Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 17 November (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko spoke about the efforts of Belarus to ensure interreligious peace in Belarus during the press conference for the Russian regional mass media on 17 November, BelTA has learned.

One of the journalists asked the Belarusian head of state about the efforts of Belarus to ensure interreligious peace and the measures that the state is taking to avoid religious conflicts.

“We do not have this problem. I cannot even say what we are doing for it. We are just living. We are one nation,” Alexander Lukashenko said. “As for religion, the motto is as follows: everybody will find a way to church.”

The President cited the recent opening of the Cathedral Mosque in Minsk as an example. Although there are fewer Muslims in Belarus than Orthodox and Catholic believers, they are the citizens of this country too. “And I am the President for them too. They have never posed any problems to us. We have ideal relations with them, just like with Catholic and Orthodox believers. I always want to know how our high-rankling officials, civil servants, and clergymen treat the representatives of other religions. I am monitoring this issue. The government should emphasize that all people have equal rights. And it is done in Belarus,” the head of state said.

Alexander Lukashenko remarked that there is no bias against any ethnic groups in Belarus either. “To ensure interethnic peace it is important to remember that all people are equal,” the President concluded.