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(It was adopted on II Congress of RUSDP, 11 December 2001, Moscow)

In March 2000 delegates of regional social-democratic organizations assembled at the Congress which founded the Russian United Social Democratic Party (the RUSDP).

The RUSDP is an open mass political organization of free and responsible, independent and solidarity citizens of the Russian Federation.

We want to assert the right of every Russian citizen to live in happiness and security, in harmony with nature, in keeping with his conscience, traditions and laws of the country, at peace with other people, to be in charge of his destiny and results of his own work. We believe in a free and democratic future of our Motherland.

The party that we created in its activity proceeds from fundamental principles of freedom, justice and solidarity.

We stand for freedom, that is the right of every individual to live and act in accordance with his convictions under conditions of development and strengthening of democracy.

We are in favour of justice that is the denial of benefits and recognition of only these advantages of one person over another which arise out from personal, intellectual, working, business, political and other activities yielding additional opportunities and wealth.

We stand for solidarity, that is for mutual aid, everybodys readiness to assert the rights and dignity of another person as his own ones, to jointly withstand abuses of power and capital, to render assistance and support to those society members who live in destitution and are not in a position to satisfy their daily wants.

We stand for humanism, that is for complete fulfillment of human abilities for work, cognition and creation. We are against any infringement of human rights and liberties.

We are in favor of practical implementation of the principle of equality of opportunities and equal value of all people regardless of their social, national, racial and religious differences.

Our goal is creating a society of free and equal people who share liberal, socialist and values common to the mankind. Such society is to guarantee a high social, cultural and moral status and an opportunity for free and comprehensive development of a personality.

We are willing to bring Russia to flourishing and prosperity.

The RUSDP and its supporters will progressively seek to achieve this goal adjusting to peculiarities of Russia and fundamental changes occurring throughout the present-day world.

Lessons of history.

Emergence of the RUSDP bridged the gap of social-democratic traditions the beginnings of which were originated by G. Plekhanov. Russian social-democrats never repudiate neither their origin nor history. They give a meaning to it and learn corresponding lessons from their history.

The 20th century in Russia began with a democratic revolution. After czarist autocracy was overthrown and the provisional government failed to carry out democratic transformations power passed into the hands of the Russian Bolshevik party which proclaimed democratic slogans for peace and soil.

However, being a left-radical wing of the Russian social-democracy it counted on strengthening of class struggle, dictatorship, destruction of state, political and socioeconomic structures in society, destruction of the traditional way of people life. Practical implementation of these directives was met by a hostile reception by the majority of the population. Monarchical and other political forces which unleashed the Civil war availed themselves of this situation. Grave consequences of this war along with ultra-left policy of “garrison state communism” made the life of people drastically worse and caused uproar against the Bolsheviks under the slogan “the Soviets without communists”.

Under pressure of people V. Lenin proclaimed New Economic Policy which basically was a realization of social-democratic policy, convergence of ideas of capitalism and socialism. Implementation of this policy led the country out of crisis in the shortest possible time.

After Leninss death, however, Stalin actually revived policy of “garrison state communism” which in the long run brought about formation of a totalitarian regime. Economic transformations undertaken under Stalin entailed violence and repressions as well as numerous and unjustified victims.

In spite of this Soviet people did not cease to believe in democratic ideals and revolutionary slogans. The fact that they carried out modernization of industry, eliminated illiteracy, broke through international isolation of the country and won a victory in the war with fascist Germany is a considerable evidence thereof. Those were great achievements of the people. But they have paid an exorbitant price for them.

