Belarus
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- Summary
- Comparative Statistical Analysis
- Strengths and Weakness
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Belarus ( ( listen) bel-ə-ROOSS; Belarusian: Беларусь, translit. Biełaruś; IPA: [bʲɛlaˈrusʲ]; Russian: Беларусь, IPA: [bʲɪlɐˈrusʲ]), officially the Republic of Belarus (Belarusian: Рэспубліка Беларусь; Russian: Республика Беларусь), formerly known by its Russian name Byelorussia or Belorussia (Russian: Белоруссия), is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe bordered by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital and most populous city is Minsk. Over 40% of its 207,600 square kilometres (80,200 sq mi) is forested. Its major economic sectors are service industries and manufacturing. Until the 20th century, different states at various times controlled the lands of modern-day Belarus, including the Principality of Polotsk (11th to 14th centuries), the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, and the Russian Empire.
In the aftermath of the 1917 Russian Revolution, Belarus declared independence as the Belarusian People's Republic, which was conquered by Soviet Russia. The Socialist Soviet Republic of Byelorussia became a founding constituent republic of the Soviet Union in 1922 and was renamed as the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (Byelorussian SSR). Belarus lost almost half of its territory to Poland after the Polish–Soviet War of 1919–1921. Much of the borders of Belarus took their modern shape in 1939, when some lands of the Second Polish Republic were reintegrated into it after the Soviet invasion of Poland, and were finalized after World War II. During WWII, military operations devastated Belarus, which lost about a third of its population and more than half of its economic resources. The republic was redeveloped in the post-war years. In 1945 the Byelorussian SSR became a founding member of the United Nations, along with the Soviet Union and the Ukrainian SSR.
The parliament of the republic proclaimed the sovereignty of Belarus on 27 July 1990, and during the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Belarus declared independence on 25 August 1991. Alexander Lukashenko has served as the country's first president since 1994. Belarus has been labeled "Europe's last dictatorship" by some Western journalists, on account of Lukashenko's self-described authoritarian style of government. Lukashenko continued a number of Soviet-era policies, such as state ownership of large sections of the economy. Elections under Lukashenko's rule have been widely criticized as unfair; and according to many countries and organizations, political opposition has been violently suppressed. Belarus is also the last country in Europe using the death penalty. Belarus's Democracy Index rating was the lowest in Europe until 2014 (when it was passed by Russia), the country is labelled as "not free" by Freedom House, as "repressed" in the Index of Economic Freedom, and is rated as by far the worst country for press freedom in Europe in the 2013–14 Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders, which ranks Belarus 157th out of 180 nations.
In 2000, Belarus and Russia signed a treaty for greater cooperation, forming the Union State. Over 70% of Belarus's population of 9.49 million resides in urban areas. More than 80% of the population is ethnic Belarusian, with sizable minorities of Russians, Poles and Ukrainians. Since a referendum in 1995, the country has had two official languages: Belarusian and Russian. The Constitution of Belarus does not declare any official religion, although the primary religion in the country is Eastern Orthodox Christianity. The second-most widespread religion, Roman Catholicism, has a much smaller following; nevertheless, Belarus celebrates both Orthodox and Catholic versions of Christmas and Easter as national holidays. Belarus is a member of the United Nations since its founding, the Commonwealth of Independent States, CSTO, EEU, and the Non-Aligned Movement. Belarus has shown no aspirations for joining the European Union but nevertheless maintains a bilateral relationship with the organisation, and likewise participates in two EU projects: the Eastern Partnership and the Baku Initiative.
