Belarus
- BLR redirects here. For the IATA code, see Bangalore International Airport
Рэспубліка Беларусь Республика Беларусь Republic of Belarus |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
||||||
Motto none |
||||||
Anthem Мы, беларусы (Belarusian) My, Belarusy (transliteration) We Belarusians |
||||||
Location of Belarus (orange)
on the European continent (white) — [Legend] |
||||||
Capital (and largest city) |
Minsk |
|||||
Official languages | Belarusian, Russian | |||||
Demonym | Belarusian, Belarussian | |||||
Government | Presidential republic | |||||
- | President | Alexander Lukashenko | ||||
- | Prime Minister | Sergey Sidorsky | ||||
Independence | from the Soviet Union | |||||
- | Declared | July 27, 1990 | ||||
- | Established | August 25, 1991 | ||||
- | Completed | December 25, 1991 | ||||
Area | ||||||
- | Total | 207,600 km² (85th) 80,155 sq mi |
||||
- | Water (%) | negligible (183 km²)1 | ||||
Population | ||||||
- | 2007 estimate | 9,724,723 (86th) | ||||
- | 1999 census | 10,045,237 | ||||
- | Density | 49 /km² (142nd) 127 /sq mi |
||||
GDP (PPP) | 2005 estimate | |||||
- | Total | $79.13 billion (64th) | ||||
- | Per capita | $7,700 (78th) | ||||
Gini? (2002) | 29.7 (low) | |||||
HDI (2004) | 0.794 (medium) (67th) | |||||
Currency | rouble (BYR ) |
|||||
Time zone | EET (UTC+2) | |||||
- | Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) | ||||
Internet TLD | .by | |||||
Calling code | ||||||
1 | Tourism. Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Retrieved on 2006-03-26. |
Belarus (Belarusian and Russian: Беларусь Transliteration: Byelarus) listen is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe which borders Russia to the east, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the north. Its capital is Minsk — other major cities include Brest, Grodno, Gomel, Mogilev, Vitebsk and Bobruisk. One third of the country is forested, and agriculture and manufacturing are pillars of the economy. Belarus is one of the countries most affected by nuclear radiation from the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident in neighboring Ukraine.
Contents |
Since 1994, Alexander Lukashenko has been the country's president. During his presidency, Lukashenko has implemented Soviet-era policies, despite objections from Western powers. Belarus is negotiating with Russia to unify into a single state called the Union of Russia and Belarus, although the discussions have stalled for several years.
A total of population of approximately 9,849,000[1] reside in Belarus, mostly in the urban areas surrounding Minsk and other oblast capitals. Over 80% of the population are native Belarusians, with Russians, Ukrainians and Polish making a sizable minority. Since a referendum in 1995, the two official languages spoken in Belarus are Belarusian and Russian. Belarus does not establish an official religion, yet the primary religion in the country is Russian Orthodox.
Etymology
Historically, the country was referred to in English as "White Russia", although this is a slight mis-translation. The correct translation is "White Ruthenia" ('White Rus' phonetically), which either describes the area of Eastern Europe populated by Slavic people or the various states that occupied the area.[2] The first use of the term "White Russia" appeared in medieval literature in German and Latin. The Latin term for the area, Russia Alba, is derived from the area of present-day Albania, where the inhabitants had very white skin and dogs that could kill large animals. The only area that fit the Latin description was the Great Novgorod, but it was never called White Russia at all.[3] Nonetheless, usage of the term 'White Russia' continues in many languages, e.g. "Weißrussland" in German, "Beyaz Rusya" in Turkish, "Λευκορωσία" (Leukorosía) in Greek, "Fehéroroszország" in Hungarian (see here for the full list).
The first known use of the term "White Russia" to refer to Belarus was in the late sixteenth century by Englishman Sir Jerome Horsey. During the seventeenth century, Russian tsars used "White Rus'", asserting that they were trying to recapture their heritage from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.[3]
Belarus was named "Belorussia" (Russian: Белоруссия) in the days of Imperial Russia, and the Russian tsar was usually styled "Czar of All the Russias — Great, Little, and White". "Belorussia" was the only Russian language name of the country (its names in other languages such as English being based on the Russian form) until 1991, when the Supreme Soviet of the Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic decreed by law that the new independent republic should be called "Belarus" (Беларусь) in Russian and in all other language transcriptions of its name. The change was made to reflect adequately the Belarusian language form of the name.[4] Accordingly, the name "Belorussia" was replaced by "Belarus" in English, and, to some extent, in Russian (although the traditional name still persists in that language as well); likewise, the adjective "Belorussian" or "Byelorussian" was replaced by "Belarusian" in English (though Russian has not developed a new adjective). Some Belarusians object to the name "Belorussia", as an unwelcome reminder of the days under Russian and Soviet rule.[5] Officially, the full name of the country is the Republic of Belarus (Рэспубліка Беларусь, Respublika Byelarus'). listen [6]
In 2002, an informal survey was conducted by the Web site pravapis.org to see which version of the name was used on a majority of Web sites. By using Google, Pravapis.org looked up various terms and it found that "Belarus", the official short form of the name, was used on 93% of Web sites checked. Other spellings used included "Belorussia", "Bielorussia" and "Byelorussia," which were used in 1%–2% of cases.[7]
History
During its history, lands of modern-day Belarus belonged to several countries, including the Duchy of Polatsk, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and the Russian Empire. Belarus became a Soviet republic in 1922 (see Byelorussian SSR). The republic declared its sovereignty on July 27, 1990. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Belarus officially declared independence on August 25, 1991.
Between the 6th and 12th centuries, the area of modern-day Belarus was settled by the Slavs, who still dominate the country. This Early East Slavs gradually came into contact with the Varangians, who organized many of them under the state of Kievan Rus'.