After Stalins death the leadership of the country headed by N. Khrushev blamed “cult of personality” and made attempts to form the current power in a more democratic way, to change economic development methods and foreign policy. As a result of it political regime became less repressive. However, totalitarian management techniques which manifested themselves in unjustified experiments in political sphere, industry, agriculture and persecution of intellectuals made themselves felt. L. Brezhnevs advent to power was marked with a recurrence of neostalinism (revived Stalins regime). But recurrence to the passed period of Stalins rule was impossible: the world and the people have changed. The atmosphere of Khrushevs rule (called “Khrushevs thaw”) formed a whole generation of “men of the sixties”. During these years first attempts to develop market economy (Kosygins reforms) were made and relaxation of tension on the international scene occurred. Life of people became better and international climate became more friendly. But all this didn't bring about drastic transformations of the political system. Limitation of democracy, human rights and liberties, total control over the society, suppression of dissention were characteristic features of that time. Society was actually stifled with lack of freedom. Social energy of its citizens was restricted and sometimes even suppressed. The country turned out to be incapable of implementing a comprehensive structural reorganization and failed to give an answer to the challenges posed by the scientific and technical revolution.

By the mid-80s internal contradictions have reached crisis point. Fundamental reforms were very much needed. Political line of the perestroika initiated by new leadership of the country and headed by M.Gorbachev was an expression of imminent needs. It opened up a way to freedom and democracy in the USSR. A political reform was carried out, free elections were held, consecutive measures to establish political and economical pluralism, spiritual freedom, dissention, freedom of press were taken which resulted in bringing down the totalitarian regime. Initiative taken in the sphere of foreign policy based upon a new political thinking turned out to be a decisive contribution to putting an end to the cold war. The country faced a challenge of gradual transition to a market and socially oriented economy, further strengthening economic transformations.

However, due to intense struggle for power between various political forces, increase of social tension in society also because of mistakes made while implementing the policy of the perestroika it itself was discontinued. Forces which counted on B. Yeltsin revised the strategy of the perestroika and imposed a adventurist political policy on Russia, which resulted in the collapse of the USSR, elimination of scientific, social and economic potential, impoverishment among millions of citizens.

The so-called “radical reforms” which were initiated under the banner of democracy degenerated into authoritarian obtrusion of extremist neo-liberalism on society which was totally discordant with the historical background of Russia. As a result, introduction of free market economy caused shutdown of thousands of enterprises as well as mass unemployment. Liberalization of prices depreciated deposits made by the population. Privatization was reduced to uncontrollable dispensation of state-owned property within a particular circle of those close to power and unprecedented flow of capital. Declared objective of the reforms creation of a numerous stratum of owners - has never been reached. On the contrary, the society was split into a minority of excessively rich oligarchs and millions of poor people.

Present-day crisis of the Russian society

The last decade of the 20th century turned out to be a century of missed opportunities for Russia. The country suffered a system crisis which afflicted the country in many aspects. The economy was struck with monopolism and favouritism, the state was inflicted with corruption and the society was affected by organized crime. Small-scale and middle-scale business community which emerged during the years of the perestroika was levied with unjust taxes and dues, mafia clans and extortion on the part of bureaucrats.

Foundations for social security of the population were undermined. Funds allocated by the government for science, culture, education and healthcare actually fail to secure neither their satisfactory maintenance nor mere survival. Incomes of working people are insufficient for sustainable living. Employment opportunities are being cut down. Poverty and impoverishment of millions of people adversely affect their moral and physical health as well as life expectancy.

Never had there been such a cynical and outright union of power and rapacious non-productive capital, disregard of imminent interests of people and even their very life. The social stratum referenced to as “elite” found itself in a state of a deep moral depression at the same time claiming the right to determine the lot of the country. Authorities of executive power were enormously exaggerated and activity of local government bodies was merely paralyzed. Federal Assembly and regional legislative bodies the status of which was reduced to an inadmissible level after the 1993 constitution cannot do much in order to change this situation.

Rights and liberties of people are in a sad state, judicial authority is weak and dependent upon executive power arbitrariness. Belonging of mass media to the state or to the major financial groups only emphasizes the tenseness of the situation.

The RUSDP offers social-democratic alternative not only to its political supporters but to the society and to all citizens as well.

The social-democratic alternative

Today Russia faces an overcoming crisis problem. We need to find a way out to overpass this acute crisis and to find adequate answers to the challenges of global and information-oriented society. To realize this challenges and to find adequate answers is a task of any political party which seriously and responsibly pretends to power. Scale of the challenge is tremendous and it is commensurable only to the democratic challenge of the beginning of the 20th century. It is hard to give an answer to it because it is complicated by the fact that many life support systems of the society have been destroyed and a lot of time have been wasted.

