VITEBSK, 24 October (BelTA) – At a meeting to discuss development of Vitebsk Oblast on 24 October, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko spoke out against adopting simple solutions and taking the path of least resistance, BelTA has learned.
The head of state explained his demand using the example of agro-industrial associations previously set up in the region. The president recalled that it was then proposed to completely strip the leaders of the enterprises entering these associations of their autonomy. "I said categorical no then,” Aleksandr Lukashenko reminded the meeting participants of those events. “Let the collective farms that you united under the umbrella of dairies and meat-processing plants… Let them work and have an incentive.”
Now the head of state is proposed to make a decision and merge them again, this time creating not seven structures, but two. The president expressed doubt that this proposal had been sufficiently developed. “You have probably taken the path of least resistance. Since seven enterprises are operating at half capacity, if you leave two operational, they will be 100% loaded. Efficiency will be higher. And then what? What about the people? The schools? The expertise that has been created here? Of course, it would be better for these seven to be 100% utilized. That would be ideal. But that is a long, hard process; you don't feel like doing it, or getting reprimanded for possible failures. So, what are you trying to push on me with these quick solutions?” Aleksandr Lukashenko asked.
In this regard, the president emphasized that sufficient conditions have been created and the necessary decisions have been made on many aspects, and the only thing often lacking is discipline. “You must grit your teeth and do what needs to be done,” the head of state said. “You must get everyone involved so that they work and focus on the task. You need to establish basic order.”
"You simply lack strict discipline and ironclad accountability,” the president told those present.
“Let's base our decisions on the reality on the ground. We need practical, down-to-earth proposals. But no lying. By deceiving me, you force me to make the wrong decisions,” the Belarusian leader warned.
According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, the prosecutor general and the State Control Committee had reported on holding officials accountable for various offenses. However, the president pointed out that those held accountable were predominantly deputy managers, and that the time has now come to hold the managers themselves to account.
“Where were the managers when their deputies were embezzling and taking bribes? I doubt the deputy did this without your knowledge. He just took the fall and went to jail, and the manager probably said: ‘I'll get you out’. Look, no one is getting anyone out,” Aleksandr Lukashenko warned. “Everyone is equal before the law. Justice is the foundation of my policy. The moment I deviate from that, we're in trouble.”
“You need to calm down and deliver results. If you deliver results, then you can come to me, to the government, and ask for what we owe you,” the president said. “We will do everything for the people who are striving to help the state.”
Follow us on:
