Opinions & Interviews
Lukashenko explains why he visits Dazhynki festival
VOLOZHIN, 19 October (BelTA) – During the regional stage of the Dazhynki harvest festival in Volozhin on 19 October, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko explained why he visits this festival in various regions, BelTA has learned.
At the end of his speech, Aleksandr Lukashenko decided to address issues of public concern as he often does. The head of state noted that some people, especially the self-exiled opposition, claim that his participation in Dazhynki has to do with the election campaign.
“Keep in mind: I would not like this campaign to start. Yes, we will elect our president the way we always do, through a bona fide, genuine and proper procedure, in front of the entire international community. You will elect the one who deserves it, from your point of view. Therefore, this is not about the election campaign,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized.
Yet, the president remarked that even if this was about the campaign, he had every right to do so: “If I think it is about the election campaign, I have the right for it.”
The president said that he is now busy with something completely different: he wants to thank the Belarusians for ensuring food security.
“As the president of the country, as your kin, this year I decided to visit all the events related to Dazhynki and other festivals. I am concerned about something else, to be honest. Anything can happen in life: maybe I will not have the opportunity to come to you, villagers, in the capacity of the president. I have always been on the same page with you, people who have never betrayed me, who have done incredible things for the country. Remember, we had nothing to eat when we were younger. We had food coupons in abundance, but we could not buy everything we needed with these coupons. Today, you have fulfilled the main task - you have ensured food security for our country,” the Belarusian leader said.
According to him, several decades ago it was difficult to imagine that Belarusians would export their products and fertilizers to more than 100 countries in the world. “We did it. You did it. So I need to thank you for it. I do. This is the goal I pursue when visiting each region and meeting with you. I want to thank you sincerely for the feat that you have accomplished. You should know that in the future we will do everything to make life better for farmers. I know about roads, housing, and so on. Comprehensive programs have already been tested to address the issues facing our peasants. We will have programs for our veterans, pensioners, so that no one will be left behind, so that the elderly will not feel like they are left out in the state that they built with their own hands,” the head of state said.
“As to this whole conspiracy theory: I have come to you and I traveled to other regions, to bow low to you for the work, for the feat, for the patriotism and devotion that you have shown over these decades,” Aleksandr Lukashenko concluded.
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