At the same time the RUSDP believes that Russia still possesses a development potential. This potential has never been realized exclusively due to political failure of the former political power, its lack of clear and consecutive social and economic strategy and necessary confidence on the part of the people.

The policy of the RUSDP fundamentally differs from that of left-radical parties, including the CPRF, which never failed to get rid of revanchist attitudes and attempts to return to the old order.

We are determined opponents of liberal fundamentalism, implementation of which over the last 10 years brought the country to a state of decline. The main difference between right radicals and us rests in one main thing the attitude towards a personality. We reject cynical approach to people and worship of market element which often runs contrary to democracy and generates social differentiation, undermines moral foundations of the society.

Historical experience showed that further motion of the country by inertia force trying to catch up with other countries is unacceptable for Russia. RUSDP believes that the only alternative here is a progressive development of the country through implementation of a break-through strategy. This may be realized by way of activating human potential, effective industrial policy, development of social infrastructure, rousing interest of vast strata of society.

The party considers investments into personality and social programs to be not charity but a most important factor of modernization, economic growth and progress of society.

With the purpose of fast and effective development of society the RUSDP counts on supporting small and middle-scale business which will form a genuinely popular character of the Russian economy, it will serve as a source for its fast growth, lead to creation of new job creation and an increase in population incomes as well as development of the internal market of the country.

RUSDP stands for implementing a comprehensive industrial policy aimed at restoration of Russias position as a leading scientific and industrial world power.

RUSDP fully realizes the realities of the fast globalizing world and is profoundly against authoritarian development of Russia. We are convinced that it is necessary to fight for a worthy position in this world by means of such industrial policy which will employ both capabilities of the state and those of big business for the development of scientific and technical progress.

The country is in need for a well-developed innovative economic sector which would be capable of meeting challenges of the time and our information-oriented society. In order for it to be created the support of all organizations which produce know-how from the Russian Academy of Sciences to branch research institutions will be urgent.

It is advisable to grant tax concessions to innovative sector and to facilitate in creating specialized venture foundations as an important mechanism of their financing.

Implementation of the breakthrough strategy lies in transforming Russia into one of world-biggest centers of development and export of modern technologies, scientific and educational services especially for third-world countries.

It is necessary to promote focusing on those spheres where Russia traditionally has an advantage nuclear physics and engineering, ultra pure elements and isotopes production, aviation industry, rocket production, information science, business technologies, etc. Governmental support is necessary primarily even not for these respective plants and factories, but for scientific, research and design activities and infrastructure enterprises, that is operator, information, maintenance and service companies.

On these purposes the potential of scientific settlements and other prospective scientific and technical development territories must be fully utilized. They are able and must become “development starting points” for innovative economy. Most favoured treatment should be given to development of higher education science and scientific publishing, duty-free and tax-free import of scientific and educational books, equipment, promoting opportunities for mutual exchanges of scientists, orders and information.

Deliberate conversion of defense industry is needed as well as creation of dual-purpose technologies which would allow to maintain both military and civil production up to the mark.

We are in favour of all-sided support of cooperative enterprises and “youth economy” creation of technological fleets and innovative centers for youth using the facilities of the leading universities and research institutions. Everything is important here: simplification of procedures of their creation, legal base, tax recessions and benefits.

There may arise a question whether the country has adequate financial resources to implement the breakthrough strategy. We are confident that these resources will appear if the society is capable of making the use of natural rent wisely.

Basic natural and cultural values should be the common property of the whole society. Natural (raw materials) rent is to be used in the interests of all the people. It can be achieved in different ways. One can either nationalize raw material industries or nominate efficient managers or increase taxes. But anyway, it will be necessary to give it back to the society and to use for development of new technologies, education, science, culture, support of small and middle-scale business.

Redistribution of raw materials rent to the benefit of society will give a notable economic base to state social policy.

