Belarus – Greece Relations
Political Dialogue
The Hellenic Republic was one of the first to recognize the sovereignty of the Republic of Belarus (January 2, 1992). Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on March 5, 1992.
In 1994 and 1996, the foreign ministers of Greece and Belarus exchanged visits. During the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus to Greece in September 1996, a Protocol on Cooperation between the two ministries was signed. In June 2009, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Sergei Martynov, visited Greece to participate in an informal OSCE ministerial meeting.
In 2009-2011, the consultations between the foreign ministries of Belarus and Greece at the level of department directors were held.
In December 2015, the Secretary General of the Greek Foreign Ministry for International Economic Relations, Giorgos Tsipras, paid a visit to Minsk, where he met with the Minister of Economy of Belarus, the Minister of Transport and Communications, as well as the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In May 2017, Athens hosted the second round of interministerial consultations at the level of deputy foreign ministers. The Belarusian delegation was headed by Oleg Kravchenko, the Greek delegation was led by Dimitrios Paraskevopoulos.
In May 2019, the Ambassador of Belarus, Aliaksandr Lukashevich, visited Thessaloniki to hold meetings in the offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace, as well as regional business structures.
2022 marks 30 years since establishment of diplomatic relations between Belarus and Greece.
Trade and Economic Relations
In 2021, the bilateral trade in goods between Belarus and Greece amounted to 29.80 million USD (73.2% in comparison to 2020), exports of goods from Belarus to Greece – 3.51 million USD (143.8%), imports – 26.29 million USD (68.7%). The balance of trade in goods is negative for Belarus in the amount of 22.78 million USD.
The main exports from Belarus to Greece in 2021 were oxidation inhibitors, gum inhibitors, viscosity improvers, insulated wires, cables, plywood, carpentry building products, etc. The main imports from Greece to Belarus were fresh fruits (apricots, cherries, peaches, plums, citrus fruit), aluminum foil, medicaments, spirituous beverages, copper tubes and pipes, clothing accessories and other articles of furskin, etc.
In 2021, the bilateral trade in services amounted to 1.42 million USD (126.7% in comparison to 2020), the exports of services from Belarus to Greece – 653.6 thousand USD (154.9%), the imports of services – 762.4 thousand USD (109.6%).
Direct investment from Greece to Belarus amounted to 597 thousand USD (126.2% in comparison to 2020).
As of January 2022 there are about 30 operating legal entities in the Republic of Belarus established with the participation of the Greek legal entities or individuals (according to the data provided by the Belarusian Unified state register of legal entities and individual entrepreneurs).
