Belarus is preparing to celebrate Independence Day on a large scale. On this occasion, a ceremonial meeting was held at the Palace of the Republic on 1 July. The President took part in it. Several thousand people were invited. The main guests were veterans, survivors of the siege, and children of the war. The high-ranking officers were also in the hall — those who today ensure the sovereignty and independence of Belarus. It is our duty to prevent a repeat of those terrible events. The Great Patriotic War was the most inhumane. The tragedy turned the consciousness of the entire world community upside down, noted Aleksandr Lukashenko. In the eyes of the whole world, the myth of security guarantees collapsed. Military alliances, coalitions, non-aggression pacts suddenly ceased to mean anything. The President called 3 July the milestone of the spiritual and civil development of the nation, which established its status with fire and blood. Belarus is doing everything to preserve its memory and peaceful life. The President recalled that our most important weapon is devotion to the interests of our native land.