Belarusian People’s Congress
Lukashenko: People are at the heart of everything in Belarus
MINSK, 11 February (BelTA) – No matter what goals are set in Belarus, people remain the most important part of the country’s development, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he addressed the 6th Belarusian People's Congress in Minsk on 11 February, BelTA has learned.
According to the head of state, the participants of the congress will discuss, first of all, the proposals of the country’s senior officials based on the ideas put forward by people at the dialogue platforms, and not some alternative proposals of the opponents of the current government.
“Everything is relative. It was not me or you who invented this axiom. Let’s compare. What does the opposition, nurtured and trained abroad, want? What is their agenda? I just want to remind you,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The president cited some points of the opposition’s program. The economic part of the program provides for massive privatization, immediate shutdown of poorly performing enterprises, prohibition of the sale of Belarusian infrastructure facilities to Russian companies, and the sale of farmland. Their political agenda features withdrawal from the Union State, the EAEU, the resumption of customs and border control at the border with Russia, the prohibition of pro-Russian foundations and organizations, the fulfillment of all criteria for EU membership. Their defense agenda provides for withdrawal from the CSTO and the unified air and missile defense system with Russia. They want to ban Russian social and political TV shows and news programs, and to offer complete freedom for Western mass media outlets. They want to scrap free-of-charge education and medicine, they also want widespread use of the Belarusian language, the restoration of the Belarusian Autocephalous Church as an alternative to the Belarusian Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church.
“Now I will present our vision and Belarusian people will give their take on it,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
“The main reference point are expectations, aspirations, growth opportunities for people of today. After all, no matter what goals we set, the main resource in achieving them are talented, hardworking and patriotic people. Each Belarusian is responsible for the future of the country. The main thing is that everyone has an equal starting point to be a success and make Belarus a better place. This is the essence of justice, and the demand for justice is growing in the world. This is the essence of our model of a welfare state, which has proven its viability despite global sanctions and political pressure,” the president said.
He went on reviewing Belarus’ performance over the years of sovereignty and the country’s achievements in various sectors. For example, over the past five years Belarus established itself as an independent player in the international arena and a reliable participant in integration associations. The country ranks high in the Human Development Index rankings. The national healthcare system is coping well with its tasks despite the pandemic. Traditional industries - mechanical engineering, chemical industry, agriculture - operate smoothly. Space, nuclear industry and biochemical sector are shaping up. The logistics capacity has been significantly strengthened, communities are connected by a network of modern roads, the housing construction program has been fully implemented. “We have achieved the highest level of comfort and safety, which has become a signature feature of the country,” the president added.
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