Several of the separate Ruthenian principalities were badly affected by a Mongol invasion in the 13th century. Later, parts of Rus were swallowed up by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.[8] During this time, the Duchy was involved with battles between different forces. One of the major battles was between the Duchy and the Teutonic Knights at the Battle of Grunwald in 1410. The Duchy won the battle and the victory allowed the Duchy to control the North-western border lands of Eastern Europe.[9] Other military battles took place between the Duchy and the Mongols and the Turks, resulting in military victories for the Duchy.[10] By the 15th century, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania stretched across much of Eastern Europe, spanning from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea.
On February 2, 1386, Grand Duke of Lithuania Jogaila was crowned King of Poland, and allied the Grand Duchy with Kingdom of Poland in a personal union. The union was formed between Jogaila and the daughter of King Luis of Poland, Jadwiga, by marriage. This was seen by the Polish as a move to end a union with Hungary.[11] In the early parts of the this personal union eventually resulted in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, a federation created in 1569. The Muscovites, led by Tsar Ivan the III, began military conquests in 1486 in an attempt to gain the Kievan Rus' lands, specifically Belarus and Ukraine.[12] From the 16th century the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth suffered a series of Tatar invasions, which resulted in looting, pillaging and placing villagers into jasyr. The borderland area to the southeast was in a state of semi-permanent warfare until the 18th century.[13] The union between Poland and Lithuania ended in 1795, with the commonwealth partitioned and annexed by Imperial Russia, Prussia, and Austria. Belarusian territories remained part of the Russian Empire until they were occupied by Germany during World War I.[14]
Belarus first declared independence on March 25, 1918, forming the Belarusian People's Republic. The regime, however, was short-lived, and overthrown soon after the German withdrawal. The BPR became the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (BSSR) in 1919. After Russian occupation of eastern and northern Lithuania, it was merged into the Lithuanian-Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. Byelorussian lands were then split between Poland and the Bolsheviks after the Polish-Soviet War ended in 1921, and the recreated Byelorussian SSR became a founding member of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1922.[15]
In September 1939, as a result of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, the Soviet Union invaded Poland and annexed its eastern lands, including majority of Polish-held Byelorussian land.[16] In 1941, Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union. Byelorussia was occupied soon after and remained in Nazi hands until 1944. Over one million buildings were destroyed and the human losses totaled over two million Belarusians, approximately a quarter of their total population.[17] The Jewish population of Byelorussia was devastated during The Holocaust. The population of Belarus did not regain its pre-war level until 1971. The Jewish population, however, has never recovered.[18] After the war ended, Byelorussia was among the fifty-one founding signatories of the United Nations Charter in 1945. After the war, the Byelorussian SSR began a process of rebuilding, with help from Moscow. During this time, the Byelorussian SSR became a major center of manufacturing in the western region of the USSR. The increase in jobs brought in a huge immigrant population from the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic.[19]
Under the control of Joseph Stalin, a policy of Sovietization was started to "protect" Byelorussian SSR from influences by the West. This policy involved sending Russians from various parts of the Soviet Union and placing them in key positions in the Byelorussian SSR government. The official use of the Belarusian language and other cultural aspects were limited by Moscow. After Stalin died in 1953, his successor, Nikita Khrushchev, continued this program, stating, "The sooner we all start speaking Russian, the faster we shall build communism."[18] When Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev began pushing through his Perestroika plan, the Belarusian people delivered a petition to him in December 1986 explaining the loss of their culture. This event has been coined by historians as the "cultural Chernobyl". (Earlier that year, Belarus was exposed to nuclear fallout from the explosion at the Chernobyl power plant in neighboring Ukrainian SSR.)[20] In June 1988, mass graves were discovered at the city of Kurapaty by archaeologist Zyanon Paznyak. The graves allegedly contained about 250,000 of Stalin's victims.[20] Some contend that this discovery was proof that the Soviet government was trying to erase the Belarusian people, and caused some to seek independence.[21]
Two years later in March 1990, elections for seats in the Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR took place. While the pro-independence Belarusian Popular Front took 10 percent of the seats, the populace was content with the selection of the delegates. Belarus declared itself sovereign on July 27, 1990, by the issuance of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic. With the support of the Communist Party, the country's name was changed to the Republic of Belarus on August 25, 1991.[22] The Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Belarus Stanislav Shushkevich, along with Boris Yeltsin of Russia and Leonid Kravchuk of Ukraine, met on December 8, 1991, in Belavezhskaya Pushcha to formally declare the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the formation of the Commonwealth of Independent States. In 1993, there was an agreement in the Supreme Soviet to reduce its service by one year, so that new elections could take place in 1994.[22] In March of 1994, a national constitution was adopted, which replaced the office of prime minister with that of a president. Elections for the presidency resulted in the politically unknown Alexander Lukashenko winning over 80% of the vote.[22] Since that election, Lukashenko has held the office of president, being reelected in 2001 and in 2006.
