Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 3 July (BelTA) – The strength of the state lies in its ability to forestall and pre-empt danger, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said at the military parade in Minsk on the occasion of Belarus’ Independence Day celebrations on 3 July, BelTA has learned.

“Today Belarus is marking its main national holiday, Independence Day. 25 years ago our country gained independence and a chance to choose its own path of development,” the head of state noted. The Belarusian President stressed that by the will of the Belarusian people expressed at the national referendum Independence Day is marked on the day of Minsk’ liberation from the Nazi invaders. “Freedom”, “victory”, “sovereignty” are great and sacred words for all of us,” the President said.

Alexander Lukashenko emphasized that the unconquered Belarusian people demonstrated the world an example of self-sacrificing struggle against the aggressor through mass resistance to the enemy. “This year we have marked the 75th anniversary of the start of the Great Patriotic War. We will never forget that war which took every third live of the Belarusian population. Those events reminded us once again of the treacherousness of the Nazis,” the President said. The head of state is confident that the lessons should be learnt both from victories and defeats. In his words, “the main thing is to make sure that such tragedy should not happen again.”

“Historic experience proves that diplomacy alone cannot protect the country. There is a need for an efficient defense system. The strength of the state lies in its ability to forestall and pre-empt danger,” Alexander Lukashenko said.