MINSK, 2 July (BelTA) – Trying to coerce the Belarusian nation to do someone's bidding is futile. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement at a solemn assembly held on 2 July in anticipation of Independence Day, BelTA has learned.
Addressing people in uniform, Aleksandr Lukashenko thanked them for staying with the nation during the intensive period. “You've protected civilians, who believe in you, appreciate national unity, freedom, and do not want to ruin their home – Belarus. As the generation of victors you've demonstrated that only reliance on our people and our land gives strength and the moral right to protect interests of the nation. Only patriotism serves as a solid foundation for all endeavors,” he stressed. Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that people in uniform had to go through a lot recently and they have been called various names for their actions. “But we've endured. Those who endure will win. People understood everything,” the Belarusian leader added.
“By breaking the blitzkrieg mechanism of hybrid warfare that has been working flawlessly up till now, you have in essence stopped a new expansion to the East,” Aleksandr Lukashenko continued. He remarked that according to some foreign experts, Belarus has put a stop to color revolutions as a geopolitical phenomenon.
“We will see whether it is true or not. But I am absolutely convinced that we've shown an example of how national interests should be defended, what everyone, who treasures independence, should do,” the Belarusian leader said. “It is futile to talk to our people in our land from a position of strength! It has been like that and will always be like that! And those who are abroad have to hear it.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko reminded that he had previously cautioned the Belarusian nation that independence and sovereignty are not easily gained usually. “It is a very expensive thing. It costs a lot. Truth be told, I believed that god took mercy on us and we would not have to deal with wars or trials [to preserve independence]. Turns out we have to. He has probably saddled us with this trial. It may be a good thing. May god let us survive these trials without a hot war. And we, people in uniform, must do everything so that our nation, our neighbors, and guests would not even notice that we are engaged in hybrid warfare. We've been managing to do it so far,” the head of state stated.
The Belarusian leader added: “I am an absolutely peaceful person but if I yield, if I waver on some things, if I toy with politics too much and the country will fall, you will never forgive me. This is why I cannot but stand together with these guys to the death. It is our job.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko is convinced that Belarusians will endure the hard exam. Because Belarus is a country of heroes. For instance, heroes like the pilots Andrei Nichiporchik and Nikita Kukonenko, who gave their lives to save lives of their fellow Belarusians. Heroes like the 12-year-old boy Roma Kogodovsky, who pulled a small brother out of a fire.
“Heroes like our medics, who fearlessly rose up to the challenge of the pandemic and continue fighting the dangerous virus on the frontline of the war. Heroes like agrarians, industrialists, construction workers, who did their jobs well in complicated conditions and secured economic growth,” Aleksandr Lukashenko cited multiple examples. “Nothing stopped us. We've managed to implement all our programs and plans.” In particular, Belarus has become a peaceful user of nuclear technologies. The first phase of the third metro line has been opened in Minsk. Dozens of new hospitals, schools, kindergartens, swimming pools, and sport grounds have been built all over the country.
“We taught and raised kids. We sowed and gathered in the harvest. And we did all of that in the year of information warfare and attempts to split our society,” Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out. “I am immensely grateful to all of those, who fight for respect for native Belarus, for our sovereignty and the great historical legacy every day by doing their jobs and by doing their civic duty at their workstations, in the media field, and in social networks.”
