Lukashenko: Polissya is the cradle of the Slavic peoples

Lukashenko: "According to historians, Polissya is indeed the cradle of life, the ancestral homeland of the Slavs. This is where our origins lie. Here, on the steep banks of the full-flowing Pripyat River, among endless oak forests and swamps, in the beauty of nature, are the roots of our great people.

Therefore, when making the decision to hold the festival in 2010, we believed it would become another reason for the three fraternal peoples — Belarusians, Russians, and Ukrainians — to gather together.

And of course, we are glad to see here, on our common historical homeland, all Slavs. All without exception. And not only them. We are pleased that many people come to visit us."