A. Lukashenko states the unacceptability of curtailing the flax production industry in Belarus

March 5, Minsk / Vladimir Vasilkov - BELTA /. Alexander Lukashenko states that it is unacceptable to scale down the flax production industry in Belarus. The President of Belarus made this statement today at a meeting in Orsha on the development of the flax industry, according to a BELTA correspondent. "Talk about the need to reduce flax sowing, to destroy flax product manufacturing is foolish talk," the head of state said. "We are a fragment of a huge empire, which had a rationally thought-out division of labor. When we became a sovereign state, we were left with the production that we, if we existed outside this empire, would never have built. But it remained with us, and we agreed with you 15 years ago that we would not give up anything, because schools, production facilities, and jobs for people were created," the President explained. At the same time, it was agreed then to develop, first of all, those industries for which Belarus has raw materials, such as woodworking and agriculture. Alexander Lukashenko also emphasized that Belarus has everything for the production of high-quality flax products: suitable climatic conditions, human resources, and technologies. "Flax is on the coat of arms of our country. And this is not about emotions. Tell me, can I agree with the government's proposal to destroy flax processing?" the head of state said. According to the President, the number one task today is to produce the optimal amount of flax fiber that can be processed and sold. "The flax industry of Belarus must exist! - Alexander Lukashenko summarized. - I am sure that we are capable of creating a flax industry that will be one of the best in the world." -0-