Aleksandr Lukashenko partakes in nationwide subbotnik

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On 18 April President of the Republic of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko took part in the nationwide voluntary labor day subbotnik. He worked at the construction site of the children’s outpatient hospital in the Kamennaya Gorka District of Minsk.

Aleksandr Lukashenko’s team helped make sand-cement creed in the ground floor of the outpatient hospital.

The construction of the children’s outpatient hospital was launched in October 2012. The works are expected to be completed by the end of the year 2015. Specialists of the clinic will see 480 patients per day. There will be two pediatric wards, specialized medical aid departments and other facilities.

On 18 April Aleksandr Lukashenko talked to journalists.

The head of state commented on the recently passed Ordinance No. 3 “On preventing freeloading practices”.

The President stressed that the document against scroungers, not honest people who want to work and earn for the living.

According to the head of state, those who work and want to work are fully supportive of the document. “It is not fair when you work from morning till night to feed your family and see like someone drives Lexuses, BMWs and Mercedeses without paying any taxes into the state budget,” the President noted.

“Everyone should carry the corresponding load,” the head of state added.

According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, there is no point in worrying that the document will cover everyone, including vulnerable layers of the society. According to the President, those who are in a complex situation, especially people with disabilities, have access to certain benefits. “Those who work and bring up their children under 7 should not worry. You are not scroungers,” the President said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that they are currently monitoring the information, including in the mass media, and concerns about Ordinance No. 3.

“The Belarus President Administration will monitor the situation till the end of the year in order to prevent cases when people get undeservingly subjected to this burden,” the head of state said.

The President stressed that when submitting the ordinance for public consideration he took the sentiments of workers into account. “I do not say that the document is ideal. I do not even protect it. We are monitoring the situation. If we have made mistakes, we will correct them. We will tie up loose ends by the end of the year,” the head of state noted.

Aleksandr Lukashenko said that all people willing to work will have such an opportunity. “If you do not want to work, pay the average tax,” the President said.

“True scroungers should think that tomorrow we will make the next step to make them work,” the head of state added.

The President also told reporters about his plans regarding Victory Day celebrations.

“Probably, on 7-8 May the Belarusian delegation will visit Moscow to demonstrate our unity with the Russian people and other nations. Perhaps, we will lay wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as we usually do. On 8 May Moscow will host events within the framework of the EEU, CIS, CSTO; therefore I cannot but take part in them,” the Belarusian head state said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that he is going to attend the Victory Day parade in Minsk on 9 May.

The head of state explained that only the commander-in-chief can review the troops. “Minsk will host the parade similar to the Moscow one on 9 May,” he said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko said that he does not support the politicians who ambitiously refuse to attend the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of Victory Day in Moscow although they have promised to attend them before.

“Due to various reasons certain heads of state cannot attend Victory Day celebrations in Moscow. For example, if they have to attend similar celebrations in their countries. We will be glad to celebrate Victory Day with the people living in other countries. But it is not right if it is a move against Russia and not only against Russia, but also against the Soviet people and the peoples of Eastern Europe which we had liberated,” Aleksandr Lukashenko added.

Journalists asked whether Aleksandr Lukashenko had to do something for PR reasons.

The head of state noted that he is an advocate of sincere politics.

Aleksandr Lukashenko believes that a person should not do anything for merely PR reasons. He said that he is sometimes advised to do certain things. “I am told: you need to do it for the people to see what you are doing. I understand that but I say that I will do what I usually do because it is not good to do anything for PR reasons and to try to show that you are better than you actually are. It will make a difference for a month, six months or a year at most. But I have been the president for 20 years,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

“A person should not do the things he is not good at for PR reasons only,” Aleksandr Lukashenko believes.