"Dear friends! The winter holidays are coming to an end. We celebrated these holidays well: in the comfort and warmth of home, at the festive table, but most importantly, under the peaceful Belarusian sky. Traditionally, I thank all of you for your work, for your position, which in this difficult time is a reliable support for our state," Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “And, of course, I thank you for your creativity and talent (as I understand, we have exceptionally talented and creative people in this hall today). Without these qualities given to you by the God, the New Year and Christmas days would not be so fascinating and interesting. When the country was holidaying, you were working: at children's shows, street concert venues, on television. Therefore, tonight is your holiday! You deserve this holiday."
Journalists, political scientists, artists, athletes, representatives of various professions and spheres of activity, senior officials, and heads of government bodies and enterprises have been invited to the presidential reception.
"In short, the people who are immersed in the political life of the country and the world. The people who, frankly, make this policy and create this world. I will put it bluntly: no matter what information or other agenda they try to impose on, we, Belarusians, have always built our policy and way of life independently, and we will continue to do so. It depends on all of us, about three hundred people present here, what our country will be like and what kind of life we will have on our land," the head of state said. “No external circumstances and threats will change our goals. Our choice is creation."
"We purposefully moved from the Year of National Unity to the Year of Historical Memory, knowing that the former is simply impossible without the latter and vice versa. Just as it is impossible to imagine the future, a good, bright future, without such concepts as peace and creation. This is how we want to see 2023 - the Year of Peace and Creation. And not only on our own land," the president emphasized.
The head of state noted that even those who opposed the state, as they say, the "regime" yesterday understand this today. "Today they see their salvation in this regime. About 90% of them. I've already talked about this in the temple: we are ready for this. In what form it will be, what path they should cover to go back to their home is up to you to decide," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
"Dear friends! I have every confidence in you and millions of people like you, true patriots. Therefore, I will repeat what I said on 7 January: this year should definitely be better. We promised this to people," the Belarusian leader said.
Written by belta.by