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Lukashenko commends decision to keep Belaruskali in state ownership
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SOLIGORSK, 26 June (BelTA) - Belaruskali is a national asset and pride, one of Belarus' biggest exporters, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with Minsk Oblast top officials and executives, BelTA has learned.
“Some time in the past I was offered to sell it. But I am glad that we did not. I then set a prohibitive price of $35 billion which, of course, no one could afford. The price was sky-high," the head of state said.
The president asked a rhetorical question: why sell the enterprise if it functions well, performs all the tasks?
“The time was difficult. Older people remember how our miners were walking towards the capital to roll out their grievances. We remember miners' strikes. I was a member of the Supreme Council at that time,” the head of state recalled. “I started dealing with this issue and saw that problems were many. But, as the governor said, we put labor, employment and wages at the center of our policy. Although there were no funds to pay salaries back then,” he noted.
Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled that at one time the company was actually divided into spheres of influence. Different groups had a share and traded in international markets, thus competing with each other and knocking prices down. “They sold potassium salt but there was no money. The first decision that I made then was to make sure that everything that your company produces should be via one channel. It was my first time getting to know your problems,” the president noted.
Much more has been done for the development of the company, including as part of import substitution, the use of domestic technologies and equipment. The country will continue to develop the potash industry, in particular, new deposits, and this, in turn, will give impetus to nearby settlements.
“People with alternative opinions in our country keep shouting, demanding changes. “Naturally, changes are always needed, but nobody specifies what these changes will be. Huge salaries? But no one says at the expense of what these salaries will be paid. But I have to tell you frankly: I am a statesman. I am not one of those who are willing to cut everything into pieces and sell," the Belarusian leader stressed.
He emphasized that Belarusian people want to live in the country that is fair. If we do the opposite, there will be a disaster that will lead to a maidan revolution. “You cannot ill-treat people, otherwise they can lose all hope," the Belarusian leader said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that he has a similar approach to other large enterprises, well known in the world, for example, BelAZ. “Making such vehicles is a great achievement and pride of the country," he said.
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