Book on national unity presented in Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

An exhibition timed to the Day of Unity of Peoples of Belarus and Russia has been opened at premises of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, BelTA has learned.

Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Belarus Boris Gryzlov, top officials of the Belarusian Information Ministry and the Belarusian Culture Ministry, heads and representatives of diplomatic missions of the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States took part in the festive event.

The book titled as “Yedinstvo nepobedimogo naroda” [Unity of the unbeatable nation] by the Belarusian collector and historian Vladimir Likhodedov was presented there as well. The author uses photos to describe the role Slavonic nations played during the French Invasion of Russia in 1812, World War One, and the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. The photo materials the book uses were also put on display as part of the exhibition.

During the event Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei noted that Vladimir Likhodedov's book is of particular interest today. In his words, it fully reflects principles and approaches of Belarus and Russia towards establishing international allied relations. It vividly demonstrates the utmost importance of unity of countries and nations on the basis of unshakeable historical and cultural values, mutual understanding and respect for national interests, a genuine desire for a constructive dialogue and fruitful alliance.

Vladimir Makei stressed that in today's world past principles had become distorted and turned upside down: Nazism is glorified in some countries while those, who liberated Europe from fascism, are portrayed as criminals.

The minister of foreign affairs said: “This book is about the unity of countries and nations on the basis of unshakeable historical and cultural values, the commonality of views on processes and events in the world, on the basis of mutual understanding and respect for national interests, on the basis of genuine craving for a constructive dialogue and true fellowship. The heroic deed of the people of those times should remain an example for us to follow.”

In turn, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Belarus Boris Gryzlov stressed that today's event is more focused on the situation the countries live in today instead of photo collections and historical books. “Today we are in a very important period of construction of our joint state, our Union State of Belarus and Russia,” the diplomat pointed out. “The title of this exhibition testifies to the level of our relations. Russia and Belarus are unbeatable when we help each other, when we preserve brotherly ties.”