Dear colleagues! Dear friends!
On behalf of the Presidium of the NAS of Belarus and on my own behalf, I sincerely congratulate you on National Unity Day!

The date of September 17, 1939 is a symbol of the restoration of historical justice towards the Belarusian people, who were divided against their will in 1921 under the terms of the Riga Peace Treaty.

This year we are celebrating the 85th anniversary of these truly historical events, which gives them special relevance and arouses increased interest from the scientific community and the public. It is not for nothing that numerous conferences, round tables, and meetings dedicated to this date are held throughout the country these days.

The Riga Peace Treaty did not meet the national and state interests of the Belarusian people. The Belarusian nation and its ethnic territory were divided into two parts. For 20 long years, over four million people living in the occupied Polish territory were deprived of the right to speak their native language, study in national schools, and develop their own distinctive culture. Belarusians made up the majority of the population in the annexed lands — over 75 percent. Western Belarus has turned into a backward agricultural and raw material region of the Polish state. This had a negative impact on the population’s state, which was especially evident during the years of the world economic crisis of 1929–1933. Belarusian schools, publishing houses, libraries, and reading huts were closed under far-fetched pretexts. If in the early 1920s there were two Belarusian teachers' seminaries in Western Belarus, in Baruny and Svislach, eight Belarusian gymnasiums and about 400 primary Belarusian schools, then in the academic year 1938/1939 there were no Belarusian schools left. It is not for nothing that the liberation campaign in Western Belarus in 1939 was perceived by most Belarusians as an act of historical justice, and they greeted the Red Army as a deliverer from national oppression with flowers and bread and salt.

By Edict of the President of the Republic of Belarus A. R. Lukashenka of June 7, 2021, National Unity Day was established, which it was decided to celebrate on September 17. This date is a real national symbol, the restoration of historical justice towards the Belarusian people.

National Unity Day is designed to unite all generations of Belarusians. It is a special day for each of us – a day of awareness of personal involvement in strengthening the unity of the Belarusian people. Only by joining forces and showing solidarity, will we preserve peace and prosperity on our land.

Under the sign of unity, we will be able to reach new heights in the development of our native Belarus!

On this significant day, please accept the wishes of good health, long and happy years of life, inexhaustible energy and optimism, cheerful mood and bright events, invariably peaceful sky above your head and success!
Happy holidays, dear friends, all the best to you!