External Policy of the Republic of Belarus

History

The proclaiming of Belarusian independence on March 25, 1918 played a decisive role both in the activity of the People's Republic of Belarus in acquiring its international recognition and in the policy of Bolsheviks on the creation of the Belarusian SSR.

At the first stage of the BSSR existence (1919-1922), its external policy was pursued within the framework of a diplomatic union of the Soviet republics united around the RSFSR. The BSSR government delegated to the RSFSR the right to conduct negotiations on its behalf with Poland and to delineate the borders of Belarus. Pursuant to the Riga peace treaty concluded in 1921, Western Belarus was transferred to Poland. Despite requests for recognition, Belarus was only recognised by the RSFSR and other Soviet republics, as well as Poland and Germany. It maintained de-facto relations with Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Turkey and Italy.

After joining the USSR, the BSSR external policy authority was, in fact, terminated, and the external policy department was liquidated. The ethnic Belarusian lands (Vilno and Bialostock regions and other territories) were transferred to Lithuania and Poland in the 1940s without the consent of the BSSR supreme bodies of authority.

In 1944 the Soviet leadership returned the external policy powers to the Soviet republics with the view of getting a "multiple representation" of the USSR on the international arena. Belarus and Ukraine became the UN founding members.

The Republic had its representative office in the UN in New York, in international organisations in Vienna, Geneva and Paris, consulates of Poland and the GDR were located in Minsk. The great majority of international agreements signed by Belarus within the UN framework had a multilateral character.

A new period of external activity of Belarus began after proclaiming independence in 1991.

In conformance with the Declaration of State Independence, the statements on the liquidation of the USSR and foundation of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Supreme Soviet and the Government of the Republic of Belarus declared their intention to build an independent State and pursue an independent external and internal policy. The Constitution of the Republic of Belarus adopted in 1994 established the obligation of the State to proceed in its external policy from the universally recognised principles and norms of international law which were given priority over the national legislation. Belarus was declared neutral State and a nuclear-free zone.

Since June 15, 1999, the Republic of Belarus has been recognised by 137 countries, diplomatic relations have been established with 124 of them. There are 29 embassies, 2 general consulates, 9 offices of international organisations, the Executive Committee and Economic Court of the CIS.

In 1992 Belarus joined the Organisation on Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of North Atlantic Co-operation, in 1993 obtained the special guest status in the Council of Europe.

The contribution of Belarus into strengthening international security in the sphere of nuclear disarmament and arms control deserves special attention. The army was reduced from 160 thousand to 80 thousand, the number of tanks, aircraft, guns and military machinery was significantly reduced.

In 1992, tactical nuclear armament was withdrawn from the Republic. In 1996 the strategic nuclear arms were withdrawn from the country, and it became a de-facto non-nuclear State.

In 1990 Belarus put forward an initiative to create a non-nuclear zone in Central Europe. In 1996 this proposal was modified in connection with the NATO expansion to the East.

Despite the fact that Belarusian lands remained on the territory of neighbouring States, the Government of the Republic of Belarus declared that it had no territorial claims to them. Political treaties and treaties which establish the territorial status quo have been signed with Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Latvia and Lithuania.

In 1995 the Belarus-Russia Treaty on Friendship, Good-neighbourly Relations and Co-operation was signed and a Customs Union was founded, which was acceded by Kazakhstan and Kyrghyzstan in 1996, and Tajikistan in 1999. In 1996 Belarus and Russia concluded the Treaty of founding a Commonwealth, in 1997 it was transformed into a Union. In December 1998 Presidents A.G. Lukashenko and B.N. Yeltsin made a joint declaration on their intention to create an integral Union State.

Being in the centre of Europe, Belarus intends to take an active part in pan-European integration processes. The development of political and economic relations between West Europe and Belarus objectively meets the interests of all, especially of the states bordering Belarus.

Belarus strives for a comprehensive development of relations with the EU, which in future could realise free trade and other forms of interaction adequate to the interests of the parties.

A unanimous adoption of the Republic of Belarus as a full member of the non-aligned countries, participation of Belarus in such elected bodies as the Economic and Social Councils and the Executive Council of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) testifies to the authority: acquired by Belarus in the international community.

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Summing up

Speak on:

The Constitution of the Republic of Belarus

The President

Parliament

The Government

Judicial Power

External Policy of the Republic of Belarus