Alexander Lukashenko Has Been Sworn In as President of the Republic of Belarus

Belarus ’s newly elected President Alexander Lukashenko took his oath of office during the inauguration ceremony in Minsk, informs staff correspondent of soyuz.by.

Belarus ’s newly elected President Alexander Lukashenko took his oath of office during the inauguration ceremony in Minsk, informs staff correspondent of soyuz.by.

Under the statutory Constitution, the newly elected President is to take an oath no later than two months from the election day. In the last presidential elections held on December 19^th last year, according to the count of the Central Committee for Elections and National Referendums, it was the incumbent President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko who polled the majority of votes – 79.67%.

At the beginning of the ceremony the Constitution, National Flag and the Standard of the President of the Republic of Belarus were brought into to the accompaniment of ceremonial music. Then, the Chairwoman of the Central Committee for Elections and National Referendums Lidia Yermoshina addressed the audience. “By the people Alexander Grigorievich Lukashenko was elected the President of the Republic of Belarus,” she said stressing that the expression of popular will was free and democratic. After that she invited the newly elected President to take the oath: “Dear Alexander Grigorievich, I ask you to take the oath of the President of the Republic of Belarus”.

“Assuming the office of the President of the Republic of Belarus, I solemnly swear to faithfully serve the people of the Republic of Belarus, respect and protect human and citizen’s rights and freedoms, observe and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, piously and honestly fulfill the high duties assigned to me,” A. Lukashenko read the text of the Oath of Office, and then signed the act of oath. Thereupon L.Ermoshyna presented A.Lukashenko the certificate of the President of the Republic of Belarus which was followed by a standing ovation.

Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Anatoliy Rubinov and Metropolitan of Minsk and Slutsk, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus Filaret congratulated Alexander Lukashenko on assuming the presidency. “You have won honest, open and democratic elections which were attended by virtually all citizens of our country entitled to vote,” A.Rubinov addressed Alexander Lukashenko. The Chairman of the Council of the Republic noted that the popular support voiced is based not on pre-election pledges or speeches, but on the experience of all the previous years.

In his turn, Alexander Lukashenko thanked all his voters. “I feel deep gratitude for your trust and support, and huge responsibility for our common destiny,” said Alexander Lukashenko. “Election campaign was held democratically, openly and in full conformity with the legislation,” stressed the President. Touching upon foreign policy prospects, Alexander Lukashenko reaffirmed Belarus’s commitment to the policy of the Union State formation. “We are going to continue the implementation of multi-line foreign policy based on the priority of national interests as well as formation of the Union State, consolidation of integration ties within the Common Economic Space, EurAsEC, CIS, and other interstate associations,” stressed the President. In conclusion Alexander Lukashenko once again thanked the voters for their support.