Dear fellow countrymen:

I cordially congratulate you on Independence Day of the Republic of Belarus, the main national holiday which reflects the unity and the spiritual fortitude of the nation.

It is highly symbolic that it was you who set the date for this holiday at the national referendum, having thus tied it with the day of liberation of our Motherland from the Nazi invaders.

A nation of talented people and patriots – this is what Belarus is.

In this country, the people’s exploits will never be forgotten. In the year of the 65^th anniversary of the Great Victory we are once again paying homage to the outstanding heroism of the people who saved the world from Fascism.

Over the years of peace a creation we have turned our once tortured Belarusian land into blooming fields and gardens, modern industrial centres and agro-towns. It is only a hard-working and highly intellectual people who could achieve all that.

The independence and sovereignty of the country, wisdom and invaluable experience of the veterans are now in the hands of the younger generation. With such outstanding young people, Belarus’s future looks bright. No crises will daunt the children and grandchildren of the Victors.

I sincerely wish you, my dear friends, good health, peace, wellbeing, tranquillity and confidence in the future.

Happy Republic Day!

Alexander Lukashenko