MINSK, 2 July (BelTA) – Belarus will follow its own course whatever it takes, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he attended the meeting ahead of Belarus' Independence Day on 2 July, BelTA has learned.
The president noted that the Soviet times gave Belarusians an opportunity to build a legitimate state – a republic with all national symbols: a Belarusian flag, a coat of arms, and an anthem. “Our generation has had the privilege of realizing the absolute right to state sovereignty and independence. Fortunately, it happened calmly, with no blood or shocks. We did it by having chosen the path of continuity of political, cultural and social traditions – our own path rather than the historical path imposed by external forces,” said the head of state. "The path that many, as you can see, do not like today. But this is our way, we chose it. And we will follow it, no matter the costs," the head of state said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that sovereignty and independence are the most precious things any nation has. “They come at a cost. If we want to be sovereign and independent, we have to go for it, calmly, without shocks, without going into conflicts with neighbors, distant or close. We do not need it. We are peaceful people and want to live peacefully. We want to live by our wits, our work. We do not need what does not belong to us, but we are not going to give up our own,” the Belarusian leader stressed.
He recalled that at the national referendums in the 1990s, the Belarusian people supported the language equality and the date of Independence Day, having opted for a strong power capable of ensuring security and stability of the state. “Strangely enough, I have recently heard more and more criticism of this form of government in our country. I would like to remind you – and inform the youth who do not know this – that it was not me who monopolized the power, taking upon myself too heavy a burden. At that time, we were but a bleeding stump of a large, great state – the Soviet Union. No money, no flour to make bread, strikes at every turn. So I offered options, I did not do that backstage and I did not have any power at the time. When you supported me at the referendum, you placed this burden on me. I am carrying it the best I can,” the head of state said.
According to him, many post-Soviet countries envy Belarusians who walked through the formative years calmly and peacefully. “Some are itching: they want to turn everything upside down, to bring about reforms. But I would like to warn you, that these reforms will help some to line up their pockets while you will be walking from town and villages towards our Hero City of Minsk to roll out your grievances. Look at the USA – an extremely rich country. Look at Western Europe – why are they making a fuss? Look what is happening there: due to the recent events and the pandemic, 60 millions of people in the USA lost their jobs, that sparked food riots. We are not the USA, we do not print dollars. We are not even Russia that has an abundance of fossil fuels, gold, and metals. We have only our hands, brains, and common sense. For that we need the global economy to continue to function. If it collapses, we will also collapse, because we are an export-oriented country, we buy most raw materials and resources abroad,” the president noted.
