Opinions & Interviews

Lukashenko promises powerful response to assaults on Belarus’ sovereignty

MINSK, 19 April (BelTA) – Any attempts to strip Belarus of its sovereignty will encounter a powerful grassroots response. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the relevant statement as he addressed the nation and the parliament on 19 April, BelTA has learned.

Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “You know there has been a lot of idle talk recently about Belarus becoming part of something, about Belarus getting divided. But it is impossible to accomplish such things now. Those, who may try to do it by force, will get a powerful response from our people, primarily from those, who were born sovereign and independent.”

The president remarked that Belarus is now home to a new generation of people, who grew up in sovereign Belarus. “We have something to tell those, who will replace us. We’ve created a new country out of a fragment of the huge empire. While building a political, economic, and social system virtually from scratch, we raised a new generation – the first children of the sovereign country of Belarus. We’ve learned how to be independent, free, and self-supporting. They were born like that. Let me reiterate that you and I had to learn how to be like that while they were born like that. They are the source of our new national identity,” he stated.

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that young Belarusians have the most important thing – a peaceful, beautiful, and independent country. There are traditions, a rich cultural and spiritual legacy. There is a heroic history people should be proud of. “As I meet with young people, I always see smart, talented, non-indifferent boys and girls. Today we can and should rely on their knowledge, intellect, bravery, and audacity in a good sense. Our children should see and feel that we need them, that their country needs them. We should do everything necessary for their talents to bloom in their own country, for their dreams to come true in Belarus. Particularly now when a war for the younger minds and hearts is going on, when they are subjected to powerful information pressure that erodes the system of values. We know why it is being done,” he said.

The president emphasized it is necessary to create as much quality mass media content for young people as possible. “Not only entertaining content but content about serious topics. We should encourage young people to form their own civil stance, to underline connection to all the important state events. The republican youth union [BRSM] plays a large role in it. You as well as other public organizations represent the foundation of the civil society. It is you who should offer reference points to your peers. Instead of just living the ideas modern people have you should be half a step ahead,” Aleksandr Lukashenko added.

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