MINSK, 17 September (BelTA) – If we start stirring up the language issue, there will be trouble, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a meeting with members of the expert community engaged in ideological work to mark Day of People’s Unity on 17 September, BelTA has learned.
Speaking about relations with neighboring countries and the situation in Ukraine, the head of state noted that among the many causes of the Ukrainian conflict was also the language issue. Attempts were made to forcibly restrict the use of the Russian language without consulting all residents of the country. Aleksandr Lukashenko stated that he had discussed this topic, among others, in conversations with representatives of the United States, since many of these processes occurred under the influence of the U.S. "Why ban people from speaking a native language? I tell the Americans: why did you do this?” the president said. “Do you understand that this is wrong? You are provoking people’s anger for no reason. Let this generation speak Russian.”
The Belarusian leader is convinced that any actions regarding the use of a particular language in the country must be extremely careful and balanced. This is precisely the policy followed by Belarus. "God forbid we start stirring up the language problem… There will be trouble,” the head of state emphasized.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that he, like many in the country, speaks Russian better than Belarusian. However, this does not mean that he is opposed to the latter. “It is our language,” the president said about the mova (Belarusian language). “If the Belarusian language, let's say, lags behind the Russian language [in terms of prevalence of use], we need to address this carefully and calmly. We must support it very carefully. But not at the expense of the Russian language.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that he, like many in the country, speaks Russian better than Belarusian. However, this does not mean that he is opposed to the latter. “It is our language,” the president said about the mova (Belarusian language). “If the Belarusian language, let's say, lags behind the Russian language [in terms of prevalence of use], we need to address this carefully and calmly. We must support it very carefully. But not at the expense of the Russian language.”
The head of state also emphasized the importance of knowing the English language, especially for modern youth. After all, English remains the universal language of international communication, enabling negotiations with representatives of numerous foreign countries and gives access to knowledge and education in advanced fields.
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