Progression is not possible exclusively through the efforts of governmental bodies. Quick and positive development of the country should be substantially supported by people, actual involvement of the most active sections of the population, giving vent to their creative potential. The party believes that talent, initiative and enterprise of our people will be able to secure fast development of the country, to allow to break-through into the new post-industrial and information-oriented community.

Our social support

Among social forces really capable of creating new Russia, the RUSDP singles out a large social stratum consisting of people who possess sufficient education, professionalism and motivation. This is the desired “middle class” which the Russian reformers failed to find out. This stratum is to be claimed completely by the society and realize itself in this capacity. But first and foremost it is necessary to put the cost of living of scientists, teachers, doctors, State employees, managers of middle level, officers in compliance with the role they are to play.

The main sociopolitical priority of the RUSDP is self-organization of this “middle class”, purposeful and consistent formation of the conditions of its development. The RUSDP rests upon these forces and relies on their support in realization of its policy.

The chief task of the party is to help them to come to power utilizing it for the reformation of the country and society and for the humanization of all social relations as well.

Women make up more then good few of the population of Russia. The RUSDP stands for their real participation in society life and in country management. It is necessary to get equal rights regarding women and men in actual fact, to elaborate and to fulfil all essential social, cultural and political measures which are really capable of securing these rights. Female intellect and potentialities are huge resource which has not been entirely appreciated at its true value. Women are kinder by nature then men. They stabilize the society introducing the sensation of happiness and calmness to it. They are more prudent and responsible, and that is why power is in need of them. The party will actively attract women to join its rows; it will secure their leading hand in party leadership. The RUSDP intends to make for the promotion of their role in society management, to uphold quota principle of their representation in government bodies.

We also stand for the consecutive state policy in respects of younger generation in our country. The negative consequences of unemployment have especially strong influence on young men. There is a high rate of alcoholism, drug addiction, criminality among them. The RUSDP considers that the society is obliged to provide young people with possibility of getting the first place of employment, with availability regarding education and sports. Young family must have a right to the receipt of Mortgage credit on time for a period of 20-25 years with the establishment of the marginal percentage rate, maturity dates and insurance arrangements. Such policy will make for the reproduction and development of the human recourses in our country.

It is necessary to assign means from the state, federal and local budgets on additional financing of education as far as the most talented young people are concerned and on stimulation of scientific work regarding pupils and students. The RUSDP gives backing to the development of the university autonomy and self-government of scientific collectives.

The RUSDP views working people as the basis of society and its forward development. The social-democrats consider the high level of unemployment in the country inadmissible for the civilized society. They will try to get the increase of job creation and doles. Our undoubted priorities are reservation of the existed workplaces and creation of the new ones, training for a new profession and placing in a new job of these who have lost it. The party considers it necessary to approximate the minimal level of wage to the real cost of living in the shortest possible time. The following tasks must be put forward as practical: control of the dwelling prices, public utilities, electricity, gas, transport, etc.; inclusion of these expenditures and education expenditures in estimation of the cost of living.

On the one hand the Labour Code must correspond to the new market conditions, but on the other hand it must secure protection of workers from arbitrariness of employers, illegal dismissals, unpaid salary, other breaches of their rights. The incentive mechanisms appropriate to the new situation must be found out in respects of employers who improve job conditions of employees.

The Party will cooperate with trade unions closely and coupled with them it will defend legal rights of the hired workers, render to the industrial action material support in the case of other means being exhausted.

The RUSDP supports business undertakings, considers the representatives of small-scale and middle-scale business its natural allies. The party will cooperate with entrepreneurs and their organizations in all directions, first and foremost it concerns the search of the investments of capital and guaranteeing the availability of credits.

The defense of entrepreneurs from racket, arbitrariness of officials, abuse of power from the direction of taxation and law-enforcement authorities, unfair competition and monopolists, elaboration of the program concerning the assistance in regard to small-scale and middle-scale business all these the RUSDP considers an important political task.

The RUSDP jointly with the trade unions and business unions will conduct a campaign against artificial bankruptcy and in favour of enterprise property being passed to work collectives in such cases and suits of individual depositors being satisfied in the first place.

