The Non-Aligned Movement and Belarus

From 11th July to 8th August, the book exhibition “The Non-Aligned Movement and Belarus” timed to the 15th anniversary of the joining of the Republic of Belarus to the Non-Aligned Movement runs in the Documents of international organizations reading room (room 207g).

The Non-Aligned Movement was officially created by 25 countries at the Belgrade Conference in September, 1961. Creation of this organization is a result of a search for ways of integration among young states which rejected the block policy of confrontation between the East and the West. The movement was established with the purpose of upholding interests of developing countries in conditions of the cold war. The policy of non-alignment was based on the struggle against imperialism, neo-colonialism, foreign aggression and Zionism, occupation and domination, against apartheid, racism and all forms of dependence, intervention and pressing, against great-power and block politics. During the first three decades after its creation the Movement played the important role in becoming of new independent states and democratization of international relations.

At present this international organization includes 120 member states or 60 per cent of the United Nations members.

Today the Non-Aligned Movement aims at keeping a niche of the political organization which resists unilateral approaches and actions of the West concerning developing countries on the international scene. Among characteristics of the current international situation the Movement emphasizes the presence of serious challenges to economic development and social progress, international peace and safety, leadership of the international law, the limited access to resources and use of various methods of pressure.

The Republic of Belarus is a member of the Non-Aligned Movement since 1998. The interaction with the Movement as a whole, as well as with its key states is the important component of national interests of Belarus. Participating in the Non-Aligned Movement Belarus gets political support of the states-adherents on the international scene. Our country defends priority of the international law within the framework of the Movement and actively participates in strengthening of the Movement and its role in modern geopolitical realities.

The Republic of Belarus is included into the most active delegations of the Non-Aligned Movement setting the pace at many negotiations, summits and other events with the participation of the Movement. Belarusian initiatives are reflected in numerous strategic documents, for example, in the final document of the 15th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (Egypt, 2009), the 16th Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement (Indonesia, 2011), the Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement Coordination Bureau (Egypt, 2012), the 16th Summit of the Movement (Iran, 2012).

In 2011 the Non-Aligned Movement celebrated its 50th anniversary. On the occasion of the anniversary a number of events were held during which the key attention, besides summarizing its activities, was given to problem statement for the future. The Belarusian party used the given events for informing their participants on its vision of the role and place of the Non-Aligned Movement in the world. The Belarusian point of view is fixed in corresponding final documents. These Belarusian suggestions became a part of the arrogant long-term plan of action of the Non-Aligned Movement “Our Shared Vision for the Next 50 Years” adopted in Indonesia. Belarus actively participated in the events held by the Movement in 2012 – the Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement Coordination Bureau and the 16th Summit of the Movement. Within preparation to the Summit, under the initiative of Belarus a wide discussion on energy first took place within the framework of the Non-Aligned Movement.

The offered exhibition includes over 50 documents most of which are in Russian and English languages: books, periodicals, brochures and booklets.

The exposition consists of the following thematic sections:

• The history, purposes and functions of the Non-Aligned Movement.
• Major activities of the Non-Aligned Movement.
• Perspectives of the Non-Aligned Movement today.
• The Non-Aligned Movement and the Republic of Belarus.

The exhibition will be interesting to specialists in the field of international law and international relations, international economy, political scientists, university students and professors, political and public figures, and also to everyone who is interested in questions of the world policy and problems of developing countries.

Contact phone number: (+375 17) 293 27 34.

Useful links

• The Non-Aligned Movement
• Belarus and the Non-Aligned Movement
• The history of the the Non-Aligned Movement on the site of the 12th Conference (the South African Republic, 1998)
• The official site of the 14th Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement (Cuba, 2006)
• The Non-Aligned Movement (reading list)
• Belarus and the Non-Aligned Movement (reading list)