Speech by Natalia Kochanova at the opening of the fifth session of the Council of the Republic of the eighth convocation

Speech by the Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus N. I. Kochanova at the opening of the fifth session of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus of the eighth convocation.

Dear senior officials! Dear members of the Council of the Republic! Guests!

Today the fifth session of the Council of the Republic of the eighth convocation begins its work.

This year is marked by important events in the life of our country. 30 years ago, the foundations of two institutions of democracy were laid: the National Assembly and the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly.

The initiative to create a bicameral Parliament was put forward by the Head of State and supported by the Belarusian people at a republican referendum in November 1996.

Addressing the members of the Council of the Republic of the first convocation, the President of the Republic of Belarus, deeply respected Alexander Lukashenko, said parting words:

“The upper house of Parliament is indeed a slice of our people. Here are people who will solve problems on behalf of the people.”.

Members of the Council of the Republic of the first convocation had a special mission. It was a time of active state building and the formation of the legal foundations of sovereignty. The country needed clear and systematic laws to ensure dynamic economic and social development.

Then people stood next to the young President who were not afraid to take responsibility for the future of Belarus.

Only during the first convocation 18 codes were adopted.

Over the past three decades, the Council of the Republic has considered about 3,000 bills, including 39 codes.

The bicameral system has become a reliable legal filter and a guarantee that each law works for the benefit of citizens, taking into account the interests of the regions. Our experience of parliamentary building is so convincing that many states are showing interest in it today.

For thirty years, 395 people became members of the Council of the Republic. This is a great honor and a colossal responsibility, because only eight people represent each region and the city of Minsk.

Most of them do not work on a professional basis – they work in industrial enterprises, organizations and institutions, make a significant contribution to the socio-economic development of our country.

Allow me to express my deepest gratitude to the members of the Council of the Republic of all convocations for their loyalty to duty, selfless service to the Fatherland and strengthening the legal system of the country.

Dear colleagues!

The current period of our work is no less important and responsible.

On September 17, we will celebrate National Unity Day. For Belarusians, unity is the foundation of independence and one of the key factors of sustainable development. Only a united people can overcome any challenges and preserve their identity.

Ahead is the third meeting of the Seventh All-Belarusian People’s Assembly, at which the Head of State will deliver an annual Address to the Belarusian people, the delegates will sum up the results of the first year of the five-year plan.

The agenda for the fifth session will also be extremely busy. The central place in our work is traditionally occupied by the budget package - draft laws on the republican budget and the budget of the Social Protection Fund for 2027, changes to the Tax Code.

The requirements of the Head of State in the fiscal sphere are unchanged: effective spending of funds on priorities of social and economic development, fair and balanced taxation system.

The relevant draft laws should be carefully studied. This task applies to all commissions.

We must answer the fundamental questions: “Are all the instructions of the President taken into account in the formation of the budget?”, “Are budget expenditures focused on solving systemic social issues?” and, most importantly, “How will people’s lives improve after the adoption of budget documents?”

Work will continue on the draft law prepared on the basis of the results of a large-scale audit of the legislation carried out on behalf of the President. Its adoption will eliminate acts that have lost their relevance and have not been applied in practice.

The country is preparing to introduce a national digital currency. The bill will create the necessary legal basis for the use of the new form of the Belarusian ruble. According to the developers, this will provide additional control over the targeted spending of budget funds and expand the possibilities of cross-border payments.

Serious work is underway to amend the laws “On Local Governance and Self-Government in the Republic of Belarus” and “On Appeals of Citizens and Legal Entities”.

The Council of the Republic has already submitted proposals that have been taken into account in the preparation of relevant draft laws.

Careful study will require legislative innovations in the field of labor and housing relations, labor protection, external labor migration, licensing, healthcare, personal data protection, trade unions, social support for citizens affected by the Chernobyl accident.

The Council of the Republic has prepared a draft law on increasing the level of employment. It is based on proposals developed jointly with deputies of local councils and supported by the Head of State.

Expert support of the legislative process is important. This year, the Expert Council, created on behalf of the President, reviewed 24 draft legislative acts. Reasonable comments have been made on most of them.

