MINSK, 11 January (BelTA) – Strong spiritual roots have helped Belarusians to preserve their native language, culture and traditions, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at the ceremony to present the Spiritual Revival Awards, special prizes to art luminaries, and the Belarusian Sports Olympus Awards in Minsk on 11 January, BelTA has learned.
"Without strong spiritual roots, it is unlikely that Belarusians, having gone through many years of wars and deprivations, would have been able to preserve their native language, culture, traditions that linked centuries and generations," the president said. “Seemingly these are simple truths, but let's look a little beyond our borders. Do all peoples live in dignity, in peace and harmony, like we do today? Unfortunately, no. Though soemtimes we have to face ordeals too.”
The head of state noted that today is the 21st century, the century of science, progress and unique technologies, yet hundreds of millions of people in the world suffer from wars, diseases and hunger.