Official website of the President of Russia

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The message reads, in part:

“We laid the foundation for the Union State, the main integration project between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, on this very day in 1996.

Our countries are making steady progress in developing mutually advantageous cooperation. Bilateral trade is growing rapidly, interregional ties are developing actively, intergovernmental economic programmes are successfully being implemented, as are large-scale high-tech projects in the energy and aerospace sectors. One of the Union’s important achievements is providing social guarantees granting Russian and Belarusian citizens equal access to education, healthcare, employment, and choice of residence.

Russia and Belarus coordinate their foreign and security policies and cooperate in the fight against terrorism and organised crime. Our close partnership in addressing pressing international problems has become an important factor in maintaining stability in the CIS and the entire Eurasian continent.

The experience we gained while building the Union State has been successfully applied to the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space. I am convinced that efficiently using the opportunities offered by these international organisations furthers our peoples’ welfare and improves their quality of life.”