So, in August, at the meeting of the Council, the draft Decree “On Funds and Charitable Activities in the Sphere of Healthcare” was studied in detail. During its consideration, it was proposed to develop a separate bill on charitable activities. The proposal was supported by the Head of State.

This is a clear confirmation that the President’s installation works: the expert council was created to ensure the high quality and effectiveness of legislation.

For every letter of the law, we must first see a person. Laws should be fair, understandable, come from life, adopted for people and in the name of people.

I urge you to be attentive to the elaboration of draft laws, to initiate their public discussion at different venues – at meetings in labor collectives, with the population, in youth audiences. If necessary, make suggestions.

Dear members of the Council of the Republic!

The international situation today is characterized by an intertwining of acute geopolitical contradictions and growing economic fragmentation.

Struggle for critical resources, trade protectionism, and sanctions regimes are becoming key factors that are changing the usual models of international cooperation.

Today we are actually witnessing a confrontation between military and political blocs, supporters and opponents of multipolarity.

As noted by our President, esteemed Alexander Grigorievich, “at present, a direct massive military aggression has demonstratively returned.”.

As regional conflicts and major power rivalries intensify, confidence among states is declining, diplomatic channels are often limited, and numerous international institutions are facing a lack of consensus and political will.

Our constant task is to preserve peace and tranquility on the Belarusian land.

In the context of global interdependence, any escalation of tensions can undermine achievements in the field of socio-economic development, destroy all previous efforts of generations.

In the maintenance of international peace and security, we should make maximum use of parliamentary diplomacy.

Belarus is a peace-loving country. We consistently convey this thesis to the foreign public during numerous international contacts with speakers of parliaments, heads of diplomatic missions, heads of foreign ministries, delegations of business circles, friendship groups.

We should continue to work on the implementation of the initiative of the Head of our state to start a global dialogue on security in the international arena.

In its development, the members of the Council of the Republic consistently promote the idea of forming a new architecture of Eurasian security.

This issue was emphasized by our parliamentarians at the events of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

We proposed the adoption within the framework of the CIS IPA of a statement in support of the development of the Eurasian Charter for Multipolarity and Diversity and a similar statement in the Eurasia geopolitical group in the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

The Council of the Republic must continue to respond publicly to developments affecting the security of our country.

So, we initiated the adoption of a statement in connection with the attack on a bus with Belarusian children in the Bryansk region of the Russian Federation. This document was sent to the media and parliamentary organizations. Thus, by objectively informing the international community, we break through the censorship that Western media build around such incidents.

In the context of ensuring the security of the Union State, close cooperation has been established at the level of the upper chambers of the parliaments of Belarus and Russia, in particular, the relevant commissions and committees.

The parties annually hold consultations, during which they compare approaches to the current international agenda. Until the end of this year, such consultations will be held in Minsk.

Dear colleagues!

Inter-parliamentary diplomacy today is the most important tool for promoting national interests and creating favorable conditions for our economy.

Promoting trade and economic interests in the context of the tasks that the Head of State sets for the entire power vertical is our absolute priority. By personal example, the President, making visits to foreign countries, including far arc, and negotiating with their leaders, opens the door to markets that are not easy to enter in conditions of fierce and global competition.

The greatest economic effect is provided in the framework of international forums held under the auspices of the Council of the Republic.

In June, the XIII Forum of the Regions of Belarus and Russia was held in Minsk and Minsk region, which set new records in terms of the number of signed contracts and cooperation documents.

The Standing Committees of the Council of the Republic should take special control over the implementation of the agreements reached during the Forum.

At the same time, the Inter-Parliamentary Commission on Interregional Cooperation remains a key role in monitoring the implementation of the forum decisions. It should provide substantive content to the meetings of the chairmen of the Council of the Republic and the Federation Council in the inter-forum period, taking into account the joint decision to hold the forum on a biennial basis.

In late September, the first Uzbek-Belarusian inter-parliamentary forum will be held in Khiva, Uzbekistan, within the framework of which the fourth women's business forum will be held.

Changing the format of this forum, increasing its status, happened for a reason: during the official visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Belarus in July this year, our countries secured the establishment of a strategic partnership by signing a corresponding declaration.

