Lukashenko appointed new Minister of Agriculture and Food
President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko has made today a number of important personnel decisions. The Head of State has appointed Anatoly Linevich, the First Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, to the post of Agriculture and Food Minister.
The Head of State indicated that the new minister should start his work tomorrow, adding that the Vitebsk Region also remains in the sphere of Mr. Linevich’s scope of work, “There is a small debt. I don’t know yet. We’ll go there with you and we will deal with Subbotin [Aleksandr Subbotin, the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee] whether there are debts or not, what has been done, and what hasn’t been done.”
It should be recalled that at one time it was decided to set up integration agro-industrial associations in the Vitebsk Region. The Belarusian leader warned harshly, “Talks that integration structures have destroyed something there are useless, pointless talks. These structures are built in such a way that they cannot ruin anything. If it doesn’t work out, we will disband them, each remaining with their own interests. If necessary, we will return Sherstnev [former Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Nikolai Sherstnev] there to be responsible for this. We’ll return him not as a governor, but as a member of the meeting. I will find everyone who advocated for these integration structures.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko added that before and after the appointment of a new person to the post of Anatoly Linevich, the Vitebsk Region remains under his responsibility, “So, you stay though you’re leaving. I really want you to succeed. I will help you in every possible way. You are aware of the tasks facing the country in agriculture… You aren’t responsible for harvesting or sowing. First of all, your task is to bring new technologies to the country. Let the governors sow and harvest, supervised by you and the Deputy PM. Therefore, you’re in charge of new technologies and control over the implementation of these technologies.”
