MINSK, 16 December (BelTA) - With the countermeasures against the West's sanctions in place, we need to ensure that the market is saturated with necessary goods and to prevent price increases, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he hosted a government meeting to discuss Belarus' response to sanctions on 16 December, BelTA has learned.
“Our countermeasures are not about some petty revenge. The task is to use the current conditions for our benefit,” said the head of state.
He stressed that people must not suffer as a result of such measures: “The main thing here is to saturate the market with necessary goods and rule out price hikes. I call on everyone to do their best to fulfill both these tasks.”
According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, once there is a deficit, there emerge all kinds of grey schemes and all sorts of dishonest dealers. “Today there are as many swindlers seeking super profits, and the State Control Committee cannot cope with them alone,” said the Belarusian leader.
The head of state noted that the experience of the neighbor shows that the embargoed products will find their way to the market, yet the prices will be higher.
"For decades, we have been investing heavily in the agricultural industry and the production of consumer goods. People are bewildered to see world-level prices for domestic products in our stores," the Belarusian leader stressed.
Aleksandr Lukashenko also drew attention to the several long-standing domestic issues: "What sanctions are we talking about when we have failed to address some issues in the country for a long time. The Food and Agriculture Ministry and the governors have been repeatedly asked to sort things out with the purchase of feed additives, premixes and other things. There are still too many middle men between procurers and farmers. "
"I don't understand what you expect me to do? The measures will be tough," Aleksandr Lukashenko warned.
