KUNACHESTVO AS A FORM OF INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION
Traditions, social institutions present a form of fastening the achievements of moral and artistic culture of the people. The tradition of kunachestvo (consecrated friendship) is one of the most important traditions of human culture. In Dagestan, as well as in other areas of the North Caucasus, the public institution of kunachestvo got most widespread. History and Ethnography testify to continual cooperation between highlanders of Dagestan, their continual accumulation and fine-tuning the forms of mediation, methods of conflict resolution; to exchanging the got knowledge with each other. The given article deals with the problems of kunachestvo as a form of international communication, collaboration and cooperation, as a tradition, which has an important socio-pedagogical and moral significance. The results of the regional project «Kunachestvo» have been analyzed. The project is aimed at revival of a public institution, at restoring the highland etiquette rules and improving the culture of international dialogue, at the development of cultural exchanges, popularization of national traditions and customs. This article presents the signification and substantiation of the necessity of kunachestvo for preserving the heritage of the peoples of Dagestan and its practical application. The results of the study confirm the importance of value system of previous generations for modern Dagestan people, that encourages them to consciously participating in the activities related to the history and culture of the peoples of Dagestan. The kunachestvo remains still a mean for preserving and strengthening of interpersonal and international relations.