MOSCOW, 19 September (BelTA) – Alliance with Russia is a priority and a long-term strategic course for Belarus, Belarus’ Ambassador to Russia Aleksandr Rogozhnik said at an event to mark the Day of People’s Unity, at the Embassy’s Business and Cultural Center on 18 September, BelTA has learned.
“Unfortunately, the current international situation raises concerns and worries again: armed conflicts are breaking out in different regions of the planet, xenophobia and Nazism are raising their heads. In these circumstances Belarus stands for the peaceful development of a multipolar world. In this regard, I would like to pay special attention to the allied relations with fraternal Russia, which are our priority and long-term strategic course, and are currently on the rise in every area of life, from culture to trade, economic, military and political interaction,” Aleksandr Rogozhnik said.
According to him, record-high trade with Russia in recent years, large-scale cooperation in microelectronics, aircraft and machine tool construction, completion of the BelNPP construction project became a response to the sanctions aggression of the West and contributed to economic growth of almost 4% in both Belarus and Russia last year. “This year the positive trends continue,” the diplomat said.
The ambassador emphasized that Belarus would continue its confident movement along the sovereign course under the leadership of national leader Aleksandr Lukashenko. “We will continue to develop a peaceful, socially just, industrialized Belarusian state, a responsible subject of integration associations with the Russian Federation and other allies,” he stressed.
“One of the famous quotes of the Belarusian president says: “Strength is in the truth, and the truth is on our side!” We are united in our wish to live on our land, decide for ourselves and work hard. History teaches that by forgetting our past, abandoning it, we destroy the foundation on which the present is built. We must never allow this to happen. We live as long as we remember. The Republic of Belarus is a common cause. It is unity!” Aleksandr Rogozhnik added.
Two exhibition projects prepared by the National Archives of Belarus were displayed as part of the event. One of them celebrated the 85th anniversary of the reunification of Western Belarus and the BSSR, the second one - the establishment of the institution of presidency and parliamentarism in Belarus. The program also featured a concert of the Belarusian National Academic Concert Orchestra named after Mikhail Finberg.
