Nikolai Azarov
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"On Point"
MINSK, 23 January (BelTA) - Former Prime Minister of Ukraine (2010-2014) Nikolai Azarov compared the approaches of the Belarusian and Ukrainian leadership to dealing with heavy snowfall in the latest episode of the V Teme [On Point] project on BelTA's YouTube channel.
Speaking about the experience of handling the aftermath of heavy snow, Nikolai Azarov shared a situation he encountered while heading the government. In March 2010, after the presidential election in Ukraine, Kiev was buried in snow. At the time, the roads had not been cleared even in the center of the capital.
“I called the mayor at the time and said I was giving a maximum of three days [to clear the snowdrifts]. The presidential inauguration was upcoming, so I ordered all the snow to be removed from the central part of Kiev. And, generally, to clear the road from Borispol (where the airport is located, where foreign delegations were expected to arrive) to the capital,” Nikolai Azarov recounted. “He replied to me that this would be enormous expense, and the snow would melt on its own anyway. He thought it was better to steal the money than to deal with this. I answered him very simply: ‘If you don’t start dealing with this, there will be a different mayor tomorrow’.”
The former Ukrainian prime minister also noted how Belarus managed to cope with the consequences of winter weather. “I know Aleksandr Grigoryevich [Lukashenko] and I know how deeply he cares for his people, for his country. I can’t even imagine something like this happening under him [referring to the inability and unwillingness to deal with the aftermath of severe weather],” he emphasized.
Nikolai Azarov added that in Belarus ordinary people also joined in the effort to combat the heavy snow, coming to the aid of utility services. “Of course, organization is key. You shouldn’t sit on the couch and wait for someone else to do something for you,” the former head of the Ukrainian government said.
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