Opinion: History of Belarusian statehood is truly unique

MINSK, 25 January (BelTA) – The history of Belarusian statehood is truly unique and can serve as an example for many peoples, Chairwoman of the Council of the Republic Natalya Kochanova said at the seminar “The Republic of Belarus: From the origins to the present (historical path of state building)”, BelTA has learned.

"The Principality of Polotsk, the first state on the Belarusian lands, emerged in the 10th century and is considered the cradle of Belarusian statehood. Polotsk was one of the three major centers in Ancient Rus, on a par with Novgorod and Kiev and was an independent entity. Therefore, no one has the right to tell us, Belarusians, that we allegedly do not have the right to our own independent, sovereign state. Our path is truly unique and can serve as an example for many other countries and peoples," Natalya Kochanova said.

The speaker of the upper house recalled two events of the past year – the open lesson "Historical memory - the road to the future" on the Day of Knowledge and the patriotic forum "This is our history" with the participation of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko. Back then the president spoke about the centuries-old experience of different generations of Belarusians, on their historical choices, the feats of ancestors, examples of true love for their homeland, she stressed.

The seminar was organized by the Council of the Republic together with the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, the Academy of Public Administration under the aegis of the President of the Republic of Belarus, the National Center of Legislation and Legal Research.

The seminar was hosted by the Academy of Public Administration under the aegis of the President of the Republic of Belarus.