On the eve of the 12th anniversary of Ukraine's independence, on August 23, 2003, by signing a cooperation agreement, the cities of Lutsk and Brest (Republic of Belarus) officially confirmed their long-standing friendly relations. \n \nAt the ceremonial meeting on this occasion, the executive authorities of both cities, represented by the secretary of the Lutsk City Council, First Deputy Mayor Sviatoslav Yevhenovych Kravchuk and Brest City Mayor Nadiya Hryhorivna Yashchuk, emphasized the established contacts between the cities in the fields of medicine, education, culture, sports and tourism since Soviet times. Delegations from both cities always feel genuine homely warmth during visits to their neighbors from across the border. The formation of independent states should not hinder the development of good-neighborly relations, but on the contrary - deepen and strengthen them. \n \nIn addition to traditional areas of cooperation, the Brest City Mayor, who is also the head of the regional women's union of Belarus, proposed deepening cooperation between women's organizations of Lutsk and Brest, as well as between veterans' unions. In her opinion, it is precisely these forces that can become a unifying link in fostering patriotism and respect for other cultures in the younger generation. Taking the opportunity, she invited Lutsk children on excursions to the Brest Fortress, to which the head of the education department of the Lutsk City Executive Committee, who was present at the meeting, immediately agreed. \n \nThe signing ceremony was also attended by a delegation from the city of Grzeszow (Republic of Poland), whose community already cooperates under a similar agreement with the community of Lutsk. The parties expressed intentions to soon sign a trilateral agreement that would provide for deepening friendly contacts between Slavic cities. \n