Politics
Belarus is a presidential republic, governed by a President and a bicameral parliament—the National Assembly. The assembly comprises a lower house, the 110-member House of Representatives, and an upper house, the 64-member Council of the Republic. The House of Representatives has the power to appoint the Prime Minister of Belarus, make constitutional amendments, call for a vote of confidence on the prime minister, and make suggestions on the foreign and domestic policy of Belarus. The Council of the Republic has the power to select various government officials, conduct an impeachment trial of the president, and the ability to accept or reject the bills passed by the House of Representatives. Each chamber has the ability to veto any law passed by local officials if it is contrary to the Constitution of Belarus.[23] The Belarusian President since 1994 has been Alexander Lukashenko. The government is a Council of Ministers, headed by a prime minister. The members of the Council of Ministers need not be members of the legislature, and are appointed by the President. The judiciary comprises the Supreme Court and various specialized courts, such as the Constitutional Court, which deals with specific issues related to the constitution or business law. The judges of the national courts are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Council of the Republic. When dealing with criminal issues, the highest court of appeal is the Supreme Court According to Article 109 of the Constitution, special extra-judicial courts are not allowed to be set up in Belarus.[23]
Three political parties currently have seats in the House of Representatives: the Communist Party of Belarus (eight seats), the Agrarian Party of Belarus (three seats), and the Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus (one seat). The remaining 98 members are not affiliated with a political party. The pro-Lukashenko parties, the Belarusian Socialist Sporting Party and the Republican Party of Labor and Justice, and opposition parties, such as the Belarusian People's Front (BPF) and the United Civil Party of Belarus (UCPB), did not gain any seats in the 2004 election. The UCPB and the BPF are two of the parties that make up the People's Coalition 5 Plus, a group of political parties who oppose Lukashenko. Several organizations, including the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), declared the election "un-free" due to opposition parties' negative results and the bias of the Belarusian media in favor of the government.[24] The last presidential election took place on March 19, 2006. Lukashenko was opposed in the election by Alexander Milinkevich, a candidate representing a coalition of opposition parties and Alaksandar Kazulin of the Social Democrats. Kazulin was detained and beaten by police during protests surrounding the All Belarusian People's Assembly. While Lukashenko won with 80% of the vote, the OSCE and other organizations stated the election was not fair.[25]
Lukashenko was quoted as saying that he has an "authoritarian ruling style" that he uses to run the country.[26] The Council of Europe has barred Belarus from membership since 1997 for undemocratic voting and election irregularities in the November 1996 constitutional referendum and parliament by-elections.[27] The Belarusian government is also criticized for human rights violations and its actions against non-governmental organizations, independent journalists, national minorities, and opposition politicians.[28][29] Belarus is the only nation in Europe that retains the death penalty for certain crimes during times of peace and war.[30] In testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice labeled Belarus, among six nations, as part of the "outposts of tyranny".[31] The Belarusian Foreign Ministry announced that the statements from Secretary Rice "are a poor basis" to form a good Belarusian-American alliance.[32]
Foreign relations
Belarus and Russia have been close financial and diplomatic allies since the fall of the Soviet Union. Russia provides Belarus with raw materials[33] and is working with Belarus on economic integration since 1996. The Union treaty, signed by Lukashenko and Boris Yeltsin of the Russian Federation, called for a greater cooperation in the realms of politics, social welfare and economic integration.[34] The last major discussions about the union states took place in December 2006 inside Russia[35] and January 2007 inside Belarus. The only thing Belarus does not wish to do is to completely give-up complete independence and become a subject of the Russia, according to a speech by President Lukashenko.[36]
However, the ties between Belarus and the CIS has been strained recently because of the color revolutions that took place inside Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan. Despite the European Union travel ban on Lukashenko and top officials, Belarus has trade agreements with several EU member states.[37] The neighboring Lithuania, Poland and Latvia also have trade agreements with Belarus.[37]
Bilateral relations with the United States continued without problems until 1997, when the United States State Department began to issue grants to pro-democratization oriented NGOs and the Belarus Government also made it harder for US based organizations to carry out their duties.[38] In 2004, the United States passed a bill called the Belarus Democracy Act, which allowed American resources to be spent on groups who promote democratic efforts and forbid American businesses to grant loans to the Belarusian Government, except for humanitarian purposes.[39] Despite this, the two nations cooperate on issues dealing with human trafficking, technology crime, intellectual property rights and prevention of natural and man made disasters.[40]
Belarus has been increasing cooperation with Middle Eastern and Asian countries. China and Belarus have been building ties, strengthened by the visit of President Lukashenko to China in October 2005.[41] In the Middle East, Belarus has strong ties with Syria[42] and considered by President Lukashenko as a key partner in the Middle East.[43] Other than the CIS, Belarus has membership in the regional organizations Eurasian Economic Community and the Collective Security Treaty Organization.[37] In international organizations, Belarus has membership in the Non-Aligned Movement[44] since 1998[45] and Belarus was one of the founder members of the United Nations in 1945.[46]
Military
The military of Belarus was officially formed in 1992 using parts of the former Soviet Armed Forces which were on the new republic's territory. It took from 1993 until 1997 to transform the ex-Soviet forces into the Armed Forces of Belarus; it was completed by reducing the number of soldiers by 30,000 and to restructure the leadership and military formations.[47] There are three branches of military; the army, air force and Ministry of Defense joint staff. There are currently 72,940 servicemembers (IISS 2007). Most soldiers are conscripts serving for a period 12 months (with higher education) or 18 month (without).[48] The number of the conscripted soldiers have been decreasing; 2006 estimates had conscripted soldiers at 85,000. Further cuts in conscriptions have been planned to only needing approximately 60,000 soldiers by 2016.[49] In addition to conscription, contract soldiers have been used since 1995 for low-ranked soldiers, such as privates and sergeants.[49] Despite this, 1.6 million males and 2.1 million females were considered fit for military service in 2005,[50] with 85,000 males and 82,000 females reaching military service age every single year.[50] The official head of the Ministry of Defense is Colonel-General Leonid Maltsev[51] with the President of Belarus serving as the Commander-in-Chief.[52] In a 2005 estimate, 1.4% of the gross domestic product of Belarus went to military expenditures.[50] Belarus does have a partnership with NATO, being the recipient of the since 1997 and Belarusian scientists received NATO grants to study abroad since 1993.[53] Belarus has not expressed a desire to join the organization, but are surrounded by NATO members (with the exception of Russia and Ukraine).
Provinces and districts
Belarus is divided into six provinces ("voblasts"), named after the cities that serve as their administrative centers. The city of Minsk, located in the Minsk province, has the special status of being a national subordinate, as it is not included in any voblast. Subdivision into voblasts was inherited from the Soviet era. Voblasts are further subdivided into raions (commonly translated as "districts" or "regions"). Local legislative authorities (raisovet, "raion council") are elected by the raion's residents. Local executive authorities (raion administration) are appointed by higher executive authorities. In the same way, each voblast has its own legislative authority (oblsovet), elected by residents, and an executive authority (voblast administration), whose leader is appointed by the President.
