Our relations with United States and Latin American countries

Diplomatic relations between Belarus and the United States were established
on December 28, 1991. The Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in the United States of America of was opened in Washington, D.C. in 1992.

Following the establishment of diplomatic relations between Belarus and
the U.S., a solid foundation for political, economic and humanitarian cooperation between the two countries was laid. Visits of the President of the Republic of Belarus to the United States were carried out in 1995, 2000 and 2005, including for taking part in the work of the UN General Assembly. In 1994, the U.S. President paid a short visit to Belarus.

However, since 1997 the United States has been implementing the policy of ”selective engagement“ with regard to Belarus, which resulted in the decline of interstate cooperation. In 2007–2008, the U.S. imposed restrictive economic measures against the oil and chemistry concern Belneftekhim. Those U.S. actions elicited the escalation of bilateral relations. Belarus was compelled to recall its ambassador to the U.S. and constrict its diplomatic presence in the U.S.

Belarus has never been interested in deteriorating relations with the U.S. On the contrary, normalizing relations has always been one of priorities of Belarus' foreign policy. Belarus advocates development of bilateral ties with the U.S. on the basis of mutual respect and partnership.

Representative delegations of the U.S. Congress visited Minsk in June 2009 and October 2010, and met the President of the Republic of Belarus and the leadership of the country. The level of contacts between the Belarusian side and the U.S. Administration was elevated. In December 2010, the first meeting over the recent years was held between the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus and the U.S. Secretary of State, following which a joint statement on cooperation between Belarus and the U.S. on nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation was adopted. Belarusian – U.S. cooperation in international organizations and in combating international terrorism was expanded.

Despite certain contradictions in the political sphere, trade and economic relations between Belarus and the United States have been successively developing until recently. The United States was one of the leading trade partners of Belarus, ranking from fifth to sixth in terms of trade turnover with the countries outside the Commonwealth of Independent States. In 2007, bilateral trade turnover reached the highest level of $740.8 million.

However, following the imposition by the U.S. authorities of economic sanctions against the “Belneftekhim” concern, the flow of Belarusian exports was redirected from the U.S. market to markets of other countries.

The U.S. continued to pursue the policy of sanctions toward Belarus in 2011. In August 2011, sanctions were imposed on four enterprises of the “Belneftekhim” concern. Nevertheless, in 2010-2011, the tendency of revival of bilateral trade with the U.S. has taken shape: Belarusian exports in 2011 totaled $86.1 million. The volume of bilateral trade turnover also grew, reaching $642.7 million. Belarus exports to the U.S. metal products, oil products, glass fiber, casein, synthetic fibers, flax fibers, woodworking articles, optical products, furniture, and foodstuffs.

The total amount of U.S. foreign investments in the Belarusian economy almost doubled in 2011 compared with 2010, making up $137.8 million. The United States is one of the largest investors in the Belarusian economy: as of January 1, 2011, the number of joint ventures and foreign enterprises registered in Belarus with the American capital made up 305. Large American companies such as Honeywell, Cisco Systems, Navistar, ArvinMeritor, Microsoft, Siguler Guff have demonstrated an increased interest in doing business with Belarus, and established in spring 2010 a Belarus – U.S. Business Cooperation Council. A number of American high-tech companies are registered as residents of the Belarusian High-Tech Park and have their representative offices in Belarus. In 2010, a representative office of Microsoft was opened in Belarus.

Cooperation with American charitable organizations which render Chernobyl-related assistance to Belarus is continuing. In 2011, the United States has become one of the leaders among the donor countries in terms of the volume of charitable assistance to Belarus, which was $15.1 million.

American charitable organizations, which form the Children of Chernobyl U.S. Alliance, had provided post-Chernobyl recuperation and medical treatment in the U.S. for 1100–1200 Belarusian children annually. These programs were suspended in 2009 due to the need to sign an intergovernmental treaty between Belarus and the U.S. on the recuperation of children.

Effective is cooperation between Belarusian and American law enforcement authorities on preventing high technology crimes, countering illicit trafficking in psychotropic substances, combating trafficking in persons and spread of child pornography in Internet.

Latin America’s hand on the international stage is being continuously strengthened. The economy of the countries in the region is steadily on the rise. According to IMF forecasts, the average economic growth will make up 4.3 percent in Latin America in 2011, and approximately 3.7 percent in 2012. Solvent markets where over 500 million people live are of significant interest for the leading world producers.

Under these circumstances, systemic fostering of multifaceted relations of Belarus with the Latin American states and the region’s major integration associations is in line with long-term interests of our country and demonstrates in practice multi-directed and balanced character of the Belarusian foreign policy. Latin America is important for Belarus as one of the platforms for integration into the world trade and economic networks. The economies of Belarus and the region’s major players complement each other in type and structure.

