belarus.usaid.gov
Country Program Officer: John Riordan
USAID/Minsk
Department of State
Washington, DC 20521-7010
Tel: 380-44-537-4600
Fax: 375-17-211-3032
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Overview
The U.S. has a national interest in a free and peaceful Europe, which must include a stable, democratic and market-oriented Belarus. Now that the European Union shares a border with Belarus, it has launched the Eastern Partnership initiative to bring Belarus, together with other Newly Independent States, in closer cooperation with Europe. Belarus’ current authorities have stifled independent media and political opposition and have carried out questionable economic policies. Some positive but still reversible steps were taken by the authorities in the direction of U.S. and EU human rights concerns and creating fora for dialogue with civil society and democratic forces. Structural reforms and privatization remain on the agenda, though some measures were recently undertaken to liberalize the economy and continue privatization. The current global economic crisis may provide new incentives for structural reforms. In its internal policies, Belarus continues to be a difficult environment for non-governmental organizations (NGOs), opposition parties, and free media. The country retains the potential to contribute to and benefit from regional economic development, but it needs to implement democratic and market reforms. USAID focuses on empowering Belarusians so that they may participate in the reform and transition processes.
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