Day of Unity of the Peoples of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus

On 2 April 1996, President of the Russian Federation B. N. Yeltsin and President of the Republic of Belarus A. G. Lukashenko signed the Treaty on the Establishment of the Community of Belarus and Russia. A year later, on 2 April 1997, the Treaty on the Union of Belarus and Russia was also signed. Since then, 2 April has been officially celebrated as the Day of Unity of the Peoples of Belarus and Russia.

On 23 May 1997, the Charter of the Union of Belarus and Russia was signed, which established the Supreme Council and the Executive Committee of the Union. In 1997-1998, the Union's executive bodies and the general budget were formed, and the first Union programmes were developed and implemented.

On December 8, 1999, the Treaty on the Establishment of the Union State was signed in Moscow and the Programme of Action of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation to implement its provisions was adopted. On 26 January 2000, the Treaty entered into force after ratification by the parliaments of the two countries.

The main purpose of the creation of the Union State was to raise the living standards of the peoples, to strengthen the relations of brotherhood, friendship and co-operation between Belarus and Russia in political, economic, social and other spheres. One of the main and most successful areas of activity of the Union State is the implementation of a coordinated foreign policy of Belarus and Russia.

Lit.:  В Беларуси и России 2 апреля отмечают День единения народов // БЕЛТА – Новости Беларуси: [электронный ресурс] URL: https://belta.by/; Информационно-аналитический портал Союзного государства // Официальный сайт: [электронный ресурс] URL: https://soyuz.by/; Постоянный Комитет Союзного государства // Официальный сайт: [электронный ресурс] URL: https://xn--c1anggbdpdf.xn--p1ai/.

Based on the materials of Presidential Library:

Russia – Belarus: the History of Relations: [digital collection]