8. Внешняя политика Республики Беларусь..

1 FOREIGN POLICY OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

PRE-READING
A Before reading the text make sure you know the meanings of the
following words:
interference safeguard preserve removal
cultural ties alignment balanced promote
suppression milestone initiative arsenal
elimination defensive position
nuclear-free area on safeguards to to be aimed at

B Answer the following questions:

1) What practice of international relations does Belarus stand
for? Why?
Is Belarus a nuclear-free area? Has it been a nuclear area before?
Who guarantees its security?
What are the main principles of foreign policy of the Republic aimed at?
What are the principles of military doctrine of the Republic of Belarus?
READING
Read the text and define the key points of the foreign policy of Belarus.
Foreign Policy of the Republic of Belarus
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
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 Non-Proliferation 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.
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.

1 FOREIGN POLICY OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

Read the text and define the key points of the foreign policy of Belarus.
Foreign Policy of the Republic of Belarus
POST-READING
A Translate the following word-combinations into Russian:
to preserve and promote world peace; an important milestone of foreign
policy; the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty; removal of strategic nuclear weapons;
initiative on creating nuclear-free area; through bilateral treaties; Convention for
the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism; to adhere to; the Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty; to ensure security and stability; in the framework of the
organisation; Non-Alignment Movement; the UN Millennium Assembly; non-
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; reduction and elimination of
arsenals; to combat international terrorism; interference in internal affaires; to
specify main directions of military policy; to protect vital interests; to declare the
military doctrine; to have exceptionally defensive nature; to be potential enemy;
military threat to the nation; to pursue a balanced foreign policy; to strengthen
international positions; to develop cultural ties.

B Give antonyms for the following words:

nuclear area; legal; proliferation; alignment; offensive; outside the
organisation; internal affairs; interference; dependence; security; possible; balance;
equality.
 C Complete the following sentences:
 An important milestone of Belarusian foreign policy was the signing in 1996
of ______________ .
 Belarus initiated creatingin Central and Eastern Europe.
 3)_________________Belarus signed International Convention for of Acts
of Nuclear Terrorism.
 Belarus adhered to the Additional Protocol on safeguards to the
nuclear_________________.
 Belarus considers the OSCE as a key structure ensuring
__________________in Europe.
 Belarus' interaction with the OSCE is aimed at strengthening all
elements of cooperation of the organisation.
 7)___________________Belarus has close relations with the major
international institutions such as the United Nations Organisation,
_________________Movement, World Bank, International Monetary Fund
etc.
 8)___________________During the UN Millennium Assembly and
Summit, Belarus spoke for__________________UN as a unique universal
international institution leading further development of international
relations.
 9)_______________________Belarus supports consistent policy of the
United Nations on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,
reduction and of its arsenals.
 Belarus respects_________________of other countries, their right to choose
way of development. Belarus opposes______________in internal affaires of
other countries since it is of opinion that there should not be any conflicts on
the Earth.
 11)____________Military __________________________ of Belarus
consists of a number of principles on ensuring military security of the
country by use of political and military measures.
 12) The doctrine_____________main directions of military policy of the
nation, as well as determines its attitude to military conflicts and their
prevention.
 Belarus declared the military doctrine that has exceptionally
________________nature.
 Belarus pursues a ___________________ foreign policy, the main purpose
of which is to strengthen its international positions.

D Make a summary of the text.

Read the text and then do the tasks that follow.

Multidimensional Foreign Policy of Belarus in Current International
Situation
 The first five years of the 21 st 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
hot beds 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 favourable, 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 process,
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. Priorities of foreign policy of Belarus include allied
relations with Russia, participation in pan-European political and economic
processes, contribution to strengthening 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.
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.

POST-READING
A Answer the following questions:
What new challenges have added to international tensions in the 21st
century?
What are the cornerstones of Belarusian foreign strategy due to changes in
international situation?
What does multidimensional foreign policy imply?
What factors made Belarus conduct multidimensional foreign policy?
What are the priorities of the Republic of Belarus in foreign policy?
What diplomatic infrastructure has been developed abroad and inside
Belarus?
B Discuss the following:
Nowadays international situation;
New challenges in the world;
The most prominent international events;
The way different countries behave in the circumstances on the international
arena.
C Agree or disagree with the ideas expressed by your colleagues choosing
phrases of agreement/disagreement from the list to begin:
I must agree totally with
I'd like to begin by agreeing with
I support the opinion that
I can't but agree with
I can't agree with
I can't share the view that