Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko and presented him with the highest Russian state order "Saint Andrew the First Called", reported TASS. The solemn ceremony was held in the Andrew's Hall in the Kremlin, BTA reported.
Upon awarding Lukashenko with the order, Putin firmly shook his hand and hugged him, TASS reports. Presenting the order to his Belarusian colleague, Putin also drew attention to the construction of the union state between Russia and Belarus. He emphasized that in the union state "common defense and security are reliably guaranteed, a single economic, legal and humanitarian space has been created".
The Russian president noted that Lukashenko was at the foundation of the creation of the union state and "made a significant contribution to its strengthening and development". "We know you as a consistent and zealous supporter of preserving and expanding the close ties of the entire space of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), with your active support mutually beneficial cooperation is developing within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Treaty Organization collective security (CSTO), and now, from that moment on, when Belarus became a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), this also applies to this organization," Putin told his Belarusian counterpart.
"Thank you for this highest honor. I consider it a recognition of the merits of the entire Belarusian people, who consistently strengthen unity with our brotherly Russia. For our country, Russia has always been and will be more than just a neighboring country," answered Lukashenko and added: "I, as the president elected by the Belarusian people, will always defend common interests, centuries-old good neighborliness and friendship. As a historian by education, I feel this very clearly.
Putin signed the decree awarding Lukashenko on August 30, when the Belarusian leader celebrated his 70th birthday. The decree states that the Belarusian president was awarded for his outstanding services to the development of alliance relations and strategic partnership, for the strengthening of friendship between the two fraternal nations and his personal contribution to the effective operation of the union state, according to TASS.