Opinion: Belarus is outpost of normal development
The Belarusian authorities rely on the interests of the people, and therefore the stability of the country's economy and political system does not depend on external conditions – as stated by Vadim Yelfimov, the Head of the Department of Social Policy and Ideology of the Academy of Management under the President of Belarus, in his talk with Alfa Radio
“The stability of our economy and political system is absolutely independent of external conditions. This is an axiom that the Belarusian government has been proving for almost three decades," the expert stressed. "The explanation is very simple: if the government relies on the interests of the people, then it is like a kind of diamond that cannot be cracked without breaking teeth. Those who do not understand this are stupid or they are biasing themselves into some kind of political decisions. Those who have a realistic view understand this. Just look around: Belarus has been under sanctions for 30 years but, despite this, it is getting better. The republic is an outpost of normal development, offering not just an alternative development scheme on an equal and mutually beneficial basis, but it is also a model of social justice. Do you remember the states where such a concept is operational, and were it is included into the Constitution? There is such a thing in the West: a patch on the eyes, mouth, and ears. If taking it off, people would see the real situation. In turn, Belarus’ policy is based on openness. The country is happy to welcome everyone to visit it and see what is happening, taking the advantage of the visa-free regime. Belarus is looking for friends, those who share its values and who will understand that it is possible and necessary to co-operate with it.”
In the context of discussing the recent working trip of Belarus’ President Aleksandr Lukashenko to Grodno, the expert drew attention to the great attention paid to healthcare related issues in the country.
“During Barack Obama’s presidency, it turned out that 70 percent of Americans lived without insurance, having even no opportunity to go for dental treatment – not to mention serious cases. This problem exists in many other countries as well. In turn, in Belarus, it is being solved. There are forces that want to push the country exclusively towards paid healthcare, which is available already. However, along with the paid services, there is also state medicine in Belarus. An important element of social justice is to ensure that everyone has equal opportunities. Health is very important for everyone, and social justice is also very important in the healthcare sector. That's why the President said that medicine should be people’s. The task has been set to preserve the health of the nation and to ensure equal access to a high level of medical services,” Mr. Yelfimov said.
