The work schedule of the Belarus president is always full of events. Aleksandr Lukashenko holds conferences and working meetings on the most topical matters concerning the country’s development, regularly visits the regions, goes on foreign trips and welcomes foreign guests, talks to reporters, signs decrees and laws. And even if there are no public events, it does not mean that the head of state does not work. It must be said that even when he relaxes, for instance, by playing ice hockey or chopping firewood, Aleksandr Lukashenko happens to find the time to give yet another instruction. All the decisions must be prompted by life, he likes to say.
The President’s Week project is intended for those, who want to keep up with the head of state, be up-to-date on the latest statements and decisions of the Belarusian leader.
Who and why became the new agriculture and food minister? Will Aleksandr Lukashenko’s old friend and counterpart, Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva come to Minsk and why it needs to happen in winter? What project has been declared a new youth construction site in Belarus?
How Belarus’ aviation industry handles sanctions, a crazy thought and a new dream of the president, a people’s car of Belarusian make, the key component of the CIS Games, a large-scale experiment in agriculture, and many other things are in the latest episode of BelTA’s special project President’s Week.
The President’s Week project is intended for those, who want to keep up with the head of state, be up-to-date on the latest statements and decisions of the Belarusian leader.
Who and why became the new agriculture and food minister? Will Aleksandr Lukashenko’s old friend and counterpart, Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva come to Minsk and why it needs to happen in winter? What project has been declared a new youth construction site in Belarus?
How Belarus’ aviation industry handles sanctions, a crazy thought and a new dream of the president, a people’s car of Belarusian make, the key component of the CIS Games, a large-scale experiment in agriculture, and many other things are in the latest episode of BelTA’s special project President’s Week.
FROM AGRONOMIST TO MINISTER. How did Lukashenko select the new agriculture and food minister?
The position of the Agriculture and Food Minister became vacant after Igor Brylo was appointed the president’s aide for Vitebsk Oblast. It did not stay vacant for long because the harvesting campaign is in full swing and the country needs “the commander of the front”. This is why during a conference call Aleksandr Lukashenko gave an instruction to select candidates for the position within a week. But a bit more time was needed to make the final choice.
For instance, First Deputy Chairman of the Grodno Oblast Executive Committee Yuri Valevaty was one of the candidates. BelTA described the situation in the wake of Aleksandr Lukashenko’s working trip to Berestovitsa District.
But in the end on 8 August the minister’s job went to Sergei Bartosh from Brest Oblast, who had previously worked as the president’s aide, inspector for Gomel Oblast. He got that job in October 2022. Before that he worked as the chairman of the Bereza District Executive Committee.
On the whole, the new minister has extensive experience in agricultural matters at various levels. In addition to the basic profession of the agronomist he improved his skills, acquired administrative experience at the helm of an agricultural enterprise and in executive positions at the district level and the oblast one. All these factors determined Aleksandr Lukashenko’s final choice.
“I choose you out of the several candidates, who were suggested to me a week ago. Because you have acquired quite a lot of experience over the course of your life. It is very important that a minister has the experience of running an agricultural enterprise. This is extremely important. Just like it is in the manufacturing sector. A minister or deputy prime minister should work their way up the career ladder and should have the experience of working as the head of an industrial organization. The same applies here, too. You seem to have the appropriate age and experience for this position. This explains my decision to appoint you as the minister,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
Mobilization
They say you shouldn’t swap horses when crossing a stream. But you can easily replace the coachman. The present period is not a good time for the new minister to take things slowly. He will have to hit the ground running since the harvesting campaign is in full swing. And this is only the cereals part.
And then the weather in Belarus is often unpredictable. Droughts can be followed by floods, as Aleksandr Lukashenko often says. This is true this summer. “We should have anticipated that we will get everything the Lord owed to us after 45 rainless days. So it happened. You see it, you know these problems. In these conditions we will have to ensure the country’s food security,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.
Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out how all the field operations must proceed on a tight schedule in this period. It is necessary to harvest crops. Grass started growing fast after drought followed by rains. Respectively it is necessary to grab the opportunity and stock up on grass forage. On the other hand, there is plenty of things to do in the fields where crops have been harvested. “Straw making and, most importantly, winter crop sowing. Rapeseed is being sown everywhere. Winter barley is coming up next. We need to sow these crops. We need to quickly free the fields for sowing winter crops. In other words, everything has been pressed into one pile. I warned you about this at the recent conference call,” the head of state said.
