year goes in stages, and the third remaining at the end of the year is not transferred, and that’s almost € 11 million,” added Volodin.
Earlier, the agency reminds, Ms. Matvienko reported that the Foreign Ministry is working on legal issues to reduce Russia's contribution to PACE.
Russia, we recall, is today one of the five main payers of the Council of Europe. More precisely, Russia should be called a sponsor, if not a PACE patron. If France, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom (the main “financiers” of the Council of Europe) participate fully in PACE, then Russia does not participate in any way, moreover, at the PACE level, it is in every possible way reproached for its money.
A contribution to the Council of Europe is truly indivisible: it is a total payment to a number of organizations: the PACE, the Committee of Ministers, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). And with all these organizations, excluding PACE, the Russian Federation is now cooperating. In 2017, about forty million euros are “due” from Russia for the maintenance of the mentioned CE offices. Money is paid in three steps. 11 million euros voiced by V. Volodin - the sum of the third tranche for 2017 a year. It was blocked.
However, what does this lock actually mean? Most likely, that blocked, can and unblock.
When constructive cooperation in PACE is resumed, “we will return to the issue of restoring the figures of our contribution to its previous value,” quoted Leonid Slutsky, head of the Duma Committee on International Affairs "Moscow Komsomol".
“Our absence at the PACE site has taken a protracted nature ... All this prompted us to take an absolutely justified decision to reduce Russia's contribution to the Council of Europe, which will be implemented in the near future,” the deputy said.
Obviously, we note that the "justified decision" in the future will lead to the restoration of Russian contributions "to the previous value."
There is also an opinion on the probable exclusion of Russia from the CE. However, in this there are doubts.
“We can simply suspend payments by paying a fee not fully, and that's all, this is a common thing, and if they consider this step a violation of the financial obligations assumed by Russia when joining, let them be excluded from the Council of Europe if they want. But I think they will not go for it, ”said Mikhail Yemelyanov, who had previously been a member of the Russian delegation in PACE, in a conversation with Moskovsky Komsomolets.
Earlier, expert, director of the International Institute of the Newest States, political scientist Alexey Martynov told the agency "Sputnik" Opinion on the failure of contributions According to him, this would be a logical approach.
“It would be an absolutely logical approach, a logical decision: why should we pay for being bullied at this site? - The political scientist said on the air. - This platform is designed to exchange views, coordinate positions on various topical issues of the international agenda, and Russia is deprived of words for a certain amount of time, and this directly contradicts the goals and objectives of this international organization. Accordingly, to pay for being bullied at you looks at least doubtful. ”
The expert believes that relations between European countries and the Russian Federation can develop fully outside PACE, and making contributions to the "bows" is too expensive: "As for integration into the European political field, there is a system of bilateral interstate relations between Russia and European states, there are relations Russia with the European Union as an interstate union, and this is all [PACE] - such "bows" that are too costly for our budget. "
In addition, the scientist noted that Russia's refusal of contributions to PACE will negatively affect the budget of the Assembly, since Moscow is one of the largest contributors: “Russia is one of the most serious donors to this international organization. It is worth noting that contributions for all countries are not the same, but proportional to the economies of states. I suspect that Russia at one time was dragged into these international organizations not for the sake of dialogue, but for the sake of donation in order to increase its budget. On such grounds, we have nothing more to do there. ”
“There is nothing to do,” we add, Russia has been in the PACE for a long time, since the days of the Crimean referendum. The “doing” of Russia in PACE was only in the transfer of contributions. Apparently, Russia is rich: it can afford to maintain an organization that spits into it.
Recall in 2014-2015's. PACE adopted several resolutions on the Crimean issue. The resolutions deprived the delegation from Russia of the right to vote, participate in the work of the statutory (governing) bodies and even participate in the monitoring activities of the assembly. In 2015, PACE twice considered the problem of the restoration of the delegation of the Russian Federation in its rights (not restored). Moscow reacted to the current situation controversially: both in the past and this year, the Russian Federation decided not to send the documents necessary for the accreditation and work of its delegation, however, it continued its work with the Council of Europe. Contributions are still regularly paid.
