Lukashenko: we won’t cut off state support for Chernobyl-affected areas
The state will continue to support the Chernobyl-affected regions – as stated today by the President during his conversation with residents of the Chechersk District
Answering the question about the information distributed in some media about the abolition of the so-called Chernobyl benefits in connection with the alleged optimisation of budget expenditures, Aleksandr Lukashenko said, “You probably read and watch the wrong media. We optimise budgetary spending almost constantly, every year, and this is not related to the situation that is currently developing [referring to Western sanctions imposed against Russia and Belarus]. There would be no fortune, but misfortune helped. Sanctions are opportunities. Everything we produce is currently in demand in our main market in Russia, China and other states.”
As an example, the Head of State cited woodworking. Half of the Gomel Region is occupied by forests while everyone needs furniture, and houses need to be built.
“Let’s learn how to process and sell our wealth more,” urged Aleksandr Lukashenko. “We’ll employ our people who will receive good salaries.”
The same applies, e.g., to engineering products, for which Russians pay good money.
“What else do we need? The market is open, we just need to get moving,” underlined Aleksandr Lukashenko. “Now they [westerners]. are rubbing their hands, hoping to bring Russia to its knees, and then Belarus. They will fail to bring Russia and Belarus to their knees with such a level of intelligence, education, technology and resources. Therefore, we just need to forget that we have these sanctions.”
The Belarusian Head of State noted that today we have enough fertilisers and fuel. We started selling more food. In this regard, Aleksandr Lukashenko also reminded that citizens of Lithuania and Latvia are allowed visa-free entry to Belarus from April 15th, “People come to us to buy salt. They don’t have salt. Great and rich West has no salt. So that these citizens do not say that Belarusians live normally, they simply don’t let their people out. That’s all their democracy.”
Returning to the question, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted, “We are optimising, making sure that the money is spent where it is necessary. Today the governor and I did not talk about cutting funding, but, on the contrary, how to help the Gomel Region to develop production.”
At the same time, Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that it is important to concentrate the Chernobyl money and direct it to the construction of the necessary facilities.
“A person was paid ten Roubles a year according to some programme. I encourage them to collect this money and set up an iron removal station, enabling people to drink clean water. They will live longer. Therefore, we are not going to cut any benefits here. My dream is that you live 10-15 years longer than the national average life expectancy. This will be the best confirmation that we have defeated this Chernobyl,” stressed the Belarusian leader.
