Belarussian Aspects of Poland's Eastern Policy in 1996 - 1999 (Mechislav Chesnovsky)

Раздел - "Международные отношения"The article traces the complicated developments in the bilateral relations of Belarus and Poland within the context of eastern policy of Warsaw in 1996—1999. As is the case with the early 90s, they were characterized b y the undeveloped treaty basis and the lack of strategic interest on the part of Belarusian authorities towards the rapprochement between the two countries. The establishment of Russia-Belarus Union has weakened the interest of Minsk to Poland still further. In its turn, Warsaw regarded joining NATO as a security guarantee for the country. Hence shifting to the background the role of Belarus as a buffer state, which had been counted upon to ward off the "imperial and unpredictable" Russia. This resulted in Belarusian-Polish bilateral dialogue losing importance. At the same time joint regional political priorities also lost their relevance. A n ew geopolitical reality was emerging in Central and Eastern Europe. In a sense, both Belarus and Poland come to be the advocates of their patron allies in the issues of European security. New realities predetermined aggravation of regional alienation and disbalance of both bilateral and regional Belarusian and Polish interests. Their possible consequence could be both states becoming a testing ground for the confronting sides — NATO and the Belarus-Russia Union — including nuclear weapons being deployed on the territories of Belarusian and Poland