The Vitebsk region media center discussed the Address of the President of the Republic of Belarus to the Belarusian people and the National Assembly
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The President's annual address to the Belarusian people and parliament always attracts a lot of attention. After all, the speech not only touches upon important aspects of Belarus's life but also defines the vector of its near-term development. According to the head of state, "this is a kind of political dialogue in which everyone participates: the President, the government, leaders of all levels, deputies, public organizations, and our citizens." The issues for discussion are invariably dictated by the times. Therefore, it is natural that much was said about war and peace, about how "the West-East line is sparking" and what it could lead to.
— The theme of our today's event, if it can be broadly defined, is the conditions for preserving sovereignty and independence, — the Belarusian leader noted, emphasizing that in the modern history of our country, this issue has never been so acute.
What conclusions did the President's speech prompt? What tasks have been set for representatives of government bodies and other residents of Belarus? Invited experts shared their opinions at the Vitebsk Oblast Media Center (including online).
From Ideas to Actions
— I think everyone heard this message of peace – to the world, — said Marina Novitskaya, Head of the Main Department of Ideological Work and Youth Affairs of the Regional Executive Committee. — We understand that today, perhaps, the most important thing for us is to unite, to preserve our unity. And sovereignty must be our priority.
She emphasized that it is no longer necessary to share impressions of the President's Address, but rather to take its ideas as a basis and consider what can be done locally to fulfill the assignments given by the head of state.
— If we talk about historical truth, then we must outline the measures that help preserve it, — Marina Novitskaya specified. — Yes, we did a lot in 2022, and now we are carrying out many events dedicated to the patriotic education of our youth and historical events. But in 2023, many of our settlements will celebrate the 80th anniversary of liberation from the Nazi invaders. It is necessary to develop a plan on how to show this to our youth, how we will talk about the facts of the past, without allowing them to be distorted.
And touching upon the topic of sovereignty, one cannot fail to recall another point of the Address, where the President emphasized that Belarus, in addition to the State Emblem and the State Flag, has a third important symbol — the anthem. For Vitebsk region, it is a matter of particular pride, noted Marina Novitskaya, as composer Nestor Sokolovsky is our countryman, he was born in the territory of the current Dokshitsy district.
— The Address is a roadmap for us, which we must take, draw up a route — each in its own direction — and start working, — Marina Novitskaya summed up.
She noted that the modern pace of life requires any person to make decisions almost every minute. But it is necessary to think about their consequences. And if, at the same time, everyone — a student at a desk, a leader in their organization, civil servants in their workplaces — conscientiously fulfills their duties, and somewhere even goes ahead of schedule, then it will be possible to say that the President's message has been accepted and we are jointly engaged in its implementation.
Not to unleash war, but to protect peace
The military commissar of the Vitebsk region, Ruslan Shkodin, focused on the points of the Address concerning the international situation, the situation on the Belarusian border, and the measures being taken to preserve peace and strengthen the country's defense capability. He emphasized that the President named the culprit of the conflict in a neighboring state: the United States of America.
— Who benefits from the current situation? One side: the USA, — Ruslan Shkodin is confident. — All others, including NATO countries, are primarily suffering from this conflict, especially economically. Some states are experiencing a social crisis, with strikes and rallies taking place. This is because people feel the injustice when taxpayers' money is not used to improve citizens' quality of life, but to support and further prolong the armed conflict in Ukraine.
Then, the military commissar suggested shifting the focus slightly towards countries without armed confrontation. The situation in the Baltics has been a cause for concern for a long time. Even before the start of the Russian special operation in Ukraine, militarization was rapidly progressing there; over the past five years, the number of NATO troops has significantly increased, explained Ruslan Shkodin. Our western neighbor, Poland, has not lagged behind in terms of military training.
— These pose risks and challenges for the Republic of Belarus, — the military commissar emphasized.
The chairman of the Braslav District Executive Committee, Vyacheslav Grishchenko, who participated in the dialogue platform remotely, also spoke about the difficult relationship with the Baltic countries. During the Soviet era, our peoples were part of the same country, and since then, numerous family and friendly ties have remained, especially among residents of border regions. However, Lithuania and Latvia today are doing everything possible to complicate communication and minimize contacts. According to Vyacheslav Grishchenko, the neighbors are not fulfilling the agreements on the operation of border crossing points: they are not functioning even at half their capacity. Belarus, on the other hand, has simplified the entry procedure and introduced a visa-free regime, which was used by over 100,000 citizens of Lithuania and Latvia last year, and about 30,000 this year.
