MINSK, 24 December (BelTA) – The New Year's Eve Ball at the Palace of Independence brought together young hopefuls from all over Belarus on 24 December, BelTA has learned.
Partaking in the New Year's Eve Ball are 337 young men and women from all over Belarus. They were invited to the event in recognition of their achievements in education, creative work, sport, social life. The ball has brought together holders of scholarships of the president's special fund for the social support of talented students, winners and participants of contests, academic excellence competitions, conferences, representatives of the volunteer movement and members of student brigades, winners of beauty pageants, medalists of sports competitions.
Partaking in the event are also Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, State Secretary of the Security Council Aleksandr Volfovich, Deputy Head of the Belarus President Administration Igor Lutsky, Culture Minister Anatoly Markevich, Deputy Prime Minister Igor Petrishenko, Chairman of the Minsk City Hall Vladimir Kukhrev, member of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly Dmitry Baskov, member of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly Maria Vasilevich.
The participants and guests of the New Year's Eve Ball were welcomed by Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko.
“Dear friends, what can I say after seeing this beauty? It is hard to speak even for me – a person who is used to speaking,” the head of state could not hide his emotions.
According to the president, a few year ago there was a proposal from the organizers and hosts of the Viennese Ball to hold this event at the Palace of Independence. “They were ready to come, broadcast it for the whole world and so on. It was a very fascinating and interesting idea,” the head of state said. However, having considered the proposal, he decided that we can do it ourselves.
“Let's see how they do it is Vienna and do it even better,” Aleksandr Lukashenko continued. “Our hall is better than the hall where Viennese events were held. This is not my opinion. They wanted to hold this event here because they thought that the hall was more grandiose and better. This is how the idea to hold such big celebrations here originated.”
“For four years in a row we have been holding this ball in the Palace of Independence on the eve of this long-awaited holiday restoring historical traditions (I emphasize: our historical traditions), shaping the modern image of our young sovereign state,” the Belarusian leader said.
The president remarked that Belarus is the country of castles and palaces where Viennese, Polish and Russian Balls were held. “They were organized by representatives of local nobility. However back then they were the subjects of different states. This beautiful tradition became ours, it became the Belarusian tradition only in the history of our independence,” the head of state stressed.
“Today our official and formal Palace of Independence has transformed beautifully, like in always does on the New Year's Eve. It looks like you, and you look like it. Dear guests of the New Year's Eve Ball, you create the atmosphere. You are smart, confident and beautiful people, and you make this ball so beautiful,” the Belarusian leader said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that the New Year's Eve Ball at the Place of Independence is a gift for all participants who were invited in recognition of their great achievements in education, creative work, social life. “Being here is a privilege. In the past it was given to the nobility by birth, not by their talents and wits. You are beautiful, smart and talented people, and we are slightly envious,” the president said jokingly.
The head of state thanked parents and teachers how helped young people develop their talents, reach their goals, who taught them to be true patriots. “Stay humble. All that you have today was given to you by your parents and teachers,” Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked.
The president wished young men and women to be bold, brave and creative. “But be careful,” the president said.
“Please remember that the future of our dear Belarus is in your hands,” the head of state said. He wished all the guests of the New Year's Eve Ball to have a happy and eventful life.