Of course, this “dead-end regulatory situation” (the expression of Mr. Morozov) could not continue indefinitely. Hence the decision to block the next installment tranche. Belatedly But better late than never.
And the cherry on the cake. Newspaper "Sight" A fresh statement from the press secretary-general of the CE Secretary-General, Daniel Holtgen. He said that Moscow has not yet officially notified the Council of Europe about the reduction of the contribution.
Strange, we note the expression - "reduction of the fee." Unless it's the translation difficulties. Apparently, the CE completely admits that Russia did not block the payment, namely, “reduced” its contribution for the year, that is, canceled part of the payment. If so, then the question of excluding Russia from the Council of Europe may also arise. As a malicious defaulter.
Probably, within the framework of the Cold War, such an "exception" would be a kind of "victory" of the West over Russia. On the other hand, in the West love money. Today, minus eleven million, tomorrow minus forty ... So, you see, and the balance in the office will not reduce!
23 on May was announced that Russia will continue to pay contributions to the PACE, although it does not participate in the assembly. The fact is that contributions go in a package with other payments to the Council of Europe and cannot be divided, noted in a conversation with the correspondent RIA News" Igor Morozov, member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federation Council.
“The whole problem is that Russia contributes to the Council of Europe in a package for the work of our country in all the organizations of the Council of Europe, and this contribution cannot be divided between the ECHR, the Council of Ministers and the PACE,” Mr. Morozov commented on the situation with PACE.
Morozov believed that in case of non-payment of the contribution to the Council of Europe, the question of Russia’s withdrawal from this organization would arise, and this does not meet the interests of Moscow: “It’s impractical for us to leave the Council of Europe as a pan-European organization, we will lose too much politically”.
At the same time, the senator admitted that the situation in which the delegation from Russia does not participate in the work of PACE, but pays contributions, is “illogical.” The senator is especially embarrassed by the situation when “monitoring groups come to Russia for our money and criticize us”.
The conclusion that Mr. Morozov made: “... in the case of the CE, we are in a dead-down regulatory situation.”
In Russia, the “problem” with “batch” deposit of money was cut down just like one known Gordian knot cut historical personality. About how Russia came out of the impasse, said V. Volodin.
The transfer of the next installment was simply blocked.
Russia blocked about 2017 million euros in 11, that is, a third of its contribution to the Council of Europe, which was intended to finance the Parliamentary Assembly, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said on Tuesday.
V. Volodin. Photo: government.ru
“Blocked the listing. And Valentina Ivanovna [Matvienko] said this, and Lavrov, and we talked about it - a third were blocked, ”he was quoted as saying. TASS.
“Funding during the year goes in stages, and the third remaining at the end of the year is not transferred, and that’s almost € 11 million,” added Volodin.
Earlier, the agency reminds, Ms. Matvienko reported that the Foreign Ministry is working on legal issues to reduce Russia's contribution to PACE.
Russia, we recall, is today one of the five main payers of the Council of Europe. More precisely, Russia should be called a sponsor, if not a PACE patron. If France, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom (the main “financiers” of the Council of Europe) participate fully in PACE, then Russia does not participate in any way, moreover, at the PACE level, it is in every possible way reproached for its money.
A contribution to the Council of Europe is truly indivisible: it is a total payment to a number of organizations: the PACE, the Committee of Ministers, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). And with all these organizations, excluding PACE, the Russian Federation is now cooperating. In 2017, about forty million euros are “due” from Russia for the maintenance of the mentioned CE offices. Money is paid in three steps. 11 million euros voiced by V. Volodin - the sum of the third tranche for 2017 a year. It was blocked.
However, what does this lock actually mean? Most likely, that blocked, can and unblock.
When constructive cooperation in PACE is resumed, “we will return to the issue of restoring the figures of our contribution to its previous value,” quoted Leonid Slutsky, head of the Duma Committee on International Affairs "Moscow Komsomol".