The Party considers that favourable conditions must be created for these who cultivate the land independently of the property form and of the form of production organization. The Party comes out in favour of equal economic prerequisites (dues, credit facilities, etc.) for all producers of agricultural products.

The primary task of the Party is the defense of farmers from corrupt officials, second-hand dealers, proprietors of markets and etc., opening the way for the agricultural products produced by farmers to consumers. For this purpose we intend to support education of self-governing associations of manufacturers who produce agricultural products in areas, regions and on a federal scale.

The Party considers that it is necessary to change harshly the attitude of the State towards education employees. The society cant stand the miserable cost of living of teachers and lecturers any longer. One cant forget that education appears to be the basic condition of the social progress. It must be qualitative, persistent and accessible in the course of mans life. All this cant be secured without improving the cost of living of peoples education employees.

The State must guarantee: free complete secondary education and free high education for these who pass the entry. As far as the receipt of additional knowledge is concerned, personal untaxed funds should be drawn.

It is urgent to work out and to realize a well-provided with recourses specialists training program what is necessary for the present-day society and industry. Educational reform should be guided by up-to-date and future public requirements but not by our present-day poverty.

The RUSDP believes that intellectual progress in society rests upon the interaction of the advanced educational and scientific system where high school and science must act as a single whole. The basic financing of science must be secured from the state budget according to the standards of developed countries. It is urgent to provide with tax allowance these who subscribe for educational, scientific, cultural and sport institutions.

It is necessary to make job conditions and remuneration of scientists labour corresponding to the standards of civilized countries in order to put an end to the “brain drain” from the country.

Preservation and development of the cultural heritage of Russia in all its variety must be the basis of the state cultural program. The RUSDP considers creation of conditions for the free development of all ethnic groups, cultures and languages of Russia to be the primary concern of the State.

The Party considers that international relations in the country must be formed relying upon the principle of the internationalism under the condition of strict observance of law. The RUSDP disputes resolutely racism, xenophobia, chauvinism, anti-Semitism. We regard the kindling of national and religious discord as a very grave crime.

All citizens, first of all Russians discriminated on account of their nationality must be given appropriate political, economical and legislative backing if they want to reside in Russia.

The State must confer on itself the responsibility for the provision of pensions system independently of the form of its realization; review pension code and change it in accordance with the real situation in the society, secure timely and regular receipt of pensions, their indexing in keeping with the inflation level.

The Party holds in respect for the religious views of believers. The Party esteems the history and the social role of the Russian Orthodox Church, other confessions, their associations and institutions acknowledged in Russia. The Party collaborates with them, standing at the same time for the State of a secular character.

The Party will press the State for acceptance of the emergency measures in order to overcome the decline in the rate of the population growth. The RUSDP comes out in favour of an appropriate population health program being elaborated for each region in the country. The Party will insist on immediate implementation of medical inspection of population and on addressing support of chronic invalids as well. The State must maintain medicine on sufficient level and continuously perfect medical staff training.

Effective state health insurance systems must be brought into action independently of employers property form and mans social stratum. Taxation policy is to stimulate employers to take care of employees health.

Emergency measures coordinated by the President and supposed to have a complex of maternity support measures and social upbringing of orphans system rehabilitation are urgent to overcome the population crisis.

The RUSDP is a resolute supporter of environmentalism. For this purpose it will maintain active contacts and partner with the state environmental services and social associations responsible for the environmentalism. The Party will try to get to provide population with comprehensive information as far as the state of the environment in the country on the whole is concerned.

We stand for detailed independent state examination of all economic projects and regular control of the enterprise activity of all property forms on the purpose of clarification regarding environmental demands being implemented by them.

The RUSDP will take the initiative in regard to the elaboration of legislative acts of environmentalism if it appears to be urgent.

Millions of people turned out to be deceived by the State in the course of the liberalization of prices policy. The State must return defaulted securities to them, liquidate the debts as far as the wages of State employees, pensions and hardship allowances are concerned.

We think that the means received from alcohol production and trade state monopoly must be used on social programs in the first place.

Market for mans sake.

The position of Russian social-democrats in regard to economic issues consists in the following.

