Estonia and Belarus

22.10.2009

Diplomatic ties between Estonia and Belarus were established on 6 April 1992. Estonia opened an honorary consulate in Minsk on 21 July 1995 and an Estonian Embassy in January 2009. The Estonian charge d’affaires in Minsk is Harry Lahtein. The Belarusian honorary consul in Tallinn is Alexander P. Ostrovsky.

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

Estonia remains open to discussions with Belarus on the development of mutually beneficial economic relations. Trade between the two countries is influenced by the joint customs policy that Belarus has with Russia.

Trade

Source: Statistical Office of Estonia

According to the data as of 2008, Belarus was Estonia's 13th Special Trade partner.

Main export articles in 2008:

• Machinery and equipment - 31%
• Vehicle - 10%
• Textile - 9%

Main import articles in 2008:

• Mineral products - 87%
• Metals and metal products - 5%
• Products from chemical industry - 2%

Investments

According to the Bank of Estonia, as of 30 June 2009, Estonia's direct investments in Belarus totalled 60 million EUR and the direct investments of Belarus in Estonia accounted for -5 million EUR.

Aid projects

• In October 2002, a WTO seminar arranged by the Foreign Ministry for Belarusian civil servants took place;
• In 2004, in the framework of the project „EASTGATE“ Belarusian civil society organizations were supported
• In December 2005, the Foreign Ministry was a co-arranger of a conference treating Belarus.
• In 2008 Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs helped to organize a conference of Belorussian diaspora.

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. In 2003, the Ministry of Culture supported the Cultural Society with over 8372 EUR.

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. The Society has helped to organize the performance of 24 different Belarusian groups.

The exhibition "Light of the Soul" by Belarusian artists Marina Batyukova and Vladimir Lisovenko ran from September until October 2000 in the Museum of Nature.

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 December 2001 the Vaal Gallery exhibited works of Belarusian artist Ruslan Vashkevich. Belarusian artisans and folk artists have demonstrated their skills and exhibited their craftwork at the St. Martin’s Day Fair. Once a week, on Sundays, Radio 4 broadcasts "Batkovshtshina" in the Belarusian language. The Belarusian Cultural Society is also an organizer of the traditional festival "Slavonian Wreath". Groups from Belarus regularly perform at the festival.