Speaking about food security, Aleksandr Lukashenko had no doubts that it will be ensured this year but now is not the time to relax: “We will procure about one million tonnes of headed cereals for state needs. We will procure the necessary amount of rapeseed. We already can see this coming. Everything is going well here. If we organize ourselves properly, we will have no problems with fodder grain for animals. But now we need to get mobilized.”
A strategy to sow winter crops
Aleksandr Lukashenko drew attention to the sowing of winter crops: “Today the main attention should be paid to the sowing of winter crops. I have already said it with regard to Vitebsk Oblast, Mogilev Oblast. All the regions, especially the northern part of Belarus, it is very important to sow these crops in time. Winter rapeseed and barley. We need to do this fast in order to start harvesting them earlier next year. When harvesting ends in Brest Oblast (in the south of Belarus), we only start harvesting in Vitebsk Oblast due to weather conditions.”
“Therefore, there is only one way out – to sow crops that we will be able to harvest earlier. At least in mid-July. There should be at least half of such crops in Vitebsk Oblast. We need to do this no matter how difficult it may be,” the Belarusian leader stressed.
Tasks concerning individual regions
It is also important for the president that the new minister knows Gomel Oblast well. “We need to pull Gomel Oblast out of the swamp in the name of the revolution. You can see it better than me. [The Gomel Oblast governor and former agriculture and food minister] Ivan Ivanovich Krupko is there, he wants to work, knows a lot about agriculture. He will need help, of course,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
“Well, we also have a lot of issues in Mogilev Oblast and Vitebsk Oblast. And in Minsk Oblast. A huge part of the country. The northern part and so on,” the president added.
A GOOD TRADITION. What has been declared a youth construction project in Belarus?
On 9 August the head of state signed decree No.257 to assign the status of an All-Belarusian Youth Construction Project to construction objects of the education and rehabilitation institution Republican Center for Patriotic Upbringing of the Youth based on the Kobrin fortification of the Brest Fortress.
Young people aged 14-31 will be invited to work on these construction objects, including as part of student construction brigades. The decision is expected to contribute to the labor education of young people and instill the feeling of connectedness to the history of the native country in them.
The money to set up the center has been collected by the entire country during a nationwide subbotnik (voluntary labor day) this year. The project is supposed to be implemented stage by stage over the course of several years.
It is worth noting that the initiative to declare a new youth construction project in Belarus was mentioned on 31 March after the president delivered an address to the nation and the parliament. A representative of the student construction brigade movement addressed the head of state. “We will consider this proposal. Moreover, you are no strangers to me. You are my kin,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said back then. “As for the Brest patriotic center, I am aware of it. The proposal came from the military. But they asked for too much money. The government has recently informed me about sources of funding. If young people, the BRSM get involved in it, I will be very glad to declare this project a youth construction project. Moreover, you haven’t failed us in [the WW2 memorial] Khatyn.”
The tradition of youth construction projects in Belarus dates back several decades. It received a new impetus in 2005 thanks to the decision of the president to support the revival and development of student construction brigades in the country. The reconstruction of a part of the Augustow Canal was announced as a youth construction project then. Later on student construction brigades participated in the construction and reconstruction of such iconic objects as the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater and the National Academic Theater named after Yanka Kupala, Nesvizh Castle and Kossovo Castle, the sport complex Minsk Arena, the Minsk-based Student Village, the Museum of History of the Great Patriotic War in Pobeditelei Avenue in Minsk, the third line of the Minsk metro. In 2014 the status of the All-Belarusian Youth Construction Project was assigned to construction objects of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. The status was extended onto social infrastructure facilities in the nearby town of Ostrovets in 2019. In May 2022 the status of the All-Belarusian Youth Construction Project was assigned to the objects of overhaul and reconstruction of the WW2 memorial complex Khatyn.
BETTER IN WINTER. What old acquaintance did Lukashenko invite to visit Belarus?
Belarus and Brazil are separated by thousands of kilometers and at times sanctions-based barriers raised by the collective West. But they are not an obstacle for friends and interested partners. It is this spirit that a meeting of Aleksandr Lukashenko and Brazilian Ambassador to Belarus Bernard Jorg Leopold de Garcia Klingl embraced on 10 August.
