Day of People's Unity described as response to new attempts by West to divide Belarusian people

The reinstatement of the lost tradition of celebrating the liberation of western Belarusian lands is a response to the new attempts of the West to divide the Belarusian people, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he addressed the patriotic forum "This is OUR History!" to mark the Day of People's Unity in Minsk on 17 September, BelTA has learned.

The head of state stressed that the Day of People's Unity celebrated on 17 September in the historical memory of Belarusians stands next to the state holidays of the Great Victory and Independence Day. Back in 1939, this day, Aleksandr Lukashenko said, predetermined the future heroic achievements of the united Belarusian people.

"We have reinstated the lost tradition of celebrating the liberation of the western Belarusian lands into our lives not only as a tribute to the memory of this epochal event. Without this event, it was difficult to talk about victory, not to mention independence. This is a response to the new attempts of the West to divide the Belarusian people and tear the country to shreds. Future generations of Belarusians must remember historical lessons," the president said.

The head of state noted that that Belarus is at the crossroads of geopolitical interests of the world's leading powers and it is impossible to change this fact. "It is in our power today to draw conclusions from the events of the past in order to resist and preserve ourselves as a sovereign state today," he stressed.