Exam Topics. International Cooperation

Martin Luther King once said, ”We may have all come on different ships, but we’re all in the same boat now.”  In the 21th century, the world is becoming closer and more interconnected. Global cooperation means that all countries work together to  solve  such global issues  as  environmental problems, acts of terrorism, poverty, famine, wars, diseases (coronavirus, for instance), animal extinction so on and so forth. There are many organizations in the world, which work and cooperate together in dealing with international problems and our country is an active member of many of them.  

International relations have always been a significant part of the policy of the Republic of Belarus. Belarus is a member of about 100 different international and regional organizations. As a co-founder of the United Nations, Belarus cooperates with various institutions and organizations of the United Nations, the World Bank, the World Health Organization, the International Labour Organization, UNESCO, the European Union etc. 

UNESCO, for example, stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.  UNESCO’s mission is to contribute to the building of peace, decrease in poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue. It promotes tolerance for cultural diversity, peaceful resolution of conflicts, and respect for the historical, cultural and natural heritage.  Belarusian Association of UNESCO Clubs   includes 50 clubs all over Belarus. Belarus’s programme of UNESCO activities includes numerous interesting projects in the fields of education, science, information, communications and culture.  Today 4 Belarusian sites have been included in the World Heritage List: The Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park, The Architectural, Residential and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill family in Neswizh, Mir Castle and the Struve Arc.

Belarus is the co-founder of the Commonwealth of Independent States which includes 11 countries of the former Soviet Union. 

Participation in these organizations gives us an opportunity to ensure national security and sovereignty to this day. In economic terms, it provides country internal development. Our contribution is also essential. In the past few years, Belarus has been involved in international peace-keeping negotiations and agreements promoting international peace and security.  In order to find peaceful instruments of de-escalating the Crisis in Ukraine, our country has been hosting the meetings of the “Minsk Group” since the crisis began.

After gaining independence in 1991, Belarus paid a lot of attention to its foreign policy. Belarus maintains diplomatic relations with 177 countries of the world and is represented today by foreign offices in 59 states. Belarus has a friendly working relationship with such countries as Germany, Denmark, France, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Great Britain, the USA and many others. Foreign States are represented in our country by 45 embassies, 4 branch offices of embassies, 35 consular embassies.

Another way of international cooperation is creating twin towns and sister cities between countries to establish cultural and commercial ties. This form of social agreement encourages friendship between different cultures and increases tourism. Belarus has a great number of twin towns and sister cities in different parts of the world. For instance, Minsk and Nottingham are twin towns since 1957, Brest and Aberdeen in Scotland since 1990, Soligorsk and Holbaek in Denmark since 2008. 

Sovereign Belarus focuses on a multi-vector policy and aims at building up mutually beneficial relations with foreign states. Our country takes an active part in the development of the international community and is widely represented in all spheres on the international arena.

The Republic of Belarus organizers and takes an active part in different international cultural events.  The International Art Festival “Slavyanski Bazaar’ is a spectacular event annually held in Vitebsk. Once started as a local festival of Slavonic song folklore, it became international in 1995 and continues broadening the geography of its participants. The motto of the festival is “Through art to peace and understanding’ and its main aim is to promote art, friendship and mutual understanding within the international community. The program of “Slavyansky Bazaar’ includes concerts of music stars, concerts of young singers, folk songs concerts, fashion shows, the international contest of beauty “ Miss Slavyanka”, the days of the international culture, photo exhibitions, “ the city of Craftsmen” and many other events.

 Minsk International Film Festival “Listapad” was included in the list of the most prestigious film festivals. The main competitions of the festival focus on new films created in former socialistic countries, including the CIS countries, Central and South-East Asia, the Baltics, Eastern and Central Europe. The programme of the festival includes film shows, presentations, exhibitions, workshops, a documentary film competition, the children and youth films competition “Listapadzik’.

One more important international event held in Belarus is worth mentioning, namely Belarus Fashion Week. Its value lies in the popularization of Belarusian prêt-a-porter designer clothes. Due to this project Belarusian fashion is getting recognized abroad. 

I dare say our country receives more and more popularity on the international arena. Minsk hosted Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2010 which took place in the Cultural and Sport Complex Minsk Arena. And in 2014 our capital drew crowds again due to the Ice Hockey World Championship. 2019 European Games were also held in Belarus.

Undoubtedly, organizing and joining in international events is very beneficial for our country. On the one hand, it gives us an opportunity to introduce our country to the world, promote our culture and national identity. On the other hand, it improves our cooperation with other countries. We can exchange experience, get support and gain new ideas.

I’d like to sum it up with the quote from Helen Keller, “Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.”

Let’s talk about international cooperation.

1. Do you know what countries have cross-cultural relationship with Belarus?

2. Is Belarus a member of some international organisations?

3. You are going to travel to Britain as an exchange student. Ask questions about the exchange programme.

4. Give advice to your friend who is hosting a foreign student.

5. Social networking is a convenient way to keep in touch with foreign friends and a good possibility to develop cooperation. What do you think about it?

Write the answers to the questions in comments.