(Administrative centers are given in parentheses)
- Minsk (capital)
- Brest Province (Brest)
- Homyel Province (Homyel)
- Hrodna Province (Hrodna)
- Mahilyow Province (Mahilyow)
- Minsk Province (Minsk)
- Vitsebsk Province (Vitsebsk)
Geography
Belarus is landlocked, relatively flat, and contains large tracts of marshy land. Lakes and rivers punctuate the country. The largest marsh territory is Polesie, which is among the largest marshes in Europe. There are 11,000 lakes in Belarus, but the majority of the lakes are smaller than 0.5 square kilometers (124 acres). Three major rivers run through the country; the Neman River, the Pripyat River, and the Dnepr River. Belarus' highest point is Dzyarzhynskaya Hara (Dzyarzhynsk Hill), 345 meters (1,132 ft), and its lowest point is on the Neman River, 90 meters (295 ft). Belarus is home, along with Poland, to the Belavezhskaya Pushcha (Белавежская пушча) or, by its Polish name, Białowieża Forest, the only remaining, virgin part of the immense forest that once spread across the European Plain.
The climate ranges from harsh winters (average January temperatures are in the range −8 to −2 °C (18 to 28 °F) to cool and moist summers (average temperature 15 to 20 °C (59 to 68 °F). On average, 15–30 centimeters of snow falls in the country, mostly in the northeast. Belarus experiences an average rainfall of 600–700 millimeters with over 70% of the rain falling during the warmer periods of the year.[54] Due to the weather patterns, natural disasters such as droughts and floods occasionally occur in Belarus. Between the period of 1881 until 2005, the average temperature of Belarus rose 1 degree Celsius, with temperatures rising significantly during the winter and spring months. It has been projected that Belarus will face a 3 to 4 degree Celsius rise in average temperatures when the twenty-first century ends.[55]
Forest covers about 34% of the total landscape, making forestry products one of the most abundant natural resources in Belarus. Other natural resources found in Belarus include peat deposits, small quantities of oil and natural gas, granite, dolomite (limestone), marl, chalk, sand, gravel, and clay. About one-fifth of the territory, mostly agricultural and forest lands in the southeastern provinces of Homyel and Mahilyow, continue to be affected by fallout from the 1986 nuclear power plant disaster in Chernobyl, Ukraine. While the amount of radiation has decreased since the disaster, most of the area is considered uninhabitable. Approximately 70% of the total radiation emitted from the Chernobyl plant entered into Belarusian territory.[56] The United Nations has created programs to help Belarus reduce the level of radiation in the affected areas, mostly reducing the levels of caesium-137 that are found in the soil. Another United Nations program is using the rapeseed cultivation method to increase agricultural output from the affected areas.[57]
Belarus is bordered by the following nations: Latvia (north), Lithuania (northwest), Poland (west), Russia (north and east) and Ukraine (south). Since its departure from the Soviet Union, Belarus signed a treaty with Latvia and Lithuania to demarcate the boundaries between the three countries. Ukraine signed a similar agreement with Belarus, though ratification on the Belarusian side is pending.[58] As of 2006, Belarus and Lithuania began to demarcate their border using water buoys.[59]
Economy
The Belarusian economy remains mostly state-controlled, as in Soviet times. Over half of the business are state controlled and foreign ownership is under 4%.[60] The country is relatively stable economically, but depends to a large extent on raw material supplies, such as oil, from its close ally Russia.[61] Agriculture is dominated by collective farming, with major sub-sectors being the cultivation of potatoes and cattle byproducts, such as meat.[62] The biggest export of Belarus is machinery, such as tractors and defense equipment.[63]
Historically important branches of industry include textiles and wood processing. After 1965, the development of heavy industry and mechanical engineering (tractors, refrigerators, etc.) significantly strengthened the country's development.[64] Within the Soviet Union, Belarus was one of the most industrially-developed republics and was the most developed CIS state at the fall of the Soviet Union.[65] Economically, Belarus involved itself in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Eurasian Economic Community, and Union with Russia. Soon after 1990, industrial production plunged due to decrease demand of Belarusian goods from traditional partners, lost investments and less production of military grade equipment.[66] Gross domestic product (GDP) for 2006 was $83.1 billion in PPP dollars (estimate), or about $8,100 per capita.[62] In 2005, the gross domestic product increased by about 9.9%, with the inflation rate averaging about 9.5%.[62]
The biggest trading partner of Belarus is Russia. According to government statics, 48.6% of the total trade was made between Russia and Belarus. The largest European Union member that traded with Belarus during that time period was the Netherlands at 7.5%.[67] Due to an agreement between the EU and the former Soviet Union, Belarus was able perform bilateral trades with EU member states. Textiles were exported from Belarus to the EU, only 0.1% of total EU trade is performed with Belarus.[68] Failing to achieve political goals, such as the protection of rights and liberties, Belarus was not permitted to receive benefits from the EU's Generalised System of Preferences program.[68] Belarus has applied to become a member of the World Trade Organization since 1993.[69]
Over four million people comprise the labor force in Belarus, with women holding slightly more jobs than men.[60] In 2005, nearly a quarter of the population were employed in industrial factories.[60] Employment is also high in agriculture, manufacturing sales, trading goods, and education. The unemployment rate, according to Belarusian government statistics, was about 1.5% in 2005.[60] The number of unemployed persons totaled 679,000, with approximately two-thirds being women.[60] The rate of unemployment has been decreasing since 2003, and the overall rate has been lower since statistics were first taken in 1995.[60]
The currency of Belarus is the Belarusian ruble (BYR). The currency was introduced in May of 1992, replacing the Soviet ruble. The ruble was reintroduced with new values in 2000 and has been in use since.[70] As part of the Union of Russia and Belarus, there has been discussion between both states to use a single currency along the same lines as the Euro. This has led to the suggestion that the Belarusian ruble to be discontinued in favor of the Russian ruble (RUB), starting on 1 January 2008. At last reports in August of 2007, the National Bank of Belarus will decide not to peg the Belarusian ruble to the Russian ruble.[71] The banking system of Belarus is composed of thirty state owned banks and one privatized bank.[72]
