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NATO’s relations with Belarus

How did relations with Belarus evolve?

Formal NATO-Belarus cooperation began in earnest when Belarus joined the Partnership for Peace in 1995. Relations have fluctuated since then – most recently, relations took a downturn due to developments surrounding the March 2006 presidential election. Nevertheless, contact and cooperation has continued in line with the Allies' belief that a policy of engagement and consultation is preferable to pursuing an approach which seeks to disengage and isolate.

Key Milestones

1992 Belarus joins the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC, later renamed the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council in 1997)
1995 Belarus joins the Partnership for Peace, a programme aimed at increasing security and defence cooperation between NATO and individual Partner countries.
  President Lukashenka declared temporary suspension of implementation of the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty.
  Belarus takes part in a NACC meeting, for the first time, in June, in Oslo, Norway.
  Lukashenka suspends the withdrawal of Russian strategic missiles from Belarus.
1996 The withdrawal of former Soviet nuclear weapons from Belarusian territory is completed.
1998 Belarus opens a permanent representative office at NATO.
1999 Belarus temporarily halts all cooperation with NATO, including the PfP programme and EAPC, in protest at NATO’s Kosovo air campaign.
  The NATO Parliamentary Assembly issues a declaration on the situation in Belarus, urging the restoration of democracy, and for the Belarusian government to ensure human rights and mass media freedom.
2000 The NATO Parliamentary Assembly adopts a resolution condemning the intimidation, harassment, arbitrary arrest and imprisonment of members of the Belarusian political opposition.
2001 The NATO Parliamentary Assembly adopts a resolution, criticizing the Belarusian government and the presidential election which failed to meet international election standards.
2004 Belarus joins the PfP Planning and Review Process (PARP).
2006 The Allies condemn the presidential election in Belarus as failing to meet international standards.
2007 NATO and Belarus complete the first PfP trust fund project in Belarus, which destroyed some 700,000 anti-personnel mines.