Kopyl regional executive committee

The grain procurement targets must be met, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a conference to discuss the progress in the harvest campaign on 26 July, BelTA has learned.

"The government grain procurement targets must be achieved. And they will be. According to preliminary estimates, the grain of this year's harvest is good for high-quality bakery. Therefore, we need to procure as much grain as to meet the demand in full or even with a margin," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

We also need to lay the groundwork to achieve the strategic tasks in agriculture and to stock grain fodder for animal husbandry, taking into account the regimens to ensure a high level of productivity in milk and meat, the president noted.

Written by belta.by

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has signed Decree No. 253 “On simplified acceptance of construction projects”, BelTA learned from the press service of the head of state.

The document authorizes local executive and administrative bodies to accept single-family homes and non-residential buildings built without permits and the necessary paperwork (with the exception of those located in Minsk). Such buildings will not be considered unauthorized.

The decree will come into force on 1 September 2022 and will be valid till 1 January 2025. The document will legalize unauthorized buildings erected on the land plots granted to people before 1 September 2022.

Written by belta.by

The critical situation on the global food market is getting worse, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a conference to discuss the progress in the harvest campaign on 26 July, BelTA has learned.

According to the head of state, the critical situation in the world food market is only getting worse. "The footage of burning wheat fields set on fire by helicopters of our southern neighbor does not add optimism to anyone. But this is only the tip of the iceberg," the president said.

"The mindless sanctions on fertilizers and energy and the severance of transport links have put many countries on the verge of survival. Winter is coming. Those who will not be able to feed themselves are in for a cold and hungry winter," Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.

Written by belta.by

All nuclear weapons in the world should be destroyed, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said in an interview with Agence France-Presse (AFP) in Minsk on 21 July, BelTA has learned.

“I am absolutely opposed to nuclear weapons. They must be completely destroyed around the world. And the world will become a safer place then. Today, in addition to nuclear weapons, there are also biological weapons (you see what is happening), cyber weapons. You know, this is even worse than nuclear weapons. Therefore, we [Belarus] do not need nuclear weapons,” the head of state said.

At the same time, he drew attention to the fact that NATO members in Europe are training on aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons. “Well, why shouldn't we prepare for this? So we agreed that we will upgrade our aircraft so that they can carry nuclear weapons. But we can do it on our own. We have aircraft factories that are capable of re-equipping aircraft using Russian technologies. It is not difficult at all. As the military told me, it is a matter of a few months. Yet, as you have heard, Putin said that they could help us. And we will train. Once you, NATO members, Americans, stop doing this, we will not do it either. We do not need it,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

“We don't want to be a battlefield where you will clash with Russia. It has always been like that. World War I, World War II. It has always been like that. We don't want this,” the Belarusian leader added.

Written by belta.by

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has sent greetings to the people of the Kingdom of Belgium as the country celebrates National Day, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian leader.

The head of state noted that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. “The fruitful bilateral cooperation and close interaction in various sectors based on respect and assistance contributed to the formation of reliable contacts,” the message of congratulations reads.

Aleksandr Lukashenko expressed his gratitude to the Belgian side for humanitarian support and numerous charity initiatives to improve the health of Belarusian children affected by the aftermath of the Chernobyl accident.

“Today the world community is facing a number of serious threats. But I am convinced that no political contradictions can destroy the solid foundation of friendly relations. Belarus will continue to consistently advocate mutually respectful partnerships with your state at all levels,” the president stressed.

The Belarusian leader wished the people of Belgium a peaceful sky, solidarity, prosperity and confidence in the future.

Written by belta.by

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko raised the issue of Belarus' visa waiver program for citizens of Lithuania, Latvia and Poland as he met with Grodno Oblast Governor Vladimir Karanik in Minsk on 19 July, BelTA has learned.

"It's a peculiar issue. We have launched a visa-waiver program for citizens of Lithuania, Latvia and Poland. First of all, this is your area of responsibility as you lead the frontier region. What are your impressions, your point of view on this?” the head of state asked. “Do we continue with it? What is the reaction of people, both visitors from Lithuania, Latvia and Poland and our people? Most importantly, how do our people feel about it?"

"The governments of these countries have gone bananas. They are losing it. They are picking at children now. This is all you need to know about freedom of speech and human rights,” the Belarusian leader noted.

“But, still, I would like to know how our people react to this and what your point of view on the further use of the program is,” Aleksandr Lukashenko asked.