“If we evaluate Belarusian-Brazilian relations, I must say that they can be much better. Both in politics and, first of all, in trade and economy. Because trade and economic relations are the basis of any relations. If we have a strong material interest and a certain connection, then both political and diplomatic relations will be built. As an ambassador, you understand this as well as I do. As a result of today’s meeting we need to agree on specific areas of our cooperation that will bring our relations to a higher level,” the Belarusian leader said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said that he had a number of proposals in this regard. “I think that you will convey my proposals to the government, your parliament and, above all, President Lula da Silva. One of my main proposals that I ask you to convey to your president is that we are waiting for him in Belarus. At any convenient time for him. Better in winter. So that he could see our winter nature. During his visit we could finally determine the roadmap or plan for our relations. I would like to emphasize once again that the Belarusian leadership is extremely interested in this,” the president said.
He emphasized the importance of the current meeting both for Belarus and Brazil. Brazil is traditionally among the top 10 trading partners of Belarus. In 2022 the trade amounted to more than $358 million, with a surplus of nearly $150 million for Belarus. In January-June 2023 alone, bilateral trade totaled $393.4 million. Potash fertilizers are traditionally the main Belarusian export item.
Aleksandr Lukashenko and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva have known each other for a long time. They met back in March 2010 when the Belarus president visited Brazil. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was the president back then. He was elected the president once again after a number of other presidents.
“It was during your previous term that I made my first and so far my only visit to your wonderful country. Together with you, we outlined the main priorities for the development of Belarusian-Brazilian relations,” the Belarusian leader noted as he congratulated his counterpart on winning the election. “I have the honor of renewing my invitation for you to visit Belarus at a convenient time. We have something to talk about as good old friends, something to discuss taking into account the changes that have occurred over the past twelve years.”
Importance of the dialogue and the role of the president of Belarus
The world is interdependent. Brazil may be far but current events in Eastern Europe affect many interests of this country. Unlike some western and southern neighbors of Belarus Brazil understands what positive role Aleksandr Lukashenko could play and is even ready to play.
The ambassador said: “Brazil values the relations with Belarus and the work that is being done in your country today. We understand the importance of the region and the delicacy of the situation that has developed in your region. We also see the confrontation between Russia and Western states. Brazil is ready to take part in the dialogue. We also see you as a person who is not only very well versed in the current situation, but also a person who can take part in this dialogue and contribute to resolving the situation.”
Bernard Jorg Leopold de Garcia Klingl said: “It is a great honor for me to have this opportunity to meet and to convey to the president of my country your invitation to visit your country in order to discuss a roadmap for further cooperation. The Brazilian president, I am sure, will appreciate your invitation and will accept it. Because he knows how important it is today to discuss with you the solution to the situation that has evolved. We understand what’s at stake. We have appointed a special envoy, a minister who takes part in the dialogue on behalf of Brazil.”
The ambassador stressed: “We are confident that a common will, a common desire are required to start the dialogue, and therefore I hope that my president and you will be able to take an active part in this process.”
Cooperation despite sanctions
Important aspects of Belarus-Brazil interaction were discussed during the meeting as well as prospects of advancing cooperation despite the sanctions-based barriers. “Certainly, today we live in rather complicated times when big sanctions have been enforced. Nevertheless, a lot has been done and said for overcoming them and for stepping up cooperation between our countries,” the ambassador told reporters after the meeting.
The ambassador mentioned that among other things he and Aleksandr Lukashenko had talked about interaction in agriculture and possibilities for selling Belarusian tractors to Brazil. “Apart from that, the matter of resuming deliveries of Belarusian potash fertilizers to our country was discussed. As you know, Brazil is rather a large producer of food for the world. Back in the day Belarus supplied up to 20% of all the potash fertilizers our country consumed,” the ambassador said.
There are a number of other promising avenues starting with sales of cocoa products to the Belarusian confectionery industry and ending with sales of Embraer aircraft to the Belarusian air carrier Belavia and cooperation in education. Thus, a Brazilian delegation led by representatives of scientific circles is expected to visit Belarus in order to sign documents on interaction with three Belarusian higher education institutions.
