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ADDRESS by
President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko to the Nation
March 17, 2006,
Minsk, Belarus
Dear
compatriots! Dear friends!
On March 19 you
will elect the President of our country. You will elect your President.
This is not
just a political campaign. This is a historic choice of path to further
develop the Motherland. This is a choice of prospects of life of every one
of you.
Therefore, I
sincerely call on you to perform your civic duty – to participate in the
nationwide expression of will. The destiny of our young sovereign state is
in your hands. This is exactly the genuine meaning of democracy.
As Head of
State I guarantee you that the elections will be held in full compliance
with our legislation. They will be not less fair and transparent than in
other countries, which have been given us as an example.
The elections
in Belarus are not held secretly. More than thirty thousand internal and one
thousand international observers have been accredited to monitor the
electoral process.
Dear quests!
All necessary
conditions have been made to allow you to carry out your work. You see that
we are open for constructive cooperation. There is only one request – do not
go exceed abuse your authority! Please, observe and make your conclusions.
But do not decide for us! Do not decide how we are supposed to live and what
path the Belarusian people should follow in the future!
The Belarusians
have gained through suffering the right to independent and free choice and
will never renounce it. Over last ten years, we understood a lot and did
many things. Thanks to our intelligence and hard work we overcame the crisis
after the break-up of the former Soviet Union, we did not allow the country
to be looted, we drew the economy out of its decline, we improved the
well-being of the people.
We did not
become puppets in the hands of the others; we did not fall into the abyss of
socio-political, ethnic and religious conflicts.
We have been accumulating by grains our own experience in establishing a
sovereign, independent and genuinely free state. Regardless of external
pressure, we managed to withstand in a worthy manner all threats and
challenges.
Today Belarus is not in decline or depression as we they frequently
prognosticated. Belarus dynamically and surely moves forward to higher
quality of life of the people and welfare, social justice and political
stability of the society.
Dear compatriots!
The fact that four candidates are participating in this election campaign is
yet another indicator of democracy in the country. Some of us should still
master political culture, but this is another story. However, I am sure the
people will figure everything out by themselves.
I
have to emphasize the issue of public order. Some of the candidates have
persistently been calling on the people to take to the streets should the
results of voting be not in their favor.
Is that the understanding of democracy? Disorders, riots, violence … I
guarantee that no coup d'état will take place in our country. No forced
takeover of institutions, no blockades of streets and squares will take
place. Today everything has been made to prevent even the smallest threat to
the security of people and to prevent violation of the Constitution.
I
therefore call on all residents of Belarus: please demonstrate your
citizen’s responsibility for the fate of your family and your country.
Dear young
citizens of Belarus!
Many of you
will participate in voting for the first time. I wholeheartedly congratulate
you on this event. You will not be just giving your vote in favor of
somebody. But you will vote, above all, for yourselves, for your future! For
future of your country that will not happen without your participation.
Dear fellow
countrymen!
I am confident
that the fate of Belarus will always be determined by the Belarusian people
only. Under any circumstances, do not stand aside. Do not be indifferent.
Vote by all means. Our country needs the vote of every one of you!
I'm asking you,
my dear compatriots, when you come at polls, please demonstrate who we are,
the Belarusians, and who is a master in our home…
Vote as your
mind and heart tell you. In the name for your welfare. In the name of the
welfare of your children. In the name of strong and prosperous Belarus!
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