Third Way's Statement on Vision of Belarus' Foreign Policy

Belarus is a neutral state, whose sovereignty and safety are secured by guarantees and economic interests of the leading countries of the world (US, Russia, EU) and mutually beneficial friendly relations with all the neighboring countries (Russia, Ukraine, Poland, and Baltic countries).

Relations with Russia

Relations between Russia and Belarusare closely tied through broad cooperation on economic, cultural, political and military level because of historical and cultural moments. We had a lot of dark pages in our history, but we also had common achievements and breakthroughs. Today our relations have reached considerable achievements in guaranteeing people the right to visit each other’s countries freely; businesses and military forces are cooperating actively. Nevertheless, the model of a Union state and other integration forms Russia and Belarus are taking part in, needs serious corrections and revision. The transaction costs are very high – corruption, illegal practice, threats to the Belarusian sovereignty and the nation.

We have no right to lose the reached level of relations between our nations and access to the Russian market for our business and won’t go the length of that willingly. Cooperation in cultural, scientific, and partly in educational spheres should be only increased.

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We think it is fundamentally important to reach an agreement on the issue of the simplified visa regime or visa cancellation for Belarusian citizen and the restitution of th trade preferences to our country.

At the same time our relations are darkened by the policy of domination, economical control and the support to the authoritarian power in Belarus, which is organized by the Russian ruling quarters. We are strongly against any attempts of hidden containment of democratic processes in Belarus, pressure on the power in Belarus with the aim to weaken or completely destroy Belarusian sovereignity in economical and political spheres. With Russia going on with such policy, NATO and EU memberships are to become Belarus’ choice. Russia must understand that it is not possible to put Belarus under total control in economical and political spheres anymore neither during Lukashenko’s rule nor under any other regime. The best option for Belarus and for Russia itself would be neutral, sovereign and economically successful Belarus, with predictable democratic government.

We assume the creation of real border between our states with the dismantling of the Soviet Union, but at the same time we stand for the simplified regime of passage of our citizen, goods, and commodities across it.

Relations with the EU

We are interested in the development and expansion of the EU program of partnership in economical, judicial, cultural and educational spheres for modernization and ensuring stable development. We think it is fundamentally important to reach an agreement on the issue of the simplified visa regime or visa cancellation for Belarusian citizen and the restitution of th trade preferences to our country. Belarus has to become an active participant of the European Partnership Program and return to the PACE, using all the advantages of participation in such programs and organizations. At the same time we understand that it can be achieved only in democratic Belarus.

We are against any premature decision on the issue of Belarusentering EU. We think that this question will need at least 20-25 years moratorium with the aim of completing the formation of modern Belarusian nation, reconstruction of economics, culture, and securing democratic principles of governing in political system of the country. The decision on integration with anyone must be taken not by a weakened by authoritarian government country, but by economically strong and self-confident state.

Relations with the USA

USA is the leading country in the world and will remain it in middle term perspective and that should be taken into consideration. We are interested in cooperative and confiding relations with the USA with the aim of investments inward, business development, support of the democratic reforms, assuring guarantees of safety and sovereignty of our country. We are ready for the maximal partnership with the USA in economic questions, democracy and human rights, science and education, our proper safety.

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We think that the question of Belarus entering NATO is not of current importance for the near 20-25 years.

Relations with the countries of post-Soviet region (excluding Baltic countries and Russia)

We are linked with the former Soviet republics by a wide spectrum of historical and economical, personal connections, that had been established in common Soviet and Tsar Russia past. This is our asset that should be saved and increased. But at the same time we should build our relations on the principles of pragmatism. In this way, Community of Independent States with the headquarters in Minsk may become a successful ground for protection of Belarusian economic interests in the region and for negotiations on mechanisms of coordination. All mentioned is possible within the systemic changes and debureaucratization of the organization, removal of political components, within the development of economic and cultural parts.

Relations with China, India, Iran, Venezuela, Cuba etc.

We are standing for the preservation and development of pragmatic economic contacts with the removal of political component which in some cases damages our relations with the USA and the EU. Belarus has to increase goods and commodities exports to all the parts of the world where they can be sold, along with preserving its political face and fulfilling international conventions.

Belarus’ entering NATO, membership in CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization) and security structures of the Union State of Russia and Belarus

We are against Belarus' entering NATO and any membership in such structures. We think that the question of Belarus entering NATO is not of current importance for the near 20-25 years due to the negative attitude of Belarusian population towards this defensive union, high integration of Belarusian army into the Russian military forces, presence of
special guaranties of security and sovereignty given to Belarus in exchange for withdrawal of nuclear weapon from the territory of our state. We think that the relations model between Finland and the USSR in defensive sphere during 1945-1991 is closer to us.

We stand against the excessive and irrelevant to state security participation in military integration within CSTO and the Union State. Due to the inefficiency of these organizations, we stand for dismantling Union State’s bodies and Belarusian withdrawal from CSTO.

In case of critical destabilization of relations with our neighbors, we are ready to agree on rapid entering NATO with the aim of guaranteeing our sovereignty and security.

We approve Belarus’ participation in the programs of NATO Partnership for Peace program, common programs with Russia and other countries for the sake of our defensive potential and modern military technologies development.