Instruments ratified: | 126 / 282 |
---|---|
World Average Ratifications: | 114 / 282 |
Ratification rate: | 46.98% |
World Average Rate: | 41.25% |
Weighted score: | 52.88% |
World Average Weighted Score: | 41.25% |
World rank: | 55 / 194 |
Eastern Europe rank: | 9 / 10 |
Eastern Europe Avg. Ratifications: | 160 / 282 |
Transition economy rank: | 18 / 28 |
Transition economy Avg. Ratifications: | 141 / 282 |
CONTRACTS | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Agency | 0/2 | 0.00% | 2.00% | 8 | Weak |
Conflict of laws | 0/7 | 0.00% | 3.00% | 27 | Weak |
E-commerce | 0/3 | 0.00% | 18.00% | 70 | Weak |
Franchising | 0/1 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1 | Average |
Leasing/Factoring | 1/2 (50.00%) | 50.00% | 5.00% | 8 | Strong |
Principles, trade usages and standards | 0/2 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1 | Average |
Procurement | 0/4 | 0.00% | 3.00% | 31 | Weak |
Sale of Goods | 3/5 (60.00%) | 81.82% | 25.00% | 2 | Strong |
Travel contracts | 0/1 | 0.00% | 3.00% | 7 | Weak |
Total | 4 | 17.39% | 9.00% | 25 | Strong |
CUSTOMS | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Customs Codification | 2/3 (66.67%) | 100.00% | 78.00% | 1 | Strong |
Customs Cooperation | 3/6 (50.00%) | 60.00% | 26.00% | 4 | Strong |
Exemption from Duties | 1/9 (11.11%) | 11.11% | 30.00% | 109 | Weak |
Temporary Admission | 2/11 (18.18%) | 23.53% | 28.00% | 77 | Weak |
Transit | 2/4 (50.00%) | 54.55% | 28.00% | 42 | Strong |
Total | 10 | 33.70% | 31.00% | 74 | Weak |
DISPUTE RESOLUTION | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Arbitration | 2/6 (33.33%) | 50.00% | 32.00% | 29 | Strong |
Judicial cooperation | 5/5 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 36.00% | 1 | Strong |
Recognition of foreign judgments | 0/2 | 0.00% | 2.00% | 6 | Weak |
State court jurisdiction | 0/4 | 0.00% | 14.00% | 29 | Weak |
State court procedure | 0/1 | 0.00% | 6.00% | 12 | Weak |
State immunities | 0/1 | 0.00% | 11.00% | 22 | Weak |
Total | 7 | 58.00% | 29.00% | 32 | Strong |
ENVIRONMENT AND PRODUCTS | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Air | 5/5 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 86.00% | 1 | Strong |
Chemicals | 0/1 | 0.00% | 78.00% | 152 | Weak |
Energy | 0/2 | 0.00% | 25.00% | 50 | Weak |
Flora and fauna | 5/10 (50.00%) | 54.35% | 68.00% | 152 | Weak |
Foodstuff | 1/2 (50.00%) | 37.50% | 79.00% | 136 | Weak |
General | 1/1 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 95.00% | 1 | Weak |
International watercourses | 0/1 | 0.00% | 18.00% | 36 | Weak |
Maritime and Law of the Sea | 7/26 (26.92%) | 33.70% | 46.00% | 135 | Weak |
Protected geographical areas | 1/1 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 27.00% | 1 | Strong |
Waste | 1/1 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 93.00% | 1 | Weak |
Total | 21 | 50.52% | 61.00% | 142 | Weak |
FINANCE, PAYMENTS AND INSOLVENCY | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Assignment of receivables | 0/1 | 0.00% | 1.00% | 2 | Weak |
Bankruptcy and insolvency | 0/1 | 0.00% | 21.00% | 41 | Weak |
Bills of exchange and promissory notes | 3/4 (75.00%) | 50.00% | 8.00% | 1 | Strong |
Cheques | 0/3 | 0.00% | 13.00% | 36 | Weak |
Credit transfers | 0/1 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1 | Average |
International guarantees | 3/3 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 20.00% | 1 | Strong |
Total | 6 | 39.02% | 12.00% | 3 | Strong |
GOOD GOVERNANCE | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Corruption | 3/4 (75.00%) | 91.67% | 50.00% | 3 | Strong |
Cultural Property | 2/4 (50.00%) | 50.00% | 54.00% | 61 | Weak |
Drugs | 3/3 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 95.00% | 1 | Weak |
Insider Trading | 0/1 | 0.00% | 4.00% | 9 | Weak |
Organized crime | 2/2 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 80.00% | 1 | Strong |
Total | 10 | 80.77% | 68.00% | 35 | Strong |
HUMAN RIGHTS AND LABOUR STANDARDS | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Human Rights | 7/7 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 96.00% | 1 | Weak |
Labour Standards | 8/8 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 86.00% | 1 | Strong |
Total | 15 | 100.00% | 91.00% | 1 | Average |
INSTITUTIONAL PARTICIPATION | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Dispute Resolution | 0/1 | 0.00% | 39.00% | 77 | Weak |
International Trade Law | 8/10 (80.00%) | 80.00% | 73.00% | 56 | Average |
Trade support institutions | 3/6 (50.00%) | 50.00% | 51.00% | 82 | Weak |
Total | 11 | 64.71% | 63.00% | 79 | Weak |
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Broadcasting | 1/1 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 47.00% | 1 | Strong |
Copyright | 2/3 (66.67%) | 90.91% | 65.00% | 48 | Strong |
Industrial designs | 1/2 (50.00%) | 37.50% | 31.00% | 64 | Strong |
Integrated circuits | 0/1 | 0.00% | 2.00% | 4 | Weak |
Neighboring Rights | 3/3 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 46.00% | 1 | Strong |
Origin | 0/3 | 0.00% | 14.00% | 51 | Weak |
