MOSCOW, April 02. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has congratulated President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on the Day of Unity between the Peoples of Russia and Belarus, the Kremlin press service said on Wednesday.

Creation of the Russia-Belarus Union State became a life-changing event for Russian and Belarusian people. The two countries have "settled down to a course of close integration, joining forces to provide stability and security and ensuring citizens' well-being and prosperity,” the Kremlin quoted Putin.

The project helped launch the Eurasian Economic Union, the creation of which is producing tangible results, Putin said. Russia and Belarus continue to develop trade and economic relations, pursue a concerted foreign policy and co-operate in the sphere of defense.

The Day of Russian and Belarusian Peoples' Unity is being celebrated to mark the day when Russia and Belarus officially formed a union state.

On April 2, 1996, the two presidents, Boris Yeltsin and Alexander Lukashenko, signed a Treaty on Formation of the Community of Russia and Belarus.

One year later, the treaty on union between Russia and Belarus was signed. This gave impetus to the process of comprehensive integration, leading to the establishment of a Union State of Russia and Belarus in 1999.

Eurasian economic union

Russia-Belarus fruitful cooperation will help start a new integration institution - Eurasian economic union, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has said.

In a telephone conversation with his Belarusian counterpart Mikhail Myasnikovich on Wednesday Medvedev said, “In recent years much has been done to strengthen traditionally friendly relations and develop the Union State.”

“I’m convinced that Russian-Belarusian cooperation will meet the peoples’ vital interests,” he said.