The Belarusian economy has been impacted by the political situations inside the republic. The impact is mostly felt in the form of sanctions against the country or the leadership of Belarus. For example, the European Union adopted Council Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 on 18 May 2006. The Regulation provided for a freeze on the funds of President Lukashenko and between 30 to 35 high-level officials of Belarus. The sanctions also provided for travel bans for the aforementioned leaders. The sanction was imposed by the EU after the nation-block declared that the 19 March 2006 elections were fraudulent and called for the crackdown on opposition groups.[73]
Demographics
The majority of the population of Belarus are native Belarusians, who comprise 81.2% of the total population of 10,293,011 people.[74] Russians are the second largest group, making up 11.4% of the population. Poles and Ukrainians account for 3.9% and 2.4% of the population, respectively. Languages commonly spoken in Belarus are Russian and Belarusian. Both are the official languages of Belarus since a referendum in 1995.[75] Inside Belarus, the Belarusian language is declared as a "language spoken at home" by ~3,686,000 (36.7%) of inhabitants according to a 1999 national census.[76] Other than Belarusian and Russian, a sizable majority also speak Polish, Ukrainian and Eastern Yiddish.[77]
The population density is about 500 persons per square kilometre (127/sq mi) and 71.7% of the total population lives in urban areas. Of the urban population, 24% live in Minsk, the national capital and largest city.[78] The total population in Minsk is approximately 1,741,400 people. Homel, with 481,000 people, is the second largest city of Belarus and serves as the capital of the Homel Oblast. Other large cities are Mogilev (365,100), Vitebsk (342,400), Hrodna (314,800) and Brest (298,300).[79]
Most of the population, 69.7%, are between the ages of 14 and 64.[78] Sixteen percent of the population is under 14, while 14.6% are age 65 or older.[78] The median age of the population is 37.[78] The average life expectancy for Belarusian citizens is 68.72 years; for males it is 63.03 years and for females it is 74.96 years.[78] The literacy rate in Belarus (the number of people aged 15 and older who can read and write) is 99%, with men at 99.8% and women at 99.3%.[78] The male-to-female ratio in 2005 was estimated to be .88 males to every female.[78]
Most demographic indicators for Belarus resemble other European countries, notably with both the population growth rate and the natural growth rate in the negative. The population growth is currently at −0.06% in 2005, with a fertility rate of 1.43. The population is also growing older, and by the year 2050, the majority of the population will be over the age of 50.[80] The migration rate is +2.3 for every 1,000 people in Belarus.[78]
According to the Save the Children international organization report (comparing 167 countries), Belarus has the highest rating for the quality of life for women and children among all countries in the former Soviet Union. Belarus ranked sixteenth for mothers' quality of life, fourteenth for a womans' quality of life and twentieth for the quality of life for children. The closest former Soviet republics are Estonia (18th for Women's rank), Ukraine (21/31/26) and Russia (27/34/64).[81]
Belarus has historically been a Russian Orthodox country with minorities practicing Catholicism, Judaism and other religions. The Belarusians were converted to the Russian Orthodox Church after Belarus was taken from Poland after the *i hate you****Partitions of Poland. Belarus' Roman Catholic minority, which makes up perhaps 10% of the country's population and is concentrated in the western part of the country, especially around Hrodna, is made up of a mixture of Belarusians and the country's Polish and Lithuanian minorities. A small minority (about 1%) belong to the Belarusian Greek Catholic Church.[82] Belarus was also about 10% Jewish until World War II, being a major center of European Jewry, but during the war Jews were reduced by war, starvation, and the Holocaust to a tiny minority of about 1% or less. Emigration from Belarus is also a cause for the shrinking number of Jewish residents.[83] According to Article 16 of the Constitution, Belarus has no official religion. While the freedom of worship is granted in the same article, religions that are deemed harmful to the government or social order of the country can be prohibited.[84] Christian Solidarity Worldwide has reported that some Protestant congregations experience harassment.[85]
Culture
The traditional Belarusian dress originates from the Kievan Rus' period. Due to the climate of Belarus, clothing that kept a person warm was required. The clothes that were made in Belarus were composed of either flax or wool and were decorated with ornate patterns and over time, has been influenced by the cultures of its neighbors: Poles, Lithuanians, Latvians, Russians, and other European nations. Each region of Belarus has a specific pattern used on their designs.[86] An ornament pattern used on some early dresses is current used to decorate the hoist of the Belarusian national flag, adopted in a disputed referendum in 1995.[87]
Belarusian cuisine consists mostly of vegetables, meats and breads. The foods that are considered to be staples of Belarus include pork, cabbages, potatoes and bread. Because of traditional cooking methods in the pre-Soviet era, foods are usually either slowly cooked or stewed. A typical Belarusian eats a very light breakfast and two hearty meals, with dinner being the largest meal of the day. Wheat and rye breads are both consumed in Belarus, but rye is more plentiful as conditions are too harsh for growing wheat. When greeting a guest or visitor, an offering of bread salt is presented to show hospitality.[88] Drinks are also popular among the Belarusians, mostly Russian wheat vodka or kvass. Kvass is a type of soft drink that is made from either brown bread or rye flour that has been malted. It can also be combined with sliced vegetables to create a cold soup called okroshka.[89]
