Foreign relations of Belarus
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The Byelorussian SSR was one of only two Soviet republics to be separate members of the United Nations (the other being the Ukrainian SSR). Both republics and the Soviet Union joined the UN when the organization was founded in 1945.
Prior to 2001
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, at which time Belarus gained its independence, Belarus became a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), NATO's Partnership for Peace, the North Atlantic Cooperation Council, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank. It has also been in a supranational union with Russia since 2 April 1996, although this has had little practical effect.
Belarus–Russia relations
The introduction of free trade between Russia and Belarus in mid-1995 led to a spectacular growth in bilateral trade, which was only temporarily reversed in the wake of the financial crisis of 1998. President Alexander Lukashenko sought to develop a closer relationship with Russia. The framework for the Union of Russia and Belarus was set out in the Treaty On the Formation of a Community of Russia and Belarus (1996), the Treaty on Russia-Belarus Union, the Union Charter (1997), and the Treaty of the Formation of a Union State (1999). The integration treaties contained commitments to monetary union, equal rights, single citizenship, and a common defence and foreign policy.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/Embassy_of_Belarus.jpg/220px-Embassy_of_Belarus.jpg)
Belarus–European Union relations
Following the recognition of Belarus as an independent state in December 1991 by the European Community, EC/EU-Belarus relations initially experienced a steady progress. The signature of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) in 1995 signaled a commitment to political, economic and trade cooperation. Some assistance was provided to Belarus within the framework of the TACIS programme and also through various aid programs and loans. However, progress in EU-Belarus relations stalled in 1996 after serious setbacks to the development of democracy, and the Drazdy conflict. The EU did not recognize the 1996 constitution, which replaced the 1994 constitution. The Council of the European Union decided against Belarus in 1997: The PCA was not concluded, nor was its trade-related part; Belarusian membership in the Council of Europe was not supported; bilateral relations at the ministerial level were suspended and EU technical assistance programs were frozen. Acknowledging the lack of progress in relation to bilateral relations and the internal situation following the position adopted in 1997, the EU adopted a step-by-step approach in 1999, whereby sanctions would be gradually lifted upon fulfillment of the four benchmarks set by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. In 2000, some moderately positive developments toward the implementation of recommendations made by the OSCE AMG were observed but were not sufficient in the realm of access to fair and free elections.
Belarus–United States relations
The United States has encouraged Belarus to conclude and adhere to agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the program of macroeconomic stabilization and related reform measures, as well as to undertake increased privatization and to create a favorable climate for business and investment. Although there has been some American direct private investment in Belarus, its development has been relatively slow given the uncertain pace of reform. An Overseas Private Investment Corporation agreement was signed in June 1992 but has been suspended since 1995 because Belarus did not fulfill its obligations under the agreement. Belarus is eligible for Export-Import Bank short-term financing insurance for U.S. investments, but because of the adverse business climate, no projects have been initiated. The IMF granted standby credit in September 1995, but Belarus has fallen off the program and did not receive the second tranche of funding, which had been scheduled for regular intervals throughout 1996.
The United States - along with the European Union - has restricted the travel of President Alexander Lukashenko and members of his inner circle, as well as imposing economic sanctions.[citation needed]
Present situation (2001 onwards)
Belarus-Russia relations
Russia remains the largest and most important partner for Belarus both in the political and economic fields. After protracted disputes and setbacks, the two countries' customs duties were unified in March 2001 but the customs controls were soon restored. In terms of trade, almost half of Belarusian export goes to Russia. Due to the structure of Belarusian industry, Belarus relies heavily on Russia both for export markets and for the supply of raw materials and components. After initial negotiation with the Russian Central Bank on monetary union, the Russian ruble was set to be introduced in Belarus in 2004, but this was postponed first until 2005, then until 2006, and now seems to have been suspended indefinitely.
