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Minsk celebrated Independence Day with a parade of tanks, tractors and athletes

07.07.2013  |  Society
Minsk celebrated Independence Day with a parade of tanks, tractors and athletes

During the parade, Belarusan President spoke about the attempts to destabilize Belarus and further cooperation with China.

The day before the July 3, the Square of the National flag opened next to the new building of Residency of President with great pomp. Veterans of the WWII, famous Belarusian sportsmen, officials and youth swore allegiance to the national colors in the presence of students and schoolchildren.

During the parade Aliaksandr Lukashenka spoke about the meaninglessness of any attempts to destabilize the situation in Belarus.

“We still see a number of countries and military blocs try to dictate and interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign states,” reports BelaPAN the words of the Belarusian leader. “Not only force but also economic dictation and information warfare are being used as tools of pressure. Our country is being tested for endurance. However, the unity, wisdom, and strength of the Belarusian nation have repeatedly proved that any attempts to destabilize the situation in our country are doomed to failure. I am convinced that we will successfully withstand any ordeals in the future.”

Belarus is a “peaceful and open country,” Mr. Lukashenka said. “We always welcome those who are ready to work, trade and talk with us. Our nation does not have megalomania. We are always ready to consider others’ opinions and advice if they are offered in all sincerity. But we do not tolerate lies, insincerity, and dictation. Belarus’ fundamental stance is transparent and firm: relations across the world should be based on openness, mutual respect and the supremacy of international law. But honesty is the main foundation of international relations. For us, for Belarus, honesty has been and will remain a cornerstone of both domestic and foreign policy.”

“The combat readiness of the Belarusian army should always be high so that no one even tries to test us for endurance, so that no one even thinks about attacking our country,” Mr. Lukashenka said.

“Our border should be open to all good guests and closed off to any ill-minded person and offender, whoever he may be,” Mr. Lukashenka said. “Peace and proper order in Belarus are the highest value and the greatest achievement of our people and all of us should safeguard and protect them.”

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

The parade, which reportedly involved more than 3,000 servicemen and cadets, featured 170 paratroopers of the Pskov-based 76th Guards Air Assault Division of Russia, which was described by the announcer as the main strategic ally of Belarus.

The procession of military vehicles, which included World War II-era Soviet vehicles and modern armored combat vehicles, surface-to-air missile systems and artillery systems, was followed by a procession of civilian vehicles such as farm tractors, self-propelled harvesters, dump trucks, tractor-trailers and buses.

The event culminated in a march of students and athletes.

Apart from the top-ranking Belarusian government officials, attending the parade were the presidents of Venezuela and Laos, Nicolas Maduro and Choummaly Sayasone.

The non-official celebrations started right after the military parade was over and were held in the square near the Palace of Sports and in the Victory Park, Euroradio reports. There was nothing original - dances, barbeque and beer in the city center, followed by the firework at night, at 23.00.

According to the interior ministry, more than 1.3 million people around Belarus attended the celebration events. A total of 78,000 people are said to have attended 76 events held in the Minsk region alone.

The main state holiday is officially celebrated on July 3. Let us recall it is on this day that Minsk was released from German invaders in 1944. The decision to mark the Independence Day of the Republic of Belarus on July 3 was made after the 1996 referendum, whereas before that it used to be celebrated on July 27 – the day when the Supreme Council of the BSSR adopted the state sovereignty declaration in 1990.

Traditionally, the democratic forces celebrate the Freedom Day on March 25 – the Belarusian People's Republic was founded on that day in 1918. 

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