President Lukashenko Awarded President Putin's 70th Birthday

JAKARTA - Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a cap to award Order of St. Andrew the Apostle the First-Called, Russia's highest award, to his Belarusian partner, Alexander Lukashenko, who turned 70 on Friday.

The Belarusian leader was awarded an "extraordinary achievement in developing allied relations and strategic partnerships" between Russia and Belarus and "to enhance friendly relations between the Russian people and Belarus," the Kremlin said on its website, launching TASS August 30.

President Lukashenko also emphasized the great personal contribution in the formation and effective function of the Unitary State, the Kremlin continued.

In his telegram, President Putin said his good relationship and friendship with President Lukashenko had been tested by time.

"And of course, I am confident that we will continue to do our best to strengthen useful cooperation between Russia and Belarus," said the Russian leader.

President Putin and President Lukashenko enjoy strong friendship, the Kremlin said. These two leaders often meet and have regular telephone conversations.

"During your tenure, you have earned a reputation as a true patriot of your country. You are constantly promoting your interests on the international stage and are a wise politician who is able to make balanced and broad-field decisions even in the most challenging situations," President Putin wrote in a happy birthday message to President Lukashenko, quoted from the Kremlin website.

"Your contribution in developing friendly relations between Russia and Belarus, building and strengthening the institutions of the United States, as well as promoting mutually beneficial integration processes in the Eurasian region cannot be underestimated," President Putin continued.

Both excel in protecting the interests of their country, which allows them to protect the interests of the Unitary State as well, said Russian Presidential Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.