The head of state remarked that back in the day when state holidays were being chosen, the government decided to leave October Revolution Day in the calendar of festive dates. But Aleksandr Lukashenko was in favor of filling it with some meaning. Inaugurating landmark facilities ahead of such holidays as a gift to the nation was a Soviet custom. “The nation essentially presented gifts to itself. Well, I said: we – executives, officials – will create and build something together with the nation. And then the executives will present gifts to the nation.”
This tradition is still observed in sovereign Belarus. “I cannot say it has taken root by 100% but people are getting accustomed to it. You may have noticed that we try to inaugurate some facilities ahead of these celebrations. Mass media cover it well,” the Belarusian leader remarked.
Since Aleksandr Lukashenko personally initiated the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant back in the day, he came to Ostrovets District for the final opening of the nuclear power plant in order to make this gift to the people. He stressed that it is the most up-to-date and safest nuclear power plant. “It is a normal facility. I cannot say it is more dangerous than others. But you have to operate it responsibly,” he remarked.
The head of state noted that the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant had helped infuse this northwestern land with life among other things. The president recalled that the custom had started in previous years – top-ranking officials from Grodno primarily focused on territories around Grodno. “Everything was taken care of over there, including harvesting and sowing. Good people. They worked quite well. As I appointed Vladimir Stepanovich Karanik [Grodno Oblast governor], I told him: I kindly ask you to somehow look beyond Grodno in order to foster the development of other areas as well. He and my aide [President's Aide, Inspector for Grodno Oblast Yuri] Karayev are doing well and roam all over the oblast. And I see that development is in progress. While flying closer to the nuclear power plant, I was totally amazed and stunned. Well, I had never seen such neatness. Even in the West. Every bit of land is licked into shape. Crops have been sown beautifully. They know how to greet the president,” Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked with a bit of humor. “But farther on it didn't look so well. I can see it, too. But well done. It means they know how to do things. Well, and around Grodno. Certainly, there are very strong districts over there, they work well, I have no complaints about them because they earn money for themselves.”
But the most important thing is the Belarusian nuclear power plant. It represents the foundation for the future development of the country. “I understood that there are no prospects without clean energy, that we will be unable to develop without electricity,” the president said.
For instance, the head of state went to a community under construction in Novaya Okolitsa outside Minsk last week. Electric energy is used to heat those homes. “It is an amazing technology. A small convector is very convenient,” Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked.
Massive efforts are now being poured by the government into the development of the power grid in order to enable all the willing individuals to use electricity for heating their homes.
These days electricity is also necessary for the development of electric transport. Aleksandr Lukashenko mentioned that a deputy prime minister had promised to surprise him the day before. “I said: have you finally made an electric car? ‘Well, we will show it when you come'. This is why let's wait. He said it will happen soon, in December. But I know that they are making an electric car. The body will be like Geely's. It is a good one. People like it. As for electrobuses and the rest, electric trams, we already have them. They sell all over the world,” the head of state noted.
Expanding on the topic, Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that Belarus also develops space technologies, including in cooperation with Russia. Belarusian enterprises and specialists design satellites, help build space rockets. It is another new direction in addition to peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The same lineup includes the Belarusian National Biotechnology Corporation, which analogs exist only in a handful of countries.
In conclusion Aleksandr Lukashenko reminded that even Lithuanians, who criticize the Belarusian nuclear power plant, regret the shutting down of their own nuclear power plant back in the day. Nuclear energy is recognized as clean and environmentally friendly nowadays. For instance, Poland intends to build two nuclear power plants. “We've built [the Belarusian nuclear power plant]. A good power plant. It is the future. Naturally, this land will always be in the center of attention. It will develop,” the head of state said.
Written by belta.by