Belarus-Ecuador relations
The governments of Belarus and Ecuador concluded an agreement about mutual visa-free travel. It was signed in Quito on June 20, 2014, ratified by Belarus law on December 29, 2014.[1]
Belarus-European Union relations
The structure of Belarus trade reflects the low competitiveness and output decline of manufacturing industry in the country over the past decade, leading to the predominance of primary production, work-intensive goods as exports. Belarusian exports to the EU consist mainly of agricultural and textile products, while imports from the EU are primarily machinery.
Belarus is a beneficiary of the EU's Generalised System of Preferences (GSP). The European Commission decided in 2003 to initiate an investigation into violations of freedom of association in Belarus as the first step towards a possible temporary withdrawal of the GSP from Belarus.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Belarus_pro_EU_rally.jpg/220px-Belarus_pro_EU_rally.jpg)
In December 2004, the EU adopted a position aimed at imposing travel restrictions on officials from Belarus responsible for the fraudulent parliamentary elections and referendum on 17 October 2004, and for human rights violations during subsequent peaceful political demonstrations in Minsk. The European Parliament released a statement in March 2005 in which it denounced the Belarusian government as a dictatorship. The European parliamentarians were primarily concerned about the suppression of independent media outlets in the country and the fraudulent referendum. A resolution of the European Parliament declared that the personal bank accounts of President Lukashenko and other high-ranking Belarusian officials should be tracked and frozen.
In 2005, Amnesty International reported a pattern of deliberate obstruction, harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders in Belarus. Reporters Without Borders accused the Belarusian authorities of hounding and arresting journalists from the country's Polish minority. Lukashenko has closed the country's main Polish newspaper, printing a bogus paper instead with the same name and size that praises his incumbent government. Several foreign, mainly Polish, journalists have been arrested or expelled from the country. Lukashenko accused Poland of an attempt to overthrow his government by stirring up a peaceful revolution in Belarus comparable to the Orange Revolution in Ukraine in 2004.
Later in 2005 the Belarusian riot police seized the headquarters of the Union of Poles in Belarus, an association representing the 400,000 ethnic minority Polish living in western areas the country that were part of Poland until World War II. The dispute between Poland and Belarus escalated further as Poland responded by recalling its ambassador from Belarus for indefinite consultations, and called on the European Union to impose sanctions on the Belarusian leadership in order to curtail the human rights abuses in Belarus. Belarusian papers described this as a 'dirty political game', and part of a 'cold war' waged on president Lukashenko. Polish Foreign Minister Adam Rotfeld said a clampdown was under way, aimed at destroying "all elements of political pluralism and independence" in Belarus.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/EU27-2009-Eastern_Partnership.svg/220px-EU27-2009-Eastern_Partnership.svg.png)
In August 2005 the EU's executive commission called for human rights to be respected in Belarus. The commission said it was considering offering support to independent media in the country and had set aside more than eight million euros from its budget to offer support for human rights activities. France expressed her solidarity with Poland on the issue of human rights in Belarus a day after the EU declared it was worried about the situation in that country. Several former Soviet Republics, including neighbouring Ukraine, also expressed their concerns about the development of the situation in Belarus.
In May 2009 Belarus and the EU agree on cooperation in the Eastern Partnership (EaP). However, it is contended by some scholars that the (EaP) is unable to create a workable partnership.[2] This proved to be correct when Belarus withdrew from the Partnership on 30 September 2011.[3]
In August 2012, Belarus expelled all Swedish diplomats, including the Swedish Ambassador to Belarus, Stefan Eriksson, and closed its embassy in Stockholm, after a Swedish public relations firm released teddy bears carrying pro-democracy flyers in parachutes from an airplane over Minsk on 4 July 2012. Lukashenko also fired his air defence chief and the head of the border guards over the incident. Their replacements have been told not to hesitate to use force to stop future intrusions from abroad.[4]
Belarus-South Korea relations
The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Belarus started on 10 February 1992.