In the current situation, our country simply could not fail to think about its own defense capability. The military commissar spoke about what has been done and what Belarus currently possesses. First of all, it was necessary to improve what already existed. Tactical exercises were conducted, and military training camps were organized for those in the reserve. In addition, the possibility of deploying a people's militia from among individuals who, for various reasons, are unfit for military service, but are ready to defend their homeland with weapons in hand if necessary, began to be developed. A corresponding law has not yet been adopted, so for now, lists of volunteers are only being compiled, and the idea is being tested in specific districts.
Ruslan Shkodin also highlighted another point:
— The statement that tactical nuclear weapons will be deployed on the territory of Belarus has caused a lot of discussion. But this is already a necessary measure to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our republic. We must clearly understand: this is not to start a war, but to preserve peace.
In the interests of the country and loved ones
In his Address, the President spoke about changes in the Constitution, lawmaking, and party building. The Head of State recalled that less than a year remains until the next elections in Belarus. Preparations for them have already begun: electoral legislation has been updated, and the legal framework for the activities of parties and civil society has been defined.
— We have never hindered and will not hinder party building. Especially if the initiative comes from people who sincerely love their country, their home, their family, and are настроенных on a peaceful future for their children, — noted Alexander Lukashenko.
Igor Teplyakov, chairman of the regional organization of the Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus, commented on this part of the Address. He believes that the Head of State has exhaustively expressed his opinion on the need for healthy competition in the socio-political field of our country.
— The President, in a highly diplomatic manner but without unnecessary words, defined the work directions for political structures, prioritizing their patriotism and adherence to the course adopted at the All-Belarusian People's Assembly. It is this Assembly that will determine the development strategy of society and the state, ensure the inviolability of the constitutional system, the continuity of generations, and civil accord, — said Igor Teplyakov. — We fully support the head of state and share his views. Only in unity and solidarity, especially in this difficult time, can we withstand external challenges and threats.
What Concerns Everyone
However, the President's Address did not only focus on foreign and domestic policy issues. The economy, the social sphere, and many everyday, domestic matters that concern everyone were not overlooked. In particular, the Belarusian leader stated:
— All decisions on price regulation have been made. Yes, they are strict. You know my principled approach: no one is allowed to unreasonably raise prices and fleece people.
Yuri Derkach, a member of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly and chairman of the regional trade union association, spoke about how these principles are being implemented in our region. He explained that many public organizations, including trade unions, constantly monitor retail chains to prevent unjustified price increases for someone to gain super-profits. Furthermore, the public always has the opportunity to call and report such incidents. However, control is not the primary task.
— The most important thing is to produce goods in sufficient quantities, preserve them, and offer them to our residents at a price that is comparable to wages, — emphasized Yuri Derkach.
To achieve this, numerous steps are being taken, including the development of agricultural production, the study of the condition and capacity of storage facilities, and the analysis of markups set by retail chains.
— Therefore, when we talk about price control, it is a whole system of measures that allows us to have our own high-quality products, while preserving resources for development and ensuring a decent quality of life for people, — said Yuri Derkach.
The task is to build the future together
The participants of the dialogue platform also discussed some other issues. Thus, the Chairman of the Lepel District Council of Deputies, Igor Urban, reminded everyone of the President's opinion that "only a patriot can raise a patriot," and emphasized that this process should begin as early as possible. An example of such an approach is the Lepel kindergarten No. 9, which received the status of "School of Peace." But to truly see the result, it is necessary to look for new forms of work, rely on the specifics of a particular region, and try to involve not only children but all segments of the population in patriotic education, Igor Urban is confident.
— The Head of State is a politician of global scale. He possesses vast knowledge and extensive experience as the head of the country. And therefore, in his Address, he spoke about the most important thing: that the world over the past, perhaps, fifty years has been adapting to the United States of America, which wanted to make it unipolar. And for this, everything was used, — Yuri Derkach noted at the end of the meeting. — The fact that our country, together with Russia, is creating a multipolar world is the merit of the heads of the two states: Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin.
According to Yuri Derkach, our President has done the most important thing – he has preserved peace for today. And the task of Belarusians now is to develop the economy, to work with full dedication, in order to create a better future together.