Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko at the festival in Alexandria

Founded 10 years ago, the Kupala Night Festival (Alexandria Gathers Friends) has grown to become a powerful symbol of brotherly friendship between the peoples of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he addressed the festival in Alexandria.

“Many of you remember what the first edition of the festival was like in 2010. A small and humble event just like this land. But even back then, it was beautiful in its identity and, as the time showed, forward looking. The festival quickly surpassed the status of the regional event,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.

Pop stars come to Alexandria with pleasure. The program of the festival is packed with fiery musical performances and touching debuts.

“I am absolutely convinced that this unusual interest has emerged thanks to the phenomenon of the hometown, because we are always drawn back to the place where we were born, and thanks to the Slavic kinship that is especially visible on this hospitable land. The three nations share intertwined history, kindred and spiritual roots like the three mighty oak trees on the bank of the Dnieper River. This great river starts there, in Russia, carries its waters across Belarus and ends its way in the brotherly Ukraine. Like the circulatory system it binds us together by the strongest ties of good-neighborliness, trust and openness. Our peoples have managed to preserve this unity given to us from above,” the head of state said.

The president remarked that he has a special feeling when he arrives in Alexandria, his native land. “A feeling of tremendous excitement. When you reach certain heights, forgive my indiscretion, when you become famous and arrive back home where you were born and grew up, when you meet with people who know you better than anybody else in the world, you are not just excited, you are tremendously excited,” the head of state said.