Belarus' visa-waiver program for citizens of the neighboring countries promotes interpersonal contacts, Grodno Oblast Governor Vladimir Karanik told the media after the meeting with the head of state.

According to the governor, the number of visa-waiver arrivals in the region from Lithuania and Poland is growing. "We don't see any problem with these visits," he said. “People communicate with their relatives. They do go shopping here. But this does not cause any shortages. People buying things here and taking them home, to their countries, does not cause an aggressive reaction from locals."

Vladimir Karanik is convinced that the visa-waiver program promotes interpersonal contacts: "Friendship and good relations between states begin with friendship and good relations between their citizens. For our part, we are interested in good-neighborly relations with all our neighbors and will continue to stimulate interpersonal contacts, which (after all, philosophy has not been canceled) will grow from quantity into quality. Foreigners who come to our country and see that this is a calm, clean, beautiful and very comfortable country will be able to convey this point of view to their politicians, and relations between our countries will begin to improve.

As BelTA reported earlier, Belarus waived visas for citizens of Lithuania, Latvia (including for people who have the status of a non-citizen of Latvia) for the period from 15 April till 31 December. On 1 July, Belarus introduced a visa-waiver program for citizens of Poland.

Written by minsk-region.gov.by

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko raised the issue of Belarus' visa waiver program for citizens of Lithuania, Latvia and Poland as he met with Grodno Oblast Governor Vladimir Karanik in Minsk on 19 July, BelTA has learned.

"It's a peculiar issue. We have launched a visa-waiver program for citizens of Lithuania, Latvia and Poland. First of all, this is your area of responsibility as you lead the frontier region. What are your impressions, your point of view on this?” the head of state asked. “Do we continue with it? What is the reaction of people, both visitors from Lithuania, Latvia and Poland and our people? Most importantly, how do our people feel about it?"

"The governments of these countries have gone bananas. They are losing it. They are picking at children now. This is all you need to know about freedom of speech and human rights. But, nevertheless, I wonder how our people react to this and what your point of view on the further use of the program is ,” Aleksandr Lukashenko asked.

As for the attacks on children, the president was most likely referring to the situation with the real harassment and persecution of representatives of the Riga Children's Academy of Radio and Television Academy KidsTV who came to Belarus for the Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk festival. The Belarusian head of state have them a brief interview.

After that, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State Security Service of Latvia started an inquiry into the trip of the young journalists to Belarus. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia Edgars Rinkevics went even further by saying that the academy might be closed. “Due to the gross disregard for the travel safety recommendations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and participation in the information warfare, the activities of such organizations are unacceptable and should be stopped,” he said.

In turn, the State Security Service of Latvia opened a treason probe against the children and their teachers and is checking whether their activities might present a threat to national security.

Written by belta.by

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has signed a law setting forth the new version of the Land Code, BelTA learned from the press service of the head of state.

The document allows providing individuals with land plots up to one hectare to build homes in rural areas. The document also allows land users to buy within five years land plots that they will have as of 1 September 2022 or to lease land plots for a period of 99 years on preferential terms (using a coefficient of 0.8 in Minsk and oblast capitals, and 0.5 elsewhere).

The document also has a clause on land plots that were provided to people on the housing waiting list. In line with the document, the period during which they will be limited in the power of disposition of such land plots and real estate located on them will be reduced from eight to five years.

In addition, the law seeks to sort out the most common problems in the field of land relations. In particular, the document allows dividing land plots provided for the construction of single-family homes and other buildings before the completion of construction, as well as changing the purpose and boundaries of such plots, provided they are bought into private ownership or leased for a period of 99 years and provided other requirements are met.

The law regulates issues related to land that was taken illegally and unauthorized construction. Regional executive committees will be entitled, taking into account the situation on the ground and economic sense, to determine where land plots can been provided without an auction. The document establishes the possibility of including lands unsuitable for other use into settlements or the formation of new rural settlements on such lands, including farms.

The law also strengthens the role of local authorities in regulating land relations, maintaining order and resolving land disputes.

Written by belta.by

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has convened a meeting to discuss the state of affairs in healthcare as well as postgraduate training of medical professionals, BelTA has learned.

The head of state wanted to know how the healthcare system is operating under the sanctions: “Our country has been subjected to the harshest sanctions. Probably, no other country in the world with similar capacities, size, economy, etc., has come under such sanctions. Therefore, we cannot say that these sanctions have no effect on the healthcare system. However, we are not complaining much, we are standing our ground, we are working. And we seem to be working well.”

