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Achievements and Difficulties in Bilateral Cooperation (1992–2017)

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Achievements and Difficulties in Bilateral Cooperation (1992–2017) UDC 327(476:474.5)"1992/2017" BELARus – LATvIA: AchIEvEmEnTs AnD DIffIcuLTIEs In BILATERAL cOOpERATIOn (1992–2017) V. G. ShADurski a aBelarusian State University, 4 Niezaliežnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus The present article is devoted to the analysis of the Belarusian-Latvian relations during the period after the two countries gained independence. The author came to the conclusion that the main obstacle to expanding bilateral cooperation is the opposite of geopolitical aspirations of Minsk and Riga and, as a consequence, a different attitude of the neighbouring count- ries to the problem of human rights and historical policy. It is unlikely that the existing disagreements can be eliminated in the coming years. However, such advantages as the geographic proximity of the two countries, the cultural and histori­ cal proximity of the Belarusians and Latvians are a favourable factor for establishing effective interaction in the economic sphere, contacts at the level of regions and cities. A great capacity for cooperation exists in the Belarusian-Latvian border area. The article contains an attempt to define “points of growth” in bilateral relations, as well as to identify problems that can be eliminated without serious financial costs. Key words: Belarusian-Latvian relations; Belarusian and Latvian foreign policy; diaspora; Euroregions; twin cities; small border movement. образец цитирования: For citation: Шадурский В. Г. Беларусь – Латвия: достижения и про­ Shadurski V. G. Belarus – Latvia: achievements and difficul­ блемы двустороннего сотрудничества (1992–2017) // ties in bilateral cooperation (1992–2017). J. Belarus. State Журн. Белорус. гос. ун-та. Междунар. отношения. 2017. Univ. Int. Relat. 2017. No. 2. P. 3–12. № 2. С. 3–12 (на англ.). автор: author: Виктор Геннадьевич Шадурский – доктор историче­ Victor G. Shadurski, doctor of science (history), full pro­ ских наук, профессор; декан факультета международ­ fessor; dean of the faculty of international relations. ных отношений. [email protected] 3 Журнал Белорусского государственного университета. Международные отношения. 2017. № 2. С. 3 –12 Journal of the Belarusian State University. International Relations. 2017. No. 2. P. 3 –12 БЕЛаРусь – Латвия: ДостижЕния и пРоБЛЕмы ДвустоРоннЕГо сотРуДничЕства (1992–2017) В. Г. Шадурский 1) 1)Белорусский государственный университет, пр. Независимости, 4, 220030, г. Минск, Беларусь Посвящена анализу белорусско-латвийских отношений на протяжении периода после обретения двумя странами независимости. Сделан вывод о том, что главным препятствием для расширения двустороннего сотрудничества яв­ ляются серьезные различия в геополитических устремлениях Минска и Риги и, как следствие, различное отношение стран к проблеме прав человека и исторической политике. Отмечено, что имеющиеся разногласия вряд ли могут быть устранены в ближайшие годы, однако такие преимущества, как географическое соседство двух стран, культур­ ная и историческая близость белорусов и латвийцев, служат благоприятными факторами для налаживания эффек­ тивного взаимодействия в экономической сфере. Предпринимается попытка определить точки роста в двусторон­ них отношениях, а также выявить проблемы, которые могут быть устранены без серьезных финансовых вложений. Ключевые слова: белорусско-латвийские отношения; внешняя политика Беларуси и Латвии; диаспора; евроре- гионы; города-партнеры; малое приграничное движение. If we try to formulate the most general characteris- divisions have become regular. Last Belarusian-Latvian tics of the interstate relations between Belarus and political consultations took place in Riga on 10 April Latvia after the establishment of diplomatic relations 2017 and touched upon such important topics as (7 April 1992), it can be concluded that the quality and pan-European cooperation and the Eastern Partner­ level of cooperation between the countries did not ship, security and interaction within the framework of fully correspond to the existing capacity for coope- international organizations, conjugation of European ration. The countries with a common border (about and Eurasian integrations, etc. The Belarusian side was 193 kilome ters), cultural and historical community, did represented at the event by the Deputy Foreign Minis­ not demonstrate stable contacts in the most important ter of Belarus Oleg Kravchenko, and Latvian – by the areas. State Secretary of the Ministry Andrejs Pildegovičs. The discrepancy between reality and opportunity During visits to neighbouring countries, diplomats was especially evident at the political level. This can often plan events that go beyond the official program. be confirmed by a number of criteria and data, inclu- Thus, during the