Russian President Dmitry Medvedev congratulated his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko and all residents of the former Soviet republic on Independence Day on Saturday, the Kremlin said.
Independence Day was earlier marked on July 27, the date when Belarus declared its independence from the Soviet Union, but was moved to July 3 in 1996 according to the results of a national referendum.
The current Independence Day celebrates the 1944 liberation of the Belarusian capital of Minsk from German troops.
“It is deeply symbolic that on this day we mark together the anniversary of the liberation of Belarusian territory from the Nazis,” Medvedev said in his message, adding that the war years had brought the Russian and Belarusian people even closer.
Medvedev also said that it was vital for both Russia and Belarus to strengthen democracy, as well as take important steps along the path of technological modernization and social-economic development.
MOSCOW, July 3 (RIA Novosti)