Today Belarus maintains diplomatic relations with 31 out of 33 Latin American countries (in April 2011 diplomatic relations were established between the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago).

Belarus has its embassies in Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela and Cuba, Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and Honorary Consulate in the Dominican Republic. The work is underway to establish Honorary Consulates in Argentina and Ecuador.

In Belarus, there are embassies of Brazil, Venezuela and Cuba, honorary consulates of the Dominican Republic, Peru and Uruguay. Diplomatic missions of several Latin American states are cross-accredited in Belarus. The work is underway to establish Honorary Consulates of Nicaragua and Ecuador in Belarus.

An important factor moving forward convergence of positions of Belarus and Latin American countries on the international scene is a perceived need for a multipolar world. Belarus and most Latin American countries have similar positions regarding the place and role of the UN, as well as principles of its reformation. In these circumstances, the relations between Belarus with the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean are dynamically expanding; constantly maintained is the process of forging and strengthening a political dialogue with the region’s major players.

In 2011, trade turnover of Belarus with Latin American countries made up $3,498.2 million, with Belarusian exports exceeding $1,737.5 million, imports amounting to $1,760.7 million. The largest share in Belarusian exports belongs to fertilizers and high-tech products.

Strategic partnership between the Republic of Belarus and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is gaining momentum. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez paid an official visit to Belarus in July 2006, and made working visits to our country in June 2007, July 2008, September 2009, and October 2010. The visits resulted in agreements at the highest level on joint implementation of cooperation projects in economic, scientific, technical, and other areas.

Avenues of bilateral cooperation were specified during visits of Belarusian governmental delegations to Venezuela in 2006-2011. An official visit of the President of the Republic of Belarus to Venezuela was held in December 2007, which showcased the National Exhibition of Belarus, the first of its kind in Latin American region. In March 2010, a working visit of the Belarusian President to Venezuela was organized, during which agreements to enhance bilateral cooperation were reached and a number of important documents were sighed. Next visit of the Head of state to Venezuela is planned for 2012.

Establishment of branch offices of Belorusneft, Belgorhimprom, Belzarubezhstroy, joint enterprises on oil extraction, exploration seismology and gas supply in Venezuela came as a result of fruitful Belarusian-Venezuelan cooperation. In Venezuela, close to completion is the construction of plants with MAZ and MTZ assembling lines. A joint Belarusian-Venezuelan trade enterprise (trading house) ”Venbelcom S.A.“ was registered.

Deeper interstate engagement with Brazil, a state of 200 million people, is in strategic interests of our country. There are objective prerequisites for a broader cooperation of the two countries in trade, economy, research and development.

In March 2010, the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko paid his first official visit to the Federal Republic of Brazil. The opening of embassies in Brasilia (at the end of 2010) and in Minsk (in mid-2011) was the logical continuation of the agreements achieved during the meeting of the two presidents. A delegation of Brazilian businessmen headed by the Governor of the State of Goias Alcides Rodrigues Filho visited Belarus.

Brazil has traditionally been among the most important trade partners of Belarus in Latin America. Positive dynamics of mutual trade with Brazil in 2010, with trade turnover exceeding $862.6 million, made it possible to restore and exceed the pre-crisis level of trade: in 2011 the trade turnover exceeded $ 1,589.2 million.

Strategic cooperation with Cuba enjoys steady development. The interstate dialogue with Cuba has gained powerful momentum. The two countries have enlivened bilateral cooperation on the international arena – within the United Nations, Non-Aligned Movement and other international organizations – and developed certain avenues of Belarusian-Cuban economic cooperation. Consultations between foreign ministries of the two countries at various levels have become systemic. Since 2006, when Havana was visited by the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, the two countries have exchanged a series of high level visits.

Belarus is facilitating diverse interactions with Bolivia, Colombia, Nicaragua, Peru, Ecuador and other Latin American countries.

The process of diversification of Belarusian exports to the region is accelerating, modern products manufactured by Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ), Belarusian Automotive Works (BelAZ), Minsk Automotive Works (MAZ), Gomselmash, Belshina, Naftan, Polimir and other exporting enterprises have been introduced to the region and are getting to the local markets. Projects on building assembly lines of modern Belarusian equipment are being under consideration.

In the near future political efforts of Belarus in Latin America and the Caribbean will be focused on consolidating long-term relationships with the countries of the region, expanding political dialogue, strengthening legal framework, promoting interests of the Belarusian enterprises by establishing joint production, opening trading houses and branch offices, exchanging business visits, intensifying multilateral engagement within major international organizations, and through other means.

Development of Latin American markets requires substantial material and intellectual resources. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is confident that, for Belarusian producers, securing their presence in this fast developing region could be a viable alternative to traditional markets.

Read more about the relations of Belarus with the Americas at the website of diplomatic missions of Belarus in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, the United States and Venezuela.