We are actively preparing for the forum, forming a portfolio of commercial contracts and agreements. This will be our effective contribution to the implementation of the roadmap for the development of trade and economic cooperation between Belarus and Uzbekistan and the solution of the task set by the heads of the two states to reach the level of trade turnover of $ 2 billion by 2030.

Our activity in parliamentary structures should be based on the unconditional priority of national interests, support for unification and creative initiatives.

The 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union will be held in Tanzania in early October. It is of fundamental importance for us to preserve the continuity of approaches in the work of this oldest international organization, to prevent its politicization or decrease in efficiency in its work, as we see in the example of other institutions.

In this context, one of the main issues for us at the upcoming Assembly will be the election of a new chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Union - out of several candidates, we fully support the chairman of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, respected Sagiba Aliyevna Gafarov.

Work is underway on the IPU youth track: our colleague Alexander Lukyanov took part in the Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians in early September.

The Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the CIS member states should continue its efforts to harmonize the legislation of the CIS countries.

At the proposal of Belarus, 12 out of 134 documents were included in the long-term plan of model legislation for 2026-2028.

In November, events of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly will be held in Turkmenistan. It is advisable for us to use the visit of the parliamentary delegation to this country to hold talks with the Turkmen side on the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation, as well as with our other partners. This is a unique platform for negotiations and meetings.

It is necessary to continue the implementation of the Belarusian initiative to hold an event dedicated to the preservation of traditional family values under the auspices of the IPA CIS.

Another priority platform is the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia. It is here that a single legal space of the Union State is formed, approaches to social guarantees, industrial cooperation, protection of common historical memory are synchronized.

The key areas of our work in the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly remain ensuring collective security, harmonizing the legislation of the member states and increasing inter-parliamentary cooperation to counter modern challenges and threats.

The participation of members of the Council of the Republic in monitoring elections and referendums, including through parliamentary structures, is our contribution to ensuring the electoral sovereignty of friendly states of Belarus and strengthening regional security.

In August of this year, members of the Council of the Republic took part in the international observation of the elections of deputies of the Kurultai Republic of Kazakhstan.

Already this week, it is planned that our colleagues will take part in monitoring the elections of deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

Objective assessments are especially important at a time when Western countries and biased organizations continue to try to interfere in the most important domestic political events in our countries.

In the context of this electoral campaign, the practice of participation of members of the Council of the Republic in monitoring elections in Russian foreign missions in the territory of our country will be expanded. There is a growing interest in inter-parliamentary cooperation from the far arc states.

In July of this year, a delegation of the Arab Parliament representing the interests of 22 member states of the Arab League visited our country. During the visit, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the National Assembly and the Arab Parliament, which opens up new prospects for cooperation with the Arab world.

As a result of the meeting with the President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, held in August this year, an agreement was reached in principle to intensify inter-parliamentary contacts.

We are currently working on the first official visit of the chairman of the upper house of the Belarusian-Myanmarian Parliament to Belarus.

Last week, a delegation of the People’s Political Consultative Council of China visited our country. We confirmed the course to further deepen the Belarusian-Chinese all-weather and comprehensive strategic partnership, expand cooperation between the regions, through public women's and youth organizations.

An official visit of the President of the Senate of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is planned in the near future. We plan to sign a bilateral Memorandum of Cooperation.

The implementation of the agreements reached with our foreign partners, primarily at the highest level, is a national task. We must work more actively on topical issues on the international agenda, the solution of which is sometimes unreasonably delayed.

We have a wide range of tools for this: in the eighth convocation of the National Assembly, 10 delegations were formed to work in international parliamentary organizations, 6 high-level commissions and committees, 42 country working groups, many of which are headed by members of the Council of the Republic.

Today, there is a high intensity in the work of a number of such groups and commissions – with the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the National People’s Congress, the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan.

Other friendship groups should intensify their work, expand the formats of interaction and make a significant contribution to the further strengthening of bilateral relations.

The Council of the Republic continues to strengthen the positive image of our country through the prism of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. In this area, we have a special responsibility - the National Coordinator for the achievement of sustainable development goals in accordance with the presidential decree is a member of the Council of the Republic Sergey Fedorovich Aleynik.

The work is systematic, and our country has something to be proud of. Belarus is among the leaders in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, taking 35th place in the international ranking of 169 countries.

