News & Events in Belarus

Brest's history named country’s valuable asset

BREST, 6 September (BelTA) – The history of Brest is a valuable asset of the country, while the modern look of the city is a reason for common pride, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he attended Brest’s millennial celebrations on 6 September, BelTA has learned.

“Today we are celebrating the millennium of Brest, one of the oldest Belarusian cities, which is by right considered a crossroads of times and nations. Its history is a valuable asset of our country, its modern look is a reason for common pride,” the head of state said.

The president stressed that Brest has changed a lot in recent years and has become unrecognizable, comparing to the Soviet period. “I was a little ashamed some 5-7 years ago that Brest, in its look, lagged behind other regional centers and Minsk,” he said.

According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, in the photo made by Belarusian Oleg Novitsky from the space, Brest at night resembles a fire bird spreading its wings. “This picture seems to reflect the fate of our city. The city, which did not want to submit to the invaders and was unfortunately burned down more than once, was reborn from the ashes, like a mythical phoenix, becoming even more beautiful and stronger,” the president said.

Photo courtesy of Oleg Novitsky

The head of state stressed that the chronicle of Brest began with the Tale of Bygone Years and became a story of the people’s character hardened in the struggle for the right to be the master of their land, their native city, for which the states and nations fought for centuries.

"It was here where the fate of the whole Europe was repeatedly decided, where fateful decisions were made and deeds were performed. We will never forget how the selfless defense of the Brest Fortress foiled the plans for the rapid victory by Nazi Germany in 1941. Today, the heroic citadel has become a symbol of the heroic deed of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War, a place of worship for people from all over the world and, above all, for our huge Fatherland,” said the head of state.

According to him, Brest was a pioneer in many progressive undertakings. It was the first in Belarus to be granted the Magdeburg Rights. Here, the first printing house was built to print the Brest Bible. This is the city where first Belarusian cosmonaut Pyotr Klimuk and Olympic champion Yulia Nestsiarenka come from. Brest Oblast is home to many famous scientists, artists, musicians, and politicians, Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

“The first free economic zone was launched here. It has become an example of partnership between business and the state, an example of successful work of promising enterprises with high social responsibility,” the president added.

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