LOGOISK, 7 January (BelTA) – The current people-first policy will stay in place in Belarus. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement as he visited a church in Logoisk, Minsk Oblast on Orthodox Christmas, 7 January, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “We will keep pursuing our people-first policy. Many may smile when they hear me talk about the nation, about people. But I should tell you that no other country does what we do in Belarus for the people. Not a single one! But the key thing is that we know how to listen to our people, how to hear them.”
As an example he mentioned that the last few tens of artesian wells would be commissioned soon in order to help supply Minsk with water from underground sources. “We’ve dug out 90 wells in order to fully supply Minsk with clean water,” he said. The president explained that Minsk uses a total of over 400,000m3 of water per day and it had been necessary to secure additional water supply from underground sources to the tune of 120,000-130,000m3.
“For whom do we do it? For our own nation. Frankly speaking, we didn’t have to do it,” the president noted. And many countries use water from sources on the ground.
“But we’ve done it. Because I know that people will remember it forever. And they will be grateful. Because air, water, and our food are the foundation of life. Not medications. But these things. Air and water are the things people cannot live without,” the head of state said.
In his words, the other cities in Belarus do not have major problems in this regard.
As another example of the things the state does for the people he mentioned road construction. “People always complain about roads. Last year we simply stormed to fix them wherever it is possible,” the president said.
“Considering our climate (as you can see: frost yesterday, thaw today) we have plenty of problems with roads. This is why huge resources are needed to at least maintain the roads in good condition. Nevertheless, I’ve given instructions that all the district capitals, for instance, Logoisk, should be connected with agrotowns by roads with a hard surface. We have to accomplish it within the next year regardless of how complicated things can be in the country,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.
“This is why a people-first state is when the state prioritizes people. But the state will not do the jobs people are supposed to do. It is not the role of the state. The state has its own functions,” the president remarked.
He stated that over the years of ruling the country he considerably expanded these functions: “We have introduced certain standards for every little village and they are observed by and large. But we will pay serious attention to it. Because the first year of the five-year term of quality is the Year of Improvement. At least one street lamp should be turned on in a village. Let alone an agrotown. So that people could walk the streets without fear. I used to live in a village like that and I know what it means.”
At the same time Aleksandr Lukashenko is concerned about the fact that young people are not as attached to work as the older generation. “We keep praising our young people too much. Yes, our young people are quite good. They are what they are. We will not have a different kind. But I am worried by the fact that our young people are not as attached to work as we are,” the head of state said. “This is why you will have a serious exam in the future. We will have to determine a normal government, a normal president. A government that will identify the way our country will develop. We will not avoid it. It is what the change of generations is all about.”
Speaking about the change of generations, Aleksandr Lukashenko assured that everything necessary will be done to make the process painless in the country.
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