BEARING FUTURE PROSPECTS IN MIND. How does Belarus’ aviation industry handle sanctions?
On 11 August Aleksandr Lukashenko visited Minsk National Airport and Minsk Civil Aviation Plant No.407, which is located at premises of the airport.
There are plenty of development plans. As for the airport, those include a new passenger terminal, car parks, and better transportation to and from Minsk. The national airport has already handled 5 million passengers per annum in the past but then the pandemic broke out followed by sanctions. As a result, passenger traffic plummeted and some of the plans remained only on paper and in the form of mockups.
“So what? Have you stopped because of sanctions?” the president wondered upon arrival. This was more of a rhetorical question because Aleksandr Lukashenko knows very well that despite all the existing hardships both the airport and the national air carrier Belavia are working steadily and even make plans for the future. There are no problems with procuring materials and equipment. The necessary level of aviation security is ensured. Some parts are now manufactured by Belarusian enterprises. Some parts are now imported from friendly countries, for instance, China.
Times are complicated but Aleksandr Lukashenko wants everyone to not only forget the word “sanctions” but also work bearing future prospects in mind. “We do everything bearing future prospects in mind after all. If we don’t need something due to today’s circumstances, we have to understand that we will need it tomorrow,” the president noted.
The construction of a new passenger terminal was mentioned. The new terminal will be needed in the future due to the growing passenger traffic. A well-designed railway to conveniently transport a large number of passengers between the airport and the capital will be necessary. It is important to judiciously approach the matter. “We shouldn’t build some double or parallel roads. We should use what we have instead,” the president remarked.
Aleksandr Lukashenko gave instructions to prepare the relevant project for reconstructing the airport featuring the construction of the passenger terminal and the railway link in order to discuss the project in detail. “Let’s agree that we will closely look at the project once it is ready.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko gave separate instructions concerning the airport’s old runway. The second runway was built in 2019. Due to understandable reasons the traffic is much lower than it was in the past, but it is necessary not to forget the first runway. The head of state was told that the runway is undergoing routine repairs.
“Keep in mind that this runway must be in operating condition. In a normal condition. The second runway has been built. This one must not be abandoned. The runway has to be in an ideal state. It must be done under any circumstances,” the head of state said.
The relocation of the plant and awards for “the guilty ones”
Aleksandr Lukashenko got on a bus to inspect the airport’s territory and visited OAO Minsk Civil Aviation Plant No.407 where he was made familiar with the maintenance and repairs of aircraft as well as the operation of the enterprise.
The plant was founded on 8 May 1953 and was located in the territory of the former airport Minsk 1 in the city of Minsk till 2018. Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled how the decision to relocate the manufacturing base had been made. Everything was not as simple as it seemed at first glance, the head of state noted. There were many proposals to shut down the enterprise: they said that the plant was not needed, that it only repaired some Soviet junk.
“They were trying to persuade me that it was not needed. I seemed to agree. But I asked those people who made the proposal one question: what were we to do with the people? People needed jobs. Of course, finding jobs for half a thousand people would not be a problem. These are highly qualified people. Such people are worth a lot. What were we going to do with them? Where would they go? There was no answer. Therefore, I decided to move the plant out of the Belarusian capital to place it here,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The construction of the new production site was closely monitored by the president. “Many were held to account for slowing down construction. But in the end, we built the plant,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The plant specializes in the repair, maintenance, and modernization of Soviet and Russian-made aircraft. To diversify production activities, the specialized unitary enterprise 407 Technics was set up in 2020. It serves Western-made aircraft.
According to Vladimir Pekarsky, Director General of Minsk Civil Aviation Plant, the production facilities of the enterprise are utilized fully. The share of export in revenue amounted to 98.8% in H1 2023.
The plant is building a complex for paint stripping and painting aircraft. Construction is slated for completion in the first quarter of 2024. After the complex reaches full capacity, the plant looks to earn more than Br13 million in additional revenue and $4 million in export. The plant is also planning to branch out into the maintenance of new types of aircraft, manufacturing of parts and assembly units, manufacturing and repair of ground support maintenance equipment and aircraft components.
The head of state visited the aircraft maintenance and repair hangar where he got acquainted with the production sites located here. After that, Aleksandr Lukashenko met with employees of the plant and other organizations located on the grounds of Minsk National Airport.
