The Palace of Independence is the seat of the president of the Republic of Belarus. An archive photo
Further development of Belarusian Railways on agenda of conference hosted by Lukashenko
MINSK, 23 October (BelTA) – Further development of Belarusian Railways was one of the topics of the government conference hosted by Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko with top officials of the Council of Ministers, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “There is no doubt that the railway is the most important enterprise not only of the transport industry but of our entire country. Tens of millions of tonnes of freight are transported by rail every year. Those are raw materials, imports, and exports. It is the cheapest and safest mode of transportation for people. And although passenger transportation is more of a social aspect rather than a commercial aspect of the work, it is necessary to develop both.”
He stated that due to sanctions as well as the situation in Ukraine where several Belarusian freight trains have been literally seized as if by pirates and are being held, it was necessary to radically transform the traffic flow, come up with new logistics solutions, and get mobilized as a whole. Although revenues have decreased, Belarusian Railways’ shipping business remains profitable.
“According to the reports I am getting, the financial state of the enterprise is now exacerbated by the high cost of servicing the loans taken out for the sake of infrastructure projects and for buying new rolling stock,” the head of state noted.
In order to stabilize the situation, an executive order on state support for Belarusian Railways has been drafted.
“At first glance I guess we should help. But let’s decide how we will provide this aid if we will at all. On the whole, I once again warn you in public: stop coming here for the sake of money. Cut it out. Worker collectives and competences are available. In this case you have trains, automobiles, aircraft, helicopters, and the rest. Fly and move!” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
“This is why let’s find out whether the problems are really caused by external factors. Today there are none and there cannot be any. I warned you about it many years ago. Or whether the problems stem from shortcomings and negligent attitudes of the leaders of the industry and of Belarusian Railways towards their responsibilities. Is it possible that they are our poorest people? Poorer than those in agriculture or in Vitebsk Oblast? Everyone says they are not. Then why have you come to me?” the head of state wondered.
The president remarked that it is also necessary to understand what measures to resolve the problems have already been implemented by the government and what effect these measures have produced.
“When I say that we have to support the railway, I recall recent reports from law enforcement agencies. I think we’ve put quite many executives behind bars. And they have come to ask for money from the state budget or some other aid (a deferral, an installment plan),” the head of state noted. “And I also wonder whether they have sufficiently reduced spending. If you cannot, then you have to reduce spending. Once you start ‘dying’, then you should come and we will think what to do about you.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko said he wanted a report on whether everything had been calculated, whether the suggested measures would secure financial stability, and whether the enterprise might have to once again ask for money later on.
Follow us on:
