MINSK, 7 January (BelTA) – No one will be allowed to treat the Belarusian people and the state with indignity, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said as he attended the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Minsk to celebrate Orthodox Christmas on 7 January.

“You should understand the main formula of our policy: we will allow no one to degrade our people and the state. This is the basic of our policy. If someone does not understand this, it will be hard for us to build relations and even talk with them. We cannot give away our land and this state. We won it in battles and wars. We lost huge numbers of people while defending our land. That is why we, and I personally, are highly sensitive about such issues,” the head of state said.

“The main thing for us is to ensure stability. Peace and harmony are above everything. If we shake our Belarus, we will never find it funny. Such bad experiences are not far to seek (we do not need to look at the Middle East, Africa, Asia). We have a bright example just across the border,” the Belarusian leader stressed.

“We will never go down the path of confrontation, creating difficulties or any other additional problems. There are enough problems in the world today. We will always be stable. We will stay responsible, honest and fair,” the President said.

“You should understand that everyone taken separately, as well as me, the Belarusian head of state, will allow no one to throw stones at us. We have a state, sovereign and independent (whether someone likes it or not). We have a state with a rich history. We know it well. This state should be treated with respect. We should be treated the same way we treat our neighbors, all the states in this world,” said Alexander Lukashenko.

The President said that his major task is to cherish the land of the Belarusian nation, defend its statehood. “I am delighted to see that our church goes hand in hand with me and our people,” he added.