The president thanked employees of the enterprise: “Thank you for launching the new plant. Before visiting the plant and hearing out a report from your director I didn’t think that you have done such a great job. Well done! The main thing is that you have found your niche. You have learned how to do not only what you did over there, at the old plant but also a lot of new things. You are engaged in import substitution. Therefore, I sincerely tell you: well done! I am very grateful to you for this. We will move in this direction. All ‘the guilty’ people should be examined and nominated for state awards.”
A crazy thought and a new dream
The president did not rule out the possibility of launching civilian aircraft manufacturing in Belarus. Belarusians have learned how to repair aircraft. Why should not they be ambitious enough to make them?
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “I wouldn’t even call it a plant: it should be treated as a beginning. It is the first step in this direction. We will do everything to support repair and service divisions and maybe the creation, construction of our own aircraft. We will promote it. We have two major sites: a military plant in Baranovichi and a civil one here. If you can make some military products, I will be only grateful and will support you. If that enterprise makes something for you, for civilians, I will also support it. But since we’ve started manufacturing automobiles, I have this crazy thought (if I have the time to start it in my presidential life): if we manage to start making an aircraft of our own, I will be simply happy. It means my new dream may come true.”
“So I have this crazy thought regarding taking the production of civilian aircraft to the next level. We’ve mastered repairs and maintenance. Customers have virtually no complaints about you. We will move forward,” he added.
Western air carriers and neighbors in the European Union
Despite all the negativity coming from the West Aleksandr Lukashenko is not yet ready to shut the door on cooperation along this vector. When asked whether Western air carriers are likely to return to Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “[They may do it] any day. We are not aggressive people. I’d like to emphasize one more time: we are not going to fight against anyone. I say it to you all the time.”
The head of state reminded that during the solemn assembly held on the occasion of Independence Day he instructed the government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to offer a good neighborhood and peace plan to western neighbors.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “You should pay less attention to the pressure that the crazy West exercises against our enterprises, including the airport and [the flag carrier] Belavia. We will find a way out in any situation and will not leave our enterprises in trouble. When this madness began after Ryanair [flight 4978 incident], I told the pilot of my aircraft: pass the word to the guys that we will not leave them in trouble and tell me what needs to be done during the next flight. He reported to me before the next flight and we made decisions. This is why we will leave no one in trouble.”
“The world is interconnected. Only crazy people can destroy this dependence. They will fail. We will persevere. They don’t need competitors, this is why they pressure us. But it is a good evaluation for us,” he noted.
The president stressed that countries of the European Union are Belarus’ neighbors and relations with them must not be severed: “Now we make money primarily in the East: we cooperate with Russia, China. But we must not forget about high-tech West. They are nearby, the European Union is our neighbor. And we should not severe relations with them. We are ready for this, but there should be due consideration for our interests. Believe me, the time will come (using your professional terms, I would say that now we are going through a period of turbulence and big complications), in 2024-2025, I am sure there will be serious changes in the world,” the head of state said.
“And we need to talk to the Poles. I told the prime minister to contact them. If they want, we can talk, patch up our relations. We are neighbors, and this is something you cannot choose, neighbors are given by God. They are having parliamentary elections on 15 October, so they are trying to whip up tensions in order to prove that arming and re-arming the country was the right thing to do. Therefore, before 15 October, they are unlikely to make any significant steps that will benefit them and us. They demand and ask a lot from us, but we cannot agree to this, because it is contrary to our interests,” the president stressed.
He added that it was not Poland’s decision to rock the boat in the region – Poland is being pushed to do so by the United States of America. “The Americans have staked on Poland. But the Poles are not stupid people. They are our kin, the Slavs. They understand everything perfectly. Let’s wait and see. We are open for cooperation,” the head of state said.
SPACE PLANS. When will the first Belarusian female cosmonaut go to orbit?
Various matters are raised during talks with workers of organizations and enterprises. Aviators are the kind of people to ask about the expected flight of the Belarusian woman Marina Vasilevskaya to the International Space Station (ISS). She has extensive flight experience: she worked as a flight attendant for Belavia before becoming a cosmonaut.
