Opinions & Interviews

Lukashenko describes sanctions against Belarus as West's impotence

SVISLOCH DISTRICT, 24 June (BelTA) – Western sanctions against Belarus testify to their impotence, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said during the working trip to Grodno Oblast on 24 June, BelTA informs.

During the visit to Svisloch District the head of state heard out a report on the social and economic development of the region. “What gross regional product will we have at the end of the year after these crazy sanctions? We have been preparing for it, we knew what could happen,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.

The president stressed that there should not be any downfalls at enterprises. “We must show those rascals across the border that their sanctions are their impotence. And we will do it,” he said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko familiarized himself with the operation of the Bortniki dairy farm and the enterprise Khanchitsy-Neman. There the head of state was also informed about the development of Svisloch District, the problems of the region and its development prospects. The president is convinced that discipline is key. There are highly-qualified specialists at enterprises who know how to use all technologies, but mismanagement is sometimes surprising, he noted.

“God forbid the war started, we would rally to the defense of our country immediately. But why don’t we want to work now, in the peaceful time? Discipline is key. Only discipline,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.

Khanchitsy-Neman is operated by Grodno Tobacco Factory Neman. The agricultural enterprise is efficient. However, the head enterprise may face some difficulties in the future. There is always competition in the trade with excise goods, and countries are doing their best to protect their markets. This is one of the reasons why Belarus is blamed for cigarette smuggling.

“They are preparing to protect themselves from cigarette trade [import]. These are also excise goods, direct revenues to the budget. Therefore, Poles, Lithuanians, Ukrainians and Russians are trying to protect their markets,” the president remarked. “That is why, they are now complaining that we have flooded them with smuggled goods. Then fight against smuggling like we are fighting.”

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