visit to Belarus (27 September 2016), ding the intensity of visits at the high level, the num­ the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ber and level of signed bilateral agreements. Visits to of the Republic of Latvia A. Pildegovičs delivered a lec­ Latvia by the Head of the Belarusian government were ture to the students of the faculty of international re­ paid in 1998, 2001, 2008, 2010 and 2016. In 1994, 1995 lations of Belarusian State University, where he gave and 2009 Belarus accepted the Prime Minister of Lat­ an objective and frank assessment of the internal situ­ via. At the same time, the number of Belarusian-Lat­ ation in his country, analysed the state and prospects vian high-level visits was seriously inferior to the in­ of the Latvian-Belarusian relations. During the visit of tensity of the exchange between official delegations the Minister E. Rinkēvičs (July 2017), presentation of the of Latvia with neighbouring and some other countries. “History of Latvia” written in Belarusian by the Lat vian Especially if we note that the last (it was also the first) researchers took place [2]. meeting between the Heads of the two states was held The analysis of political relations as a whole em­ in September 1997 on the margins of the multilateral phasizes the relevance of posed questions: why the ca­ summit in Vilnius. The scale of the legal base within pacity of the two neighbouring countries, close to each the Belarusian-Latvian cooperation, which consists of other not only geographically, is realized only partial­ 27 interstate and intergovernmental agreements and ly? What objective and subjective obstacles signifi­ 16 interagency agreements, is also not impressive [1]. cantly impeded cooperation between the two states Intensification of contacts at the level of ministers and nations? and deputy ministers of foreign affairs of Belarus and The opposite of geopolitical aspirations. An im­ Latvia starting from 2014 may be stated as a positive portant or even the most important reason for the in­ trend. Thus, the Belarusian Minister V. Makei visited hibition of cooperation between the two neighbouring Riga (February 2014, July 2016). In 2015 the Foreign countries was their opposite geopolitical aspirations. Ministers of Belarus and Latvia met again in Minsk and Geopolitics dictated the choice of not only the allies Riga. In July 2017 a visit to Minsk was made by the Lat­ and the political and economic model of the state, but vian Minister E. Rinkēvičs. also of the value orientations that affect perception of Consultations between ministries of foreign affairs the view of the world. The Latvian society in the late at the level of deputy ministers and heads of structural 1980s took a firm course to restore the country’s inde­ 4 История международных отношений и внешняя политика History of International Relations and Foreign Policy pendence and early renunciation of the Soviet legacy. es of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry expressed in the The Latvian state and most of its society saw them­ report caused a sharp rejection of the opponents. Thus, selves exclusively as part of the military-political and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia E. Rinkēvičs economic integration groups of the West. Already in noted that Belarus tries to hide its own problems with December 1991 Latvia joined the North Atlantic Co- democracy with its statements on human rights vio­ operation Council. On 2 April 2004, the Latvian flag as lations in Latvia and a number of other countries [6]. of the full member of NATO appeared on the flagstaff The claims of the official Riga to the Belarusian at the headquarters of the Organization in Brussels. government were well known. Some of them got scan­ In turn, Belarus, after becoming an independent dalous fame. So, the Minister of Defense of Latvia in state, widely used the Soviet experience accumulated May 2001 stated that Belarus could act as “the probab- in the previous decades in the new political conditions. le enemy of Latvia”. The statement of the high-ran king Russia invariably remained its main ally, with which, politician of the neighbouring country caused an im­ according to the agreements concluded in December mediate protest from the Belarusian Foreign Ministry 1999, construction of the Union State began. Minsk ac­ [7, p. 125]. In 2005 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of tively participated in all the integration processes led Latvia included assistance to democratization of Be­ by Moscow. On the contrary, relations between Latvia larus into the list of the foreign policy priorities of the and Russia did not go beyond the cool ones. Under the Latvian state. In March 2006, the Latvian Foreign Mi- circumstances, the nature of the Belarusian-Latvian nister A. Pabriks at the meeting of the EU Council for relations was closely dependent on cooperation
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