Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 1 July (BelTA) – Belarus has never had and will never have any nationalistic aspirations in modern history, BelTA learned from Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei on 1 July.

Vladimir Makei said that the head of state had expressed his view on the matter many times. “We are in favor of the Belarusians preserving their mentality, of the Belarusians staying as a nation, and of Belarus staying as a state,” said the Minister. He pointed out that Belarus is home to more than 100 nationalities. “We would not like any nationality to dominate representatives of other nationalities that live in Belarus. It has never been that way and will never be. It is not the way of the Belarusian government, it is not the way of the Belarus president. This is why Belarus will never have nationalism,” stressed Vladimir Makei.

The Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs went on saying that nationalism preys on the minds of unwise people only, who try to attain their own political goals abroad or possibly somewhere else. Belarus is determined and dedicated to preserving interethnic and confessional peace, accord, and tranquility. “We would not like events of the kind that happens in some other countries to occur in Belarus. The examples are abundant. This is why all of those, who tell stories about an increase in nationalism in Belarus, should calm down,” noted Vladimir Makei.

There are two state languages in Belarus — Belarusian and Russian. The fact is self-explanatory. Belarus citizens are free to use both. “The government encourages representatives of every nationality that lives in Belarus to develop their culture, preserve their language, traditions and customs because doing so enriches the Belarusian nation,” concluded the Minister.