Opinions & Interviews

Lukashenko: Belarusians never back down in the face of challenges

VITEBSK, 17 July (BelTA) – Belarusian people never back down in the face of challenges of the time, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at the opening ceremony of the 29th edition of the International Festival of Arts Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk on 16 July, BelTA has learned.

“In this festive evening I am filled with joy and excitement for all of us, first of all, for Belarusians who have never backed down in the face of challenges of the time. An example of this is Slavianski Bazaar, the festival with glorious and interesting fate,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The president remarked that the history of the festival began in the 1990s against the backdrop of the complicated building of new relations between sovereign states which were formed from the shambles of the huge empire – the Soviet Union. The festival was meant to celebrate friendship of brotherly nations – Belarusians, Russians, and Ukrainians.

“Twenty-five years ago this great festival could have gone on tour to cities and villages across the disintegrated Soviet Union. This year it could have been simply put on hold, as it happened to renowned world shows and contests. But back then and today we preserved our Slavianski Bazaar, our Slavonic tradition. In spite of closed borders, the festival has brought together the greatest artists from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, brotherly nations and republics, other states. Perhaps, it could not have been in a different way,” the head of state is convinced.

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