Lukashenko outlined foremost task for newly-appointed Healthcare Minister: we cannot lose the country
Appointing today Aleksandr Khodzhaev as new Healthcare Minister, the President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, set him a number of tasks. In particular, the Head of State underlined that the position of a minister is not an ordinary one, so before making a personnel decision, he was interested in both the past and the present of Aleksandr Khodzhaev.
“I don’t see any problems,” the Belarusian leader noted. “I think that you are capable of heading the ministry. But we will have to look at the ministry itself and at its composition. This is your foremost task. It often turns out that if there are any shortcomings, the head is to blame. Yes, he is primarily to blame, but others are also responsible for the situation, for the state of affairs: deputies, heads of directorates, departments, etc. So pay attention to this. There must be exclusively professionals – people devoted to their work and the state. This is the most important element and I really count on it. I know that you are a ‘non-clan’ person, although in the Healthcare Ministry we have so-called family dynasties, clans, and so on. This shouldn’t happen. I really hope you will put an end to this.”
Speaking about the main qualities for a minister, Aleksandr Lukashenko underlined, “A dedicated person, a true professional, a statesman. So that he doesn’t sit in his post and doesn’t dream of how to escape to a neighbouring country or to fill his pockets with money. Well, we also started to figure this out. We have some fugitives sitting in the West, while their relatives here and others are doing what they did before, only quietly. We see this and are taking countermeasures. The situation is not easy; we cannot lose the country. Belarus should be a sovereign, independent state and not create problems for its neighbours. This is a country where both our children and grandchildren should live. Therefore, it is necessary to approach the appointment of personnel, the formation of the composition of ministries and further actions with this idea in mind. In this regard, you are a person free from all personalities and pressure.”
