Lukashenko: Belarusians will not accept nationalist ideology :: Charter'97 :: News

The Belarusian people have not accepted and will not accept nationalist ideology, said Aleksandr Lukashenko on May 4 following the first showing of a new Belarusian feature film, The Deep Current, according to the Belarusian leader`s press office.

"Nazi ideology is reviving in some European Union countries," he was quoted as saying. "Evidence of this can be seen not only in state honors bestowed on unfinished Nazis but also in the revival of a policy of national discrimination, where from 20 to 40 percent of the residents of neighboring countries, mostly Slavs, are considered non-citizens and have their rights infringed upon. These are our people, Belarusians and Russians."

While speaking about the just seen movie about the USSR`s struggle against Nazi Germany, Mr. Lukashenko noted that its authors had been set the task of telling the modern viewer the "truth about the historic mission of the united people of the common great country that saved humankind from Nazism, and setting a bright and convincing motion picture over against frauds."

The Deep Current was made in the good time-tested traditions of Belarusian cinematography, Mr. Lukashenko reportedly said. According to him, this film is also needed because "there have lately appeared a lot of those seeking to revise history and to turn everything on its head." This "reassessment," or more correctly, "distortion of history" has touched the victory in the Great Patriotic War and the role of the guerilla fighters, Mr. Lukashenko said. The worst thing is that "some [Belarusian] literary men, historians and opposition figures have joined the chorus of foreign forgers and traducers."

Mr. Lukashenko suggested that there should be a continuation of the movie considering the importance of the theme.