MOSCOW, 22 June (BelTA) - Belarus and Russia consistently strengthen cooperation in all the areas, official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova told a briefing to mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries celebrated on 25 June, BelTA has learned.
Maria Zakharova said that on this day 30 years ago a protocol was signed in Minsk, which sealed the intention of the two independent states to follow the way of strengthening political, trade, economic and cultural ties based on common history, spiritual closeness and good neighborly relations. “All these years Moscow and Minsk have been systematically moving along the path of integration cooperation. The two countries established the Community of Belarus and Russia in 1996, the Union of Belarus and Russia in 1997, and the Union State in 1999. Thus Russia and Belarus have been consistently strengthening their relations of alliance and strategic partnership. An important milestone was the approval by the Supreme State Council of the Belarus-Russia Union State of a package of integration documents, which includes 28 sectoral programs on 4 November 2021, as well as a migration policy concept and the updated Military Doctrine of the Union State. Their implementation contributes to the development of a common social, economic and humanitarian space, strengthening the position of national economies and security of the two countries,” Maria Zakharova said.
According to Maria Zakharova, Belarus and Russia are jointly confronting common challenges and threats, including the sanctions pressure of the West. “Belarus and Russia conduct an intense political dialogue. The two countries consistently deepen interaction in a wide range of areas, including security, foreign policy, trade, economic and humanitarian cooperation, implementation of equal rights of citizens. Moscow and Minsk jointly defend their national interests in the international arena, confront common challenges and threats, including unlawful sanctions pressure from the West,” she said.
“The open and trusting relations established between the two countries help us find solutions to fundamentally important problems for the benefit of our peoples. We congratulate all the citizens of Russia and Belarus on our common anniversary,” said the official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to Maria Zakharova, as part of the anniversary celebrations Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov is expected to pay a working visit to Minsk on 30 June–1 July.
