MOSCOW, April 2. /TASS/. Common challenges are conducive to the cohesion of Russians and Belarusians, and no barbarian terrorist attacks can intimidate them and undermine their morale, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told his Belarusian counterpart, Sergey Aleinik, in a congratulatory message on the occasion of Russia-Belarus Unity Day.

"Please accept my sincere congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of our shared holiday: the Day of Unity of the Peoples of Russia and Belarus," the foreign minister noted.

"No barbaric terrorist attack can intimidate and break the spirit of Russians and Belarusians, who are now forced to mourn on the same day the victims of the Nazi henchmen not only of Khatyn, but also of Krasnogorsk (site of the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack - TASS). On the contrary, common difficult trials unite us even more, strengthen our determination to put an end to the evil emanating from the hateful ideologies of neo-Nazism and religious extremism," the minister emphasized.

According to Lavrov, Moscow and Minsk jointly will be able to cope "with the most serious threats and challenges posed by the collective West and its Ukrainian puppets, to ensure the security and prosperity of all Russians and Belarusians." "I count on the continuation of the traditionally close coordination between our foreign policy agencies on the world stage in accordance with the Program of Concerted Actions for 2024-2026. We are determined to provide in-depth diplomatic support for multifaceted bilateral cooperation and intensive integration processes within the [Russia-Belarus] Union State, the Eurasian Economic Union, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)," he pointed out.

"Taking this opportunity, I would like to wish you good health, happiness, prosperity and further success in your professional endeavors," Lavrov concluded.