President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko congratulated President of Hungary Tamás Sulyok and the country's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on St. Stephen's Day. This was reported to BELTA by the press service of the Belarusian leader.

In his congratulatory message to the President of Hungary, the Head of State emphasized: "As you rightly noted in your message to me, the main foundation on which cooperation between states should be built is an uncompromising commitment to the principles of mutual trust and respect. It is in accordance with the fundamental constitutional norms and national interests that Minsk and Budapest have been actively developing bilateral interaction for many years for the benefit of the peoples of our countries."

Alexander Lukashenko noted that Tamás Sulyok's first year as President coincided with a significant event – Hungary's presidency of the Council of the EU. The President of Belarus expressed confidence that thanks to Budapest's leading role, important issues such as the protection of the family, traditional Christian values, and the need to preserve fair principles of international law and interstate relations will return to the European agenda.

The Head of State confirmed Belarus's readiness for multifaceted cooperation on the aforementioned and other topics of mutual interest.

The congratulatory message to the Prime Minister stated that modern Hungary, a country with a responsible and active stance, consistently pursues a balanced, peace-loving policy that primarily serves the national interests of the state. Alexander Lukashenko stressed that, despite any international difficulties, Minsk and Budapest remain true to their principles, developing mutually beneficial, equal cooperation based on respect and similarity of views on many issues.

"Undoubtedly, one of the main priorities today is the settlement of the conflict in neighboring Ukraine. The Belarusian side has always advocated for peace initiatives and stability in Europe, not only in words but also in deeds. That is why we highly value Hungary's position, which occupies an important place in European politics and is taking decisive steps towards establishing peace," the President of Belarus pointed out.

Alexander Lukashenko wished the leaders of Hungary good health and fruitful activities, energy and strength for success in all endeavors, and the Hungarian people – happiness, well-being, and peaceful skies.-