First of all, we proceed from the absence of alternative in respects of passing to the market economy. Only this type of economic activity organization can secure submission of production to the tasks of countrys various requirements being satisfied, effective utilization of resources which are in societys possession and create conditions for population labour activity mobilization.

The social-democrats come out in favour of the equality of all property and management forms. They are against absolutism of any property form no matter whether it is public, collective or private.

The RUSDP believes that natural resources of the country, strategically important key industries, monuments of history and culture, social institutions responsible for accumulation and development of “human resources”, security of citizens and the State must be state ownership.

Workers owned enterprises and various types of co-operative societies belonging to production and service spheres which combine self-government with modern information technologies deserve special state support.

It is necessary to provide all types of co-operative societies with production, consumption, sales, insurance, financial and legal support, to facilitate their creation and functioning: to grant these enterprises the same benefits and preferences as in the case with small-scale and middle-scale business.

We recognize large creative potential which lays in private property and competition, we stand for modern market infrastructure formation labour markets, principle amount, rights to utilize natural resources, including land as well. We come out against arbitrary redistribution of property by the State; all property conflicts (including these ones between government bodies on the one hand, and natural and juridical persons on the other hand) must be prosecuted in accordance with the operating legislation.

In a word, we come out in favour of market being as much as possible and state as much as necessary.

We state that simplisticism and adventurism which became apparent plentifully in the course of so-called “radical reforms” resulted in deeply mis-shapen management system having been formed in Russia. Financial and production spheres exist separately. While enterprises are being strangled by the shortage of circulating capital, credit banks do not have units for the effective investments of savings accumulated from them. In many cases directorate of enterprises or their principle shareholders are directed not toward constructive aims but toward taking to pieces everything created before. If that is so then measures ordinary for market or budget economy more often than not lead to negative results. Government bodies (both on a federal and on a regional scale) resort to measures inadmissible for market economy, such measures like nonpayment of state orders and money substitutes of various kinds issue without having other possibilities to tackle the most urgent current tasks. Finally it aggravates the situation even more.

That is why the Russian social-democracy stands for consistent actions directed to shifting our economy from “quasi-market” to normal market state. It means that we comes in favour of such order in relations between owners of capital, managers and hired workers which would direct their effort to constructive aims.

We stand for immediate regulating of effective management mechanism concerning assets left in state ownership, as the presence of large “ownerless” property appears to be factor of high-capacity which keeps deforming the economical conduct.

We are in favour of extraordinary measures in regard to clearing away balances of all economic activity participants, because market mechanisms cant act normally in non-money economy.

Secondly, admitting the absence of alternative in respects to the market system, the social-democrats are far from being inclined to idealize the consequences of its functioning, to peculiar “market fetishism”.

Its known that in a number of cases, in principle, market is unable of revealing society requirements while in other cases its functioning has results valued by the country population as unfavorable.

Traditionally, social-democrats stand for the social orientation of market economy. In present-day reality it means that not only economical upturn is of great importance but fair distribution of its products as well.

It is necessary to form such conditions on which all citizens independently of their cost of living may have an access to services of educational field, medicine and culture corresponding to standards of contemporary civilized society.

Whats urgent is policy directed to minimization of unemployment, combating of poverty, guaranteeing of adequate level of living in the old age.

One should actively encourage participation of hired workers in production management.

Thirdly, the RUSDP will try to get reduction in tax burden for small-scale and middle-scale business enterprises, granting them with tax allowance and reductive registration for a period of their formation. They must have an access to cheap credits, rely on state entrepreneurs risks insurance system, the system of so-called business-incubators capable of their reconstruction.

Fourthly, the social-democrats are convinced of Russias being unthinkable without present-day agriculture which guarantees food security of the country. We proceed from the assumption that choice of land management forms must be of farmers business but not of ideologists and theorists concern no matter the left or the right trend they stick to.

The Party considers that in future land may be easily bought or sold. But at present moment the complete realization of this principle may cause a considerable damage to labour-management relations, contribute to increase in countrys land resources speculation and peonage revival. The land private property must take its own place among the other property forms. It must be put into operation gradually in keeping with the elaboration and adoption of the appropriate land-laws.

