News & Events in Belarus
Lukashenko appoints new Minsk mayor
MINSK, 26 November (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has appointed former Transport and Communications Minister Anatoly Sivak Chairman of the Minsk City Hall and announced his plans to meet with the functionaries of the Belarusian capital in the near future, BelTA has learned.
The head of state stressed that Anatoly Sivak has to get oriented as soon as possible and deal with personnel issues. “This should be done, if not in the city, then in the Minsk City Hall. In some three weeks I am going to visit the city hall, meet with the functionaries, lawmakers, authorities, all those who define the face of the city, life in the Belarusian capital. I need to have a serious talk with the Minsk City Hall. I have a lot of questions not only to the former authorities led by [Andrei] Shorets, but also to the members of the city hall,” said the president.
Speaking about the appointment of Anatoly Sivak, Alexander Lukashenko noted that more than a dozen candidates were considered for the post of a new head of the city.
According to the head of state, one of the decisive factors in choosing this particular candidate was that Anatoly Sivak earlier effectively worked as an assistant to the president, the chief inspector for Minsk. “I have to say that he was an effective assistant, a personnel inspector. This was probably the main motive and factor behind the decision,” the president added.
Alexander Lukashenko noted that Anatoly Sivak knows Minsk and the staff working in the city very well. “What appeals to me personally is his high responsibility for the assigned tasks. I hope that this high responsibility and diligence, which we extremely lack at all the levels (we talked about it yesterday), will not disappear, and Minsk will acquire a good mayor,” said the president.
The head of state stressed that in 2019 Belarus is hosting the 2nd European Games, and therefore Minsk needs to be prepared for this international sports forum. It is necessary to make it cozy and attractive for guests, so that they continue coming here as tourists.
“The most important thing, however, for the authorities are the forthcoming parliamentary and presidential elections. I have never hidden it and do not do this now. This is an exam we are all going to take. We will not pressure our people and promote some candidate. We must approach the elections in such a way that our people do not even think about an alternative,” the Belarusian leader said.
At the same time, he noted that, of course, there will be alternative candidates for MPs and the president.
Alexander Lukashenko also asked the new mayor to pay attention to the corruption that exists in the city. “The administrative vertical in the city is huge,” he said.
According to the head of state, at one time there were plans to reduce the number of administrations in the districts of the city. However, this step was not taken for the convenience of the people.
“I think that we will have to part with many in the city hall. Do not, however, offend people who are committed to the state and want to work in the city with you. You have only three weeks to decide with whom you are going to work. I would like the personnel that you are going to pick up to be from the city. I think you have enough knowledge of the personnel and the authority to choose the right people for the implementation of the tasks which are needed to be performed,” Alexander Lukashenko said.
The head of state emphasized: “Minsk is a well-groomed and beautiful city. We just need to add a proper momentum.”
As for Andrei Shorets, who led the Minsk City Hall over the past years, the president decided to transfer him to another job. “I can feel that he cannot add what is needed. Therefore I have decided to transfer him to another post,” the head of state explained.
print version
make home page
add to bookmarks
