Opinions & Interviews

Khrenin: Fatherland Defenders Day filled with special meaning this year

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MINSK, 22 February (BelTA) - This year the Fatherland Defenders Day is filled with special meaning, Belarus’ Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin told reporters before an official meeting and a concert dedicated to the Fatherland Defenders and the Armed Forces Day in the Palace of the Republic, BelTA has learned.

“This year the holiday is filled with special meaning. The Fatherland Defenders of the and the Armed Forces Day is celebrated by every family today. This unites us, and this is especially true in the Year of People’s Unity. Concepts such as defense and defender carry broader and deeper meanings today,” Viktor Khrenin said. “We all understood that our Fatherland needs to be defended and needs defenders. But we also should understand that a defender is not necessarily a person with a gun. Today, doctors, teachers, workers, farmers or maybe even students are no less important for our Fatherland today. We have such people, and there are a lot of them in our country.”

The minister noted that there are many countries that are richer than Belarus, but no state will replace the Motherland to Belarusians. "I think that this is true for most of our citizens. We have something to defend, something to keep, and there will always be something to multiply,” he stressed. “It is these values, which cannot be measured by any money, that prompt thousands of young people to join the army. This is the reason why we train at the firing ranges, carry combat duty, guard air borders, and take planes to the skies. I am sure that we can all be proud of our military and their work, because they keep peace on our land today."

Words of appreciation and gratitude are traditionally extended to veterans on this day. “It is their feat that reminds us that patriotism is one of our main national assets. We can say with confidence that harmony, stability and security in our country will be preserved. The military organization of the state and, in particular, the Armed Forces, which are its foundation, is the most important guarantor of it. I would like to congratulate veterans, servicemen of the Armed Forces and all our compatriots on this holiday, to wish them strong health, prosperity and new successes in the work for the benefit of our Belarus,” added Viktor Khrenin.

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