MINSK, 9 May (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko traditionally participated in festive events on the occasion of Victory Day on 9 May, BelTA has learned.
In Minsk the head of state laid a wreath at the Victory Monument. His three sons were also present during the ceremony.
Wreaths and flowers from representatives of government agencies, public associations, the diplomatic corps, veterans, and the clergy were also laid at the monument. Aleksandr Lukashenko and all those present in Pobedy Square honored memory of the fallen heroes with a minute of silence.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that the war was a pivotal battle for life on Earth, for the preservation of the mankind, a Great Triumph of good over evil. The president said: “We bow before the heroism and resilience of the frontline soldiers, partisans, underground resistance fighters, homefront workers, who made this victory possible. You, those who fell on battlefields, those who died of wounds, dear veterans have gifted us the never fading light of the Great Victory, a guiding star that will always shine upon many generations of Belarusians and will give us strength to create, to move forward and only forward despite all the complications, hardships, and problems. It was tougher for them. Today they look at us from up high and wonder whether we will survive. We will! Belarus glorifies the heroic veterans and will always remember your deeds.”
The country also bows before the selfless labor of those, who came back to the ruins of native cities and villages in order to revive the country from the ashes, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted. “We had the hardest fate of all because nobody was left in this land except for women, children, people with disabilities and exhausted soldiers, who came back from the frontlines. We ploughed and sowed the fields with the help of women and children. There were even no horses left. We will never forget that millions of our compatriots fell on battlefields, perished in death camps, were hanged, shot or tortured to death by gestapo. We remember it and if someone forgets it, we will remind them,” he stressed. “We bow low to the memory of those, who fell. We mourn the veterans who have died.”
The ceremony culminated in the performance of the Den Pobedy [Victory Day] song, which lyrics everyone has learned by heart over the years. Two huge flags – the USSR's and the Republic of Belarus' – were simultaneously unfurled in Pobedy Square. Hundreds of red and green balloons soared into the sky at the end of the song.
Aleksandr Lukashenko talked to veterans and heads of the diplomatic missions, who participated in the celebration.
The veterans stood up to hail the head of state although he had been insisting they did not have to. “I see you are in good health. Well done and soldier on!” Aleksandr Lukashenko said in response to the persistence of the veterans.
“And soldier on to you, too!” one of them responded.
“I have to… But we need you and we need you alive!” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.
The veterans thanked the president for defending Belarus. Some of them cheerfully assured Aleksandr Lukashenko that they were ready to rejoin the ranks despite their age.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “You don't have to worry. We are not afraid of anything. We just simply demonstrate who is who. It is difficult for us because we cannot see them. Our veterans, who are still alive and well, could at least see the face of their enemies. We sometimes don't. The most important thing is for you to live. We need you as a pillar to rely on so that we could believe in ourselves. And, sincerely speaking, we would be ashamed not to hold on to what you've gifted to us.”
The head of state also approached and welcomed other participants and viewers of the event, particularly little children, who had sung as part of a choir.
