“If we want to retain the country in this critical period, each of us should do their own thing. You do not need to do anything else. I do my own thing, you see it every day. The government and the National Bank were given just one instruction: the former should deal with the economy, the latter with finances. At this time, most of the decision-making will be in the government's hands. Therefore, take all decisions in collaboration with the government,” the head of state said addressing Pavel Kallaur, Chairman of the Board of the National Bank.
“Get together and make all necessary economic decisions - verified, reasonable, forward-looking. If you see that the situation in the economy, finances is getting worse, take a decision. We have enough gold and foreign exchange reserves. If someone has gone out of his/her head because of the ruble exchange rate, leave them alone,” the president added.
At the same time, Aleksandr Lukashenko gave his take on Russia's handling of this situation. “Look at the response of the Russian Federation - companies will not be able to keep their money on foreign accounts [because of the ban for Russian resident companies on crediting foreign currency to their accounts and deposits in foreign banks]. We should have foreseen such developments, Mr Golovchenko [Belarus' prime minister]. If a company has operations here, if it earns money here, it should not be allowed to take its dividends, profits and the like out of the country. This money should stay here, as it is earned by our people,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
“Take smart decisions, stop playing this market economy games, otherwise you will be brought to account in line with the laws of war time, dear friends,” the president said.
He emphasized that people supported the amendments to the Constitution in the referendum and these amendments provide, among other things, for the redistribution of powers, strengthening the responsibility of local authorities: “You saw the outcome of the referendum. Figures speak volumes. They are higher than at the presidential election [the share of voters who came to the polls to support the constitutional amendments is higher than the share of those who voted for Aleksandr Lukashenko at the 2020 presidential election]. What does this mean? Even those who did not want to change the situation in the country supported us. People feel what is happening better than we do. This is a signal to us. First of all, this is a signal to me to act. I suggested it and this suggestion was upheld. Now it is time to act.”
“Therefore, I earnestly ask you all. There is no emergency now. No aggravation. Keep farming the land, get married, give birth to children, eat, drink alcohol, but not too much as you should not lose your head. In other words, live an ordinary life. I will call you when I need you. We and the military are still in control of the situation. This is our sacred cause,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized.
He also recalled his unwavering demand to officials - to act and to drop empty talks, red tape and bureaucracy. “This is the only way for us to survive, because a war has been launched against us, and it is even worse than a hot war. It's hard in a hot war, people die, but everything is clear: it is you against the enemy. And here is a hybrid war in the media, in the economy, in finance,” the president noted.
Written by: belta.by