“Our absence at the PACE site has taken a protracted nature ... All this prompted us to take an absolutely justified decision to reduce Russia's contribution to the Council of Europe, which will be implemented in the near future,” the deputy said.
Obviously, we note that the "justified decision" in the future will lead to the restoration of Russian contributions "to the previous value."
There is also an opinion on the probable exclusion of Russia from the CE. However, in this there are doubts.
“We can simply suspend payments by paying a fee not fully, and that's all, this is a common thing, and if they consider this step a violation of the financial obligations assumed by Russia when joining, let them be excluded from the Council of Europe if they want. But I think they will not go for it, ”said Mikhail Yemelyanov, who had previously been a member of the Russian delegation in PACE, in a conversation with Moskovsky Komsomolets.
Earlier, expert, director of the International Institute of the Newest States, political scientist Alexey Martynov told the agency "Sputnik" Opinion on the failure of contributions According to him, this would be a logical approach.
“It would be an absolutely logical approach, a logical decision: why should we pay for being bullied at this site? - The political scientist said on the air. - This platform is designed to exchange views, coordinate positions on various topical issues of the international agenda, and Russia is deprived of words for a certain amount of time, and this directly contradicts the goals and objectives of this international organization. Accordingly, to pay for being bullied at you looks at least doubtful. ”
The expert believes that relations between European countries and the Russian Federation can develop fully outside PACE, and making contributions to the "bows" is too expensive: "As for integration into the European political field, there is a system of bilateral interstate relations between Russia and European states, there are relations Russia with the European Union as an interstate union, and this is all [PACE] - such "bows" that are too costly for our budget. "
In addition, the scientist noted that Russia's refusal of contributions to PACE will negatively affect the budget of the Assembly, since Moscow is one of the largest contributors: “Russia is one of the most serious donors to this international organization. It is worth noting that contributions for all countries are not the same, but proportional to the economies of states. I suspect that Russia at one time was dragged into these international organizations not for the sake of dialogue, but for the sake of donation in order to increase its budget. On such grounds, we have nothing more to do there. ”
“There is nothing to do,” we add, Russia has been in the PACE for a long time, since the days of the Crimean referendum. The “doing” of Russia in PACE was only in the transfer of contributions. Apparently, Russia is rich: it can afford to maintain an organization that spits into it.
Recall in 2014-2015's. PACE adopted several resolutions on the Crimean issue. The resolutions deprived the delegation from Russia of the right to vote, participate in the work of the statutory (governing) bodies and even participate in the monitoring activities of the assembly. In 2015, PACE twice considered the problem of the restoration of the delegation of the Russian Federation in its rights (not restored). Moscow reacted to the current situation controversially: both in the past and this year, the Russian Federation decided not to send the documents necessary for the accreditation and work of its delegation, however, it continued its work with the Council of Europe. Contributions are still regularly paid.
Of course, this “dead-end regulatory situation” (the expression of Mr. Morozov) could not continue indefinitely. Hence the decision to block the next installment tranche. Belatedly But better late than never.
And the cherry on the cake. Newspaper "Sight" A fresh statement from the press secretary-general of the CE Secretary-General, Daniel Holtgen. He said that Moscow has not yet officially notified the Council of Europe about the reduction of the contribution.
Strange, we note the expression - "reduction of the fee." Unless it's the translation difficulties. Apparently, the CE completely admits that Russia did not block the payment, namely, “reduced” its contribution for the year, that is, canceled part of the payment. If so, then the question of excluding Russia from the Council of Europe may also arise. As a malicious defaulter.
Probably, within the framework of the Cold War, such an "exception" would be a kind of "victory" of the West over Russia. On the other hand, in the West love money. Today, minus eleven million, tomorrow minus forty ... So, you see, and the balance in the office will not reduce!
Observed and commented on Oleg Chuvakin
- especially for topwar.ru
- especially for topwar.ru
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