Russian PM Medvedev Congratulates Belarusian Counterpart on Unity Day

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev stated that Russia and Belarus have "special, time-tested, fraternal and partnership relations."

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev congratulated Belarusian counterpart Andrey Kobyakov on Unity of Peoples of Russia and Belarus Day and noted that preservation of partner relations was a mutual duty.

"Our countries have special, time-tested, fraternal and partnership relations. It is our common duty to preserve and increase this heritage," Medvedev said in a letter.

The prime minister noted the high level of integration of the two countries, recalled the implementation of large-scale economic, infrastructure, industrial and humanitarian projects. Medvedev stressed the importance of forming a positive agenda for Russian-Belarusian cooperation, as well as solving urgent problems, including within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union.

Kobyakov in turn called the Unity of Peoples of Russia and Belarus Day "a landmark in the history of integration entities in the post-Soviet space."

Unity of Peoples of Russia and Belarus Day is celebrated annually on April 2. On this day in 1996 the Union State of Russia and Belarus was formed aimed at enhancing integration in various spheres between the two countries.