The level of achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals is about 83 percent. At the same time, the global pace remains too slow, and in some cases it is deteriorating.

In November, Minsk will host a landmark event – the International Forum of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization for Sustainable Development with the participation of national coordinators.

We should use this forum to focus on issues that impede global progress towards sustainable development goals, such as illegal sanctions, the arms race and support for armed conflict.

Dear colleagues!

Working with the population is crucial for parliamentarians. Close attention to the problems of citizens and assistance in solving them allow us to judge how effectively our activities on the ground have been built.

Since the beginning of the year, members of the Council of the Republic have considered about 4 thousand applications, held 420 receptions of citizens and legal entities, 206 direct telephone lines and 889 meetings with labor collectives.

Behind every conversion is human destiny. When a member of the Council of the Republic solves a local issue, he does not just help a particular person, but builds confidence in the entire system of public administration.

At the same time, our goal is to see a systemic problem behind a single case. If one person encounters a legal or bureaucratic barrier, dozens of others may face it tomorrow.

On the instructions of the President, we constantly monitor the course of consideration of the issues received by proxies during the electoral campaign. Many of them have already been resolved.

In particular, the conditions under which two attempts of in vitro fertilization are provided free of charge are defined, a topic that has been raised repeatedly during the election campaign.

Bridge crossings in Fanipol and Polotsk were reconstructed, a section of the M-1 highway in the Brest region was repaired, the improvement of the Holy Lake in Mogilev was completed, a drainage system was put into operation in one of the Brest microdistricts, repairs were carried out on streets and roads in different regions of the country.

Socially significant projects are being implemented: the construction of a school in the capital’s Lošice microdistrict, a hostel for medical workers for 1,200 places in Minsk, a new polyclinic in Fanipol, the Eastern Bypass in Gomel, a sports and health complex in Zaslavl, the reconstruction of the Warsaw Bridge in Brest.

All these issues remain under special control in the Council of the Republic until final resolution.

Where a request cannot be granted today, a person should receive an honest and reasoned explanation. That is our principled position.

The materials of appeals should be used in the work on bills. Standing commissions need to conduct an in-depth analysis of appeals, summarize initiatives and, if necessary, come up with specific proposals for amending legislation.

There are positive examples. According to our proposals, state bodies are working on legal acts on determining alimony arrears, repeated state support for housing construction, and responsible treatment of animals.

Special words of gratitude to all state authorities for constructive interaction in considering appeals. Thanks to the built system, we can quickly remove acute issues of concern to citizens.

The personal participation of the members of the Council of the Republic also decides a lot. People appreciate it. This is evidenced by letters of gratitude. They are addressed to the members of the Presidium and our colleagues, members of the Council of the Republic.

Dear participants of the meeting!

For thirty years, the Council of the Republic as a chamber of territorial representation has become a true voice of the Belarusian regions. One of our priorities remains the coordination of the activities of the entire deputy corps of the country.

Effective mechanisms of this work are extended visiting meetings of the Presidium of the Council of the Republic, the Council for interaction of local self-government bodies, the expert advisory council, as well as quarterly meetings with the heads of regional and district councils of deputies.

Within the framework of these events, the deputy corps is provided with information on the current socio-economic and international agenda, a wide range of topics that are sensitive to citizens in the regions are considered. Such as: work with empty and dilapidated houses, optimization of enterprises and institutions by creating interdistrict structures, closing social facilities, restoring order on the ground and many others.

As a result of these meetings, a number of issues are resolved directly at the level of the Council of the Republic. Other proposals are developed, which are submitted for consideration by republican and local authorities. Some problems are removed in the development and adjustment of normative legal acts.

Another working tool for the implementation of balanced regional policies is civic initiatives, through which public energy is converted into concrete useful projects.

Every year they become more and more. This year alone, 176 initiatives worth 6.3 million rubles are planned to be implemented throughout the republic. A unique experience is gradually accumulating, which should be summarized and systematized.

Under the patronage of the Gomel Regional Association of Local Councils of Deputies, the Forum of Civil Initiatives “From Idea to Results” is held for the third time. We decided to scale this idea and hold a republican forum of civil initiatives in 2027, which will be hosted by the Grodno region.