Pakistan–Belarus relations
Pakistan has remained a long time ally of Belarus. The relations grew more stronger when Belarus President Alexender Lukashenko visited Islamabad. Pakistan has reportedly provided Free of Cost overhaul facilities to for the tanks and Armoured vehicles of Belarus in its Heavy Industries Taxila. Both nations have a Joint Trade Cooperation that looks after the matters related to trade between Pakistan and Belarus.
Belarus-United States relations
Belarus has had an ongoing discussion to relaunch IMF-backed reforms, concluding an arrangement for an IMF Staff-monitored program (SMP) in 2001. However, the authorities did not follow through with reforms as hoped, leaving an uncertain future for IMF-backed cooperation. Belarus authorities have said on several occasions that they find IMF intervention and recommendations in Belarus counter-productive to the economic development of those countries. The relationships with the United States have been further strained, after Congress of the United States unanimously passed the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004.
On 7 March 2008 the government of Belarus ejected US Ambassador Karen B. Stewart from the country, following a row over travel restrictions placed on President Lukashenko and sanctions against state-owned chemical company Belneftekhim. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry announced at the same time that it was recalling its own ambassador to the US. This was followed by the expulsion of ten other U.S. embassy staff from Minsk in late April. At the same time the government of Belarus ordered the U.S. Embassy in Minsk to cut its staff by half.[5][6][7][8] A White House spokesman described the expulsion as "deeply disappointing".
Relations with third countries
Due to strained relations with the United States and the European Union, as well as occasional high-level disputes with Russia over prices on core imported natural resources such as oil and gas, Belarus aims to develop better relations with countries in other regions like Middle East, Asia, and Latin America.[9]
Relations by country
Country | Formal relations began | Notes |
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1992 |
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January 9, 1992[11] | See Australia–Belarus relations |
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1992 |
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1992 | See Azerbaijan–Belarus relations
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1992-03-26 |
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1992 |
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1992-09-25 |
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1991 |
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1993 |
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See Belarus–Denmark relations | |
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1992-04-06 | |
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1992-02-26 | |
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1991 |
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1992 |
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1923 |
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See Foreign relations of Greece | |
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1991 |
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1992-04-17 | |
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1992 | See Belarus–Iran relations
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1992 | |
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1992 | |
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1992-04-13 | |
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1992-01-16 | |
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1992-09-16 |
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1992 |
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1992 |
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1991-10-24 | |
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1991 | |
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See Belarus–Moldova relations
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1994 | See Belarus–Netherlands relations
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1992 | See Foreign relations of North Korea
Belarus has a consulate in Hamgyong-namdo. North Korea has an embassy in Minsk. |
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1992 | |
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See Pakistan–Belarus relations
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1992-03-02 | See Poland–Belarus relations |
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See Belarus–Russia relations
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1994-11-15 | See Belarus–Serbia relations
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1993 |
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March 1993[69] | See Belarus-South Africa relations |
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1992-02-10[71] | See Belarus–South Korea relations
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1992-02-13 |
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1992 |
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1992 | |
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1992-05-25 |
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1992 | |
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See Belarus–Ukraine relations
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1991 |
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1991 | See Belarus – United States relations
Interstate relations between the United States and Belarus began in 1991 upon the dissolution of the Soviet Union, of which Belarus had been a part. However, the relations have turned sour due to accusations by the United States that Belarus has been undemocratic. Belarus, in turn, has accused the United States of interfering in its internal affairs. |
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1992 |
Belarus-Vietnam relations |
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December 27, 1991[86] | See Belarus-Vietnam relations |
See also
- Belarus–European Union relations
- List of diplomatic missions in Belarus
- List of diplomatic missions of Belarus
- Visa requirements for Belarusian citizens
- EU Neighbourhood Info Centre: Country profile of Belarus
External links
- Back from the Cold? The EU and Belarus in 2009 (Chaillot Paper No.119) European Union Institute for Security Studies
- Belarus OKs European Integration Of Moldova, Offers To Promote China In Europe - Belarus Foreign Policy Digest
- EU Should Keep Belarus In Its Orbit
- Is Belarus-China Cooperation A Pipe Dream?
- Belarus Discovers Its Eurasian Side
- Belarus Welcomes Top EU Leaders: A Rare Show
- A 'Nice Dialogue' With Europe, Befriending Middle East Hardliners - Belarus Foreign Policy Digest
- Multi-Vector Diplomacy With Trade In Focus - Belarus Foreign Policy Digest
- Both An EU Partner And Russia's Satellite?
- Belarus Engages With The US, Improves Ties With Europe And Post-Soviet Countries – Foreign Policy Digest
- Minsk Dialogue Non-Paper: Another Yalta Is Impossible
- Analytical paper: Belarus-Russia relations after the Ukraine conflict
References
- ^ "Соглашение между Правительством Республики Беларусь и Правительством Республики Эквадор о взаимной отмене виз"
- ^ Elena Korosteleva, “The Limits of the EU Governance: Belarus ' Response to the European Neighbourhood Policy”, Contemporary Politics, Vol. 15(2), June 2009, pp. 229–45
- ^ Belarus quits EU's Eastern Partnership initiative, Eur Activ, 2011-10-30
- ^ Belarus-Sweden teddy bear row escalates, BBC News, 2012-08-08
- ^ "Belarus expels US diplomats". Al Jazeera. 1 May 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
- ^ Michael Schwartz (25 March 2008). "Belarus: U.S. Cuts Embassy Staff". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
- ^ Andrei Makhovsky (13 March 2008). "U.S. Ambassador Leaving Belarus". The Moscow Times.com. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
- ^ "Belarus Expels US Ambassador". China Daily. 8 March 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
- ^ Rafal Czachor, Polityka wielowektorowości Republiki Białoruś – geneza, podstawy konceptualne, przykłady realizacji, Wrocławski Przegląd Międzynarodowy, Vol. 1, 2011, pp.54-56, ISSN 1898-0317
- ^ "Äèïëîìàòè÷åñêèå ïðåäñòàâèòåëüñòâà Ðåñïóáëèêè Áåëàðóñü". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ http://australia.mfa.gov.by/en/bilateral_relations/aubel/
- ^ Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia
- ^ of Belarus in Canberra
- ^ Belarusian embassy in Vienna (in Belarusian and German only)
- ^ "Äèïëîìàòè÷åñêèå ïðåäñòàâèòåëüñòâà Ðåñïóáëèêè Áåëàðóñü". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ "Embassy of Azerbaijan in Belarus". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ Belarusian embassy in Sofia (in Belarusian and Bulgarian only)
- ^ Bulgarian embassy in Minsk
- ^ Belarusian embassy in Ottawa
- ^ "Hungary: Croatian, Slovene, Bosnian, Belarusian ministers discuss relations". HINA. 24 June 2000. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
- ^ "List of international treaties and international acts signed between the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Belarus". Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
- ^ "Äèïëîìàòè÷åñêèå ïðåäñòàâèòåëüñòâà Ðåñïóáëèêè Áåëàðóñü". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ "Czech embassy in Minsk (in Czech and Belarusian only)". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ "Äèïëîìàòè÷åñêèå ïðåäñòàâèòåëüñòâà Ðåñïóáëèêè Áåëàðóñü". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ Foreign Minister to Open Estonian Embassy in Minsk
- ^ "Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland: Countries and regions: Belarus". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ "Äèïëîìàòè÷åñêèå ïðåäñòàâèòåëüñòâà Ðåñïóáëèêè Áåëàðóñü". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ "La France en Biélorussie". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ "Посольство Республики Беларусь в Федеративной Республике Германия". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ Belarusian Branch office of the embassy in Bonn
- ^ "Посольство Федеративной Республики Германия Минск - К началу". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ "Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in Hungary". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ Hungarian embassy in Minsk
- ^ "NewsLibrary.com - newspaper archive, clipping service - newspapers and other news sources". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: direction of the Belarusian embassy in New Delhi
