Dear countrymen,

I congratulate you on the 90th anniversary of the founding the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic.

For us, this event is of epochal significance. It changed the course of national history, began the glorious chronicle of Belarusian statehood proper and an important stage of its regional formation; made it possible to consolidate the nation and develop our unique culture.

Created by the will of our people, rather than bestowed upon by foreign occupants, the new independent republic underwent the ordeals of civil war, outside aggression and overall collapse. But the republic never gave up! It was overcoming all the hardships, demonstrating perseverance and courage, uniting its efforts with the brotherly peoples and became one of the founders of the Soviet Union – a great country that liberated the humanity from the Nazi enslavement. A clear evidence of the recognition by the world community of the contribution of the BSSR to the overall Victory was the participation of the BSSR in the founding of the United Nations.

The impressive successes in the manufacturing industry and agriculture, in rejuvenating towns and villages, developing science and culture, conducting peaceful policy achieved during the Soviet time have always been a reliable foundation for securing the true sovereignty of our state. It is in those years that the foundation was laid down on which the Republic of Belarus is standing firmly today.

Celebrating this glorious date and paying tribute to the historical memory of the people, we will always be grateful to those who was defending our Fatherland and raising it from the ruins. Their feats of arms and labour inspire us to build a strong and prosperous Belarus.

On this remarkable day I wish you, dear countrymen, health, optimism, wellbeing and new accomplishments in the name of our dear Motherland.

Alexander Lukashenko