Belarus’ statehood relies on great moral fiber of the nation, Alexander Kosinets says

VITEBSK, 3 July (BelTA) – The great moral fiber of the Belarusians is the core of Belarus’ statehood and attests to the strength and independence of the state where old people are respected, children are worshipped and everything is done for the benefit of the people, Alexander Kosinets, the chairman of the Vitebsk oblast executive committee, said at an official meeting to mark the Independence Day of Belarus. It is symbolic that the Independence Day celebrations in Vitebsk are held in Victory Square which is a sacred historical and cultural place for all residents of the city, he stressed. Every third resident of the oblast gave his/her life for Great Victory. The Great Patriotic War destroyed more than a half of the national gross product. The enemy was planning to conquer the city overnight. But it was Belarus that turned into a true partisan land. By the end of 1944 there were 144 partisan brigades, 80 squads who contributed greatly to the common victory. Written in history with the golden letters are the names of Piotr Masherov, Vladimir Lobanok, Minai Shmyrev and many other Vitebsk natives. Equally important is the labor feat of our grandfathers and fathers who restored our native Vitebsk regions from ashes, Alexander Kosinets said. “Today we are building a sovereign independent state following a Belarusian socio-economic development model, and labor successes of recent years have proved we had chosen the right way,” Alexander Kosinets stressed. The Vitebsk Oblast is among those contributing large into the country’s development (almost 20% of GDP). In 2009 the oblast reported the highest growth pace across all 12 forecast parameters among the regions. In Q1 2010 the industrial output reached 115% in comparable prices. The Vitebsk Oblast companies netted over Br500 billion, two times up over the same period in 2009. Over Br1 trillion has been put in the Vitebsk development over the recent year and a half. There have been constructed more than 100 new industrial companies across the oblast. All the aforesaid has been made for the sake of a decent life of the people, the chairman of the oblast executive committee added. Alexander Kosinets congratulated the residents of the oblast on the Independence Day, a symbol of unity and solidarity of the Belarusian people, wished health, happiness and every success for the benefit of the country.

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