MINSK, 8 July (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko has appointed Valery Ivanov Head of the Belarus President Property Management Directorate. Valery Ivanov has been in charge of the Belarusian National Union of Consumer Societies (Belkoopsoyuz) up till now, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “I've decided to put you in charge of the president property directorate. It is one of the top 11 government jobs. In addition to running the president property directorate you will have to take care of matters as a top government official. It means there are no matters in Belarus that you should not be concerned with. They are all yours regardless of wherever you go and whatever you do.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that the rule also applies to daily life, including shopping or a visit to some enterprise. “Top government officials always have things to do in every square meter of our Belarus. It is not a grand way of saying things. Top government officials should work like that,” he said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that there is no time to take things slowly. He said: “You can see the situation. Thank god, it is not critical. But we don't want the situation to go critical. This is why I've made a choice bearing in mind your experience. You've seen a lot in your life. Starting with the town of Krugloye, [the state agricultural enterprise] Rassvet you've always worked in difficult positions where things had to be set right. I appreciate it a lot and I will never forget it.” Valery Ivanov worked in various positions in Krugloye District in 1977-1997, including the management of agricultural enterprises. He was in charge of the state agricultural enterprise Rassvet in Kirovsk District in 1997-2002.
Aleksandr Lukashenko continued: “But it doesn't mean that things will be easy. Everyone believes that the Belarus President Property Management Director is only the Palace of Independence and a countryside residence of the president. No. The property management directorate is a huge machine.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko reminded that in the past the Belarus President Property Management had to take over the management of the most troubled enterprises and organizations in distress among other things. For instance, Belkhudozhpromysly. “I had to rescue them. This is why I took them under my wing,” he said.
“The national parks were squandered, too. I had to take them under my wing as well in order to put things right. We have rather good results nowadays but there are also the drawbacks we have to work on,” Aleksandr Lukashenko continued.
He is convinced that Valery Ivanov's experience of working in various positions will come in handy. The president said that after some period of time once the new head is up to speed, it will be necessary for top executives of the Belarus President Property Management Directorate to gather up, including heads of major enterprises, those who are usually invited to participate in sessions of the directorate's board, in order to discuss the future strategy.
Aleksandr Lukashenko added: “But I strongly urge you to reach out to every enterprise and take a look at the management. Without fail. It has to be done.”
The president also mentioned a task for the Belarusian consumer cooperatives system. “I've tried to save consumer cooperatives as hard as I could. You know my point of view. We've managed to save them as best as we could considering the tough competition and frankly speaking pressure,” he said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko mentioned that nobody else performs functions of the consumer cooperatives system today. “And they don't really want to cater to peasants. But we have to do it. They are the salt of the earth. You and I were peasants in the past and we are peasants by nature. We understand that we cannot abandon people in villages, agrotowns, small towns, and even district capitals. They constitute one third of Belarus' population. And we will do everything to support them,” the Belarusian leader stressed. “This is why it will be your personal responsibility to work with the Belarus President Administration and the government to select and propose the new head [of the Belarusian National Union of Consumer Societies]. You and I are going to visit the union at some point in time. I haven't been there for quite a while. We will talk about problems after appointing the new head.”
“These are three major tasks I actually see in front of myself that you will have to realize,” the president summarized.
Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out that Valery Ivanov will continue working as the president's authorized representative for Brest Oblast. He said: “You know the oblast and the personnel well. People know you well. I don't see the need to do any shuffling. And the head of the Belarus President Property Management Directorate has quite a lot of work to do there, too.”
Apart from that, Aleksandr Lukashenko explained he had invited an officer of the presidential security service to attend the meeting. The officer has to regularly contact the Belarus President Property Management Directorate to organize support for the head of state's work. “This is why it would be a good idea to talk about it today. I think you two will sit down later on and think how you are going to work on the matters concerning you and the presidential security service,” he said.
BelTA reported earlier that on 11 June Aleksandr Lukashenko accepted Viktor Sheiman's resignation as the head of the Belarus President Property Management Directorate. Aleksandr Lukashenko told Viktor Sheiman: “You've wanted to resign many times. I disagreed with it. But I understand that time has come when you've had enough in your life. Honestly speaking, I am grateful to you for everything that has been done.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed: “I understand that there is your family, kids, and many other issues. This is why I agree with your new page in life, in a manner of speaking. But I would very much like to ask you not to go too far (and not to stay away from the state at all) and lend a shoulder where it is necessary. Just the way you've always done.”
Several days later, on 15 June the head of state signed the decree to relieve Viktor Sheiman of his post as the head of the Belarus President Property Management Directorate.
