MINSK, 9 May (BelTA) – It is impossible to forget about the Great Patriotic War, no matter who is in the power, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko told the media on 9 May, BelTA has learned.

“This memory is too strong to lose it. I think it is impossible, with whoever in the power,” the Belarusian leader stressed.

“We will keep this memory as long as we create films, write books, read poems and prose about the war, as long as we learn poems and sing wartime songs in the kindergarten, as long as we discuss it openly and honestly at school and university,” the head of state said.

According to the president, Belarus traditionally honors the memory of the Great Patriotic War and hold commemorative events both on Victory Day and Independence Day marked on 3 July. “This has already become an integral part of our lives. As long as we continue this policy, the Great Patriotic War, and the Second World War, all wars that swept through Belarus will remain in our memory,” said Alexander Lukashenko.

He added that Belarus did not need any of the wars that swept through the country over the past centuries. “Let us take the war of 1812, the First World War, the Second World War. Were those our wars? Did we need them? But we always lost a third or a half of our population. How can we forget about it?” the president said.

After the official part of the ceremony in Victory Square Alexander Lukashenko talked to war veterans and other residents and guests of the capital who came to the event. The president also commented on the information spread in the media that the people were prohibited to parade with the portraits of their relatives who fought during the Great Patriotic War. “Remember: such sacred things have never been prohibited in Belarus and will never be,” the head of state stressed.

In his words, several years ago Belarus organized such a parade on Victory Day. “This Immortal Regiment marched through the whole world then. It became difficult for the veterans to join the event and they asked to make the format of the celebrations more comfortable for them,” Alexander Lukashenko said. Ever since, all the commemorative events have been held in Victory Square.

“If people ask to resume this event with the portraits, flags and so on, we will do it next year. There is no need to politicize it and say that such things are prohibited here. We have never done it in Belarus. Everyone has the right to honor the memory of their heroes, march with the portrait and lay flowers whereever they think it appropriate,” the president said.