Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 6 June (BelTA) – Belarus and Israel have made great progress over the past 25 years of diplomatic relations, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Israel Vladimir Skvortsov said at a function in Ashdod, BelTA learned from the Belarusian embassy.

The event to mark 25 years of the diplomatic relations between Belarus and Israel was attended by Ashdod Vice Mayor Boris Giterman, representatives of the Israeli government bodies, embassies of the CIS countries, the Belarusian community, mass media and the local public.

According to Vladimir Skvortsov, an exchange of congratulatory letters on 25 years of diplomatic relations between the two heads of state demonstrates the current level of friendship and partner relations, and the significance the two countries attach to the further expansion of cooperation.

According to the diplomat, today’s relations between the two nations are based on a centuries-long history of good-neighborly coexistence of Belarusians and Jews on the Belarusian land.

“Many outstanding representatives of the Hebrew state were born in Belarus. Among them are politicians, scientists, creative figures, winners of the Nobel Prize. The Belarusian land, as it is well-known, gave Israel three presidents and three prime ministers. We are grateful that our compatriots-representatives of different generations have not lost ties with their motherland and preserved a kind and sincere attitude to it. They are an important humanitarian element in our bilateral dialogue,” Vladimir Skvortsov said.

The Israeli minister expressed words of gratitude to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko for the work conducted in Belarus to perpetuate the memory of the victims of fascism.

The official part was followed by a concert “We are from Belarus” featuring Honored Artist of the BSSR Leonid Bortkevich, the soloist of the legendary group “Pesnyary", and also Israeli artists.