MINSK, 18 September (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko unexpectedly appeared at the women's forum For Belarus that took place in Minsk Arena on 17 September, BelTA has learned.
“The first and most important reason why I am here is to show that I really appreciate what is going on here. You cannot even imagine what a brilliant page in the history of new Belarus you have written with this event that brought together people from all corners of our small, but very comfortable, beautiful and amazing Motherland. You are writing our history. It is great that this page will be bright, beautiful, integral, uncorrupted and real,” the head of state said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that he knew about the forum, but the circumstances were such that he had to deal with purely manly things. He did not think that the forum would last so long. “I was updated on the course of the forum every 20-30 minutes. I realized that I was not going to get to this momentous event. So I decided to send you a telegram message at least. Then I made the last call and they said that they were still bustling! So I made up my mind to change clothes on the way and come to the forum in order to say a couple of words to you,” the president said.
A short while before Aleksandr Lukashenko arrived at Minsk Arena, Belarus president's spokesperson Natalya Eismont took to the stage. “We are here at this great event, while men are performing their military duties, as they are supposed to. Indeed, the situation is like that today. Everyone knows that in line with the Belarus-Russia cooperation plan, the exercise Slavyanskoye Bratstvo 2020 [Slavonic Brotherhood] is taking place these days. In line with the agreement between our president and the president and the defense minister of the Russian Federation, the Belarusian head of state personally oversees the exercise in the territory of our country. And that is what he is doing right now,” she said.
Natalya Eismont noted that the president could not come to the event, but he was well aware of the forum and sent a telegram message to its participants, the best girls and women of the country. She read out the text of the message. “You are a true pillar and the future of our country. You are real patriots,” the message read. The president also said in his message that he decided to conduct the second stage of the Slavyanskoye Bratstvo 2020 exercise in the name of Belarusian women.
In the end, Aleksandr Lukashenko managed to come to the forum and address the participants of the event.