Patents | 4/5 (80.00%) | 85.71% | 57.00% | 30 | Strong |
Trademarks | 4/6 (66.67%) | 72.73% | 33.00% | 36 | Strong |
Varieties of plants | 1/1 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 37.00% | 1 | Strong |
Total | 16 | 73.68% | 42.00% | 41 | Strong |
INVESTMENTS | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Investment disputes | 1/2 (50.00%) | 50.00% | 39.00% | 2 | Strong |
Investment guaranty | 1/1 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 93.00% | 1 | Weak |
Total | 2 | 66.67% | 57.00% | 2 | Strong |
PRODUCTS | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Marine Resources | 0/1 | 0.00% | 24.00% | 48 | Weak |
Timber | 0/1 | 0.00% | 31.00% | 61 | Weak |
General | 1/1 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 92.00% | 1 | Weak |
Total | 1 | 38.46% | 53.00% | 85 | Weak |
TRANSPORT AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Air transport | 3/7 (42.86%) | 52.38% | 59.00% | 110 | Weak |
Aircrafts and civil aviation | 4/9 (44.44%) | 56.00% | 74.00% | 151 | Weak |
Maritime shipping and load lines | 4/13 (30.77%) | 57.14% | 66.00% | 151 | Weak |
Maritime transport | 2/12 (16.67%) | 8.33% | 27.00% | 153 | Weak |
Multi modal transport | 0/2 | 0.00% | 4.00% | 15 | Weak |
Rail transport | 0/3 | 0.00% | 22.00% | 50 | Weak |
Road transport | 4/4 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 31.00% | 1 | Strong |
Space | 3/4 (75.00%) | 83.33% | 40.00% | 16 | Strong |
Telecommunications | 1/2 (50.00%) | 83.33% | 47.00% | 26 | Strong |
Total | 21 | 50.68% | 50.00% | 95 | Weak |
TREATIES LAW | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
General | 2/4 (50.00%) | 66.67% | 30.00% | 11 | Strong |
Total | 2 | 66.67% | 30.00% | 11 | Strong |
WTO | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Plurilateral Agreements | 0/2 | 0.00% | 18.00% | 45 | Weak |
WTO Agreements | 0/1 | 0.00% | 81.00% | 159 | Weak |
Total | 0 | 0.00% | 47.00% | 159 | Weak |
Strong | |
---|---|
Contracts | Leasing/Factoring |
Contracts | Sale of Goods |
Customs | Customs Codification |
Customs | Customs Cooperation |
Customs | Transit |
Dispute resolution | Arbitration |
Dispute resolution | Judicial cooperation |
Environment and products | Air |
Environment and products | Protected geographical areas |
Finance, payments and insolvency | Bills of exchange and promissory notes |
Finance, payments and insolvency | International guarantees |
Good Governance | Corruption |
Good Governance | Organized crime |
Human Rights and Labour Standards | Labour Standards |
Intellectual property | Broadcasting |
Intellectual property | Copyright |
Intellectual property | Industrial designs |
Intellectual property | Neighboring Rights |
Intellectual property | Patents |
Intellectual property | Trademarks |
Intellectual property | Varieties of plants |
Investments | Investment disputes |
Transport and telecommunications | Road transport |
Transport and telecommunications | Space |
Transport and telecommunications | Telecommunications |
Treaties law | General |
Average | |
Contracts | Franchising |
Contracts | Principles, trade usages and standards |
Finance, payments and insolvency | Credit transfers |
Institutional Participation | International Trade Law |
Weak | |
Contracts | Agency |
Contracts | Conflict of laws |
Contracts | E-commerce |
Contracts | Procurement |
Contracts | Travel contracts |
Customs | Exemption from Duties |
Customs | Temporary Admission |
Dispute resolution | Recognition of foreign judgments |
Dispute resolution | State court jurisdiction |
Dispute resolution | State court procedure |
Dispute resolution | State immunities |
Environment and products | Chemicals |
Environment and products | Energy |
Environment and products | Flora and fauna |
Environment and products | Foodstuff |
Environment and products | General |
Environment and products | International watercourses |
Environment and products | Maritime and Law of the Sea |
Environment and products | Waste |
Finance, payments and insolvency | Assignment of receivables |
Finance, payments and insolvency | Bankruptcy and insolvency |
Finance, payments and insolvency | Cheques |
Good Governance | Cultural Property |
Good Governance | Drugs |
Good Governance | Insider Trading |
Human Rights and Labour Standards | Human rights |
Institutional Participation | Dispute Resolution |
Institutional Participation | Trade support institutions |
Intellectual property | Integrated circuits |
Intellectual property | Origin |
Investments | Investment guaranty |
Products | General |
Products | Marine Resources |
Products | Timber |
Transport and telecommunications | Air transport |
Transport and telecommunications | Aircrafts and civil aviation |
Transport and telecommunications | Maritime shipping and load lines |
Transport and telecommunications | Maritime transport |
Transport and telecommunications | Multi modal transport |
Transport and telecommunications | Rail transport |
WTO | Plurilateral Agreements |
WTO | WTO Agreements |
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