Aleksandr Lukashenko makes new appointments 

    Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko made several personnel decisions on 30 June. The head of state appointed:

    Lilia AnanichInformation Minister
    Gennady Palchik  Chairman of the Higher Attestation Commission
     

    Piotr Kazakevich  

    Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus
    Andrei YermolovichAmbassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    Alexander PonomarevAmbassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Syrian Arab Republic 
    Anatoly StepusAmbassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Republic of Estonia
    Viktor ShikhAmbassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Commonwealth of Australia and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to New Zealand on concurrent
    Ilona Durasovamember of the Board of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus
    Roman GolovchenkoAmbassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on concurrent
    Dmitry KuptelAmbassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Republic of Kenya on concurrent

    The President also approved the appointment of:

    Vasily CherednikChairman of the Senno District Executive Committee
    Ivan NaumenkoChairman of the Zhlobin District Executive Committee
     
    Alexei YasonovChairman of the Korma District Executive Committee
    Alexander NavnykoChairman of the Petrikov District Executive Committee
    Viktor KoledaChairman of the Logoisk District Executive Committee
    Vladimir PiskizhevChairman of the Gorki District Executive Committee
    Alexander KulikFirst Deputy Forestry Minister
     
    Vadim BogushFirst Deputy Education Minister
    Dmitry KrutoyDeputy Economy Minister
    Valery KulakovskyFirst Deputy Justice Minister
    Yevgeny KovalenkoDeputy Justice Minister
    Alexei VasilievFirst Deputy Chairman of the State Property Committee
    Alexander KernozhitskyDeputy Head of the Finances and Budget Policy Department of the Union State Permanent Committee
    Fyodor Baleikomember of the Brest Oblast Executive Committee
    Sergei Feoktistovmember of the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee
    Vadim Sinyavskymember of the Grodno Oblast Executive Committee
    Alexander Kovalchukmember of the Mogilev Oblast Executive Committee

    “I strongly hope that you know all the drawbacks inside out and that you will organize the work of the ministry in the most effective way. Naturally, in this dramatic time you are taking on a heavy burden. It has never been easy in fact. It is not only a key position, it is also a highly responsible position, the President said as he appointed Lilia Ananich Information Minister.

    “I would really be glad if you could bring something new to the ministry after many years of work there. However, the most important thing is to make sure that the ministry works like a clock,” the head of state said.

    When appointing heads of scientific associations, Aleksandr Lukashenko said that is necessary to improve the quality of preparing of theses. “Make sure that everything is fair and decent and put the Higher Attestation Commission to rights,” the President said addressing Gennady Palchik.

    “The requirements should be tougher. It might be better to abandon Soviet practices when the commission had a more lenient approach to applicants in a bid to have more people with academic degrees,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed. “It is not our way. It is okay if there are many people with academic titles if they deserve these titles. If not, let it be none of them at all,” he added.

    The President appointed Piotr Kazakevich Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB). “I really hope that you will be a great help to the Chairman of the NASB and the eyes of the President and will not let people do things they are not supposed to do,” he noted.

    When appointing new ambassador, Aleksandr Lukashenko said that they should do their utmost to enhance economic cooperation between Belarus and the countries where they will work. The President stressed that he wants diplomats to make concrete proposals.

    The head of state emphasized that municipal authorities should work honestly. Aleksandr Lukashenko said that no manifestations of corruption will be tolerated in Belarus.

    In the run-up to Belarus’ Independence Day and the 70th anniversary of Belarus’ liberation from the Nazi invasion the head of state gave instructions to set in order memorials and other landmarks.