Belarusian literature began with religious writing between the 11th and 13th century. Many of the works were written in one of the following languages: Old Belarusian, Latin, Polish and .[90] The writings during the time frame had an element of rhyming One of the earlier poets of the time was from the 12th century. Most of his poems were religious in nature.[91] By the 16th century, Polatsk resident Francysk Skaryna, translated the Bible into the Belarusian language and had it published in Prague and Vilnius between 1517 until 1525. Not only this was the first printed Belarusian book, but the first printed books in Eastern Europe.[92] The modern period of Belarusian literature began in the late 19th century, including Yanka Kupala. Many of the writers at the time, such as Uładzimir Žyłka, , Yakub Kolas, Źmitrok Biadula and , wrote for a Belarusian language paper called Nasha Niva, published in Vilnius. After Belarus was incorporated into the Soviet Union, government control of the Belarusian culture occurred and only Polish-held territory experienced free development of literature until 1939.[92] The last major revival of the Belarusian literature occurred in the 1960's with novels published by Vasil Bykaŭ and Uładzimir Karatkievič. Until the 1960's, several poets and authors went to exile after the occupation of Belarus by Nazi Germany was over.[92]
In the field of music, the first major composition by a Belarusian was the opera Faust by Radzivill and other opera pieces. In the seventeenth century, Polish composer Stanislau Maniushka resided in Belarus, composing many opera and chamber pieces while in Minsk. During his stay, he worked with Belarusian poet Vincent Dunin-Marcinkevich and created the opera (Peasant Woman). At the end of the nineteenth century, the major cities in Belarus were forming their own opera and ballet companies. During the Soviet era, early music saw the creation of the ballet Nightingale by M. Kroshner. After the Great Patriotic War, the music focused on the hardship of the Belarusian people or on those who took up arms in defense of the homeland.[93] This was also the time period that A. Bogatyryov, the creator of the opera "In Polesye Virgin Forest," served as the "tutor" of Belarusian composers. The National Academic Theatre of Ballet, in Minsk, was awarded the Benois de la Dance Prize in 1996 as the top ballet company in the world.[94] Modern music has seen a rise in popularity and creation among Belarusians. Famous rock bands from the country include NRM, Neurodubel, Ulis, Nowaje Nieba, and Krama. Several Belarusian acts perform in Poland and Lithuania, where the population of Belarusian speakers is very high. Poland is also the host of the Belarusian alternative music festival Basowiszcza.[95] Since 2004, Belarus has been sending artists to the Eurovision Song Contest.[96]
The Belarusian government sponsors many annual cultural festivals: "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk", "Minsk Spring", "Slavonic Theatrical Meetings", International Jazz Festival, National Harvesting Festival, "Arts for Children and Youth", the Competition of Youth Variety Show Arts, "Muses of Niesvizh", "Mir Castle", and the National Festival of the Belarusian Song and Poetry. These events showcase talented Belarusian performers, artists, writers, musicians, or actors. The festivals end with a ceremony where prizes are awarded in honor of famous Belarusian composers. Several state holidays, like Independence Day or Victory Day draw big crowds and include various displays such as fireworks and military parades. Most of the festivals take place in Vitebsk or Minsk.[97] A government ministry, the Ministry of Culture, actively finances events that promote the arts and culture inside or outside the country. An example is their financial backing of a Union Youth Orchestra to be formed in 2008. The orchestra will comprise of youth players from both Belarus and Russia.[98]
Belarus has four World Heritage Sites; the Mir Castle Complex; the Niasvizh Castle; the Belovezhskaya Pushcha (shared with Poland); and the Struve Geodetic Arc (shared with Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Moldova, Russia, Sweden and Ukraine).[99]
Media
In Belarus, media outlets exist for radio, television and Internet. Some of them are privately owned while others are owned by the government. The largest media holding group in Belarus is the state owned National State Teleradiocompany. They produce several television stations and radio stations that stream content internally and internationally, either through frequency signals or the Internet.[100] The Television Broadcasting Network is one of the major independent television station that operates in Belarus, mostly showing regional programing. Several newspapers provide general information or special interest, such as business, politics or sports. In 1998, there were fewer than 100 total radio stations in Belarus; 28 AM, 37 FM and 11 shortwave.[101] All media companies are regulated by the Law On Press and Other Mass Media, passed on January 13, 1995.[102]
The Belarusian Government has been criticized for taking actions against media outlets. Several newspapers, such as Nasa Niva and the Belaruskaya Delovaya Gazeta, have been targeted for closure by the authorities. The actions were taken among these papers and other due to them publishing reports critical of President Lukashenko or other government officials.[103][104] While the Law On Press and Other Mass Media grants the freedom of press, Article 5 of the law states that slander cannot be made against the President of Belarus or other officials outlined in the national constitution.[102] Regardless, organizations such as the OSCE and Freedom House have commented before about the loss of press freedom in Belarus. In 2005, Freedom House gave Belarus the score of 6.75 (not free) when it came to dealing with press freedom. Another issue for the Belarusian press is the disappearance of several journalists, which remain unsolved.[105]
See also
References
- ^ UN in Belarus > About Belarus > Population. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.
- ^ Bielawa, Matthew (2002). An Understanding of the Terms 'Ruthenia' and 'Ruthenians. Genealogy of Halychyna/Eastern Galicia. Retrieved on 2007-03-18.
- ^ a b Alies, Bely (2000). The chronicle of the White Russia: an essay on the history of one geographical name. Minsk, Belarus: Encyclopedix. ISBN 985-6599-12-1.
- ^ The law determining the name of the country. Reviewed October 6, 2007.
- ^ Katkouski, Uladzimir (2003-02-03). Belarus: "Belarusian" and "Belarusan" the correct adjective forms. Pravapis.org. Retrieved on 2006-03-08.
- ^ CIA World Factbook. Belarus - Government. Published March 17, 2007. Retrieved March 22, 2007.
- ^ Katkouski, Uladzimir (2002-03-26). The 21 Names of Belarus. Pravapis.org. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.
- ^ University of Washington - The Grand Duchy of Lithuania by Cheryl Renshaw. Published on June 5, 2002. Retrieved March 18, 2007.
- ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs Guide to Belarus 2000 - History and Culture. Published 2000. Retrieved March 22, 2007.
