News & Events in Belarus

MOSCOW, 5 June (BelTA) – Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov have opened an exhibition to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Belarus and Russia in Moscow, BelTA has learned.

The exhibition in the building of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Spiridonovka Street features the documents and photographs related to the major events in the relations of the two countries over the past quarter of a century. The exhibition features the copies of the protocol on the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Belarus and Russia, the agreement on good neighborliness and cooperation, the Treaty on the Community of Belarus and Russia, the Treaty on the Union of Belarus and Russia, and the Treaty on the Belarus-Russia Union State.

At the opening ceremony, Vladimir Makei noted that the people of Belarus and Russia share many centuries of friendship and brotherly relations. Over the past quarter of a century, the countries have achieved a lot in all cooperation areas. Besides, they have been working to amplify what they built in the past centuries. “However, our main achievement is that we have ensured that Russians do not feel strangers in Belarus, and vice versa. It is important to preserve this achievement,” the minister stressed.

For his part, Sergei Lavrov was glad to note the positive trends in the economic cooperation between Belarus and Russia. “Belarus is Russia’s main trading partner in the Commonwealth of Independent States and the fourth major trading partner in the world,” the diplomat emphasized.

The opening of the exhibition was timed to coincide with the joint session of the Belarusian and Russian foreign ministries. The exhibition will later move to the main building of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Smolenskaya Square.