Lukashenko takes oath of office

Minsk, 8 April. Aleksandr Lukashenko was sworn in for a third term on April 8 following his overwhelming victory in last month's presidential election branded fraudulent by Europe, the United States and the domestic opposition.
The central election commission said that Mr. Lukashenko won the March 19 presidential election with a tally of 83 percent to 6 percent to his closest rival - liberal Aleksandr Milinkevich.
Speaking at a pomp-filled ceremony, Mr. Lukashenko said the election demonstrated to the entire world "the unity of authorities and the people."
He said that the country will not give up the course it has been following for 10 years and pledged to root out red tape, support public initiatives, raise wages and pensions in the next five years, improve health services and life quality in the rural areas, and guarantee security.
"There are those who wish to humiliate our country, the island of stability, and turn it into a new test ground for color disturbances. Certain countries are trying to export foreign technologies of destruction, total chaos, poverty and spiritual degradation to our country under the guise of alleged democratic values. Regretfully, our neighbors, EU rookies, lead this crusade against our country," he said.
Mr. Lukashenko added that Belarus has a strong immunity against revolutions, stressing that both authorities and common people do not want "destructive changes."
In apparent reference to defeated opposition candidate Aleksandr Milinkevich, he said that one cannot win respect of the people by traveling all over the world and denigrating his country.
The Belarusian leader changed his suit for the commander-in-chief's uniform to hear an oath of allegiance that Defense Minister Leonid Maltsev read in front of several thousand troops, security and emergency relief officers.
Gannady Novitsky, chairman of the upper chamber of the National Assembly, and Grigory Vasilevich, chairman of the Constitutional Court, congratulated Mr. Lukashenko on his victory, while Patriarchal Exarch Filaret, leader of the Russian Orthodox Church in Belarus, wished him resolve and courage.
The ceremony was followed by a pop concert.