MINSK, 2 March (BelTA) – The memory of the Great Victory must be cherished and in no case discarded, as some states are trying to do, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said during the meeting with Governor of Russia’s Murmansk Oblast Andrei Chibis on 2 February, BelTA has learned.
The president emphasized the shared historical past of Belarus and Murmansk Oblast, including their role during the Great Patriotic War. He noted that classic Belarusian writer Ivan Shamyakin fought in that northern Russian region during the war. “This shows that we have, and have always had, people who connect us. And very strongly,” Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked.
The head of state also drew attention to Murmansk’s significant role, which during the Great Patriotic War became a gateway for the defense of the common Fatherland, the Soviet Union. Through this port, essential equipment and military supplies were delivered. “It is thanks in part to this that Murmansk was covered in unfading glory. Many people died there, but the northerners fought with dignity to bring us to the Victory we celebrated in May 1945,” the Belarusian leader said.
“Just like Belarus, you suffered and endured a lot from that war. And this is our common Victory. We must honor it and under no circumstances forget it,” he emphasized.
“When I hear certain statements from the Baltic states or Ukraine (calls to demolish or destroy monuments, to deny what the Great Patriotic War means to us) I can’t help but think in simple human terms: why cast the dignity of your own people aside?” Aleksandr Lukashenko said rhetorically. “Why are you doing this? This is something to be proud of.”
The president also noted the shared and close ties between Belarus and the Russian region in the more recent past, during the Soviet era. “We never drew a line between Murmansk Oblast and Belarus, especially when it comes to the Navy. Both in the Baltic and in your region, young men from Belarus served. And they are proud of it,” the head of state said.
Andrei Chibis, in turn, thanked the president for the opportunity to hold a meeting, which took place after a major event dedicated to the development of the Belarus-Russia Union State. He also expressed special gratitude for praising the role of Murmansk and the whole region during the Great Patriotic War. “Indeed, from the moment it emerged in the early 20th century and to this day, the city has held significant strategic importance. During the Great Patriotic War, thanks to the northern convoys, we were able to bring our common Victory closer – the Victory remembered and honored both in Russia and in Belarus. Thank you very much for that,” the governor said.
“Today, given what is happening in the world, the city of Murmansk, a deep-water, ice-free port and a key hub of the Northern Sea Route, is becoming even more important for our country, our partners, and our friends,” he emphasized.
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