DUSHANBE July 22, 2013, Asia-Plus – On Sunday July 21, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon sent a message of congratulations to King Albert of Belgium on the occasion of the anniversary of his country’s National Day.

According to the Tajik president’s official website, in his message, President Rahmon expressed confidence that joint efforts of the two countries would promote the process of consistent implementation of agreements reached during a recent visit of a Tajik government delegation to Belgium.    

Belgian National Day is a National Day celebrated on July 21 each year.  It is one of twelve public holidays in Belgium.

The festival''s establishment dates to a law of May 27, 1890 and commemorates an event on July 21, 1831 in which Leopold of Saxe-Cobourg swore allegiance to the new Belgian constitution, thus becoming the first “King of the Belgians.”  The king''s vow marked the start of the independent state of Belgium under a constitutional monarchy and parliament.

Meanwhile, King Philippe I became Belgium''s seventh monarch during a national holiday on Sunday after his father Albert abdicated as the head of the nation.