Lukashenko at state awards ceremony: Belarusians have built people’s state together
Belarusians have built a truly people’s state together – as noted by President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko during today’s state awards ceremony at the Palace of Independence
Addressing the invited guests, the Head of State said, “We’re meeting on the eve of our main state holiday — Independence Day. July 3rd is a holy date for us, though symbolic. Minsk was liberated on July 3rd, but half of the territory [of the republic] was still occupied. The countdown of eighty years of peaceful life of our Belarus began from that day. Our republic lost each third resident in the fire of the Great Patriotic War. Maybe more. However, we did not kneel before the enemy, we fought and actually won.”
The President noted that eighty years ago, the surviving civilians of Minsk greeted Soviet tanks with glee, “Operation Bagration was not over yet, and the Red Army soldiers were heading west to finally destroy the enemy on our territory, liberate Belarus and reach Berlin. They had long months of war ahead of them – almost a year. But it was already obvious that victory would be ours. A parade of Belarusian partisans took place in Minsk, and a huge work was launched to restore the tortured country. I’m convinced that in those July days of 1944, people saw Belarus in their brightest dreams exactly as we see it now: independent, beautiful, and most importantly – peaceful.”
“Therefore, on days like today, we once again recall our heroic history together, bowing to the memory of the fallen and honouring those who are still giving their talents and skills for the glory of the Motherland,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.
The Head of State drew attention to the fact that, as always, there are many people in uniform among the awardees, “These are representatives of the Armed Forces, state security agencies, internal affairs, and the border guard service, who defend the peace and quiet of Belarus with weapons in their hands. We saw this in 2020. The security forces, like real Atlanteans, are holding the clear sky of our country on their shoulders. And they will definitely hold it.”
The Belarusian leader stressed that representatives of civilian professions should also work with full dedication, in fact, according to the laws of wartime. It is this kind of work that has been demonstrated for years by those invited to the Palace of Independence today. Among them is a large group of reputable executives who have devoted themselves to difficult public service, ensuring constitutional legality and democracy, alongside heads of large enterprises and entire sectors of the economy.
“I’m glad that those involved in science and education are present here: lecturers, scientists, inventors, teachers who brought up the winners of the Olympiads. You are making a huge contribution to the future of the country, its intellectual and technological future,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.
According to him, among the awardees there are those who work on the ground and underground.
“These are farmers, miners, builders, transport workers. And there is a large and friendly team behind everyone who comes here,” the Belarusian leader underlined.
The President addressed his warmest words to those who are engaged in social and community work, taking care of the elderly, especially those who survived the war.
Addressing those present at the solemn ceremony, Aleksandr Lukashenko said, “You are worthy successors of those who defended our freedom and independence eighty years ago, and then overcame the devastation by fulfilling the plans of the five-year plan in four years. After gaining sovereignty, we built a truly people’s state together. And now, no matter how difficult it is, it is our turn to write new pages of Belarusian history – bright, happy, but necessarily peaceful. There’s no getting away, as I said, time has chosen us.”
The President congratulated everyone on the upcoming Independence Day, “May this holiday and today’s ceremony become a new impetus for professional success for you and all residents of the country.”