The president recalled preparations for the flight of Belarus’ representative to the ISS and the agreements reached with the leadership of Russia and Roscosmos: “I told the president of Russia: the Belarusians are staying way too long on the ground. Everyone flies, including Africans. They have done a great job. But why don’t Belarusians fly? He says: ‘Exactly’. After that we started negotiations with Roscosmos. This Russian corporation had one condition, which the Belarusian side fulfilled in the end: a woman must go to outer space.”
“We intend to launch her in the first quarter of the next year. Perhaps in March. This is due to the accident at the ISS [postponing of the flight to next year]. Indeed, our girl will fly there. A backup crew member has also been determined. We are getting ready, no circumstances can change this,” the president said.
PEOPLE’S CAR. What prospects does the Belarusian automobile industry have?
One of the employees of Minsk Civil Aviation Plant asked Aleksandr Lukashenko about the production of Geely cars in Belarus. Plans to produce up to 60,000 cars were mentioned. “We will manufacture them,” the head of state confirmed.
When asking the question, the employee mentioned advantages of these cars, which have earned a good reputation on the Belarusian market. The Geely cars are becoming a people’s car for a reason. Customers even have to wait a bit to buy one.
“Waiting for months to buy a car is already progress. Back in my day people had to wait for years to buy cars. This is a big plus. But it’s bad that you have to wait. This is on the one hand. On the other hand, I am glad that there is a demand for this car. There were doubts in the first months. But I was hoping that people would still buy this car in the end. It’s good, it’s made in Belarus. Despite all the issues (I often had to get involved in resolving the issues of repair and spare parts), we still keep the project under control and will promote this car,” the president said.
“We have agreed with the Chinese on the licensed production of our own cars. I think we have identified two brands. Therefore, we will have our own Belarusian-made car. Since we’ve started doing it, we will get to the point of producing our own car, which will be almost 100% Belarusian. A quality car,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
DISGRUNTLED COMPETITION. What did Lukashenko say in response to complaints about Belarusian buses?
One of those present asked Aleksandr Lukashenko about plans to reequip the country’s passenger vehicle fleet. Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out that mass transit companies constantly buy vehicles to serve needs of cities and regions. The process is particularly noticeable in the capital city. And the process will continue. About 150 buses and 50 trolleybuses will be replaced with new ones at the expense of the state budget soon. Especially since Belarusian companies make vehicles.
The head of state also mentioned the situation concerning buses of Belarusian make in St. Petersburg. Reports that they catch fire have appeared recently. It is worth noting that similar buses are used in Belarus and other regions of Russia but such problems have not been reported. What is the reason behind what is going on in St. Petersburg?
Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked: “Our buses are very popular. We cannot keep up with the demand. Competitors are starting to put pressure on us by mentioning that a bus in St. Petersburg caught fire or something… A government commission is looking into it now. I’ve sent them to find out what the problem is. Terrible competition but we will handle it. Those are good, quality buses.”
The president said: “They don’t catch fire in Belarus. What is the problem then? There are questions. We will fight for these markets by focusing on quality.”
The head of state noted as a joke: “It seems to me you will stop using the public transit system soon. Families in Minsk have two cars on the average. Some have three and four.”
Continuing the line of thought, Aleksandr Lukashenko mentioned the growing popularity of personal and public electric vehicles. The use of electricity for heating and other needs in residential houses is also becoming more popular. The head of state believes that the second nuclear power plant will be useful for Belarus in the future. The proposal to build the second nuclear power plant in the country’s east has already been mentioned by the president. The possibility is being looked into.
SPORT SMELLS. Why can the international Olympic movement fall apart?
Aleksandr Lukashenko was asked about the performance of Belarusian athletes during the 2nd CIS Games and whether the fear of competition in international sports was one of the reasons behind sanctions against Belarusian sport and athletes. “The West is afraid of competition, they show their attitude, they want us to kowtow to them. They are fighting for world domination. And it is just one part. Sport has long been the big politics. Therefore, they are pressing in all directions. We have held out and our guys perform in all sports and show good results,” the head of state said.
The president stated that mainly young athletes perform at the Games, who have yet to truly prove themselves in the future.
Aleksandr Lukashenko spoke about speculations claiming that performance of the athletes may drop due to the absence of international competitions. “Why should it drop? I very simply said: if you [Belarusian athletes] win against one country, Russia, we will be golden and we will pay you, will support you and so on. Russians are the main competitors for us. We have yet to reach their level. They are in the lead and they have two or three times the number of gold medals. This is why there are no problems for athletes. Go, train, and win.”