The participants of the meeting were to consider a draft decree prepared by the Healthcare Ministry. The draft decree provides for the transition to a new form of postgraduate training of doctors – clinical residency.

“You know my attitude to any kind of innovations. Firstly, they should not break the existing system, if this system works. If the system is not efficient, it must be changed dramatically. If we believe that our healthcare system is fine, if we are proud of it, and if it proved resilient to the coronavirus pandemic, it means that the system is functioning well. Therefore, we are not going to break it,” the head of state emphasized at the beginning of the meeting.

In other words, it should not be about fundamental changes, but about improving the system of personnel training for medicine, Aleksandr Lukashenko clarified. “It is imperative that we keep improving it. If the proposals of the Healthcare Ministry seek to make the system better, then let's listen to what the minister has to say. He will try to persuade us that this is a step forward.”

“Secondly, any modifications should reflect the realities of the situation and should be relevant. Any change should be well-timed; we should bring it in when we realize that we have reached a deadlock and cannot move forward and need to take action. Has our healthcare reached such a stage that we need to improve the system through residency?” the head of state asked.

According to the president, the improvement of the healthcare sector is one of the priorities for the government. “Let's not belittle our achievements in healthcare. In recent years, the Belarusian healthcare system has made significant strides. A lot is being done in this field,” the Belarusian leader stated. According to him, in recent years many social facilities have been upgraded and built, including healthcare facilities, no matter how hard it has been. The head of state emphasized that budgetary funds earmarked for these purposes should be used smartly, frugally: “Let us upgrade this or that system, including healthcare, but let's not build palaces. We are not so rich as to build a palace of a hospital.”

At the same time, it is important to maintain a balance so as not to turn into a miser who pays twice, as a famous proverb goes. As an example, Aleksandr Lukashenko cited the construction of a compact and functional building of the medical center in Minsk District where civil servants and ordinary people can receive highly qualified medical care, as well as the transfer of the former building of the center to the city of Minsk.

“You need to come to your senses, as people say, draw in your horns and build only what you need. In fact, when a construction project is funded by the government, many chief physicians (they call the shots in the process) think: This is not my money, and not even that of the hospital; it is budgetary funds. However, if a lot of money is spent on construction projects, then how will we be able to raise salaries of medical workers, teachers, as well as pension benefits? Therefore, we need to be more frugal. We have built so many museums and other cultural facilities... all of them are funded by the budget. No one gives their own private funds, and even state-owned enterprises do not donate money to museums, theaters and cinemas, everything is financed by the budget. Therefore, we need to be more prudent,” the president noted.

However, this does not mean that there is no need to upgrade and improve healthcare facilities, the Belarusian leader stressed. “We should keep doing it. But we should not destroy something completely, but rather recondition, because they [the buildings housing healthcare facilities] are in a pretty good shape,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

It is also important that during upgrade projects, healthcare facilities at all levels are equipped with modern expensive equipment. “This is something that requires your utmost attention,” the head of state warned.

According to him, Belarus has a well-established system of medical care - from first-aid stations to national medical centers; cutting-edge methods of diagnostics and treatment are being actively introduced. “The system has been built, the medical education is good, medical students are trained. People come here even from China and other countries for education. This means that our education system is not bad, at least medical education. If there are any flaws, this is the fault of rectors," the head of state noted.

The medical education in Belarus is based on scientific advancements and a wealth of practical experience, Aleksandr Lukashenko stated. In recent years, much has been done in the field of practice-based professional training; simulation and smart technologies are being developed, and university clinics are operating. “In this regard, the training of qualified specialists remains a key task and it should meet the future needs of public healthcare,” the president noted.

Speaking about the proposed draft decree, the head of state stressed that innovations are, of course, needed, especially given the geopolitical transformations in the world and the sanctions. “We need to improve our own system, introduce the best and the most advanced solutions. Yet, we should not blindly adopt foreign standards,” the Belarusian leader said.

Written by belta.by

Europe does not want to fight, but it is completely under Washington's thumb today, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a ceremony to honor graduates of military schools and high-ranking officers, BelTA has learned.

“Of course, Europe does not want to fight. They are no fighters. But it is also clear that Europe does not decide anything today. It is completely under Washington's thumb. Therefore, we, guys, should no way lower our guard,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.

Written by belta.by