MINSK, 21 March (BelTA) - The MPs of the outgoing convocation have demonstrated reliability and loyalty to the people, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with the MPs of the House of Representatives and members of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus of the seventh convocation on 21 March, BelTA has learned.
“It is an important day in the political life of the country as we summarize the work of the outgoing parliament. Such meetings have become a good tradition,” the head of state said. “The work of the MPs of the outgoing convocation deserves high assessment. Apart from being professional, you have proved reliable and loyal to the Belarusian people.”
According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, time runs fast. “We have not noticed how the new term of our parliament has ended. Life passes in stages in the same way. The most important thing is what we will leave behind. The current parliament, the authorities have something to say and have something to leave in this period for our people, our children, those who will come after us,” the president said.
“It is an important day in the political life of the country as we summarize the work of the outgoing parliament. Such meetings have become a good tradition,” the head of state said. “The work of the MPs of the outgoing convocation deserves high assessment. Apart from being professional, you have proved reliable and loyal to the Belarusian people.”
According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, time runs fast. “We have not noticed how the new term of our parliament has ended. Life passes in stages in the same way. The most important thing is what we will leave behind. The current parliament, the authorities have something to say and have something to leave in this period for our people, our children, those who will come after us,” the president said.
He emphasized that the MPs of the House of Representatives and members of the Council of the Republic of the seventh convocation succeeded as politicians and proved themselves worthy of the high title of people's representatives. “You had to work in a special period of Belarus’ modern history, when time tested our strength as never before.”
On trials in recent years
In his speech, the head of state recalled a number of challenges the country has faced in recent years. These included the pandemic, which in the blink of an eye changed the usual conditions of life and economy; political events of 2020, when homegrown extremists with the help of Western foreign sponsors encroached on the foundations of the Belarusian statehood.
“In those difficult days, the majority of MPs experienced monstrous psychological pressure from radicals of various kinds,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “There were attempts to intimidate MPs, senators, their relatives and friends. There were even direct threats with physical violence. The plan of the coup instigators was clear - to sow confusion and split in the government bodies. Their plans, as we all know, completely failed.”
In his speech, the head of state recalled a number of challenges the country has faced in recent years. These included the pandemic, which in the blink of an eye changed the usual conditions of life and economy; political events of 2020, when homegrown extremists with the help of Western foreign sponsors encroached on the foundations of the Belarusian statehood.
“In those difficult days, the majority of MPs experienced monstrous psychological pressure from radicals of various kinds,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “There were attempts to intimidate MPs, senators, their relatives and friends. There were even direct threats with physical violence. The plan of the coup instigators was clear - to sow confusion and split in the government bodies. Their plans, as we all know, completely failed.”
On solidarity in interaction between the branches of power
The president emphasized that a solidarity style of interaction between all branches of power and state bodies has been a distinctive feature of the Belarusian model of statehood: "The absence of disagreements and petty political struggle, the commitment to constructive cooperation helped us to defend the national interests and achieve the necessary results."
"That's the way you worked. Both houses acted in concert, in close contact with the government and other state bodies and always built their work based on the interests of the Belarusian people," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
He stated that people saw it and made their conclusions given the events that took place both in Belarus and around the world. "The Belarusian people made their sober assessments of the situation and once again confirmed their wisdom and desire to be the master of their native land," the head of state stressed.
On the geopolitical rift
The geopolitical rift is one of the problems of recent years. "This is a large-scale, systemic crisis. We see its symptoms not only in the military-political but also in the economic and humanitarian areas," the president said. “The norms and principles of international law have been replaced by instruments of political and economic pressure. The policy of sanctions is increasingly taking the place of diplomacy. Moreover, these sanctions are meant to destroy."
"Against the background of what is happening in many of our neighbors today, Belarus lives a relatively normal, full-fledged life," the Belarusian leader stressed.
Belarus has significantly strengthened its Armed Forces, the economy is growing, people have jobs and receive salaries, and there is peace and order in the cities. "The state fulfills its social obligations. The most important thing is that our citizens feel safe and do not fear for the lives of their loved ones and friends. It doesn't come cheap. The MPs have also made a worthy contribution to the common cause," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