The balanced development of the regions directly depends on the initiative, economic and strategic thinking of local authorities.

Of the 1,277 local councils, almost 90 percent are rural and settlement councils. They are responsible for sensitive issues of life: land relations, improvement, work of personal subsidiary farms, availability of medical care and trade services.

Let me give you an example in the field of tourism, the development of which is one of the priorities of the current five-year plan. Following our meeting with the chairmen of the local councils in Ivanovo and the meeting of the expert advisory council in Rossony, the Gomel deputy corps set an ambitious goal – to create a tourist route in each of the 230 village councils.

To date, maps of most routes are already posted on the websites of district executive committees. This will be a good help to increase the tourist attractiveness of the region and attract guests. This approach needs to be replicated everywhere.

In November, within the framework of the Council for Interaction of Local Self-Government Bodies, we will comprehensively consider the activities of rural Councils of Deputies.

I ask all members of the Council of the Republic, based on their experience in the regions, to make proposals on the agenda of meetings with the heads of local councils and on the topics of upcoming field meetings. The standing commissions shall keep under control the issues raised by the local deputies until the final decision.

Dear colleagues!

The basis of any strong state are traditional spiritual and moral values.

The family remains the subject of special care of the Belarusian state, and demography is one of the key priorities of social policy and national security.

Against the background of the devaluation of the moral ideals of Western society and attempts to introduce stereotypes alien to our mentality, Belarus remains committed to its traditions. In our country, supporting families has always been an absolute priority.

In accordance with the instructions of the Head of State, the Parliament, together with the Government, will have to improve the system of support for motherhood and childhood, in particular, to determine new approaches to the payment of benefits for the care of children under three years.

In order to comprehensively discuss this issue, we plan to hold a visiting seminar in Volozhin, following which we will develop practical recommendations for the regions.

2026 has been declared the Year of the Belarusian Woman. This wise decision of the President has a special meaning. Traditionally, the role of women is closely linked to the family and the upbringing of children.

In the Year of the Belarusian Woman, the Council of the Republic proposed a number of initiatives aimed at forming a culture of family values and strengthening the role of motherhood.

Together with the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, a digital platform “Face to History: Women’s Path of Belarus” was launched. The resource consolidates materials from all regions and maintains a digital chronicle of Belarusians who have made a special contribution to the formation and prosperity of a sovereign state. The platform promotes education of Belarusian youth on exemplary examples of selfless service to the country.

For women who find themselves in a difficult life situation, the project of the Council of the Republic “Help Hand” is being implemented. As part of this initiative, we help specific women: we assist in their employment, treatment, family reunification.

Mercy is a characteristic feature of Belarusians. I am sure that the implementation of the project should continue in the future. A helping hand should be extended to all who find themselves in a difficult life situation.

Within the framework of the family forum “Talk about the important: a happy family – a strong state”, held by the Council of the Republic together with the Belarusian Orthodox Church in Polotsk, for the fourth time the topic of morality, moral values, spirituality and family traditions will be discussed.

This year, we have made this event an international event and expanded the geography of participants by inviting parliamentarians from other countries who, like us, share key principles and views on family creation and child rearing.

Today, when in the Western community for a long time there is a complete substitution of the concepts of morality and morality, the promotion of the institution of the family, more than ever, is vital.

The information space imposes on young people the renunciation of responsibility, the desire to create and maintain a family, promotes the principle of child-free.

Ideas about “free” life, free love, self-centeredness and self-centeredness, caring only for one’s own good – these are only some of the challenges that modern youth face.

Dear colleagues!

Youth policy has always been and will remain a priority of our state.

Not indifferent, involved in the fate of the country, the young generation is a reliable support of statehood.

The energy of young people should be channeled in a creative direction. Young people should actively participate in all spheres of society, make a significant contribution to the development of the country.

Our President, addressing the youth, said: The future of the country is in your hands, and you must preserve your country. It is our sacred duty to pass the baton of love for our native land, the desire to make Belarus more beautiful and better.

Members of the Council of the Republic actively interact with young people. On an ongoing basis, meetings are held where children voice many interesting initiatives that can unite society. We need to take them into account in our legislative work.

