Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 27 January (BelTA) – The current situation is difficult but not critical, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said as he announced new personnel appointments on 27 January, BelTA has learned.

The head of state noted: “To say that you take up new executive positions in a difficult period is to say nothing. The time is very difficult both from the economic and political points of view. I will reiterate that we, the same as our neighbors and many other states, are still being affected by the global economic crisis. We have not thrown our state into the whirlpool of this crisis as many suggested it. We have chosen another way out, suppressing the oncoming crisis and protecting people. That means we entered the crisis very softly. Now, taking into account the fact that this period has protracted, we will need more time to come out of the crisis. We had already found the way we should have followed until the external circumstances changed in late 2014. The collapse of the Russian market and the Russian currency (Russia accounts for a half of our exports) has seriously affected our economy.”

The President assured that Belarus will overcome the crisis. In his words, the country has been working hard to diversify the markets for its goods. “The new government has been working in earnest to achieve results. However, we will not be able to do anything without your on-site work. Everything that benefits the state and its people is created there where you start working tomorrow,” the head of state stressed.