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Harold Pinter and politics concerns the political views,civic engagement, and political activism of Britishplaywright Harold Pinter (1930?2008), the 2005 NobelLaureate in Literature. ... Read more

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Hero of Belarus is the highest title that can be bestowed on a citizen of Belarus. Established by a presidential decree in 1995, the title is awarded to those "who perform great deeds in the name of Belarus." The deed can be for military performance, economic performance or great service to the State and society. The design of the medal is similar to that of its predecessor, Hero of the Soviet Union. Similar titles to the Hero of Belarus include the Russian Hero of the Russian Federation and the Ukrainian Hero of Ukraine. Since its creation, the title has been awarded to ten people. ... Read more

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Belarus faced something of a defence and security crossroads in 2007. An isolated and near pariahlikestate in the international community, it had relied on a close strategic alliance with Russia to helpshore up its economy and its defence and security position. But the dominant story of the year wasthe opening of a long and damaging conflict with Moscow over gas prices and transit fees. Shockedwith the doubling of gas prices charged by Gazprom in January 2007, the government of AlexanderLukashenko reacted erratically, oscillating between defiance and attempts to renegotiate the terms ofa previously privileged relationship with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. In a series of statementsthroughout the year Lukashenko castigated the Russians for their greed, suggested his country woulddevelop its own nuclear reactors to gain greater energy independence, and yet at the same time atvarious points acknowledged that Russia remained his main foreign policy priority and that the ‘unionpact’ - a plan to merge the two states pulled apart by the collapse of the Soviet Union - remained hislong-term goal. The counterpart of this policy zigzag was oscillation in relations with the EuropeanUnion. Here, Minsk wavered between rejecting Brussels’ demands for democracy and human rightson the one hand, and seeking some kind of accommodation on the other. In October 2007 the Minskauthorities even allowed a small demonstration by opposition parties calling for closer links with theEuropean Union.

Despite Belarus’ poor diplomatic and military relationship with the US and the EU, its external andinternal security remained reasonably stable during 2007. The opposition to the government remainedrelatively weak, cowed by the weight of the security services, and with only tenuous unity among thedifferent political groupings. Strong economic growth has to some extent softened anti-governmentprotests over the lack of democracy. Looking towards the future, however, cooling relations withMoscow may have a negative impact on the economy, and contribute to a more difficult politicalscenario for the regime.

In 2007 Belarus’ arms trade continued to come under greater scrutiny from the internationalcommunity. Reports of arms sales to rogue or strongly anti-US states (among them Venezuela andIran) were being watched closely in Western capitals. Suspicions had emerged after Belaruspurchased the technology without the necessary support systems or the need. The internationalcommunity still regards Belarus as a prominent conduit for illegal arms trading.

The Belarusian defence industry continues to be dominated by state-run defence enterprises such asBeltechexport and Belvneshpromservis. The latter is a significant player in Belarusian arms exportsand modernisation. ... Read more

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D&B Country RiskLine Report

This D&B Country RiskLine Report will help you analyze the risks, opportunities and likely payment delays when doing business in Belarus.

It includes selected country risk information and provides a succinct risk indicator that assesses the risk of doing business in Belarus, given its current economic, political and commercial situation. The report also includes two-year forecasts, which enable you to manage your ongoing business risk.

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During 2008 the Lukashenko government continued its ‘pendular’ policy of trying to manage relationswith Russia to the east and the European Union to the west so as to extract the most favourable politicaland economic deal possible. In October 2008, shortly after the September parliamentary elections, the EUsaid it was lifting travel sanctions against senior Belarus officials for a six month period, during which itwould monitor progress towards a ‘full-scale political dialogue’. The Minsk government responded that itwanted sanctions to be eliminated completely after April 2009 and for other additional steps to be taken,including the restoration of the EU’s Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), wider trade liberalisationand an emphasis on the ‘economic component’ in collaboration between the two sides. While seeking anopening towards the EU, the President remained opposed to NATO. In an interview with AFP newsagency in November 2008 he accused NATO of provoking a ‘mini arms race’. ‘You fly NATO planesnear our country’s borders. Why? We begin strengthening our air defences. This is pushing a mini armsrace’ he said. The President added that Belarus was considering buying short-range Russian Iskandermissiles to step up its air defences but that this should not cause concern in Europe. In terms of relationswith Russia, there were also a series of issues. One was Minsk’s ongoing concern over the likely increasein gas prices charged by Gazprom. Furthermore, while Belarus appeared lined up to support Moscow’sposition opposing the US missile shield in Eastern Europe, its position on the Russian invasion ofGeorgia in August appeared more ambiguous. The Belarus Parliament has failed to respond to variousrequests from Russia that it formally recognise the separatist, Russian-backed Georgian regions of SouthOssetia and Abkhazia.

Despite Belarus’ poor diplomatic and military relationship with the US and the EU, its external andinternal security remained reasonably stable. The opposition to the government remained relatively weak,cowed by the weight of the security services and with only tenuous unity among the different politicalgroupings. Strong economic growth had to some extent softened anti-government protests over the lackof democracy but with a hard landing in prospect for 2009, new strains could be expected to emerge.Belarus’ arms trade continued to be scrutinised by the international community. Reports of arms sales torogue or strongly anti-US states (among them Venezuela and Iran) were watched closely in Westerncapitals. Suspicions had emerged after Belarus purchased the technology without the necessary supportsystems or the need. The international community still regards Belarus as a prominent conduit for illegalarms trading.

