Russian President Boris Yeltsin and his visiting Belarussian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko signed a treaty in Moscow Wednesday to create a Russian-Belarussian union state.

The two presidents also signed a program for implementing the treaty's principles.

After the signing ceremony, Yeltsin said, "It is a remarkable day in the century-old history of the two fraternal peoples."

"The tasks which Alexander Grigoryevich (Lukashenko) and I set before ourselves a year ago have been fulfilled. Our countries are entering the 21st century in a new quality," said Yeltsin.

He said this action is motivated by "the logic of our history. " Russian-Belarussian cooperation is rising to a new level and the two countries have obtained an efficient instrument for creating a common foundation for work and development, he said.

"Our union state is being created on the basis of respecting the member-states' sovereignty and independence and is not targeted against any other country," he said.

"We would like to work together for creating a peaceful and civilized life for our citizens. I'm sure our work will be adequately assessed by our descendants," Yeltsin said.

Lukashenko assured that Belarus will make a weighty contribution to the development of the union state.

"In the west, you (Russia) have a reliable and strong friend who has never betrayed the Russian people and has always been with them," said Lukashenko.