23 February, Minsk /BELTA correspondent/. The state will always support its defenders. This is stated in the congratulatory message of the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on the occasion of the Day of Defenders of the Fatherland and the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus, BELTA was informed by the press service of the head of state. "The state has always supported and will continue to support its defenders, who ensure peace and tranquility in our common home," the President assured. "In our country, there is no more sacred duty than the defence of the Motherland. The soldiers-liberators earned unfading glory during the Great Patriotic War. With their heroism, courage, patriotism, and readiness for self-sacrifice for the sake of peace, freedom, and happiness of the people, they inscribed golden pages in the history of the Fatherland," the congratulatory message reads. As the head of state noted, heirs of the victors, faithful to the traditions of the older generations, are reliably guarding the native borders today, guaranteeing the Belarusian people the right to a future in accordance with their historical choice. Loyalty to the country's interests, high moral and business qualities, and professionalism of the Armed Forces soldiers confirm their readiness to serve the Fatherland impeccably. -0-

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