Only a united society can rebuff a strong enemy. State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Aleksandr Volfovich made the statement during a solemn assembly and concert titled “The feat of our fathers – the pride of descendants” at the Palace of the Republic, BelTA has learned.
“Today we are gathered in this splendid hall on the eve of a holiday that is sacred to every Belarusian – the Day of the Great Victory. 9 May has entered our lives as a day of glory, pride, and immense gratitude to the generation of victors. The victory in the Great Patriotic War [of 1941-1945] was the result of combined efforts of all the brotherly peoples of the Soviet Union. That murderous war demonstrated that only a united society of genuine patriots, who are confident in the righteousness of their cause, who know well what they fight, tirelessly work, and die for, can rebuff a strong enemy,” Aleksandr Volfovich said.
He pointed out that our fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers liberated not only Belarus but also many European countries from the brown plague of fascism. “Today in Europe they try not to remember it. But we remember and will always remember. Belarus lost every third citizen during the difficult war years. However, the further the victorious May of 1945 recedes into history, the more persistent and cynical become attempts to downplay the contribution of our nation to the Victory over fascism. Meanwhile, historical facts do not play the key role. Their selection, falsification, and manipulation become the key. It reaches the point of absurdity and outright mockery of the memory of fallen soldiers. We see how the process of glorifying Nazi criminals and their accomplices is gaining momentum abroad, how traitors and henchmen of fascism are being exalted, and how monuments to Soviet soldiers are being demolished in several European countries while the sites where soldiers died are being desecrated,” the state secretary of the Security Council noted.
“Thus, Victory Day is also an occasion for a serious reflection on why, several decades after the end of the war, the world began to forget the atrocities of fascism. How could the ideology of neo-Nazism arise and gain strength in ‘civilized’ Europe? And finally, whether the foreign political elite will have enough wisdom to avoid erecting walls and new dividing lines, and to avoid provoking new, even more destructive conflicts. In Belarus the past is treated with care. We are proud of the feats of the generation of victors and honor the memory of those who died during the harsh trials. The Great Patriotic War occupies an exceptionally important place in the fate of every Belarusian: the yellowed photographs of relatives and friends who fought on the frontlines, in partisan units and the underground resistance movement, who died at the hands of punitive forces, who forged victory behind enemy lines – these are the most precious relics in family archives. We are proud to be the heirs of a spiritually strong nation who survived fascist concentration camps. The memory of the Great Patriotic War and the heroism of the people is the cementing foundation of our society,” Aleksandr Volfovich emphasized.
The state secretary of the Security Council added that the promotion of the state historical policy will continue to be an important task, a strategy for self-preservation and sustainable development. “As before, we are intent on ensuring stability and peace in the region. It hinges first of all on the effective system of national security that has been formed over the years of independence. Peace and tranquility in our homes are an unconditional priority in the work of the entire security, defense, and law enforcement bloc,” he noted.
Aleksandr Volfovich thanked the veterans for their feat. “You know the true price of victory. You have given us a peaceful, calm, and happy life. We bow low to you,” he said.
He also addressed young Belarusians. “Let us imagine for a moment those soldiers who did not return from the battlefields. Most of them were very young, just like you are today. They did not have time to fully experience the joy of love, did not realize their dreams, but they clearly knew what they were fighting for and what they were dying for. I ask you to carefully preserve the memory of them. May their feat inspire you to new achievements for the well-being and prosperity of our beloved Republic of Belarus. May the sky over our Fatherland always be peaceful,” Aleksandr Volfovich concluded.
The solemn assembly and concert titled “The feat of our fathers – the pride of descendants” is taking place at the Palace of the Republic in the capital city. The concert is built around the idea of generational continuity and the preservation of historical memory.