The state duty of top-priority we see in the development of rural infrastructure, in guaranteeing normal conditions as far as farmers land work is concerned, in negotiation of suppliers and farming products reprocessors monopolism, in defense of farmers from unfair foreign competition. It is expedient to revive the activity of the agroindustrial complexes engaged in farming products processing and in rendering various services.

Fifthly, the RUSDP is in favour of ones leaving the contrasting the Center to regions in deed. It can be achieved if the Center fully finances infrastructure projects and activity of the national structures (courts, Office of Public Prosecutor, army, security services, etc.). Taking all these into account, one should distribute budget earnings among bodies of regional and federal budget.

The RUSDP stands for cooperation with developed countries, first of all the members of European Union, in order to develop market relations and economy modernization. It turns out to be a consistent follower of experience exchange in this field.

Acknowledging the great role of market in present-day economy formation and country modernization, the Russian social-democrats consider that market is to be submitted to the requirements of society.

Development of Democracy and State.

In search of the most effective way out from the system crisis, the disputes about structure, authorities and power forms, about the State and society relations turn out to be in the centre of attention. But for all that some see Russias salvation in creation of “powerful State” of the authoritarian type, the other insist on the States leaving social-economic field. We consider that the powerful State must constantly keep in touch with civil society and rest upon wide self-governing of citizens. To our opinion Democracy is entire and operating society control of political power.

The position of the social-democrats consists in acknowledging of the fact that fully-fledged development of society is possible only if legal federal State is being strengthened.

The social-democrats believe that present-day Russia is in need of the powerful State where democratic institutions are functioning surely and effectively, process of civil society formation is going on, power is being supported by citizens. Counting on the authoritarian type is a dangerous project even in the case if there exist people who are ready to support it.

We stand for personnel liberty, political and social rights being guaranteed by the State equally in respects to all citizens. They cant be shared and opposed to each other. Rights and liberty of one man may be limited only with the rights and liberty of other men.

The State must serve the citizens and operate in accordance with their interests. We are resolutely against the State being used as an instrument of liberty and justice suppression.

The RUSDP considers low structures to be a vital trend toward the democratic development of society. These structures include institutions of local governing, production democracy, civil initiatives, elucidative and other organizations capable of exercising control of power activity. The Party will render assistance to such organizations. It believes that it is necessary to provide them with the right to legislative initiative.

We come out in favour of the constitutional reform transforming Russia in a really acting democratic federative republic where the Federation Council members and the State Duma deputies will be elected by virtue of direct elections. Federal and regional governments must rest upon the parliamentary majority, it will secure their effective activity, increase the responsibility of the parliament and intensify its supervisory functions. We stand for reservation of the existing order of RF President nomination, for introducing clarity into distribution of authority between the President and the parliament.

Political parties are regarded by the RUSDP as another urgent element of the democratic political system. They must become the basic mechanism of the parliament formation in the country. Only parties are to nominate the candidates as far as parliamentary elections are concerned. Exclusion of collection of signatures, deposit, paid agitation and etc. will contribute to the increase of political parties role at the elections.

We are in favour of openness and transparency of political activity financing. In the end such approach is to provide citizens with the possibility to elect and control the activity of these to whom they have entrusted mandate of confidence.

The RUSDP highlights judicial reform which is to guarantee the actual independence of courts by virtue of their formation and financing mechanisms. Court must become independent, arrive at its verdicts purely on the grounds of laws and enjoy peoples confidence. The judicial reform must secure competent, trustworthy and respected people being elected to be judges. It is necessary to guarantee their security and appropriate remuneration of their labour. But for all that it is necessary to increase their responsibility for reached verdicts. Any case of illegal verdict must become a subject to special prosecution.

It is urgent to legalize creation of federative constituencies by virtue of constitution, to form representations of federated executive powers there. It will be a step on the way of renewal of unified political, legislative and economical area of the country, capable judicial system. At the same time the privileges of the Presidents representatives should be limited hard with constitution and established permissions. There must be neither redoubling nor government bodies substitution.

