Opinions & Interviews

MOSCOW, 2 April (BelTA) – State Secretary of the Union State Grigory Rapota sent greetings to all Belarusians and Russians as the two countries celebrate the Day of Unity on 2 April, BelTA has learnt.

“The Day of Unity of the Peoples of Belarus and Russia is a special holiday which is not limited to a calendar day only. The unity of our states is a constant value, a part of our past, present day and the future,” the message of congratulations says.

According to Grigory Rapota, there has been no time in the history when Belarusians and Russians were not together. In his words, this year we mark the 100^th anniversary of the beginning of World War One. “We will also mark the 70^th anniversary of Belarus’ liberation from the Nazis. Common ordeals and common victories pulled our two nations together that united into the Union State,” the State Secretary said.

“The Slavonic world with historically close contacts is currently undergoing difficult times. It is another proof for how we should value and protect our Russian-Belarusian Union,” Grigory Rapota said.

The Day of Unity will be marked in many cities of Belarus and Russia. The National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater will be the venue for the main celebrations in Minsk, while the Russian Army Theater – in Moscow.

In the majority of Russian regions the celebrations will held with an active participation of the offices of the Belarusian embassy in the Russian Federation and Belarusian national and cultural autonomies.