Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 11 November (BelTA) – Belarus is famous for the traditions of religious tolerance and mutual respect between the people of different nationalities, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said at the ceremony to open the Cathedral Mosque in Minsk on 11 November, BelTA has learned.

The head of state stressed that the opening of the Cathedral Mosque in the Belarusian capital city is a landmark event for the Muslim community of the country and for all Belarusian citizens. “Since ancient times, Belarus has been famous for the traditions of religious tolerance and mutual respect between the people of different religious denominations and nationalities. This is our pride, our power, this is the guarantee of our durability,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

The President noted that Muslims came to Belarus in the 14^th century. They quickly became part of the nation, protected the country from invaders together with other nationalities, and made a big contribution to the country’s material culture and traditions. “Ancient books, kitabs, which had been written by Belarusian Muslims in the Belarusian language using Arabic symbols since the 16^th century, are a bright evidence of cultural diffusion,” the head of state said.

“Belarus is a peace-loving country. We value peace and accord; therefore, we are building churches for all religious denominations. Our motto is as follows: every citizen of our country can find a way to church on his own, and no one can make him change his mind. Therefore, today we open this great mosque which will not only be a home for Muslims but will also make a huge input in the development of the Belarusian culture,” the President said.

“I am convinced that the Cathedral Mosque built with the personal assistance of Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, my good friend and colleague, will be an important spiritual center, a source of enlightenment and dissemination of humanistic ideas and true values of Islam,” Alexander Lukashenko concluded.