A. Lukashenko demanded from the government not to increase the cost of housing and communal services by more than $5 per year

January 18, Minsk /Lyudmila Sats - BELTA/. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has demanded that the government not increase the cost of housing and communal services in Belarus by more than $5 per year. The head of state said this today at a meeting on the development of the Belarusian economy, according to a BELTA correspondent. Addressing the government members present at the meeting, the President said: "If you see that we need to make adjustments somewhere, including unpopular utility services, then appropriate decisions can be made, but you have $5." At the same time, Alexander Lukashenko recalled that our population pays significantly less for housing and communal services than in EU countries. "This is a blessing for us. If some enterprise operates at a loss somewhere, please consider it, but do it carefully, do not offend people," the President said. He also demanded: "Do not come to me with any price proposals until I see how much one cubic meter of water, one cubic meter of gas, one kWh of electricity, the cost of removing 1 ton of garbage, etc. costs." "When I see the real price, where the fat will be skimmed off from communal services, from electricity supply organizations, gas supply organizations, then I will make my decision," the President added. According to him, today energy and gas workers are not the poorest people, and their luxurious life is one of the cost components that are proposed to be paid by the population and enterprises. "So let's see, maybe we need to tighten our belts somewhere," Alexander Lukashenko suggested and added that he is a supporter of a strict economy, because the economy operates according to objective laws. "We can tighten the screws for a period, but then we will have to loosen them, there's no way around it. The economy must be based on normal, honest, objective information. And we must proceed from this. And we must not put pressure on people," Alexander Lukashenko stated and noted that the population needs to be supported in this situation. Alexander Lukashenko expects that Mikhail Myasnikovich, recently appointed Prime Minister of Belarus, will successfully solve these problems. "The current Prime Minister once dealt with these issues in his youth, and he knows the cost structure of water and gas. And the Deputy Prime Minister (Anatoly Kalinin. - BELTA note) knows well where water comes from and how much it costs," the head of state emphasized. -0-