22 May, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA/. Scientists from Belarus, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine will take part in the international scientific conference "Polotsk in the History and Culture of Europe", which opens today in Polotsk. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by the Ideological Work Department of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee. The conference is held as one of the central scientific events dedicated to the origin of Belarusian statehood, the 1150th anniversary of which is associated with the chronicle Polotsk and is celebrated in May of the current year. The main results of scientific research on the origin and formation of statehood in the territory of Belarus, the connection of written monuments and archaeological materials of its initial period, the development of ancient cities, culture, and the determination of Polotsk's place in the history and culture of Europe will be summarized here. On the first day of the conference, a plenary session will be held, and books dedicated to the anniversary of Polotsk will be presented. The summary and closing of the scientific meeting will take place on 24 May. -0-

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