Independence Day parade

On 3 July 2003 Minsk played host to a military parade to mark Independence Day of the Republic of Belarus. In his speech, Aleksandr Lukashenko stated that Belarus remained committed to fruitful cooperation with the neighboring countries and a multilateral foreign policy.

The president said that Belarusians had never been and would never be conquerors. “We do not claim others’ land, but we will not give away a single piece of our own land – this is our home, this is where our descendants will live and bring up their children,” the head of state stressed.