President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko addressed the Belarusian people and the National Assembly with his annual Address
A distinctive feature of this year is that the Address was delivered not in the Oval Hall of the House of Government, but in the Palace of the Republic. More than 2.5 thousand people from all over Belarus have been invited to the event. By tradition, it was attended by deputies of the House of Representatives and members of the Council of the Republic, top officials of the country, members of the government, heads of state administration bodies, and local authorities. Also invited were parliamentarians of previous convocations, representatives of public associations, religious denominations, the diplomatic corps and international organizations, heads of banks, higher education institutions, media, and experts.
The Head of State, addressing the Belarusian people and the National Assembly with the Address, outlined the country's development priorities for the near future in key areas - political, economic, and social. The President also commented on current events within and outside the country, and spoke about strategically important tasks, the implementation of which will ensure stability and sovereignty.
On the non-alternative role of a strong state in the life of the nation
"To understand what is happening to us, we need to understand what is happening around us. The world is globalizing, the degree of interdependence between states is steadily increasing. Global challenges and threats affect absolutely all states without exception, including us. Even if their nature and causes originated thousands of kilometers away from our Belarusian borders," the head of state noted. Read more
On foreign policy
The President noted that Belarus is currently at this geopolitical fault line, living by its own mind, it has become the only calm link in the center of Eurasia. "Therefore, it is being torn apart today," the President stated. "And Russia is afraid of losing us: after all, besides us, it has no truly close allies left. And the West has also begun to show increasingly tangible interest in us lately. And China seriously counts on the stability of its friend. Our answer to everyone is well known: Belarus does not make friends with someone against someone else. We are for a multi-vector, consistent, predictable foreign policy." Read more
LUKASHENKO: RUSSIA WILL ALWAYS BE OUR CLOSEST ALLY, ALTHOUGH IT HAS CHANGED FRATERNAL RELATIONS TO "PARTNER" RELATIONSOn the pandemic and its consequences
"The pandemic has exposed all systemic problems. This topic has actually become a cover for the unceremonious implementation of their foreign policy and trade and economic ambitions by the major world players," Alexander Lukashenko is convinced. "And using various methods, they do not shy away from anything. You are observing this." Read more
On the economy
LUKASHENKO INSTRUCTED THE GOVERNMENT AND THE NATIONAL BANK TO DIRECT ALL RESOURCES TO THE REAL SECTOR OF THE ECONOMY LUKASHENKO: BELARUS LOST $9.5 BILLION DUE TO TRADE WARS, UNFAIR PRICES AND EXPENSIVE LOANS LUKASHENKO SAID THAT PRINCIPAL DECISIONS ON MARKET PROTECTION WILL BE MADE IN THE NEAR FUTUREOn the development of regions
The Belarusian leader noted that the state's task is to create infrastructure. "People in the hinterland should have comfortable living conditions, no worse than in cities. That's all regional policy! And there's no need to invent anything, and no need to listen to the simple, ordinary constant chatter of the authorities' opponents, that those on the ground lack powers, that all regional problems will be solved by local elections, which will give some mythical freedom to business. We've been through this before," the President noted. Read more
MODERNIZATION OF THE VILLAGE WILL BE COMPLETED IN THE NEXT FIVE-YEAR PERIOD - LUKASHENKOLUKASHENKO CALLS NOT TO RELY ON EXTERNAL INVESTMENTS AND TO CREATE PRODUCTION FACILITIES IN THE REGIONS LUKASHENKO SEES NO NEED FOR PRIVATIZATION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND
About Business
"We have always supported and will continue to support businesses that are ready to work honestly for the benefit of the country and the people. I once analyzed and noticed a peculiarity. The quality of our business is much higher than in other post-Soviet countries. Real Belarusian businessmen started from scratch, not from privatization. And they achieved success only through their own intellect, will, and colossal labor. I have always respected and continue to respect such people. Private business has grown, strengthened, and will remain a growth factor for Belarus," the head of state emphasized.
"There is plenty of work in the country. The structure of the Belarusian economy combines many sectors. On the one hand, we inherited many finishing production facilities dependent on imported raw materials and components, but on the other hand, this presents huge opportunities for development," believes Alexander Lukashenko. Read more
About the IT sector
Alexander Lukashenko recalled that the export of this sector last year amounted to $2.5 billion. "And in just one year, more new residents appeared than in all the previous 12 years of the Park's existence (High-Tech Park. - Editorial note of BELTA). The most interesting thing is that even despite the pandemic, they not only did not lose, but also continued to grow, and very rapidly," the head of state noted.
According to the President, the decision regarding the HTP was made not only and not so much for the sake of the IT specialists themselves. "After all, what is an IT park? It's billions in currency for the country. They earn it abroad and leave it here. And this is a huge contribution to our economy. A powerful IT sector is a testament to the level of a nation's development. And this is the future," the Belarusian leader is confident. Read more
About the Belarusian NPP
"The significance of the Belarusian NPP for ensuring energy security and the economy of our country as a whole is simply enormous. The development of education and technologies is associated with it. And we don't need to be told or pointed to safety issues. We are a Chernobyl republic, we have experienced a lot. And we know the price of consequences ourselves. As much as $19 billion has been spent on the rehabilitation of contaminated territories alone. Therefore, the input control during the construction of the station was like in wartime. And the advantages we will gain will help us make a breakthrough into the future (high technologies, cheap electricity, electric vehicles)," said Alexander Lukashenko. - Or the super-modern production of amino acids by our biotechnology corporation, which we are building together with China in the Minsk region. Thanks to such productions, the green economy will become our reality, not just a fashionable trend." Read more
On the formation of Belarus and reforms
LUKASHENKO: IF SOCIETY NEEDS CHANGES, THEN THEY WILL HAPPEN, BUT THEY MUST START WITH THE CONSTITUTION LUKASHENKO ON THE FORMATION OF BELARUS: WE HAVE LIVED A QUARTER OF A CENTURY NOT IN VAIN, NOT FOR NOTHING CHANGES MUST BENEFIT THE COUNTRY - LUKASHENKO
On welfare and income
LUKASHENKO: THE ECONOMY OF BELARUS IS SUBORDINATE TO ONE GOAL - CARING FOR PEOPLE LUKASHENKO ON THE GOALS OF THE NEXT FIVE-YEAR PLAN: AVERAGE WAGE WILL DOUBLEOn Demographics and Family Support
The issue of demographics and family support, including for large families, is one of the top priorities for the state. Parrying the statements of the authorities' opponents, who "repeat like a mantra that Belarusians are dying out, not giving birth," the head of state proposed comparing the figures in Belarus with those of its closest neighbors. Over 30 years, the population of Ukraine has decreased by 20%, Lithuania by 25%, Latvia by 30%, and Belarus by 8%. Read more
On Youth
The President emphasized that youth has always been and will be a priority for the state, because it is the future of the country. "Therefore, we traditionally give the younger generation more than we receive in return. These are investments in the future," said the Belarusian leader. He named various spheres that receive appropriate support from the state and create opportunities for the comprehensive development of the younger generation. "We have preserved accessible basic and higher education for everyone. Perhaps for the residents of the capital, this is not something outstanding. But for young people from the provinces, from families of ordinary workers and peasants, teachers, doctors, and rural specialists, this is a great opportunity for the first step in life," the head of state gave an example. Read more