The president advised not to pay attention to the sanctions. This applies not only to sport: “We should not pay attention to this. Human minds work in intricate ways. If you stress over sanctions too much, then you don’t have to work. You can point to sanctions as the reason for underperformance, difficult life and so on. Will it make it easier for you?”
Aleksandr Lukashenko said that there are no problems with the training of athletes. “Sooner or later they will be forced to return us to the international arena,” he is convinced.
The president also mentioned the initiative to hold the BRICS Games, which he had also discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I supported him and praised him for initiating the BRICS competitions.” Members of this association – Brazil, Russia, South Africa, China, and India – are major world powers with huge populations.
“If only BRICS [goes ahead with competitions], Belarus will join the competitions right away. And many countries will join. The Olympic movement that exists now (with Bach at the helm) will fall apart. Because everyone is fighting for money, for advertising. The more viewers there are (one and a half billion each in India and China), the more advertising money an event will get. Therefore, they [the International Olympic Committee] are no fools either. They understand that a few more such steps will destroy this movement,” the head of state stressed.
KIDNAPPERS. What did the president want Ukraine and the West to look into?
An employee of Minsk National Airport, who came from Donbass, thanked Aleksandr Lukashenko on behalf of the residents of Donbass and especially children, for his help and support.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that Belarus will continue providing support and rehabilitation to children from Donbass.
“We made plans, we make plans, and we will make plans! And in addition to plans we will support the kiddies! You see: they come here for silence. It is wild for them not to hear explosions, not to see deaths, hunger. The West’s attempts to whip up world-scale hysteria around Putin and now around me, up to launching a criminal investigation, are simply ridiculous. I am absolutely not bothered by it. On the contrary, we understand that we should act like this. Children cannot be blamed for anything. Putin and I have agreed to finance these recuperation trips from the Union State budget. We have done this before and we will continue to do this despite criticism,” the president said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko advised ill-wishers to look into the real problem of Ukrainian children being smuggled to the West for illegal organ donations: “They bring children from Ukraine, dismember them and take organs out. They should deal with this problem.”
The head of state noted that in Belarus the recuperation program for children from Donbass is run by the charitable foundation of Aleksei Talai. “He is a true hero. They mainly bring people with disabilities. How not to help them? God sees it all. If we help people today, God will help us somehow. Therefore, we will support children,” the president said.
DON’T PLOW BUT WORK HARD. What experiment can revolutionize agriculture?
Once again Aleksandr Lukashenko spent the end of the week by focusing on agricultural matters. He inspected western parts of the country last time. This time he went to see eastern parts. In this case on foot. Although a traditional inspection from a helicopter was also part of the trip.
The head of state visited the Start TS farm in Orsha District where he examined the subsurface tillage technology in one of the fields. The president outlined this matter as a strategic one and instructed to study the experience in order to make final conclusions next year.
If we briefly describe the essence of the process, then we have to say that traditional tilling with a plow turns over the upper layer of soil. This does not happen during subsurface tillage. For instance, flat cutters are used instead of a plow. The technology is not new and has long been known in the world. This technique is especially effective in conditions of insufficient moisture, on soils subjected to wind erosion, and on sloping lands. The technique also keeps humus in the soil better. And, perhaps, the most interesting thing for farmers is the huge savings on fuel and equipment depreciation because much fewer operations are required in the field in comparison with the traditional approach.
But the technology requires high workplace culture, professionalism on the part of the farmer and the agronomist. In other words, it requires the discipline that Aleksandr Lukashenko keeps talking about all the time.
“We should do everything right. Harvest is the main thing. I think that we should try it. Let’s divide 50/50 between the new technology and traditional plowing,” the president suggested to the management of the farm. “We will try it here. In good agricultural enterprises, where experience is already available, subsurface tillage and sowing in a stubble field are a good option. But we need to approach this carefully, especially in the north and the east.”
If the approach produces good results, then it will also help resolve personnel shortage in agriculture. Fewer operations in the field not only save fuel and equipment’s wear and tear. They also require fewer people for the same volumes. “We will not get more people [in agriculture]. And we don’t need them. We have to keep these ones and pay them well. Because this is our strategy. We have to see how it works out across the oblast,” the president stated.
