On January 21, Minsk /BELTA correspondent/. The choice of the Belarusian people is sacred and indisputable. This was stated today by the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, speaking at the inauguration ceremony, as reported by a BELTA correspondent. As the head of state noted, taking the oath of allegiance to the Fatherland and the people, he felt, first and foremost, immense gratitude for the trust and support of the citizens, as well as a great responsibility for the common destiny. "The voices of millions of honest and loyal people, with whom we have withstood the steepest historical turns recently, inspire and give new strength," the President said. According to Alexander Lukashenko, the issue was not simply the choice of the President, but essentially the future destiny of the country was being decided: whether it would be independent and strong or fall into shackling dependence; whether the Belarusian people would determine their own path of development or give everything up to those who are ready to sell their native land for a pittance and destroy their common home. "The trust of the people today imposes special requirements and obligations. It compels us to be an extremely responsible and fair leader, both towards our supporters and towards people with alternative views, since true democracy is based not only on affirming the will of the majority but also on protecting the rights of the minority," the head of state emphasized. "Objectively assessing the election campaign, I note that it was absolutely open (there is nowhere further to go), democratic, in full compliance with national legislation, international practice, and the stringent requirements of the observers who came to us. Fortunately, we learned yesterday that even Europeans no longer have any claims regarding the results of our elections," Alexander Lukashenko stated. "But what is especially dear to me is that the Belarusian elections have become a eloquent testament to the inseparable unity of the authorities and citizens." The President noted that the people had spoken their weighty word, once again confirming that Belarus is a free, democratic state. "Their choice is sacred and indisputable: it is not for nothing that in ancient times the voice of the people was equated with the voice of God," the Belarusian leader said."Some politicians, figures from foreign countries and international structures have chosen to disregard this age-old principle of people's power. But that is their business. Let us leave them aside," noted Alexander Lukashenko. "Our people did not falter at the critical moment, did not succumb to economic dictate, political provocations, or the hysteria of petty, sell-out politicians and journalists. Together, we have preserved the main thing – peace on Belarusian soil, unity, and national dignity." The President thanked his compatriots for their resilience, wisdom, and composure. "I express my gratitude to the states, political leaders, and all foreign friends who stood with us during this difficult time. And to Belarus's ill-wishers, I want to recall the folk wisdom: do not fan the flames at your neighbor's – the fire may accidentally spread to your own home," the Head of State concluded. -0-

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