Events

VITEBSK, 11 July (BelTA) – There is no war between peoples in Ukraine, but there are unscrupulous politicians, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said as he opened the 23^rd International Festival of Arts Slavonic Bazaar in Vitebsk on 10 July, BelTA has learnt.

“There is no war between peoples today. People in Ukraine do not fight with Belarusians, Russians and even with Ukrainians. There are worthless, unprincipled politicians who underestimated this unity and its importance. A rift emerged and our adversaries and enemies took advantage of it,” the Belarusian head of state said.

“They are trying to pit peoples against each other. They are trying to foment a fratricidal war and mire the core of the Slavonic community – Russians, Belarusians and Ukrainians – into this funnel, this whirlpool,” the President noted.

Alexander Lukashenko emphasized that it should never happen.

In his view, the Slavonic Bazaar in Vitebsk is a pillar and guarantee of the unity of Slavonic peoples.

“I remember the time when I was young. Back then many people, including us, probably did not understand how important it was. The Slavonic Bazaar festival is about the unity of not only Slavonic peoples, but all other peoples. We thought that things would always be that good and we took the Slavonic unity for granted! It should be this way again; it has always been this way! We have recently fought together, died in the same trenches, on the same side of the barricades. Who would have thought that things would be that different today,” the President noted.

Alexander Lukashenko believes that the more forums like the Slavonic Bazaar festival are held, the more united peoples will be.

“People of art, cultural figures can reach out to people faster than politicians and the military. Let us not hinder them, but help them do it,” Alexander Lukashenko emphasized.