MINSK, 2 July (BelTA) – The world is about to enter a new age. The history is about to be separated into before and after. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement during a solemn assembly held on 2 July ahead of Independence Day, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted: “If only we act according to the forced scenarios and follow those, who are controlled by foreign puppet masters, we will no longer be Belarusians. The Belarusians, who were always winners in the end at the most difficult times. The Belarusians, who have always treated accomplishments of their predecessors with great respect. The Belarusians, who have always relied on original traditions in cultural, scientific, industrial, political, and public life of the country.”
The head of state believes that this continuity had made Belarusians an independent nation, a self-sufficient and self-directing nation in matters of choosing its own fate. “Today, as never before, we must hold on to our past, present, and most importantly future. We must preserve the country's sovereignty and independence,” the Belarusian leader stressed.
In his words, time has presented a new challenge before the Belarusian nation – a challenge that tests the durability of many countries and unions as well as friendly and economic relations between countries. “The world is about to enter a new age. The history is about to be separated into before and after. Every person that can think starts to wonder what place Belarus will take in the geopolitical space in the near future. We will not have wonder who we are, but where we are, where our place is. Our place is here and we must defend it whatever the cost. It belongs not so much to us as to our children,” the head of state said.
The president pointed out that a fierce fight is in progress in the world today: a fight for territories, resources, target markets, historical legacy, and spheres of influence. “For the first time in the history of independence we feel the press of unprecedented information pressure. People's security and the sovereignty of the state are at stake. I say it directly and without double meaning: we are going to determine the fate of our country in one month,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stated.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that a presidential election will take place in Belarus in one month, the nation will have to make up its mind not only about the next head of state but about the future of the country. “You and I have lived together for a quarter of a century as well as we could. We've been building our Belarus as well as we could. We've created and raised our youth, who are unfortunately a mixed bunch but it has always been like that. There is no need to take offense at young people. If they differ from our expectations, then it means it is our failure,” the president said. “The older generation, the middle generation, those, who work hard, most of the people correctly evaluate the situation in the country. As I meet with smart people, people that think, hard-working people, I feel some growing pity directed at me: Lukashenko is ours, he has been with us… They are trying to calm me down about some things. Let me tell you the key thing: I've done my share of work, I am fed up with the presidential fate. I am taking part in this presidential election campaign not because I am hanging onto my seat with fingers that have gone blue. I've dedicated the best years of my life to the development of this country just like many of you have. We've been building it as well as we could. It turned out we did it on par with others. The most important thing is that we've avoided wars, we live in a safe and calm country where every person, who has a kid, can go outside at any time of day and night without worrying. People from other countries – our Russian and Ukrainian brothers – envy us. And yet we live and fail to understand how we've earned it. You and I made it together.”
“You should grab your head, as people say, think, and resolve one problem. Lukashenkos come and go. There will be others. But life in this patch of land has to go on. This is why abandon all emotions. Emotions are no good today. They play your emotions and mine, using so-called new technologies, the Internet, and the rest. We should demonstrate that we are Belarusians and know the intricacies of the Internet well. We should decently go through this period of time while you should make up your mind with whom you will live from now on and how you are going to build your sovereign country for your kids,” Aleksandr Lukashenko concluded.