- ^ Permanent Mission of Belarus to the United Nations. History of Belarus> Retrieved March 22, 2007.
- ^ World History at KMLA History of Poland - Dynastic Union under the Jagiellonian Dynasty. Published in 2000, updated in 2004. Retrieved March 22, 2007.
- ^ Rice University The Russo-Polish Historical Confrontation. Authored by Andrzej Nowak. Published in January 1997. Retrieved March 22, 2007.
- ^ Pohl, J. Otto: "Ethnic Cleansing in the USSR, 1937-1949," pp. 109-118. Greenwood Press, 1999
- ^ Virtual Guide of Belarus History of Belarus. Published by Vladimir Novik in 1994. Retrieved March 22, 2007.
- ^ University of Central Florida - History of Belarus. Retrieved March 18, 2007.
- ^ Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact Secret Provisions - Avalon Project, Yale Law School. Published in 1996. Retrieved March 18, 2007.
- ^ Country Studies - Belarus - World War II. United States Library of Congress, published 1995.
- ^ a b Country Studies - Belarus - Stalin and Russification. Retrieved on 2006-03-26.
- ^ iExplore - Belarus History and Culture. Retrieved on 2006-03-26.
- ^ a b Country Studies - Belarus - Perestroika. Retrieved on 2006-03-26.
- ^ Belarus Backgrounder. Retrieved on 2006-03-26.
- ^ a b c Country Studies Belarus - Prelude to Independence. Library of Congress. Retrieved March 21, 2007.
- ^ a b Constitution of the Republic of Belarus Chapter 3 - The President, Parliament, Government, the Courts. Published 1994, amended 1995 and 2004. Retrieved March 22, 2007.
- ^ OSCE Report on the October 2004 parliamentary elections (PDF) (December 2004). Retrieved on 2007-03-21.
- ^ Belarus rally marred by arrests. BBC News (2 March 2006). Retrieved on 2006-03-26.
- ^ Profile: Alexander Lukashenko. BBC News (20 March 2006). Retrieved on 2006-03-26.
- ^ Belarus suspended from the Council of Europe (January 17 1997). Retrieved on 2006-03-26.
- ^ Human Rights Watch. Retrieved on 2006-03-26.
- ^ Amnesty International 2006 Report - Belarus (summary). Published in 2006.
- ^ Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in the United Kingdom. Use of capital punishment in Belarus. Published in 2006. Retrieved May 5, 2007.
- ^ Opening Statement by Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Senate Foreign Relations Committee (PDF) (January 18, 2005). Retrieved on 2006-03-26.
- ^ At-a-glance: 'Outposts of tyranny'. BBC News (19 January 2005). Retrieved on 2006-03-26.
- ^ Vyacheslav Kebich, 'Videt' istinu. K dogovoru ob ob "edinenii denezhnykh sistem Belarussii i Rossii", Belarusskaya niva, 27 April 1994.
- ^ Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. Russia, Belarus sign union treaty. Published December 8, 1999. Reviewed October 6, 2007.
- ^ Russia Today. Unified state of Russia and Belarus discussed in Kremlin. Published December 15, 2006. Reviewed October 6, 2007.
- ^ Al Jazeera "Belarus local elections end". Published January 14, 2007. Reviewed October 6, 2007.
- ^ a b c Ministry of Foreign Affairs Foreign Policy history and goals. Retrieved March 21, 2007.
- ^ United States Embassy in Minsk, Belarus FY97 Report on US Assistance to Belarus. Retrieved March 21, 2007.
- ^ United States Department of State. Belarus Democracy Act Will Help Cause of Freedom, Bush Says. Published October 20, 2004. Retrieved October 6, 2007.
- ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs Belarus - United States Relations. Published 2005. Retrieved March 21, 2007.
- ^ Xinhua News Agency China, Belarus agree to upgrade economic ties. Written by Letian Pan. Published December 6, 2005. Retrieved March 21, 2007.
- ^ BBC Syria and Belarus agree to promote trade. Published March 13, 1998. Retrieved October 6, 2007.
- ^ President of the Republic of Belarus Belarus-Syria report substantial progress in trade and economic relations. Published August 31, 2007. Retrieved October 6, 2007.
- ^ Non-Alignment Movement List of Member States. Updated in 2002. Retrieved March 21, 2007.
- ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs Interview with Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov. Published by BelTA in 2006. Retrieved March 21, 2007.
- ^ United Nations Growth in United Nations membership, 1945–present. Published 2004, amended in 2006. Retrieved March 21, 2007.
- ^ Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus History - Into the Army of the Sovereign State. Retrieved October 6, 2007.
- ^ Routledge, IISS Military Balance 2007, p.158-159
- ^ a b Bykovsky, Pavel; Alexander Vasilevich (2001-05). Military Development and the Armed Forces of Belarus. Moscow Defense Brief. Retrieved on 2007-10-09.
- ^ a b c Belarus - Military. The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency (2005). Retrieved on 2007-10-09.
- ^ Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus High-ranking Military Officials of the Republic of Belarus.
- ^ Webportal of the President of the Republic of Belarus Section 4 of the Constitution. Published 1994, amended in 1996. Retrieved June 07, 2007.
- ^ Belarus and NATO. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus (2002). Retrieved on 2007-10-09.
- ^ Library of Congress Country Studies Belarus - Climate. Retrieved July 13, 2007.
- ^ Belarus Tourist Climate of Belarus. Retrieved July 13, 2007.
- ^ Rainsford, Sarah (April 26 2005). Belarus cursed by Chernobyl. BBC News. Retrieved on 2006-03-26.
- ^ The United Nations and Chernobyl - The Republic of Belarus. United Nations (2004). Retrieved on 2007-10-04.
- ^ Border Demarcation History. State Border Guard Committee of the Republic of Belarus. Published in 2006. Retrieved March 18, 2007.
- ^ Border Demarcation. State Border Guard Committee of the Republic of Belarus. Published in 2006. Retrieved March 18, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f Ministry of Statistics and Analysis Labor Statistics in Belarus. Published 2005. Retrieved March 18, 2007.
