The extremely complex relationship between mental and spatial boundaries in Eastern Europe is visible in the matter of the border between Belarus and Poland, between Eastern and Western Europe, between the European Union and the Russian spheres of influence. Historically, Russia's imperial policy towards to North-Western Province (nowadays Belarus, Lithuania and Poland) has led to the weakening of the region and to strengthening of the distance between the Polish lands and North-Western Province. The animosity between Poles and Belarusians was systematically cultivated during the centuries by the ruling political elites. In the official discourse, Poland, as a part of Europe, was designated as the "significant other," the enemy for Belarusians, which is important for identity shaping. The artificial and rather unfounded cultural boundary between Belarusians and Poles made Poles the "favourite enemies" of Belarusians in official discourse, images and even in Belarusian history textbooks.