MINSK, 16 February (BelTA) - Belkoopsoyuz is a unique structure which is impossible to lose it, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at the general meeting of the Belarusian national union of consumer societies Belkoopsoyuz on 16 February, BelTA has learned.
“We have gathered not to listen to each other, but to make cardinal decisions that will help our organization to work effectively for the benefit of our people,” the president said at the beginning of the meeting.
The head of state emphasized a special relevance of the current meeting. “I said at the end of last year that we would meet in such a broad format to address long-standing problems,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “You all know that I have a special attitude to your organization. Villages and consumer societies have been developing helping each other for almost 107 years in Belarus. Today your services are used by every third resident of the country. There are mostly people in rural areas. I have always said that if we lose the village, we will lose the country. Our people, whom we serve in rural areas, deserve the best.”
According to the head of state, Belkoopsoyuz has rich labor traditions and unique experience. Its ideologically correct slogan is to work for the benefit of people. “In the Year of Quality, we simply have no moral right to do anything idly. We should set specific goals and achieve them,” the Belarusian leader emphasized.
Nevertheless, Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled a number of accumulated problematic issues. The previous meeting was held in the same composition in 2021. Back then the participants of the meeting analyzed the mistakes, got familiar with the experience of the best performers, outlined a real business model for each area of work with the help of scientists.
“Almost two and a half years has passed. Unfortunately, there are even more complaints against your union. Loss-making operations, issues with watchdogs, complaints from the population. Today we are going to have a really tough conversation,” the president said.
The head of state explained that he is setting tougher tasks for the ministries and demanding commitment from the staff. The main thing, Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized, is to rule out complacency, including taking into account the situation around the country.
“We have no right to lose such a unique structure as Belkoopsoyuz. We must make it work,” the Belarusian leader said. “There is no need to say about difficult conditions. Everyone works in such conditions today.”
He cited the example of servicemen, who recently conducted an operation on the border to detain infiltrators: “Do you think it is easier for those guys? Is it easy for our children to lie in such conditions for 10 days on the border? Not easy. It is hard for everyone.”
Continuing the topic of trade, the head of state emphasized: “Unlike private companies, you get support from the budget. The state has the right to expect a corresponding return.”
