Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 23 February (BelTA) – Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians should celebrate the 70^th anniversary of the Victory in peace and accord, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said at a ceremony to present shoulder straps to senior officers on 23 February, BelTA has learned.

“We have to fulfill a number of important tasks amidst economic challenges and a difficult international situation. No matter what it will take, we - Russians, Belarusians and Ukrainians - need to celebrate the 70^th anniversary together, in peace and harmony,” the head of state noted.

Alexander Lukashenko emphasized that the anniversary celebrations in Belarus should be held on the highest level possible. “We should show the whole world that the Great Victory is our national pride and that the outcome of the Second World War and the Great Patriotic War cannot be falsified or revised. We cannot let anyone diminish the importance of the victory and revise the contribution of the Belarusian people to the defeat of fascism,” the President noted.

“In the year of the 70^th anniversary of the Great Victory it is particularly important to maintain the country’s national security in all the areas,” the Belarusian leader added.

The President noted that the Union Shield 2015 exercise will become an important stage of the operational training of the Armed Forces. The exercise will be conducted in the Russian Federation, on the territory of Belarus’ major military ally. The head of state believes that this training should demonstrate the entire world the ability of the Union State to unite efforts to maintain peace and security.