Izhevsk participates in the activities of Russian and international organizations that
represent interests of institutions of local government.
One of the most important directions of the development of international contacts of Izhevsk is cooperation
in the frames of twin-cities relations.
The twin cities movement was born during the World War II. In 1942 Coventry (the UK) and Stalingrad
(the Soviet Union) decided to set up friendly relations in purpose to bring people into a closer understanding
of each other and to promote cross-border projects of mutual benefit. Lately, noble aims of the movement obtained
the recognition of the general public and furthered the development of civil initiative in different countries. (http://www.twin-cities.ru/)
On 10th of December, 1992 friendly relations with Tatabanya (Hungary)
were established and special agreements on cooperation were signed. On 12th of June, 1995 Izhevsk and Yambol
(Bulgaria) became twin cities. On 12th of May, 2002 friendly relations with Xining (China)
were set up. On 11th of June, 2004 Bedzin (Poland) became a sister city of Izhevsk. On 13th
of June, 2006 friendly relations with Cordoba (Argentina) were officially established and special agreements
on cooperation were signed. Approximately in a month (on 25th of July, 2006) Maracay (Venezuela) and
Izhevsk became twin cities.
Moreover, in December, 2004 friendly relations with Salt Lake City (the USA)
were established.
Furthermore, since 1994 Izhevsk is a member of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
of the Council of Europe. The Council of Europe has always recognized the crucial importance of democracy at local and regional
level. That is the reason for its commitment to promoting a style of local self-government that meets the needs of the citizens
wherever they may be. The Congress is therefore a political assembly composed of representatives holding an electoral mandate
as members of a local or regional authority appointed each by a specific procedure. Its 318 full members and 318 substitute
members, representing over 200 000 European municipalities and regions, are grouped by national delegation and by political
group. Thus, the Congress offers an ideal forum for dialogue where representatives of local and regional authorities discuss
common problems, compare notes about their experiences and then put their points of view to the national governments. (http://www.coe.int/t/r/clrae/)
Since 1995 Izhevsk also participates in the global WHO Healthy
Cities project. It engages local governments in health development through a process of political commitment, institutional
change, capacity-building, partnership-based planning and innovative projects. About 90 cities are members of
the WHO European Healthy Cities Network, and 30 national Healthy Cities networks across the WHO European Region have more
than 1400 cities and towns as members.
The primary goal of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network is to put health high on the social,
economic and political agenda of city governments. Health is the business of all sectors, and local governments are in a unique
leadership position, with power to protect and promote their citizens’ health and well-being. (http://www.euro.who.int/)
Moreover, since 1997 Izhevsk is presented in the Interregional Association of Municipalities
“The Cities of Ural” that unites 35 cities and 10 regions of the federation. The main directions of its functioning
are: economic and informational work, legislative activities and protection of the city’s interests, exchanging of experience,
foreign policy.
On September 3d, 1998, executive power bodies of 7 capitals and 19 large cities of 9 countries
of the Commonwealth of Independent States established public non-governmental organization – the International Assembly
of capitals and large cities in purpose to organize joint activities aimed at social and economic development of cities.
Nowadays 85 cities, including Izhevsk, from 9 CIS countries are the members of this organization. (http://www.e-gorod.ru/)
Izhevsk is a member of the Russian Union of historical cities and regions that was established
in 1999. The constituent agreement on its establishment claims that the Union is a non-governmental organization and is authorized
to carry out its activities in the whole territory of the Russian Federation.
The principal aims of the Union are:
· rendering assistance in revival, reconstruction and
development of historical cities and regions of Russia;
· coordination of cooperation between various cities
and regions of Russia in their activities aimed at preservation of historical, cultural and natural heritage;
· assistance in investment bringing in and in Union
program purposes implementation. (http://www.rossigr.narod.ru/ustavdoc/dogovor.html)
Since 1999 International and All-Russian specialized exhibitions of various theme directions are
held in Izhevsk under the support of the City Administration.
In 2000 the first head of Izhevsk Anatoliy Saltykov signed Aalborg Charter “The Cities
of Europe on the way to sustained development”. To put into practice the principles of the Charter the Strategy
of the sustained development of the city of Izhevsk was elaborated.
Since 2002 Izhevsk is a full member of the International Organization “European Cities
Against Drugs” (ECAD).
Furthermore, Izhevsk is a full member of the Congress of the municipalities of Russia that
was established in 2006. Informational exchange and delegation interchange on a regular base are arranged between the
members of this organization. (http://www.rncm.ru)
In 2008 Izhevsk became the only Russian city participating in the joint action of the Council of Europe and the European Comission "Intercultural citites".
In 2009 the representatives of municipal authorities of Izhevsk and the representatives of the UNISEF
signed the Memorandum of cooperation aimed at the realization of the global UNICEF “Child-Friendly Cities”
initiative.
The UNICEF “Child-Friendly Cities” initiative is a tool that helps to reduce the negative
impact of urban environment on children’s lives and use to the maximum extent possible the opportunities and advantages
that the city offers. Participation in this initiative contributes to the implementation at the municipal level of commitments
assumed by the Russian Federation upon its ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
A child-friendly city is not a model of an ideal city; neither it is a title awarded for outstanding
achievements. Involvement in this initiative implies that its participants seek to care for children on a regular basis and,
having achieved success, they do not cease their activities. The concept of a child-friendly city is actually a programme
committed to assisting municipal authorities in building a city which is friendly towards children in all its aspects, particularly
governance, infrastructure and services. The specific feature of this initiative, that makes it radically different from other
social programmes and initiatives, is children’s and young people’s mandatory participation in decision-making
processes on all matters affecting their interests.
The “Child-Friendly Cities” initiative is currently being implemented in London, Paris,
Munich, Buenos-Aires and many other big cities worldwide, including such countries as France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands,
Sweden and Brazil. An International Secretariat for Child Friendly Cities was established in 2000 at UNICEF Innocenti
Research Centre in Italy. (http://eng.unicef.ru/program_unicef/cities_to_children)
Thus, Izhevsk actively takes part in the process of functioning of various organizations that have
versatile cooperation on local and international scale, economic, social and politic development as its main purposes.
20.12.2011 
1576 Author: 