At the end of October, the current convocation of the Youth Council under the Council of the Republic completes its work. I have to admit, it was a pleasure working with these guys. The two-year period was very busy and productive.

I would like to note the high involvement of the members of the Youth Council in the events held by the Council of the Republic. We see with what interest they take part in sessions, extended meetings of the Presidium, personal receptions of citizens.

The Youth Council has initiated a number of projects aimed at preserving the historical memory and truth about the Great Patriotic War, preventing the rehabilitation of Nazism, developing leadership qualities among young people, and countering drug trafficking. The members of the Youth Council are a good human resources potential for our regions and the country as a whole. I am sure that the members of the Youth Council will pass on their experience to those who will replace them.

Following the principle of continuity, the most active representatives of this convocation should continue to work in the new composition.

Traditionally, the Council of the Republic will focus on youth issues, including the implementation of such landmark projects as “Memory Train”, “Children of the Commonwealth”, “Code of the Invictus”, the Youth Military-Patriotic Forum, which contribute to the unity and military-patriotic education of young people.

We must do everything to make young people realize their ideas and dreams in their homeland, on the Belarusian land.

Trust in young people and support for their initiatives is a good indicator of the maturity of our society. The supreme wisdom of power is not just to build a future for the young, but to create it with them.

I urge all members of the Council of the Republic to conduct an open and honest dialogue with young people, paying special attention to the formation of an active civic position, strengthening traditional spiritual and moral values, the prestige of the family, and discussing legislative initiatives.

Dear colleagues!

In conditions of external pressure, information wars and attempts to discredit state institutions, interaction with the media occupies a special place in our work.

In the information field there is no calm: if we do not convey the truth about the real state of affairs and the logic of managerial decisions, this vacuum is instantly filled with falsifications.

Timely and clear comments of parliamentarians in the media destroy stereotypes, suppress the spread of fakes and protect the national interests of the country on the information front.

This is the direct responsibility of each member of the Council of the Republic. Our main tool for this work is the state media. It is necessary to fully use the potential of the republican and local press, television channels, digital resources for broadcasting pressing socio-economic issues.

By participating in the broadcasts, publishing articles and commenting, we set the tone for discussing the most important government initiatives.

The active presence of members of the Council of the Republic in the media field allows to shift the focus of public attention from destructive criticism to constructive search for solutions and promotion of a fair agenda.

I urge all members of the Council of the Republic to actively work in the media field: to constantly explain innovations in legislation, firmly defend our values, historical truth and national interests of the Republic of Belarus.

Dear friends!

As part of the events dedicated to the anniversary of the National Assembly, we hold a series of meetings. An evening of memory of people's artists of the Soviet Union Nikolai Nikolayevich Eremenko and Rostislav Ivanovich Yankovsky, who worked in the first convocations, was held.

In Kossovo and Nesvizh, meetings were held with members of the Council of the Republic of previous convocations elected from the Brest and Minsk regions. In the near future, similar meetings will be held in other regions and the city of Minsk.

It is symbolic that in the Year of the Belarusian woman, the final stage of this relay of memory will be a meeting with women members of the Council of the Republic of previous convocations. A woman’s view of state affairs is always a special wisdom, sensitivity, creative power and responsibility for the future of her native land.

Thirty years ago, our predecessors took responsibility for the fate of the country at a difficult time. In a record short time by historical standards, overcoming many trials, we built our sovereign independent state for the first time.

A country for a worthy present and prosperous, safe, comfortable future.

Peaceful and constructive Belarus is a stronghold of calm and stability. It's expensive. Today, the fate of the state is entrusted to all of us. And we must justify the trust of the Belarusian people. Our choice remains unchanged: sovereignty, security and peace in our homeland, joining forces for common development goals.

Allow me to sincerely congratulate you on the upcoming National Unity Day. This holiday symbolizes the invincible strength of patriotism, courage, perseverance and spiritual greatness in the name of protecting the Fatherland.

History proves that we are invincible only when we are together. It is in mutual support that the main strength of the Belarusians lies. Let this force resonate in every home with consent, and in the heart with pride for belonging to the Belarusian people.

I wish everyone happiness, health and fruitful work for the sake of prosperity of our native Belarus.