A strategic approach to everything
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that he visits the places where he can study and learn something new for the future. “This [subsurface tilling] is one of the prospects. Please suggest new technologies. We will come and look at them. Because this is our perspective and strategy,” he said.
A similar strategy is applied in other sectors of agriculture. For example, in animal husbandry where it has been decided to move the entire cattle herd to modern complexes in the next few years. “Cattle should be milked in complexes instead of these wild farms. Not to mention calves. This is a strategy in animal husbandry. The same goes for fattening, poultry farming, pig breeding sectors. This is all clear. We have long understood that these complexes are the future. But these are strategic matters,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.
The president has visited a major cattle fattening complex in Grodno Oblast lately. That enterprise has virtually no loss of cattle. The head of state wants underperforming agricultural enterprises to hand over their calves to such complexes. “If calves are born in an agricultural enterprise and it cannot keep them alive, then take them away in the name of the revolution and give them to the complex. And the complex will pay. It means money and a way out for a poor agricultural enterprise. This is why we need iron discipline. The loss of cattle is out of the question. Use any draconian methods,” the head of state told heads of oblast administrations and district ones.
During this working trip Aleksandr Lukashenko also gave a number of tactical instructions regarding the current harvest campaign. One of them concerns corn. This year’s harvest projections look good. Corn will allow compensating for poor harvest of headed cereals. The current priorities also include the harvesting of grass fodder, getting fields ready for sowing winter crops within an optimal timeframe. The president also reminded about the need to share harvesters to help those in need. “You definitely have to move to the north. You have to redeploy harvesters if necessary.”
Iron discipline
It has already been mentioned that the subsurface tilling technology demonstrated to the head of state is more economical in comparison with conventional plowing but the consequent care for the field requires observance of a number of requirements. Brest Oblast and Grodno Oblast can get good harvests despite unfavorable weather conditions after all.
“The main thing is technology. There is nothing surprising in Grodno Oblast. They just do everything technologically. They’re doing a great job. They planted on time, did maintenance and harvested on time. And they have a result. Everything must be done on time and according to technology. But it didn’t happen here [in eastern regions]. Yes, we’ve shaken them up a bit but not everywhere,” the Belarusian leader said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko urged to move in this direction and to start with personnel: “In order to make headway, we need to start with people. Iron discipline. Neither left nor right. Because if you get all the equipment, money, new systems but if people keep working like they have for centuries, you will get nowhere. Therefore, discipline is all-important! Explain this to people. An irresponsible and negligent worker will not be hired anywhere! Enough of it! We are out of easy money!”
“This is not a dictatorship, or serfdom. We just need to clench our teeth and endure. If we endure, we will live,” the head of state said.
“I often say: if you don’t want to go to war, then let’s work in the fields. Or this little war will come to us. In Ukraine, it all started with this before my eyes. Therefore, we must keep moving forward,” the head of state said.
Formula of support for agriculture
The money invested in the development of agriculture has to produce results and the state is ready to support and help those who work well. The development of the raw materials supply in the region was mentioned. The president is ready to make the necessary additional decisions in this regard, but it is important to have a development perspective – processing, product sales, and a network of stores. “We will provide you with a raw materials zone to help you process everything you produce and earn money on it. You need to set up your own stores. Russia is nearby,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
This approach must be applied not only to a particular farm but also across the country as a whole. The state is ready to lend resources, help with technologies, with organizing the process, but fuel, fertilizers must be bought. Buy as much as you want, everything is available. “We help the agribusiness in a big way. Subsidies, loans, money in advance… No other country helps their agricultural industries like that. But we need returns,” the Belarusian leader stressed.
The main thing is not even production volumes, as it was before. Selling at a profit is much more important. “We will help strategically,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The head of state also drew attention to another important aspect – manufacture of an exclusive product: “Simply turning milk into butter and making milk into powder, whey or something else? We are already past that. You need to come up with a product that people will queue to get. There are plenty of free niches. You just have to be proactive.”
“Therefore, if we see results, we will come and help you. Both with finances, machines and equipment, and everything else. Why not help those who work efficiently and effectively? That’s the only formula,” Aleksandr Lukashenko concluded.