Lukashenko: We are proud of Belarusian science

Belarusian science has something to be proud of, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a meeting with representatives of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus on 25 January, BelTA has learned.

According to the head of state, this meeting is special as the Palace of Independence has never hosted such a huge delegation of researchers before. Until now, the president met with scientists exclusively at the National Academy of Sciences.

“In the Year of Historical Memory, which coincided with an important date - the 100th anniversary of the Belarusian academic science - I would like to take stock of our work. We have something to remember. And most importantly, we have something to be proud of,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The president noted that he had witnessed many of the scientists in attendance rising to academic heights. This was happening at a very difficult and decisive period when Belarus was establishing itself as an independent state, the president stressed.

“It was quite a challenge to preserve science in the country which economy was overloaded with debt and crippled by liberal reforms following the collapse of the Soviet Union. We rose to the challenge because we knew that science is the pillar of our statehood. People who devote their lives to the hardest work of a scientist are the golden pool of our nation no matter how clichéd it may sound. I am glad that you managed to make the most of your intellectual capacity and the resources offered to you by the government,” the head of state said.

The president noted that the history of Belarusian science started almost a third of a century ago. The country develops modern technology, runs innovative projects, sets up new production facilities. “It is your work that paved the way for Belarus’ successes in such industries as space, information security, mechanical engineering, energy, precision farming and many others. We have made significant progress in the development of new medicines and methods to treat cancer, trauma, infectious diseases, heart diseases, the use of stem cells, and transplantation,” the head of state stressed.