Foreign Policy of the Republic of Belarus

After proclaiming its independence, the Republic of Belarus entered the international arena in two capacities, namely as a new independent state which emerged due to the USSR collapse, and as a European country with long-standing statehood traditions.

State entities formed on the Belarusian territory - Polotsk, Turov and other principalities of ancient Belarus (ІХ-ХІІІ centuries), Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Rus and Zhemoit (mid-ХІІІ-ХVІІІ centuries), Byelorussian People's Republic (1918-1925), Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (1919-1990) - were pursuing active foreign policy.

Analysis of the experience and traditions of Belarusian territorial and state entities proves their foreign policy coherence and succession. The following key foreign policy imperatives can be singled out:

• preserving sovereignty and independence of Belarus;

• maintaining territorial integrity and border inviolability, unity of the ethnic territory of residence of Belarusian people;

• prevention of interference of foreign states and other outside forces into internal affairs of the Belarusian state;

• reaching the national accord on fundamental state and society development issues;

• ensuring the unity of domestic and foreign policy.

Adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Republic of Belarus by the BSSR Supreme Soviet on 27 July 1990, providing it with a constitutional status on 27 August 1991, and proclaiming economic and political independence launched a new period of Belarus' international and foreign policy activity.

Despite the complexity of the international situation, the Republic of Belarus managed to build relations with the outside world without giving up its national principles and interests. In the process of fulfilling the national tasks and solving complex international problems the foreign policy of the Republic of Belarus proved to be an integral and flexible system meeting the interests of stable development, maintaining and consolidating national sovereignty which demonstrated a high level of integration into the world system of political and economic relations during the years of independence.

On 14 November 2005 the basic principles, goals and tasks of Belarus' foreign policy were fixed into the national legislation in form of a Law of the Republic of Belarus 'On the Main Directions of Home and Foreign Policy of the Republic of Belarus' signed by President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko.

Belarus' objectives in the international arena

In view of historical upheavals the process of development of Belarus' modern foreign policy followed the way of merging the historical traditions and the positive legacy of the Soviet period with fundamentally new approaches determined by radical changes both in Belarus and in the world arena.

The foreign policy of the Republic of Belarus is based on the following principles:

• adherence to universally recognized principles and norms of international law;

• correlation of foreign policy goals with political, diplomatic, economic, military, scientific, technical and intellectual potential of the state, securing its realization for strengthening Belarus' international positions and authority;

• increasing the effectiveness of political, legal, foreign economic and other instruments of protection of the national sovereignty and economy under globalization;

• development of all-round cooperation with foreign states and international organizations on the basis of universally recognized principles and norms of international law, while regarding and respecting the interests of all international community members;

• voluntary joining and participating in international organizations;

• adherence to the policy of consistent demilitarization of international relations;

• absence of territorial claims towards neighboring states, non-recognition of territorial claims to the Republic of Belarus.

Belarus' strategic goals in the international arena are securing the state sovereignty and territorial unity, protection of people's rights and freedoms and the interests of the state.

• contributing to building a stable, just and democratic world order based on universally recognized principles of international law;

• integrating on an equal basis into the world political, economic, scientific, cultural and informational environment;

• creating a favorable foreign political environment for raising the well-being of the Belarusian people, strengthening the state political, economic, intellectual and spiritual potential;

• developing good relations with the neighbor states;

• securing rights, freedoms and legal interests of Belarus' citizens abroad;

• facilitating the realization of national, cultural and other rights and legal interests of ethnic Belarusians, people of Belarusian origin and those who identify themselves as Belarusian living outside the territory of Belarus;

• contributing to strengthening international security, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and arms control;

• expanding international co-operation in prevention and alleviation of emergencies, environment protection, in informational and humanitarian spheres;

• attracting external intellectual and scientific recourses to facilitate educational, scientific and cultural development of Belarus;

• participating in international cooperation in the field of promotion and protection of human rights.

Foreign Policy Priorities and Trends

The Belarusian foreign policy is aimed to secure a favourable external environment for the national development as the basis for gradual welfare growth of Belarusians.

Belarus has established diplomatic relations with 154 states. 53 Belarusian diplomatic missions operate in 46 countries, including 44 embassies, 2 permanent missions to international organizations, 6 consulates general and one consulate. The Embassy of Belarus in the Russian Federation has 12 branches in different parts of the country.

Foreign states are represented in Belarus by 35 embassies, 2 embassy branches, 1 trade mission, 17 consular departments (including honorary consuls). 12 offices of international organizations are open in Belarus. 87 foreign diplomatic missions are accredited in Belarus on concurrent.

Belarus is a party to about 2,800 international bilateral and multilateral treaties.

Multilateral diplomacy, promotion and protection of the national interests in international, regional and universal organizations hold a priority position in Belarus' foreign policy. The peaceful character of Belarusian foreign policy, contribution to international stability and security, development of peace and progress on the earth are revealed most clearly and efficiently in the framework of multilateral cooperation.

Belarus actively engages OSCE in developing a political dialogue with western countries. Belarus considers the Organization as a key body for ensuring security and stability in Europe. Belarus strives for developing all OSCE activity dimensions, contributing to its progressive reform, with account taken of the interests of all OSCE participating countries.

Belarus is a full-fledged member of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and the "Partnership for Peace" Programme. In developing its approach to NATO Belarus proceeds from a universally recognized right of each state to collective security and accession to alliances on the basis of freedom of choice. Step-by-step development of the practical cooperation with NATO, first of all, on prevention of smuggling across the Belarusian border, counteracting trafficking in arms and drugs, and illicit migration meets Belarus' interests.

As one of the UN founding countries, Belarus supports the UN policy in maintaining international peace and security, reinforcing and developing the international regimes on prevention of proliferation, reduction and elimination of existing arsenals of weapons of mass distraction. According to Belarus' principle position, UN should be the sole consolidating and coordinating center for elaboration of the world community strategy and tactics in fighting international terrorism.

Belarus is among the leading states in fighting one of the most acute modern problems - trafficking in persons. The proposal to create a global movement "Partnership against slavery and human trafficking in the 21st century" under the UN auspices was perceived with interest by UN member states and some agencies of the UN system.

Moreover, Belarus is a leader in counteracting manifestations of neonazism and galvanizing international support for alleviating the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster. Belarus has joined all UN conventions on fighting terrorism as a responsible party. Belarus is also a firm opponent of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and an initiator of the UN resolution on prevention the development of new systems of such weapons

Belarus proceeds from the belief that the world order of the 21st century should be based on mechanisms of collective solving of major problems, on the priority of the UN Charter provisions and universally recognized international law norms. Stability of the international relations system can be achieved only on the basis of real equality of all its subjects, respect and mutually beneficial cooperation aimed to provide effective security for each member of the world community in political, economic, humanitarian and other spheres.