The jural state must include exact division of privileges among federal, regional and city government bodies and exclude any interference in their competence.

One should provide government bodies of Federation units with social-economical independence, but for all that one is to put them under harder judicial and financial control.

Local self-governing must receive discretionary economic power and financial self-dependence as far as the solution of local problems is concerned.

The RUSDP stands for creation of mechanisms capable of guaranteeing the State machinery being under control. Effective struggle against bureaucracy and bribery is urgent.

New manpower policy which includes state and city staff training system and secures independent competitive choice and new patterns of officialdom labour forms. Purposeful actions in this case must let society realize that any position in management machinery is not a “sinecure” but service in respects to citizens and society.

Another States important task is implementation of society and person security. It is necessary to reinforce measures in regard to criminal responsibility for grave crimes, to improve qualitatively domestic affairs bodies activity by virtue of intensifying professional staff training.

All law-enforcement systems and army need fundamental perfection. The social-democrats consider army reform necessary, it will make for realization of “sufficient” and effective defensive position of the country from possible aggressors and international terrorists. Problems regarding professional army and alternative army service discussed for a long time should be solved.

We believe it necessary to elaborate state improvement program in regard to social security and housing conditions of the military families and law-enforcement system officials.

Foreign policy.

The RUSDP considers that foreign policy of Russia must be determined by to basic factors its national interests and its responsibility as it is regarded to one of the largest countries in the world. Necessity which must define and form national interest, - is the necessity of peaceful, evolutionary development after the long period of upheavals and revolutions.

Undisguised and democratic world at the heart of which lies equitable co-operation and partnership, world where people, information and resources can shift freely, world guaranteed for cultural identity reservation and possibility of all nations development such world corresponds to the interests of Russia from the RUSDP members point of view.

At the same time the events of last years show that world community failed to utilize in full measure unique opportunities for peace strengthening which came up after the cold war. The end of the cold war still has not made our world less dangerous and world new order formation on basis of strategy formed on the threshold of withdrawal from the cold war has not actually launched yet. More than that since the USSR disintegration many fundamental decisions reached earlier and signed by topping officials whether forgotten or simply thrown away.

One can speak about the reasons for such juncture, about countries responsibility for the existence of such situation when the world is rocked with new conflicts and globalization processes being in full swing have aggravated the contradictions between the North and the South. The gap between rich and poor countries has not been retrenched but even increased. Many world areas with hundreds millions of people turn out to be a zone of calamity, destitution, spending of diseases, criminality and drug addiction.

After the end of the cold war the West failed to work out neither new doctrine of collective security nor new ideology of peaceful development because the leading countries are still in captivity of the old conceptions and approaches and the institutions formed in the cold war period are still in operation.

It is enough to refer to the NATOs expansion to the East and to an attempt to give this organization a geopolitical role prejudicing international law and the authority of the United Nations Organization and Security Council.

Such scenario of the situation in the world development arouses alarm more and more, in particular, it proves by the fact that representatives from many countries come out against single-sided globalization policy. This phenomenon has a mass character.

We, the social-democrats, support the aspiration of all peace-loving nations persistently standing for the U.N.O. reformation and the promotion of its role, for the creation of the world forum representing institutions of civil society and acting constantly and equally with the U.N.O..

The RUSDP believes that at this crucial moment of world development socialdemocratic parties on a transnational scale, social and labour parties united by the Socialist International are to play a special part. We are at one with the actions of the SI member parties coming out in favour of imparting human dimension to the globalization processes.

The RUSDP stands for elaboration and putting new forms of transnational political regulation in practice, for the reformation of existing institutions such as the International Currency Foundation, the Worlds bank, the Worlds Trade Organization and others.

In a whole we appreciate the report “We-nations: United Nations Organizations role in the XXI century.” given by the General Secretary of the U.N.O. Coffee Annan.

We, Russian social-democrats, are deeply convinced of the possibility to solve the problems in regard to globalization security of modern civilization by virtue of collective responsibility of the nations.

We stand for new order in the world being more stable, more justice, more humane.