English

December presidential campaign was robustness test for Belarus, Lukashenka says in New Year address

The December presidential campaign was, along with the global economic recession, a robustness test for Belarus, Alyaksandr Lukashenka said in his New Year’s address to the nation.

“Certain forces attempted to use it [campaign] to undermine the country,” the Belarusian leader said. “But thanks to your firmness, courage and discretion, we managed to combat the challenges of the new century. We successfully defended our independence and this small land plot in the center of Europe named Belarus.”

The Belarusian leader said that his address was aimed at both an overwhelming majority of the nation and its “minority,” referring to those who did not support him in the election.

“You should know that you, along with your goals, views and aspirations, are an integral part of society for me,” Mr. Lukashenka said addressing the “minority.” “Your have your own opinion and understanding of the world order and how our country should develop. You have the right to them and no one can deprive you of it. But you should know that your opinion does matter to me. We together with the overwhelming majority of the people will struggle for you, for your views. We will look for keys to your minds and hearts to unite society, preserve the country and address tasks that we face.”

Mr. Lukashenka said that Belarus was on a "long path of struggle and creation." “We should not just hold out. We should turn our Belarus into the most civilized state,” he said.

“We are facing ambitious tasks of becoming a developed European country where life is comfortable, shape a new face of the economy so that it is based on advanced knowledge and technologies and make it among the top 50 countries in the human development index. I am sure that we will cope with them successfully,” he said.

Mr. Lukashenka thanked "factory workers and peasants," describing them as the salt of the earth, and expressed gratitude to "people in uniform who are loyal to their duty and always ready to defend the achievements of our Fatherland." //BelaPAN