|
The Role of Belarus in Protecting Peace
The first five years of the 21st
century did not make the world more peaceful and stable. The threat of
global nuclear catastrophe was replaced by new challenges: international
terrorism, organized crime, drug trafficking, and proliferation of weapons
of mass destruction. The emergence of unipolar world not only failed to ease
tensions in international relations, but also brought about new hotbeds of
conflicts, most negatively affected fates of many nations. Afghanistan
became the center of drug trafficking. Iraq continues to remain the source
of instability of the entire region.
All these features of modern world
development acquired paramount importance for the Republic of Belarus,
seriously influenced its foreign policy, the effectiveness of which largely
depends on the accuracy of correlation between world trends and national
objectives and possibilities on international arena. Even under such
circumstances, far from being favorable, peaceful pragmatism and democratic
approach have been and remain political cornerstones of Belarus’
international strategy.
The Declaration on State Sovereignty
adopted in Belarus in 1990, proclamation of economic and political
independence of the country signified a new period of international
development. Having realized its natural right to be independent, Belarus
started to build a sovereign nation, conduct its own foreign policy, aimed
at strengthening independence, inclusion in pan-European processes,
fostering cooperation with neighboring countries and world powers.
Because of complicated historical path of
Belarus, its foreign policy was formed through synthesis of historical
traditions with due regard for fundamentally new approaches related to
drastic changes both in Belarus and in the world. Mentality of Belarusian
people who had always been looking for friends and partners, specificity of
today’s stage of development of international relations, pragmatic economic
estimates determined the decision taken by Belarus to choose
multidimensional foreign policy, which implies constructive work at all
directions.
At the same time, objective limitation of
Belarus’ foreign policy resources makes it necessary to concentrate them on
the most important directions – this is a common practice in the world.
Strategic goals of Belarus at the international arena are safeguarding the
sovereignty of the nation, protecting interests of the citizens, preserving
nuclear-free status.
Main goals of Belarus in the field of foreign policy are as
follows:
- promotion of a favorable foreign policy environment for
improving well-being of the citizens of Belarus, developing political,
economic, intellectual and spiritual potential of the nation;
- integration of Belarus on an equal basis in the world
political, economic, scientific, educational, cultural and communication
areas;
- promotion of a stable, just and democratic world order
based on the principles of international law;
- building good-neighbor relations with neighboring
countries;
- protection of rights and interests of Belarusian citizens
abroad;
- promotion of national, cultural and other rights of ethnic
Belarusians residing abroad;
- strengthening of international security, non-proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction, disarmament and arms control;
- expansion of international cooperation in environmental,
informational and humanitarian fields;
- attraction of external intellectual resources for the
purpose of educational, scientific and cultural development of Belarus;
- participation in international cooperation in the field of
encouragement and promotion of human rights.
The Republic of Belarus has established diplomatic relations
with 153 states. Diplomatic infrastructure has been developed abroad.
Currently, 51 diplomatic missions in 45 countries worldwide represent
Belarus, including 43 embassies, 3 permanent missions to international
organizations, and 7 consulates general. 31 embassies of foreign countries,
3 branches of embassies, 1 trade mission, 13 consular offices, 12 missions
of international organizations function in Belarus. 81 missions of foreign
countries and international organizations are accredited to Belarus
concurrently.
Priorities of foreign policy of Belarus
include allied relations with Russia, participation in pan-European
political and economic processes, contribution to strengthening of regional
and global security, work in international organizations.
Belarus proceeds from the conviction that
world order of the 21st century should be based on joint
settlement of disputes, on the primacy of UN Charter and international law.
Stability of the system of international relations can only be achieved
through real equality of all its subjects, mutual respect and mutually
advantageous cooperation.
Belarus, more than any other country,
understands the necessity to preserve and promote world peace. Our country,
having lost during World War II almost one third of its population, knows
the price of peaceful life and does its best to ensure that military
conflicts disappear from the practice of international relations forever.
An important milestone of Belarusian
foreign policy was the signing in 1996 of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty,
decision on removal of strategic nuclear weapons from the country,
Belarusian initiative on creating nuclear-free area in Central and Eastern
Europe. Security of Belarus is legally guaranteed by nuclear powers –
permanent members of the UN Security Council and through bilateral treaties
concluded with several countries. Belarus has recently signed International
Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism and adhered to
the Additional Protocol on safeguards to the Nuclear Nonproliferation
Treaty.
Belarus considers the OSCE as a key
structure ensuring security and stability in Europe. The significant part of
the dialog between Belarus and Western countries is still concentrated
within the Organization. Belarus’ interaction with the OSCE is aimed at
strengthening all elements of cooperation in the framework of the
organization and at promoting a progressive reform of the organization
taking into account interests of every single member state.
Belarus has close relations with the major
international institutions such as the United Nations Organization,
Non-Alignment Movement, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, etc. During
the UN Millennium Assembly and Summit, Belarus spoke for preserving UN as a
unique universal international institution leading further development of
international relations.
Belarus supports consistent policy of the
United Nations in such fields as international peace and security,
development of existent international regimes on non-proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction, reduction and elimination of its arsenals,
combating international terrorism.
The President of Belarus spoke about that
in his statement made recently at the high-level Plenary Meeting of the 60th
session of the UN General Assembly:
"We must become aware that the diversity of ways to progress is an
enduring value of our civilization, the only one that can ensure stability
in this world. The freedom of choice of the way of development is the main
precondition for a democratic world order. This is exactly what this
Organization was established for… Should we agree between us on this
principal point, then we would succeed in implementing the principles of
multipolarity, diversity and freedom of choice both in reality and the UN
documents that we must abide by. We would protect the world from terrorism
and the vulnerable, women and children, from slavery. We would protect all
those unprotected. It is then that the UN would become the organization of
the genuinely united nations. This, and not the numerical increase of the
Security Council membership, is precisely the core of the UN reform".
Belarus respects sovereignty of other
countries, their right to choose way of development. Belarus opposes
interference in internal affaires of other countries since it is of opinion
that there should not be any conflicts on the Earth.
Military doctrine of Belarus consists of a
number of principles on ensuring military security of the country by use of
political and military measures. The doctrine specifies main directions of
military policy of the nation, as well as determines its attitude to
military conflicts and their prevention, military construction and use of
military power to protect vital interests of the nation. Declaring the
military doctrine, that has exceptionally defensive nature, Belarus believes
that no nation is now potential enemy and considers its military security as
state of protection of national interests during possible transformation of
military risk to military threat to the nation.
Belarus pursues a balanced foreign policy, the main purpose
of which is to strengthen its international positions. Belarus acts actively
both in trade and economic field, security affairs, as well as in developing
cultural ties and comprehensive cooperation between countries and nations.
|
