“There are dates in
the history of the Belarusian people that cannot be forgotten. One of such
dates is the Day of Remembrance of Internationalist Soldiers. On 15 February
1989, the last column of personnel of the limited contingent left Afghanistan.
Our soldiers and officers left Afghanistan with their heads held high, with a
sense of accomplished duty and with the battle banners flying high, unlike the
U.S. military who fled Afghanistan, leaving behind devastation, hunger, grief
and poverty,” Aleksandr Volfovich said. 
The state secretary
also noted that the internationalist soldiers, in addition to the tasks of defending
the Afghan people, also carried out a creative mission, which Afghans remember
and still appreciate. “They taught Afghan children, built schools, hospitals,
helped to harvest bread, performed other peaceful tasks,” he emphasized. 
Aleksandr Volfovich pointed out that today Belarus
honors the memory of the soldiers who have not returned from Afghanistan. “We
remember, mourn, and pay tribute to their heroism, fortitude, and professionalism.
The further the Afghan war dates back, the more relevant its lessons become. Today
peace, security and stability cost a lot. The people who fought in the war and
fulfilled their international duty appreciate and know more than anyone else
what life is, what security, stability and peace are.Therefore, the internationalist
soldiers continue to fulfill the tasks of protecting our national interests,
educating our young generations, instilling in them a sense of pride for our
country, fostering patriotism and love for their homeland. Taking this
opportunity, I would like to pay tribute to the memory of those who laid down
their heads back then, to thank all the survivors, wish them health, peace,
vigor and continue to carry out tasks for the benefit of our beloved
Motherland,” the state secretary added. 
A commemorative rally dedicated to the Day of
Remembrance of Internationalist Soldiers was held on the Island of Courage and Sorrow
in Minsk. Flowers and wreaths were laid at the monument by representatives of
the Belarusian Union of Veterans of the War in Afghanistan, families of the
fallen servicemen, the National Assembly, the President Administration, the
State Secretariat of the Security Council, the Council of Ministers Office, the
President Administration, the Minsk City Executive Committee and the Minsk Oblast
Executive Committee, a number of ministries and committees and public
associations.