The Belarusian defence industry continues to be dominated by state-run defence enterprises such asBeltechexport and Belvneshpromservis. The latter is a significant player in Belarusian arms exports andmodernisation. ... Read more

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2009 Reprint,updated,printed ""on demand""- Belarus Recent Economic and Political Developments Yearbook ... Read more

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2009 Reprint,updated,printed ""on demand""- Belarus Energy Policy, Laws and Regulation Handbook ... Read more

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Belarus’ place in the post-Cold War world is defined by its dependence on Russia. However, increasing problems with its ally, including import bans, threatens the Belarusian economy - which is already in recession - and may stall recovery. Russian demands continue for full international prices for previously heavily subsidised Gazprom gas imports, and Moscow has excluded Belarus from a new oil pipeline crossing its territory. This is in danger of threatening Belarus’ reputation as a reliable nation for energy transit.

Belarus’ self-isolation, particularly from Europe, is also increasingly seen as an anomaly. In May 2009 Belarus was invited to join the EU Eastern Partnership programme to initiate and improve economic and political relations. In the long-run President Victor Lukashenko will have to bring in a more liberalised and privatised economy to tempt inward investors and, hence, convince the EU to import Belarusian products. Improved relations with Europe could afford the country more international influence in the future. However, it is not clear, in this rather closed society dominated by its leader, how far these reforms will go towards fulfilling European demands.

Belarus joined the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) rapid-reaction force in October 2009. This is a marked policy change for Lukashenko, who had previously refused to sign up at the Moscow summit in June 2009. A joint military exercise, Exercise Zapad, held in western Belarus in late September 2009 was the Russian army’s most extensive for almost 30 years. The aim of the exercise was to counter the specific threat faced by Russia and Belarus in their western strategic direction, most likely replicating a NATO response to the Georgian-Russian confrontation over South Ossetia.

There is growing Belarusian co-operation with Latin American countries, most notably Venezuela, to sell weapons systems, including the modernising of Venezuela’s anti-aircraft defence systems. The furthering of relations with Venezuela is seen as a means of alternative fuel supplies and, thereby, reducing neartotal dependence on Russia. There is also evidence of sales to states of concern, such as Iran and Syria. Sales of advanced Russian Iskander-M cruise missiles to Iran have been reported by Moscow and Minsk sources in May 2009 as having taken place via Belarus, as Russia has agreed not to sell such systems to Iran and Syria. These and other sales to Iran and Syria could mar relations with Europe and other regions. These trends illustrate the lack of transparency in Belarusian arms deals. Therefore, Belarus’ arms trade continues to be scrutinised by the international community, which still regards Belarus as a prominent conduit for illegal arms trading. The Belarusian defence industry continues to be dominated by state-run defence enterprises such as Beltechexport and Belvneshpromservis. The latter is a significant player in Belarusian arms exports and modernisation. ... Read more

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D&B Country Report

Comprehensive information for evaluating risks and opportunities when trading or investing in Belarus.

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In the early 1990s, the countries of the former Soviet Bloc faced an urgent need to reform the systems by which they delivered broad, basic social welfare to their citizens. Inherited systems were inefficient and financially unsustainable. Linda J. Cook here explores the politics and policy of social welfare from 1990 to 2004 in the Russian Federation, Poland, Hungary, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. Most of these countries, she shows, tried to institute reforms based on a liberal paradigm of reduced entitlements and subsidies, means-testing, and privatization. But these proposals provoked opposition from pro-welfare interests, and the politics of negotiating change varied substantially from one political arena to another. In Russia, for example, liberalizing reform was blocked for a decade. Only as Vladimir Putin rose to power did the country change its inherited welfare system.

Cook finds that the impact of economic pressures on welfare was strongly mediated by domestic political factors, including the level of democratization and balance of pro- and anti-reform political forces. Postcommunist welfare politics throughout Russia and Eastern Europe, she shows, are marked by the large role played by bureaucratic welfare stakeholders who were left over from the communist period and, in weak states, by the development of informal processes in social sectors. ... Read more

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Soviet Partisans. Occupation of Belarus by Nazi Germany, Soviet partisans in Poland, Soviet Union, Government of the Soviet Union, Red Army, Eastern Front (World War II), Hero of the Soviet Union ... Read more

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D&B Export Guide

D&B Export Guides are your guide to global market and export information on more than 185 countries. For many years these guides have been the ticket to successful foreign trade. Armed with this information, you can enter global markets and minimize payment delays by understanding country requirements in advance. With D&B Export Guides you get the details you need to work successfully in each market:

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Customer Reviews (1)

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The nations of Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus are the new Eastern Europe sandwiched between a larger European Union and a resurgent Russia. Historically the object of fluid and volatile geopolitical shifts, none has ever existed as a state within its current borders, and none enjoys consensus on its respective national identity. All are located along key military, transportation and energy corridors linking Europe to Eurasia. Their problems- infectious diseases, organized crime, drug and human trafficking, pollution and illegal migration - directly spill over into the EU. Their success could have a beneficial impact on the development of democracy, pluralism and the rule of law throughout the post-Soviet space. Their future will help shape Russia's own destiny and ultimately determine where Europe ends.
In this volume leading European, Russian and American scholars examine the dynamics of the new Eastern Europe. Their analysis is the result of a collobarative research project organized by the Center for Transatlantic Relations at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), the Austrian Institute for International Affairs (OIIP) in Vienna, and the Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation. ... Read more