Today, on April 2, the Day of Unity of the Peoples of Belarus and Russia is celebrated – a holiday dedicated to brotherhood, common history and strategic partnership between the two states.
"Dear employees and students of the Belarusian National Technical University, friends and partners from the Russian Federation! I cordially congratulate you on the Day of the Unity of the Peoples of Belarus and Russia!
This significant day is a symbol of unbreakable friendship, mutual respect and the common historical destiny of the two fraternal peoples. The Union State of Belarus and Russia is not just a project, but a living, evolving reality based on a solid foundation of common interests, mutual assistance and strategic partnership. In today's world full of challenges and rapid changes, it is close integration in the economy, science, education and culture that ensures our countries' stability, security and confident progress.
We are proud that our university is a platform for the implementation of joint educational programs, scientific research and innovative projects. Here, within the walls of the BNTU, talented young minds of the two countries meet, professional cadres are being formed that will determine the future of the Union State tomorrow. The daily work of Belarusian and Russian scientists and teachers, dedication to their work, the desire for new knowledge and openness to cooperation are the most important contribution to the development of our common home.
I sincerely wish you good health, inexhaustible optimism, family well-being and stability. May wisdom accompany you in making all decisions, and confidence in the future will be the key to new victories! May our cooperation continue to serve as a reliable foundation for strengthening the Union State as a solid foundation of independence, progress and peace for our peoples!
Rector
S. Kharitonchik"
The Day of Unity of the Peoples of Belarus and Russia is celebrated annually on April 2. It owes its appearance to the events of 1996: it was on this day that the presidents of the two states, Alexander Lukashenko and Boris Yeltsin, signed the Agreement on the Formation of the Community of Belarus and Russia in Moscow. The document provided for the coordination of foreign policy, cooperation in the field of security and border protection, as well as the formation of common principles of military construction.
Exactly one year later, on April 2, 1997, the Community was transformed into a Union: the presidents signed the Treaty on the Union of Belarus and Russia, and on May 23 of the same year – its Charter, which received wide popular support. Since then, April 2 has been officially celebrated in the two countries as the Day of Unity of the Peoples of Belarus and Russia.
The next important stage was on December 8, 1999, when the Treaty on the Creation of the Union State was signed in the St. George's Hall of the Moscow Kremlin. It provided for the formation of a common parliament, a single economic, customs and humanitarian space. Today, the Supreme State Council, the Council of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly operate within the framework of the Union State, and numerous joint programs and projects are being implemented.
The rapprochement of the two sovereign states after the collapse of the USSR became a natural stage in the development of relations: the history of Belarus is inextricably linked with the history of Russia, and the peoples of the two countries share common roots, culture and historical memory.
The Belarusian National Technical University is an active participant in the Belarusian-Russian cooperation. The university celebrates this holiday not only with official congratulations, but also with joint projects that unite students and teachers of the two countries.
On the eve and on the holiday itself, BNTU traditionally hosts dialogue platforms and meetings with representatives of Russian partner universities. Students and teachers discuss the prospects of joint projects, exchange experiences in the field of science, education and youth work. BNTU's partnerships with Russian universities include dozens of universities from different regions of the country, from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk and Astrakhan.
One of the most striking embodiments of this fraternity has been the International Athletics Run, which BNTU has been conducting jointly with Izhevsk State Technical University named after M. T. Kalashnikov since 2003. The route of the race runs through the historical sites of Belarus and Russia, and its participants lay flowers at the monuments to the heroes of the Great Patriotic War. Every year the geography of the race is expanding, bringing together more and more participants.
The Forum of Universities of Engineering and Technology of the Union State, one of the organizers of which is BNTU, serves as a platform for dialogue between scientists and young researchers. The Forum brings together representatives of Belarusian and Russian universities to discuss priority areas for the development of science and technology and the implementation of joint innovative projects.
There are things that don't require contracts and declarations: shared memory, language, and values. "We have been a nation for a nation all our lives," wrote the poet Egor Isaev. And that says it all. Happy Day of Unity of the peoples of Belarus and Russia!
