MINSK, 15 January (BelTA) – The huge untapped potential of Pripyat Polesie should be exploited fully, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said at a session to discuss the draft state program for the social and economic development and integrated natural resources management of Pripyat Polesie in 2009-2015 on 15 January, BelTA has learnt. The head of state pointed out that this territory is rich in resources, like lignite charcoal and slate coal, peat and decay ooze, sodium chloride and potassium salts, mineral and thermal water, various types of construction materials. These and other natural resources should serve the economy of the country and satisfy not only domestic needs, but also the demand on the foreign market. They should be used more actively to replace imported raw materials, be the major instrument to reduce the prime cost of domestic products thus raising their competitiveness, the President said. Apart from that, the ecosystem of the region which includes Europe’s largest forest and marshes complex and the Pripyat flood-plain is unique. The head of state believes that the region offers great opportunities for developing tourism and recreation. “The money is lying, as they say, underfoot, but we lose it because of our sluggishness”, the Belarusian leader said. Alexander Lukashenko pointed out to the necessity to boost local employment, optimize job opportunities to prevent the local residents from turning into migrant workers or the unemployed. Taking into consideration these factors and the serious local issues, as early as in September 2008 the government was commissioned with a task to develop a complex resource management program of the Pripyat Polesie. The draft state program for the social and economic development and integrated natural resources management of Pripyat Polesie in 2009-2015 was submitted to the President for consideration. The head of state noted that the development of the document exceeded the allotted time as the 2010 budget had already been approved, while the project is to run in 2009-2015. The major concern however is not the slow pace in the development of the program, but the way the program is developed. “It looks like the project team aimed to include as many expensive measures as possible, even taking some of them from other current programs,” the President said. “We are not going to discuss the industry or rural development programs here. We have already adopted them, and we will develop Polesie in line with these programs. The program on Polesie development should center around the events that concern only this territory,” the head of state said. “The crucial moment here is the trillions of Belarusian rubles. Where are you going to take them from?” the President addressed the developers of the program. Alexander Lukashenko stressed that the entire responsibility for the implementation of the program as well as for its financing would rest with the local authorities. “Plan it from the point of view what every resident of the region, every industrial company and the regional center can start with. We will help you. The program should be simple and clear,” the President said. In his words, a large part of Pripyat Polesie is idle today. “These are vast territories, and we do not get anything from them,” he said and emphasized that this land should be used to the maximum extent possible for the benefit of the country’s economy. Alexander Lukashenko paid attention to the fact that the quality should be the major criterion this year as the year of 2010 was announced the Year of Quality. “No one needs bad performance. If it is to be a facility, it and everything around it should be made properly. If we create something new, it should serve us at least a century ahead in terms of quality,” the Belarusian leader said. БЕЛТА
Written by belta.by
