To the participants and guests of the celebrations marking Belarusian Written Language Day

Dear friends,

Let me extend my warm greetings to you on the occasion of Belarusian Written Language Day marked this year on the hospitable land of Brest Region, in Gantsevichi.

Every year this holiday becomes a big event in the cultural life of our country, attesting to the richness of our historical heritage and the traditions of our people. For many years Belarusian literature has been furthering the eternal ideals of goodness and justice, has been the life-giving source of wisdom and knowledge.

Gantsevichi District is inseparably connected with the life and work of the famous writer Yakub Kolas. Celebration of Belarusian Written Language Day in these places steeped in history turns us once again to the values that shine through his books. And the main of them is attention toward the ordinary man, moral purity, nobleness and the selfless love of one's native land.

It is this foundation that the ideology of the contemporary Belarus is based on. Therefore our national culture will always be promoted in Belarus, and the authors who are the true patriots of their Motherland will always be supported.

I sincerely wish all the participants and guests of the celebrations happiness, consent, fruitful work and wellbeing.

Alexander Lukashenko