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The period of the struggle of South (Iraqi) Kurdistan for self-determination, namely such events as its transformation into the center of the Kurdish national movement in the Middle East and the proclamation of the Kurdish Autonomous Region (KAR) in 1974 is considered. The creation of a legal precedent, which has acquired an international character, is commented on. The recognition by the Iraqi government of the right of the Kurds to territorial autonomy is assessed as an undoubted success of the national movement of the Kurdish minority. It is noted that the development of the draft of Interim Constitution was preceded by a long discussion between Shiite Arabs, Sunni Arabs and Kurds on the future administrative structure of the country. It is shown that the Baathist regime was not going to solve the Kurdish problem in the country on a truly democratic basis, but only created the appearance of a solution to the issue in order to remove internal and international tensions. The author dwells on the repressive measures of the government of Saddam Hussein against the Kurds. The mass character of repressive measures during the Iranian-Iraqi war of 1980—1988 is emphasized.

The article is devoted to the comparison of the national policy of France and the Russian Empire in the last third of the 19th - early 20th centuries. It is shown that France was characterized in the national issue by the desire to take revenge on Germany after the defeat in the Franco-Prussian war, the development of political anti-Semitism, the increase in the level of migration from colonial possessions. Attention is paid to the fact that many nationalities lived on the territory of the Russian Empire. Special attention is paid to the fact that in Russia by the end of the 19th century there was a tightening of national policy, which was aimed at the Russification of representatives of national minorities in order to consolidate the population. The authors dwell on the fact that in the course of national policy in the last third of the 19th - early 20th centuries the French government managed to smooth out the contradictions on the national issue, integrating the population and creating conditions for successful actions within the framework of imperialism. It is shown that in the Russian Empire the national issue was not resolved, becoming one of the causes of the revolution of 1905-1907, as well as one of the destabilizing factors during the First World War.

Russian-Turkish relations within the framework of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC) is considered. It is shown that the Black Sea states have a need for cooperation. The main directions of the Russian-Turkish partnership within the BSEC are presented. The author notes the high interest of the participating states in the forms of cooperation in different areas, for example, in energy. Examples of certain activities within the framework of Russian-Turkish cooperation are given, which demonstrate the participants’ understanding of the need to develop subregional cooperation. It is established that Turkey is particularly interested in the energy resources of the region. The implementation of large-scale joint projects related to the increase in natural gas supplies from Russia to Turkey is presented. It is noted that the participants are looking for mutually acceptable solutions in the field of energy policy. It is concluded that the current foreign policy of Turkey in the Black Sea-Caspian region assumes the preservation of the role of a mediator in the implementation of Western initiatives, taking into account its own interests. It is emphasized that mutually beneficial economic cooperation is the basis for all types of partnership. As a result of the study, the author comes to the conclusion that cooperation between Russia and Turkey within the framework of BSEC should contribute to the stable development of bilateral good-neighbourly relations. The author argues that BSEC can strengthen the stability and economic development of the countries of the Black Sea region.