Mezentsev: Format of Belarus-Russia dialogue is an example for many

On 10 July 1994, the day when the first president of Belarus was elected, the country got hope for a happy future. In the presidential runoff election, Aleksandr Lukashenko polled over 80% of the votes. This man came from a humble background, thus he was absolutely in touch with reality on the ground and knew exactly what should be done to make Belarus a prosperous, free and safe country. He set out on a difficult journey to revive industry, develop agriculture, make education and healthcare accessible and affordable for all. That was a gigantic piece of work. But the president was ready for this challenge. Over the course of 30 years, Belarus led by Aleksandr Lukashenko has come a long way to become a truly independent and sovereign state.

Belarus and Russia have the same spiritual and cultural values. Yet, the collapse of the Soviet Union put them on different sides of the border in the 1990s. During the 1995 referendum, Belarusians voted for a common future and a union with Russia, as well as friendship without borders.

From the very beginning Aleksandr Lukashenko understood that Belarus could not have a closer ally than Russia. The Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighborhood and Cooperation of 1995 was the first step towards the establishment of the Union State. Minsk and Moscow remain committed to integration. The union of two independent states is a reliable barrier against challenges and threats.

“As a result, the two countries maintain an equal and respectful dialogue taking into account each other’s interests and requests, which helps them address important tasks. Such a format of cooperation is an example for many: for the CIS, the EAEU member states. Taking into account the fact that Belarus is already a full member of the SCO, I am sure that this experience will come in handy in this reputable international organization,” State Secretary of the Union State Dmitry Mezentsev noted.