MINSK, 24 April (BelTA) – During the domestic political events in 2020, the world was watching Belarus. The state survived thanks to the courage of true patriots, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he addressed the 7th Belarusian People's Congress in Minsk on 24 April, BelTA has learned.
"They watched us from all corners of the world. They watched guessing how it would end in Belarus. Some watched with hope. NATO was rubbing its hands preparing for a military intervention in our western regions, at the very least. They were counting on chaos and blitzkrieg. If it were not for steadfastness and courage of true patriots, we would have lost the country. If we hadn't held out then, NATO hawks would have already been on the border near Smolensk. The Ukrainian reality would have become our reality. But we turned out to be stronger and more united," the head of state said.
"I told them that we love our small country very much. We love her very, very much. People do not give away those they love, do they? We warned them. We didn't give our country away. And, believe me, we won't. No matter how hard they try," Aleksandr Lukashenko said and received a wave of applause. "Our southern neighbor did not hold out," the Belarusian leader said.
