English

Lukashenka: We know where to go and what to do

“We know where to go and what to do,” Alyaksandr Lukashenka said in his New Year’s address to the nation, BelaPAN said.

“We face the future with confidence,” the Belarusian leader said. “We believe in ourselves and in the inexhaustible potential of the nation.”

“As you remember, a year ago we saw the New Year in feeling apprehensive and fearful, but those apprehensions proved unfounded,” Mr. Lukashenka said. “The year was peaceful. We followed our own path. We lived on our wits, we did not thoughtlessly copy anyone’s models. We did not offend others and did not create problems for our neighbors. We went through quite a lot. But we were always together enhancing the inseparable spiritual bonds and solidarity of the united family, the Belarusian nation.”

“In the passing year, we did a lot for the development of our country,” Mr. Lukashenka said. “We reaped a bumper harvest of crops. We launched our own space vehicle and started building a nuclear power plant. We brought education and public health services to a new level. We restored world-famous heritage sites. Our students, artists and even athletes made Belarus famous by their victories in the world arena. But the main thing is that the Belarusian population increased by 115,000 small citizens. This figure exceeds the level of the previous year by approximately 6,500. I say ‘approximately’ because in the last minutes of the old year, somebody may have become happier than we are upon hearing a new baby’s charming voice.”

Mr. Lukashenka described children as “the foundation of our independence, wellbeing, and prosperity.” “And the nation should do its utmost to preserve this great treasure, guard every child against hardship and misfortune,” he said.

In the year 2013, declared the Year of Thrift, “we should learn to take care of each other, not to disregard someone’s trouble, be more attentive and kind to our neighbors,” Mr. Lukashenka said. “The oncoming year will become a turning point for the economy. We do not have another choice because the accelerated proper modernization of enterprises is the keystone of the strengthening of our statehood and a rise in the living standards of the people.”

Next year Belarus will hold the chairmanship of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Mr. Lukashenka noted. “Our country’s chairmanship will focus on the protection of nature,” he said. “This is a God’s gift and we should learn to use nature rationally and to preserve it for the future generations. We should do our best to make God-given native land a lovely and comfortable home for every citizen.”

“Having gone by many uneasy historical paths, we deserved the right to be happy,” Mr. Lukashenka said. “We are very rich. We have millions of skillful hands, talented, smart and wise people.”