- ^ "Russia may cut oil supplies to ally Belarus - Putin", Reuters, 2006-10-25. Retrieved on 2007-10-08.
- ^ a b c The World Factbook - Belarus - Economy. Central Intelligence Agency (2006). Retrieved on 2007-10-08.
- ^ Machine Building and Metalworking. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus (2007). Retrieved on 2007-10-09.
- ^ United States Library of Congress Country Studies - Belarus - Exports. Retrieved October 6, 2007.
- ^ World Bank. "Belarus: Prices, Markets, and Enterprise Reform," pp. 1. World Bank, 1997. ISBN 0821339761
- ^ Belarus - Industry. Country Studies. Library of Congress (1995). Retrieved on 2007-10-08.
- ^ Council of Ministers Foreign trade in goods and services in Belarus up by 11.5 percent in January-October. Published 2006. Retrieved October 6, 2007.
- ^ a b European Union The EU's Relationship With Belarus - Trade. Published November 2006. Retrieved October 6, 2007.
- ^ World Trade Organization Accessions - Belarus. Retrieved October 6, 2007.
- ^ National Bank of the Republic of Belarus History of the Belarusian Ruble. Retrieved March 18, 2007.
- ^ Pravda.ru Belarus abandons pegging its currency to Russian ruble. Published August 23, 2007. Retrieved October 6, 2007.
- ^ Heritage Foundation's Index of Economic Freedom - Belarus. Retrieved March 18, 2007.
- ^ Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty EU Sanctions on Belarus. Published in 2006. Retrieved March 18, 2007.
- ^ Population of the Republic of Belarus. The Ministry of Statistics and Analysis of the Republic of Belarus (1999). Retrieved on 2007-10-09.
- ^ Official 1995 Referendum data. Reviewed October 6, 2007. (Russian)
- ^ Data of 1999 Belarusian general census In English. Reviewed October 6, 2007.
- ^ Gordon, Raymond G., Jr. (ed.), 2005. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Fifteenth edition. Dallas, Tex.: SIL International. Online version: http://www.ethnologue.com/.
- ^ a b c d e f g h CIA World Factbook (2005) - Belarus - People. Retrieved on 2007-01-27.
- ^ World Gazette Largest Cities of Belarus (2007). Published in 2007. Retrieved March 19, 2007.
- ^ Population Pyramid Summary for Belarus. US Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2006-03-26.
- ^ State Of The Worlds Mothers 2006. Save The Children. Retrieved on 2006-06-22.
- ^ Library of Congress Country Studies Belarus - Religion. Retrieved July 9, 2007.
- ^ Minsk Jewish Campus Jewish Belarus. Retrieved July 9, 2007.
- ^ Webportal of the President of the Republic of Belarus Section One of the Constitution. Published 1994, amended in 1996. Retrieved June 6, 2007.
- ^ Christian Solidarity Worldwide Country Information - Belarus. Retrieved July 9, 2007.
- ^ Virtual Guide to Belarus Belarusian traditional clothing. Retrieved on March 21, 2007.
- ^ Flags of the World Belarus - Ornament. Published November 26, 2006. Retrieved March 21, 2007.
- ^ Canadian Citizenship and Immigration - Cultures Profile Project - Eating the Belarusian Way. Published in 1998. Retrieved March 21, 2007.
- ^ University of Nebraska-Lincoln - Institute of Agriculture and National Resources. Situation and Outlook - People and Their Diets. Published in April 2000. Retrieved March 21, 2007.
- ^ UNESCO PRESERVATION OF BELARUSIAN LITERARY HERITAGE. Retrieved October 6, 2007.
- ^ Old Belarusian Poetry. Virtual Guide to Belarus (1994). Retrieved on 2007-10-09.
- ^ a b c "Belarus." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. <http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-33482>.
- ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs Music. Retrieved October 6, 2007.
- ^ Virtual Guide to Belarus - Classical Music of Belarus. Retrieved March 21, 2007.
- ^ Freemuse Blacklisted bands play in Poland. Published on March 17, 2006. Retrieved March 18, 2007.
- ^ National State TeleradiocompanyPage on the 2004 Belarusian entry to the Eurovision Song Contest. Published 2004. Retrieved March 18, 2007.
- ^ Belarusian National Culture. Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in the United States of America. Retrieved on 2006-03-26.
- ^ BelTA Youth Orchestra of Union State to be set up in 2008. Published October 2, 2007. Retrieved October 6, 2007.
- ^ Belarus - UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved on 2006-03-26.
- ^ National State Teleradiocompany About us. Retrieved October 5, 2007.
- ^ CIA World Factbook (2007) - Belarus - Communications. Retrieved on 2007-10-04.
- ^ a b Law of the Republic of Belarus Law On Press and Other Mass Media. Retrieved October 5, 2007.
- ^ Eurozine Independent Belarusian newspaper "Nasha Niva" to close. Published April 19, 2006.
- ^ United States Department of States Media Freedom in Belarus. Press release by Philip T. Reeker. Published May 30, 2003.
- ^ Freedom House Country Report - Belarus. Published 2005. Reviewed October 6, 2007.
External links
Find more information on Belarus by searching Wikipedia's sister projects | |
---|---|
Dictionary definitions from Wiktionary | |
Textbooks from Wikibooks | |
Quotations from Wikiquote | |
Source texts from Wikisource | |
Images and media from Commons | |
News stories from Wikinews | |
Learning resources from Wikiversity |
Media
- Belarus News and Analysis
- (Belarusian) News of Belarus
Governmental websites
- President's official site
- Government of Belarus
- Embassy of Belarus in the United States
- E-Government in Belarus
Informational/cultural
- A Belarus Miscellany
- The Virtual Guide of Belarus
- Eating the Belarusian way
- Media in Belarus
- CIA World Factbook entry on Belarus
International membership | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|