Estonia and Belarus

10.10.2011

Diplomatic relations between Estonia and Belarus were established on 6 April 1992. Estonia opened its consulate general in Minsk on 21 July 1995, and as of January 2009 Estonia has an embassy in Minsk. Estonia’s first ambassador to Belarus Jaak Lensment presented his credentials to President Lukashenko on 25 October 2010.

The Belarusian consulate general in Tallinn became an embassy in May 2010. The embassy is led by Charges d’Affaires ad interim Vadim Lazerko.

The first high-level visit took place from 5-7 October 2009, when Belarus was visited by Estonian Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet made a working visit to Minsk from 20-21 October 2009.

Agreements

• Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Government of the Republic of Belarus on international motor carriage (enforced on 11.06.1996);
• Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation with Income Tax and Capital Tax and the Evasion of Taxes (enforced on 22.07.98);
• Agreement on Air Traffic (enforced on 26.06.00);
• Agreement on Co-operation in the Field of Railroad Transport (enforced on 13.07.01);
• Agreement on Commercial and Economic Relations (enforced on 30.04.02);
• Agreement on Co-operation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Issues (enforced on 11.09.02);
• Agreement on the Fight Against Crime (enforced on 03.02.2004);

Economic Relations

Trade

Estonia-Belarus trade 2006-2011 (Ist half), million euros

Source: Statistical Office of Estonia

In 2009 trade turnover with Belarus totalled 156 million EUR, and among Estonia’s trade partners Belarus ranked in 18th place (1.2% of total trade). Estonian export to Belarus was 37.9 million EUR (Estonia’s 24th export partner with 0.6% of total export). Primary articles of export were machinery and equipment 25%; land transport vehicles 17.6%; and chemical products 11.9%. Import in 2009 totalled 118.1 mln EUR (15th place among import partners with 1.8% of total imports). The main import articles were mineral products (mineral fuels) 79.2%; animal and plant-based fats and oils 7.9%; and wood and wood products 3.2%.

In 2010, trade turnover with Belarus was 181.1 million EUR, placing Belarus in 17th place among Estonia’s trade partners (1.0% of total trade). Export to Belarus was 63.4 million EUR (Estonia’s 23rd export partner with 0.7% of total export). Primary articles of export were machinery and equipment 23.6%; land transport vehicles 17.4%; chemical products 13.8%; metals and metal products 12.8%. Imports in the first half of 2010 totalled 118.4 mln EUR (16th place among import partners with 1.3% of total imports). The main import articles were mineral products (mineral fuels) 67.2%; transport vehicles 11.7%; metals and metal products 6.1%; and wood and wood products (4.2%).

Investments

According to Bank of Estonia data, as of 30 June 2011 Estonia's direct investments in Belarus totalled 74.4 million EUR. The sectors Estonia has primarily invested in are vocational, research and technical activity (49%) and wholesale and retail trade (27%). As of the same date, Belarusian investments in Estonia totalled 8.2 million EUR. Investments were made in: wholesale and retail trade (49%); real estate activity (28%); and vocational, research and technical activity (21%).

According to the Commercial Register, as of 24 March 2011 there were nearly 125 businesses with Belarusian participation registered in Estonia.

Development co-operation

Since 2002 Estonia has organised seminars and supported the organisation of conference for Belarusians or on Belarusian topics. In October 2002 a WTO seminar was arranged by the Foreign Ministry for Belarusian civil servants; in 2004 Belarusian civil society organisations were supported within the framework of the project “EASTGATE”; and in December 2005 the Foreign Ministry was a co-arranger of a conference about Belarus. In 2010 the Estonian Red Cross implemented a project to train the first aid teachers of the Belarusian Red Cross. In 2008 and 2011 the Foreign Ministry supported the organisation of a congress of the Belarusian diaspora in Tallinn.

As of 2011 Belarus, along with the other European Union Eastern Partners, is among Estonia’s development co-operation partner states. In 2011 support was given for the publishing of a book on the development of Belarus’s civil society over the past five years and the creation of the documentary film “The Renaissance Generation”.

In co-operation with the Ministry for Education and Research and institutes of higher education, Belarusian university students are being offered the opportunity to study in Estonia. Scholarships are offered for both master’s and doctoral studies in Estonian institutions.

Between 2008 and 2010 the Foreign Ministry supported the Belarusian Humanitarian University with 54 324 euros donated through the European Humanities Trust Fund.

The Estonian Centre of Eastern Partnership also offers opportunities for co-operation. In April and November of 2010 Belarusian diplomats participated in training programmes on public sector reform organised by the Estonian School of Diplomacy within the framework of Eastern Partnership.

For the 2011/2012 academic year the Estonian Centre of Eastern Partnership in co-operation with the Estonian School of Diplomacy is supporting the studies of Belarusian university students in the course “International relations and European integration”. Scholarships are being funded by the Estonian and Finnish foreign ministries and the US State Department.

In June of 2011 Belarusian diplomats and state officials participated in the third Estonian Centre of Eastern Partnership seminar aimed at Eastern Partner countries entitled “Public sector reform for negotiating within the context of Eastern Partnership”, which took place in Kiev, Ukraine.

Cultural Relations

About 20,000 Belarusians live in Estonia. Estonia supports the aspirations for cultural self-determination of the Belarusians living here and contributes to the development of an active Belarusian community. In 1994, the Belarusian Cultural Society was established, and its six departments merged in 2001 into the Estonian Association of Belarusians. The Estonian government has also financially supported the activities of the Society.

For a long time already on the initiative of the Belarusian Cultural Society the Estonian-Belarusian cultural festival "Spotkannje" (meeting) has taken place, in which always also groups from Belarus have participated. In 2001, the Minsk Small Theatre participated in the festival, making it the first professional theatre to perform there. Performances took place in the Russian Cultural Centre. Over the course of 8 years the Society has helped to organise the performances in Estonia by 24 different Belarusian groups.

Once a week, on Sundays, Radio 4 broadcasts "Batkovshtshina" in the Belarusian language. The Belarusian Cultural Society is also an organiser of the traditional festival "Slavonian Wreath". Groups from Belarus regularly perform at the festival.