GRODNO, 5 June (BelTA) – During a working trip to Grodno, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko took part in the opening of a new Grodno Oblast Clinical Hospital and attended an opening ceremony of the Festival of National Cultures. Before the official program Aleksandr Lukashenko held a substantive discussion on the state of affairs in Grodno Oblast and the agricultural sector, BelTA has learned.
“Why are you sending me these notes? As if you were not my authorized representative in Grodno Oblast. You should be asking the general [Grodno Oblast Governor Yuri Karayev],” Aleksandr Lukashenko told Vasily Gerasimov, Chairman of the State Control Committee of Belarus.
Vasily Gerasimov replied that work is underway in close cooperation with the regional authorities. He noted that after a recent major meeting, he had informed the president about problems in Grodno Oblast, similar to those in other regions.
Aleksandr Lukashenko then asked Vasily Gerasimov for an honest assessment of the situation in the region and the performance of its leadership.“Tell me honestly and objectively: is he doing well in Grodno Oblast?” the president asked.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that livestock facilities should be practical rather than excessively expensive. “Livestock do not need palaces. Back in Soviet times we built all those reinforced-concrete palaces, and later it turned out that animals did not need them. They need space, freedom and fresh air,” he said.
“Why are you sending me these notes? As if you were not my authorized representative in Grodno Oblast. You should be asking the general [Grodno Oblast Governor Yuri Karayev],” Aleksandr Lukashenko told Vasily Gerasimov, Chairman of the State Control Committee of Belarus.
Vasily Gerasimov replied that work is underway in close cooperation with the regional authorities. He noted that after a recent major meeting, he had informed the president about problems in Grodno Oblast, similar to those in other regions.
Aleksandr Lukashenko then asked Vasily Gerasimov for an honest assessment of the situation in the region and the performance of its leadership.“Tell me honestly and objectively: is he doing well in Grodno Oblast?” the president asked.
“Some things are working out, but there are still enough things to work on,” Vasily Gerasimov replied.
The president then asked Yuri Karayev directly: “What is going wrong? Crop prospects are good, the sowing campaign was carried out properly, and there is order in the fields. I have seen it all,” the president said.
Vasily Gerasimov confirmed that the situation with order on farms had improved, and there were no issues in that regard.
“I do not understand how a general can have a disorder. Besides, you are the authorized representative here,” Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked.
Vasily Gerasimov then noted that he had discussed matters such as forage preparation and the construction of calf-rearing facilities with regional officials. “There are issues that need to be resolved,” he said.
“Why are they falling behind on building those calf barns? They have to get everything built this year,” the president asked.
Yuri Karayev assured the head of state that all assigned tasks would be fulfilled by 1 October.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that livestock facilities should be practical rather than excessively expensive. “Livestock do not need palaces. Back in Soviet times we built all those reinforced-concrete palaces, and later it turned out that animals did not need them. They need space, freedom and fresh air,” he said.
Vasily Gerasimov cited an example of a farm that planned to convert a cowshed into a calf-rearing facility instead of expanding its dairy herd.
However, the president called for a flexible approach and greater autonomy for local managers. “That is their business. From Minsk we cannot always see every detail. Local people know better what is needed. The important thing is not to interfere where it is unnecessary and not to do harm. If they want to convert a cowshed into a calf facility, they probably have their reasons and plans. We should proceed carefully. I am not speaking specifically about this case, but in general,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The president also praised the overall level of management in Grodno Oblast, noting the significant changes that have taken place since the early 1990s. “I was flying over, recalling the 1990s, before Aleksandr Dubko [who headed Grodno Oblast from 1994-2001]. He was my alternative candidate. What I saw then was something I had not seen anywhere else. There had been a high level of management during the Soviet period, but later everyone was waiting for reforms. They kept saying: ‘We need reforms.’ They reformed themselves into disaster – everything was looted, and no one wanted to work the land. That is why I paid attention to Dubko – he was a strong worker. I told him: Look, Sasha, election battles are one thing – they are in the past. Today we need to save Grodno Oblast. And now, when I look from above, everything is neat and well maintained,” the president said.
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