BREST, 29 September (BelTA) - Belarusian-Russian relations have become an example of two independent states moving towards each other, Boris Batura, Chairman of the Belarusian organization Twin Cities, Chairman of the Board of the Belarusian Public Organization "Sister Cities", Chairman of the Council of Elders under the Presidium of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus, said at the opening of the 12th Forum of Sister Cities of Belarus and Russia and the first sister cities youth meeting in Brest on 29 September, BelTA has learned.
“The current meeting is marking its 25th anniversary,” Boris Batura said. “25 years ago, two organizations coordinating the twinning movement - the Belarusian Association Twin Cities and the International Sister City Association held the first meeting in Gomel. The meeting held on 1-3 October 1998 was attended by sister cities Borisov-Podolsk, Zhodzino-Smolevich -Mytishchi, Slutsk-Serpukhov, Mogilev-Tula, Brest-Nizhny Tagil, Novopolotsk-Orekhovo-Zuevo, Gomel-Orel-Bryansk.”
Boris Batura went on saying: “Representatives of these cities are with us today, and I would like to extend greetings to them and, of course, our reliable Russian partners, in particular, the board of the Moscow Sister City Association and Executive Vice President Sergei Paramonov on this anniversary, to thank them for their friendship and reliability, which have only strengthened over the years. Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said in his message of greetings to the participants of the meeting: “Once again I am convinced how much life-giving value is inherent in the very idea of the union of Belarus and Russia. The sister city movement is the embodiment of this creative idea, one of the most promising forms of our economic and cultural cooperation,” he said.
According to the head of the Belarusian organization, life has repeatedly proved these words right. “Belarus-Russia partnership has become an example of movement of two independent states towards each other,” he emphasized. “Mutual cooperation, development of common production chains, and reliance on the trade space undoubtedly make us stronger.”
