English

Lukashenka attacks foreign foes in Independence Day speech

Alyaksandr Lukashenka routinely attacked foreign foes in a combative speech made during an Independence Day parade staged in front of the Hero City Minsk obelisk in the Belarusian capital on July 3.

While opening the parade, Mr. Lukashenka, dressed in a military uniform, accused foreign enemies of attempting to orchestrate a "color revolution" in Belarus.

"We understand that the purpose of these attacks is to sow uncertainty and alarm, destroy public concord and in the end bring us to our knees and bring to naught all gains of independence. This will not happen," he said.

Mr. Lukashenka stopped short of referring to Belarus' deepening economic crisis, saying that the country would "overcome any difficulties and withstand worthily any ordeals imposed on us."

He used the speech to emphasize that Belarus was not posing any threats to international security. "We do not threaten anyone, do not attack anyone and are not going to do so in the future. We do not develop or use weapons of mass destruction, do not finance international crime and terrorism. We do not train militants for organizing revolutions in neighboring countries. We do not trade in women and children," he stressed.

Mr. Lukashenka hit out at "certain circles" for seeking to use force, pressure and economic sanctions for promoting their interests. He pointed to "an escalation of information intervention" and efforts to manipulate public opinion through media outlets. "The world's superpowers are using weapons of mass information destruction against countries out of favor with them. This all is aimed at dictation, the imposition of political will [on others], the unification of the world, forcing peoples into a new world order," Mr. Lukashenka said.

According to the Belarusian leader, Minks seeks to develop relations based on mutual respect, equality and partnership with Russia, former Soviet Union countries and the rest of the world.

He noted that the development of the country's defense capability was a priority for the government.

More than 20 military aircraft roared overhead as troops, tanks and vehicles filed past Mr. Lukashenka and his six-year-old son Mikalay, who was traditionally dressed in a specially tailored military uniform. Both were performing a military hand salute simultaneously.

The parade, which involved some 4,000 servicemen and cadets, traditionally started with a march of a group of young drummers from the Minsk Suvorov Military School, who were followed by a unit of Russian paratroopers.

The event culminated in a drill show by an elite company of honor guards and a performance by a military brass band.

The parade was followed by a traditional march by members of the Belarusian National Youth Union and athletes. At a carefully rehearsed ceremony that also featured singer Anatol Yarmolenka, his daughter Alesya and her son Anatol who sang Soviet-era patriotic songs, a girl presented Mr. Lukashenka with a bunch of flowers "on behalf of parade participants."

The city police said that some 150,000 people had braved rainy and fairly cold weather to attend the parade, while reporters estimated that the event had drawn a crowd of no more than 5,000.

The US charge d'affaires and the ambassadors of European Union countries were not in attendance. Some EU diplomats had complained that they had received invitations to the event too late.