News & Events in Belarus

Lukashenko outlines tasks for new heads of local governments

MINSK, 12 August (BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko outlined tasks for new heads in the regional and district executive committees as he took a number of personnel decisions on 12 August, BelTA has learned.

 

The head of state approved the appointment of new chairpersons in four regions of the country – Volkovysk District, Lyuban District, Bykhov District and Osipovichi District, and also the Vitebsk Oblast first vice governor and the head of the administration of the Leninsky District of Mogilev.

On the powers of the heads of local governments: intervene in any issue if it contradicts the state policy

The head of state stressed that during his recent working trips he had already spoken on the topic of strengthening the powers of the heads of local governments.

“Work in this regard is underway, and we need to finish it this year, after consulting with the heads of districts in the first place. I am referring to the functions and powers of the chairpersons of the district executive committee. According to my deep conviction, this most important structure in our government is not only underutilized, but also has no clear guidelines on the strategy and tactics of its work,” the president said.

According to him, a legal act may be adopted based on the results of the work that is already underway. “It will be a document which will guide you in your powers and functions,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

Heads of regions should clearly know their powers and on this basis build work with the heads of enterprises and organizations of any form of ownership, said Aleksandr Lukashenko.

“This is of high importance today. There are a lot of privately owned enterprises, apart from state-run ones, of different levels of subordination, and some directors, who are actually good bosses of enterprises, especially the agricultural ones, think that those are their property, and the heads of the district executive committee should not go there, never mind supervise any issues. This is wrong,” the president stressed.

“I would like to reiterate: you are in charge of the lands in your district. You must intervene in any issue if you see that it is not handled the way it should be handled, if it contradicts the policy pursued in Belarus (God forbid this, of course),” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

Tasks for Vitebsk Oblast: a good deal of work to do

“Speaking about Vitebsk Oblast in general, Gennady Gennadyevich [Sabynich, who was appointed Vitebsk Oblast First Vice Governor], there is a lot of work to be done there,” the president said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko praised Gennady Sabynich's decision to change his job as Vitebsk Mayor for the post of First Vice Governor: “It is great that you agreed to leave the city to take up this position.”

According to the head of state, he plans to visit Vitebsk Oblast in the near future. The president is going to focus on its north-western and northern parts.

“Get down to work together with the governor,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “I have a suspicion that you often fail to solve elementary issues in the region. Or maybe the governor does not see them. You are overgrown with weeds, garbage of all kinds. Things should be put in order everywhere.”

The president warned that complaints about complicated circumstances and conditions in Vitebsk Oblast were unacceptable. “Vitebsk Oblast is a good region. The climate has considerably changed. We need to work. You first need to decide on what to cultivate in Vitebsk Oblast and what to do in industry. You need to get it systemic. There should not be chaos,” the head of state said.

“There is no need to mention something that was planned before and was not implemented,” he added. “I mean integration structures [in agriculture]. They are no obstacle for you. If you want to destroy them, then do so. You only needs to know exactly what you are doing. They absolutely do not interfere with the farms that have made part of these integration structures. Before breaking the old structure, I would advise you to study it thoroughly and make a [balanced] decision.”

On priorities for Mogilev: The city should not lag behind others in development

Aleksandr Lukashenko also touched upon some aspects of Mogilev's development. By the decision of the president, Andrei Konev, who used to head the Mogilev municipal unitary heat and power enterprise, has been appointed the head of the administration of Leninsky district of this city.

"There is a lot of work. Especially with regard the private sector. But you are familiar with these issues. Put things in order in Mogilev. Mogilev should not lag behind other cities in development," the head of state said.

Town of Lyuban to become second capital of Belarusian mining industry

When addressing Vitaly Platun, the new Chairman of the Lyuban District Executive Committee, Aleksandr Lukashenko suggested paying attention to a major project, which is being realized in this region.

The president stressed: “Don’t forget that we are building a respectable mining enterprise over there. And the investor, who started the construction, was tasked with making the district capital of Lyuban the second capital for our miners.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko expects the new mining and refining plant to add a lot to Lyuban District just the way it happened, for instance, in Petrikov District when a mining and refining plant was commissioned over there.

“However complicated it may be, after all the demand for mineral fertilizers is very serious not only inside our country but on foreign markets. And they will be able to invest some extra money in Lyuban District,” the president said while talking about the future of the largest enterprise in this region – the Nezhinsky mining and processing factory.

The head of state drew attention to the matter of providing personnel of the enterprise with housing: “Housing needs to be built over there for the people, who will work at this mining and processing factory.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko warned that he intends to visit the construction site in the near future.

About Osipovichi District that has very good prospects

The head of state intends to visit Osipovichi District and to inspect the main local industrial enterprise. “I would like to visit Osipovichi District. The trip should be put in my schedule," the president said.
 
Aleksandr Lukashenko stated his intention to tour Osipovichi Transport Engineering Plant, the main industrial enterprise in the district. “There are several enterprises, but I am especially interested in the rail car building plant,” the Belarusian leader said.

Considering a large number of enterprises in the district, the president set a task to the new chairman of the Osipovichi District Executive Committee Andrei Dubinchik to focus not only on the development of agriculture, but also on the industrial potential of Osipovichi District. “The district is very promising,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized.

Bykhov District expected to put forward initiatives, to streamline things

When appointing a new chairman of the Bykhov District Executive Committee, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized the importance of putting things in order in the district. The president noted that the further development of agriculture was discussed in detail during his working visits to Orsha District and Shklov District.

"In some districts, for example, in Bykhov District, there is still a lot of work to be done. I very much hope that with your appointment the situation will change," the president said addressing Aleksandr Kiselev, who had been appointed as chairman of Bykhov District Executive Committee.

Aleksandr Lukashenko thanked the new chairman for taking up the job. Until recently Aleksandr Kiselev worked as the first deputy chairman of Shklov District. He was responsible for agriculture and was considering a job offer in the Kupalovskoye agricultural holding company. However, he still decided to stay in the local vertical of power, but already a step higher – as the chairman of district executive committee.

“This decision is even more important for the country, because Bykhov District was affected by the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. It is good that the situation has been stabilized. But we need to put things in order and forget about the fact that this district differs from others. Indeed, the soil in Bykhov District is a little different from that in Shklov District, but it is possible and necessary to work there."

The Belarusian leader stressed that he would encourage and support initiatives of the district's administration in this regard.