Europe

Belarus
Last reviewed: 27 June 2008

Country information

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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Relations with Russia

Relations with Russia continue to be the main foreign policy priority for Lukashenko. Belarus is a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) established when the USSR broke up in 1991. In January 1995, Russia and Belarus established a Customs Union (later joined by Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan). At the same time, the 2 states signed an agreement on military cooperation, which allowed Russia to lease several military facilities in Belarus for 25 years. In April 1996, Russia and Belarus signed a treaty establishing the 'Community of Sovereign Republics', which aimed to deepen economic integration. The 2 countries co-operate closely in the military and security fields.

The Treaty on the formation of the Union State was signed in Moscow in December 1999. However, the bilateral relationship has gradually soured since Putin took office, as Russia has pursued an increasingly assertive line toward all the CIS countries, even toward traditionally close allies such as Belarus. In August 2002, Putin decided to call Belarus' bluff over integration and humiliated Lukashenko by proposing that Belarus be fully absorbed as a component member of the Russian Federation or, failing this, that some kind of association based on the EU be attempted (implying in the first instance greater economic, rather than political convergence). Putin publicly stated in November 2002 that in the past Russia had given too much to Belarus and that now it was time to take something back.

The Union State continues to go nowhere. A draft Constitutional Act has been prepared by the Russia/Belarus joint parliamentary commission but it is more form than substance. Meaningful union between the 2 countries seems as far away as ever.

Meanwhile, moves toward monetary union have ground to a halt. The Russian position is that union is desirable in principle, but that it must be preceded by economic convergence (including significant privatisation and liberalisation, and an end to lax fiscal and monetary policies) and that, once achieved, the Russian Central Bank will be the only emission centre (anything else would imply a heavy economic burden for Russia). Such conditions are unacceptable to Lukashenko, as they would greatly undermine his control over the Belarussian economy, which remains the base of his regime. Consequently, there was an air of unreality to the announcement by the Russian and Belarusian governments in early 2003 that Belarus would adopt the Russian rouble as its currency by 1 January 2005. This did not happen and the adoption of the Russian rouble was postponed to January 2006 and subsequently to a later date. However, it seems unlikely that any decision to achieve monetary union will be implemented as long as Lukashenko remains in power.

Relations with the International Community

In February 1993, Belarus acceded to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and ratified the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I). In 1996, it fulfilled its undertaking to become a nuclear-free state. Tactical nuclear warheads were withdrawn from the country in May 1992 and the last strategic missiles left Belarus for Russia in November 1996. Belarus complies with the CFE Treaty. In January 1995, Belarus signed NATO's Partnership for Peace Agreement. However, Lukashenko is a critic of NATO enlargement. NATO indicated that Lukashenko's presence at its summit in Prague in November 2002 would be unwelcome. The Czechs subsequently refused him a visa.

European Union

In response to Belarus' poor performance on constitutional and human rights issues, the EU decided in February 1997 to suspend high-level contacts, while offering dialogue and assistance if reforms took place. The EU introduced further measures in September 1997. They restrict EU/Belarus ministerial contact, suspend aid to Belarus except for projects which support humanitarian causes or democratisation, suspend ratification of the EU/Belarus Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and rule out EU support for Belarus' membership of the Council of Europe.

In November 2004, following the manipulated parliamentary elections and referendum, the EU's General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) re-affirmed the EU’s policy, based on the 1997 conclusions, and called on the Belarusian government to embark on fundamental democratic and economic reforms. At the same time the EU said it remained willing to deepen its relationship with Belarus, once the Belarusian authorities demonstrated their willingness to respect democratic values and the rule of law. This twin track policy was confirmed by GAERCs on 7 November 2005 and 30 January 2006, when the Council expressed growing concern about the deteriorating situation of human rights and political freedoms in Belarus. In this context the Council noted the importance of Presidential elections in Belarus in 2006 and underlined the EU's determination to intensify its support for democracy and human rights in Belarus. Travel bans and asset freezes were subsequently imposed as a result of abuses of electoral processes and fundamental human rights.

On 21 November 2006 the EU launched a document setting out what the EU could bring to Belarus were Belarus to embrace democratisation and respect for human rights and the rule of law. It contains concrete examples of how the people of Belarus could benefit from a partnership with the EU within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy. The Belarusian authorities interpreted the document as an ultimatum and presented no official response.

Relations with the UK

Diplomatic relations were established in 1991, and a small mission opened in Minsk in May 1993. The British Embassy in Minsk was opened in July 1995 by the then Minister for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Sir Nicholas Bonsor. The present head of mission, Dr Nigel Gould-Davies, arrived in Belarus in August 2007. The Embassy now has 4 UK-based members of staff. The Defence Attache resident in Moscow covers defence relations.

The Belarusians established a Consulate in London in June 1993 and upgraded to an Embassy in May 1994. They moved to new premises in December 1995. The current Belarusian Ambassador, Mr Alexander Miknevich, arrived in November 2006.

Although there have been high-level Belarusian visitors to Britain in the past, ministerial contact, in line with current EU policy, is now limited.

Cultural Relations with the UK

The British Council in Minsk closed in November 2000 following a global strategic review by the Council designed to maximise effectiveness worldwide and due to pressure from the local authorities. However, the Council continues to provide limited support from its office in Kiev in respect of the Government's Chevening scholarship scheme.

Chevening Scholarships website