April 4th, 2017 THE FIRST BELARUS WASHINGTON CONFERENCE

April 4th, 2017 THE FIRST BELARUS WASHINGTON CONFERENCE:  Revising relations: legacy and outlook for US-Belarus bilateral ties. Washington, USA

Institute “Political Sphere” is a partner of the Conference.

With the opening 25 years ago of the Belarusian Embassy in Washington, DC and the US Embassy in Minsk, official diplomatic ties between the two countries were established. Since then, relations between Belarus and the US have not been stable. They have seen an initial rising (1991-1994), a recession (1994-1996), a deep crisis (1996-2008), an attempt to normalize (2008-2010), a new crisis (2010-2014) and yet another attempt at normalization (after 2014). These fluctuations were conditioned both by domestic developments in Belarus and by the uneasy position occupied by the country between East and West.

Not least as a result of deteriorating relations between Russian and the West over the last years, ties between Belarus and the United States have recently undergone significant improvement – both sides are looking for a new format of cooperation, and they seem ready to compromise on problematic political and foreign policy issues. In this situation, it is important to better understand the political legacies, current state, and challenges in their bilateral relations. This conference, organized jointly by the Belarusian Institute of America (BIA) and the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF), will provide a forum to discuss opportunities, prospects and possible directions in US-Belarus relations. It will bring together a broad range of researchers and experts, politicians and officials, civil society representatives and other stakeholders interested in Belarus and Belarus-US relations.

Preliminary PROGRAM

10.00-10.20. Welcome speech. Brief Research Presentation “US-Belarus: outline of political and economic relations, 1992-2017” (BIA, GMF).

10.20-11.50. Panel 1. Legacies: Hopes, missed opportunities, collisions, and progress in US-Belarus relations.

11.50-12.20. Coffee break.

12.20-14.00. Panel 2. Outlooks: the current state, challenges, mutual interests and differences in US-Belarus relations.

For all inquiries regarding the event please email to: [email protected].

ORGANIZERS

Belarusian Institute of America (BIA) is a non-profit organization founded in 2015 to develop and support research, analytical and community initiatives, and to expand knowledge about Belarus in the United States and abroad. The Belarusian Institute of America envisions to build and support an academic and expert community on Belarusian issues in the U.S. and abroad, as well as to create a stable platform for empowerment, communication and intellectual exchange between researchers and professionals of both countries.

The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) strengthens transatlantic cooperation on regional, national, and global challenges and opportunities in the spirit of the Marshall Plan. Founded in 1972 as a non-partisan, non-profit organization, GMF contributes research and analysis and convenes leaders on transatlantic issues relevant to policymakers. GMF offers rising leaders opportunities to develop their skills and networks through transatlantic exchange, and supports civil society in the Balkans and Black Sea regions by fostering democratic initiatives, rule of law, and regional cooperation.