BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

2005-07-03 00:01:35

www.chinaview.cn

MOSCOW, July 3 (Xinhuanet) -- The Belarussian authorities are capable of guaranteeing peace, security and stability for their people, Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko said in Minsk on Sunday, the Interfax news agency reported.

"Belarus is a peaceful state which is capable of defending itself no matter how sophisticated the instruments of interference in our internal affairs may be," Lukashenko said at an Independence Day rally held in the Belarussian capital.

The president attributed the achievements of his country "primarily to the result of the wisdom and staunchness of the hard-working Belarussian people who have determined and will continue to determine their own future and look ahead with confidence."

Belarus is cooperating constructively with everyone that approaches it with good intentions, Lukashenko emphasized, adding "We flatly reject war as a foreign policy tool".

He also said that his country is making efforts to beef up its defense capability in order to meet new challenges of the 21st century. Enditem

Source:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-07/03/content_3170642.htm