Opinions & Interviews

Lukashenko: Belarus is home to 156 nationalities

MINSK, 12 September (BelTA) - Representatives of 156 nationalities live in Belarus in peace and harmony in the spirit of good-neighborliness, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with representatives of different nationalities living in Belarus, BelTA has learned.

“Representatives of 156 nationalities work, start families and raise children on the Belarusian land in peace and harmony in the spirit of good neighborliness. Here they all become ours, and even mine, as I often say - my Russians, my Ukrainians, my Poles. It has always been the way and it will always be so,” the Belarusian leader said.

The head of state said that more than 600 years ago Jews came to the territory of modern Belarus. Being persecuted in various parts of the world, they found the opportunity to live freely and peacefully here.

“Up to the Great Patriotic War they were second only to the indigenous population in terms of numbers. The Belarusian land became the cradle for three presidents of the State of Israel: Zalman Shazar, Chaim Weizmann, Shimon Peres - remember these names,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

Simultaneously with the Jews, the Tatars came to the Belarusian land. “Unique people: brave, fair, with a fighting spirit. They came to us in peace - at the invitation of local princes to help protect our lands. Having forged swords into plowshares, the Tatars made a great contribution to the development of material and spiritual culture of Belarus. Today the town of Ivye, one of the centers of their residence, is rightfully famous for its success in the economic and spiritual realms,” the president stressed.

According to him, representatives of Azerbaijan are also successfully settling down in Belarus. Wrestler Kamandar Madzhidov, judoka Natik Bagirov and many others glorified the country with Olympic and world achievements.

“The Armenian diaspora occupies an important place in our country. Suffice it to say that one of the first leaders of the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic was Armenian national Alexander Myasnikov (Miasnikian). Multinational Dagestan in Belarus is represented by 17 nationalities. We have given an opportunity to start a new, peaceful life to the citizens of Afghanistan, Palestine, where armed confrontation and bloodshed have not stopped for many years. Examples of people from every corner of the globe finding a second homeland in our country are many,” the Belarusian leader said.

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