BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

03/07/2006

Belarus marks Independence Day

MINSK, July 3 (Itar-Tass) -- Belarus marks its Independence Day on Monday with a military parade. Also about 8,500 people will take part in a procession of sportsmen and representatives of youth organizations.

The date, July 3, is the anniversary of the 1944 liberation of Minsk from the Nazis.

"Our country has passed a long and difficult path to establish its statehood and sovereignty defending its right to build its future independently," Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said in his congratulatory message to the nation. "We are building a strong and flourishing Belarus - a state for the people," the message reads.

Source:

http://www.tass.ru/eng/level2.html?NewsID=10586780&PageNum=0