The Belarusian people have earned the right to be called 'people' and to live on their land - A. Lukashenko

May 21, Minsk /BELTA/. The Belarusian people have earned the right to be called "people" and to live on their land. This was stated by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on May 21 at the ceremony of awarding state decorations to distinguished people of the country, BELTA was informed by the press service of the Belarusian leader. "You receive honorary titles, orders and medals for outstanding merits to the Motherland and the people. This is an incentive for even greater success in the future," said the head of state. "I am convinced that for any of us, the main goal is the well-being and prosperity of our native country, the happiness of our loved ones and confidence in the future. After all, we all work for this." As the President noted, the state is actively developing, the economy, social, technological and production spheres are reaching new levels. "And together we are capable of reaching any heights, overcoming any difficulties," Alexander Lukashenko is confident. State awards were presented to employees of OJSC "Minsk Automobile Plant" of the production association "BelavtoMAZ". "This is one of the largest machine-building enterprises in the CIS. Its products are known far beyond Belarus, and demand for them is growing, and new markets are being developed. The numbers speak for themselves. BelavtoMAZ's foreign trade volume in 2011 increased by almost 200%," the head of state noted. According to him, the components of this success are rational labor organization, thrifty use of resources, and the implementation of rationalization proposals. "The public recognition that you have rightfully earned should become a benchmark for our manufacturers. They should look up to you," the President emphasized. Among the awardees are also representatives of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus. "By fruitfully improving the legislative framework of our state, you actively contribute to solving a wide range of social problems. These include issues of labor discipline, employment, improving the healthcare system, protecting motherhood and childhood, and supporting talented youth. Education, science, intensification of integration processes and the development of international cooperation also remain within your scope of attention," said Alexander Lukashenko. The best representatives of the Belarusian judiciary have also been awarded state decorations, who, through their responsible work, ensure the principles of legality and prompt qualified judicial protection. "You have made a significant contribution to improving the legal literacy and culture of the population. Through your efforts, legal acts are ensured to comply with the main law of the country - the Constitution," the head of state noted. Alexander Lukashenko also presented state awards to a large group of military personnel: "You ensure a high level of readiness for the defense of our Motherland, defend its security and territorial integrity." Athletes and coaches were honored at the ceremony. Alexander Lukashenko specifically noted that the special prize of the President of Belarus "Belarusian Sports Olympus" for 2012 was awarded to the outstanding athlete and promoter of physical culture Darya Domracheva. She was also awarded the Order of the Fatherland, III degree. "With her brilliant victories at world championships, Darya Domracheva has brought glory to Belarus all over the world," the head of state emphasized. According to him, Belarus is rich in talents in various fields of activity. This is confirmed by the fact that among the awardees are famous cultural figures, educators, attentive and responsive workers of the public service sector. "Each of you does a great deal for our Belarus. You have proven by your example that diligence, creativity, and perseverance will certainly lead to success," added Alexander Lukashenko. "You are doing a great job, and we will definitely win. We will definitely win this difficult struggle for the existence of our country as an independent sovereign state. A state that will primarily serve our Belarusian people, because they have earned the right to be called 'people' and to live on their piece of land," the President emphasized. -0-