MINSK, 1 July (BelTA) – In the face of all attacks, Belarus has adhered to the principles of a peaceful foreign policy, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said during a solemn assembly held on 1 July in anticipation of Independence Day, BelTA has learned.
“As a founding member of the United Nations, as the nations that suffered the most during that war, having mounted heroic resistance against the aggressor, we cannot ignore the new wave of escalation of tensions in the world. Despite all risks and threats, in the face of all kinds of attacks Belarus remains firmly committed to a peaceful foreign policy. Our initiatives to launch a global security dialogue are the steps that people around the world are eagerly awaiting, including from their leaders,” the head of state said.
He emphasized that the measures taken to strengthen the country’s defense capabilities are nothing more than a mirror response to hostile rhetoric and the disproportionate buildup of military potential near Belarus’ borders. “We pose no threat to anyone, neither in word nor in action, despite provocations,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stated.
The president also stressed that Belarus cannot allow a repeat of events of 1941. “If we had not appeased Germany, which we considered practically a friendly country, we wouldn’t have faced such consequences. Advancing and seizing the territory of another state is deadly. Back then, it was deadlier. But we were not ready," he noted.
Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled a series of mistakes made in the months leading up to the war, when airfields were suddenly closed for repair and all aircraft were relocated to a single base, where they were destroyed in the very first air raid. Saboteur groups of fascists infiltrated the country, killed those guarding strategic sites, disguised themselves in Soviet uniforms, and then fought deep behind the lines.
“This happened here, on Belarusian soil. And there were many warning signs we overlooked. That was a lesson for us. We cannot let our guard down. Every day, every hour, we must be prepared for war in order to prevent it. To prevent it, not to fight it,” the Belarusian leader emphasized.
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