- ^ "Ind Emb Minsk". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ http://www.tehrantimes.com/Index_view.asp?code=184639 Archived 14 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Belarusian embassy in Ireland". VisaHQ. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
- ^ "Irish embassy in Belarus". VisaHQ. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
- ^ Belarusian embassy in Israel
- ^ "2BackToHomePage3". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ "Посольство Республики Беларусь в Итальянской Республике". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ Italian embassy in Minsk (in Italian and Russian only)
- ^ Takagasa. "ベラルーシ共和国情報サイト「ベラルーシの風」". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ "Japan-Belarus Relations". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ "Äèïëîìàòè÷åñêèå ïðåäñòàâèòåëüñòâà Ðåñïóáëèêè Áåëàðóñü". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ Kazakh embassy in Minsk (in Russian only)
- ^ "Äèïëîìàòè÷åñêèå ïðåäñòàâèòåëüñòâà Ðåñïóáëèêè Áåëàðóñü". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ "Ïîñîëüñòâî Êûðãûçñêîé Ðåñïóáëèêè â Áåëàðóñè - Ãëàâíàÿ". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ "Äèïëîìàòè÷åñêèå ïðåäñòàâèòåëüñòâà Ðåñïóáëèêè Áåëàðóñü". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ "Embassy of Latvia in Belarus". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ Belarusian embassy in Vilnius
- ^ Lithuanian embassy in Minsk (in Lithuanian and Russian only)
- ^ Dizaino Kryptis. "Lietuvos Respublikos užsienio reikalų ministerija - Lietuvos Respublikos užsienio reikalų ministerija". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ Belarusian Embassy in Chisinau
- ^ "Error 404". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ Belarusian embassy in Beijing
- ^ Chinese Ministry of Foreign affairs about relations with Belarus
- ^ "Foreign relations: Belarusian ambassador wants increased trade". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ "Embassy of Belarus in Poland" belembassy.org Link accessed 26 March 2009
- ^ "Embassy Belarus in Poland" belembassy.org Link accessed 26 March 2009
- ^ "Embassy of Poland in Belarus" minsk.polemb.net Link accessed 26 March 2009
- ^ "Ministerul Afacerilor Externe". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ Belarus Ministry of Foreign Affairs: direction of the Belarusian embassy in Minsk
- ^ Belarusian embassy in Bratislava (in Slovak only)
- ^ "Veľvyslanectvo Slovenskej republiky v Minsku". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ http://www.dirco.gov.za/foreign/bilateral/belarus.html
- ^ a b http://www.dirco.gov.za/foreign/forrep/forb.htm#bel
- ^ a b http://www.mofa.go.kr/ENG/countries/europe/countries/20070803/1_24645.jsp?menu=m_30_40
- ^ "Äèïëîìàòè÷åñêèå ïðåäñòàâèòåëüñòâà Ðåñïóáëèêè Áåëàðóñü". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ http://mfa.gov.by/en/mass_media/baead1a37aed11ab.html
- ^ Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation: Spanish representations in Belarus
- ^ Belarus embassy in Stockholm gets the boot sverigesradio.se 2012-08-08
- ^ "Сацыяльныя сеткі - SwedenAbroad". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ Office of the Swiss Embassy in Minsk
- ^ Belarusian embassy in Bern
- ^ "Äèïëîìàòè÷åñêèå ïðåäñòàâèòåëüñòâà Ðåñïóáëèêè Áåëàðóñü". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ "Äèïëîìàòè÷åñêèå ïðåäñòàâèòåëüñòâà Ðåñïóáëèêè Áåëàðóñü". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ "Belembassy - Все про Білорусь". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ "Міністерство закордонних справ України". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ "Äèïëîìàòè÷åñêèå ïðåäñòàâèòåëüñòâà Ðåñïóáëèêè Áåëàðóñü". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ "UK and Belarus". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ "Äèïëîìàòè÷åñêèå ïðåäñòàâèòåëüñòâà Ðåñïóáëèêè Áåëàðóñü". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam
- ^ Belarusiam embassy in Hanoi
- ^ Vietnamese embassy in Minsk