Aleksandr Lukashenko makes working trip to Minsk Oblast

The decision to revive the production of Slutsk belts in Belarus was the right one. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement as he visited the company Slutsk Belts in the town of Slutsk on 11 April.

Aleksandr Lukashenko was made familiar with the technology used to make belts as good as ancient Slutsk belts and souvenirs. The head of state was told that all the products the company makes are in demand.

The company has plans to expand the product range and make products for church.

“Nearly weight off my mind. I am convinced that we did the right thing by reviving these ancient belts. Although they are not cheap to make, it was worth it. It will stay part of history for centuries,” the head of state said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko was presented the first Slutsk belt the company has made, which is a replica of one of the original belts. The manufacturing process involved gilded threads and natural silk threads. The copy is 350cm long, 33.5cm wide, and weighs 500g. The belt will be delivered for storage to the Palace of Independence today.

Addressing the weavers, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted their job was a hard one. “It is good that women make these beautiful belts. The belts store the warmth, beauty and energy of our women,” said the head of state. “The salary must be below what you should earn because the work is so hard,” said the President.

“It is necessary to gradually start exporting, raising prices little by little and reach world prices. The state has invested huge resources into the enterprise and did so at not the best of times. The merchandise you make has to sell. Mobilize and find customers. It might be necessary to sell more things that are in demand”.

“For us not having to send our sons and husbands somewhere, we should calmly work and earn our living. The calmness starts with you, not me,” the President told the workers. “If our foundation is solid, not something our neighbors have, the neighbors who have forgotten about the people, have robbed everyone, have even increased prices, pensioners cannot live there already, I don’t know how they will survive…” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.

“Ukrainian people are willing to move into Belarus. Therefore, we will have to think about it. There is no way but to let some of our brothers and sisters in. We will see. We will take them in if necessary,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko. “But it would be better if things over there were calm and peaceful for these good people to live a calm life over there. It would be better for us and it would be a good thing for them”.

Aleksandr Lukashenko left a note in the distinguished visitors’ book of the SlutskBeltsHistoryMuseum. “It is symbolical that the second birth of the belts happened here, in Slutsk. It is a tribute to the craftsmen of the past and a vivid testimony of the talent of their descendants, whose mastery is as good as that of their glorified predecessors,” the note reads.

The head of state was also informed about the social and economic development of Minsk Oblast and Slutsk District.

The President then decided in favor of touring the meat factory and the flax factory although the two factories had not been part of the original itinerary.

Upon arriving at the flax factory, Aleksandr Lukashenko was extremely displeased with the total mismanagement he saw. The territory of the enterprise looked dirty, with raw materials piled up everywhere and equipment stuffed into one shed. “We reproach peasants for their inability to provide stock. But how do you keep this stock? Where do you store it? You haven’t even bothered to stock it properly. How can you be so careless about storing flax? Why don’t you process all of it? What are you going to do with losses?”

“Total chaos, no businesslike approach, I feel nobody cares,” the President remarked.

“Start criminal proceedings and report the progress to me,” the head of state told Chairman of the State Control Committee Alexander Yakobson. Aleksandr Lukashenko also gave instructions to appoint the Chairman of the Agriculture and Food Committee of the Minsk Oblast Executive Committee director of the company as of the next day.

“Start criminal proceedings and report the progress to me,” the head of state told Chairman of the State Control Committee Alexander Yakobson.

“Everything here should be in order by 1 September. Make it a normal flax factory,” the President said. He went on saying that the instruction applied not only to the Slutsk enterprise.

“What is all this mess? We didn’t have such mess even after the war!” the President was indignant.

After that Aleksandr Lukashenko went to see the second troubled enterprise – the Slutsk meat-packing factory. The head of state drew attention to the lack of order and the lack of proper conditions to store meat. Aleksandr Lukashenko toured the premises and had a look at some refrigerated rooms where carcasses are stored. “It is impossible to breathe here! Are you going to feed people with it? You store fresh meat next to rotting meat. You are better off giving it away for free,” the President said.

“Launch criminal proceedings here and straighten things out,” the head of state said.

“Naturally things must not be like that! I would like to find out whether anything like this happening anywhere else in Belarus,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

“Normal meat factories operate below their processing capacity. Take this meat and give it to them. Don’t allow this factory to slaughter any more cattle. One month to bring things into order! If you fail to clean up the act, you will work here yourself,” the President told Minsk Oblast Governor Semyon Shapiro.

“Put all the guilty ones into prison and make them reimburse the damage. Everything has to be processed. Let them eat everything that’s rotten. Don’t let anyone out!” added the President. “No more cattle can be allowed to be slaughtered here,” the head of state said.

Addressing the State Control Committee Chairman, Aleksandr Lukashenko warned that things must be brought into order at all enterprises by 1 August. “I am not going to visit such enterprises this summer. But if I see something like this after 1 August and I don’t like it, you know what will happen,” said the head of state. He added it applied to the prime minister and his subordinates as well as heads of enterprises.

Aleksandr Lukashenko added that the head of the Slutsk District administration can be excused by the fact that he had been appointed to this position only two months before.

“Bring things into order in the name of the revolution!” stressed the President.

Speaking with residents of the town of Slutsk later on, Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out that the government was working to gradually increase salaries for education and healthcare workers. “Everything depends on you. If we earn extra money, it will be sent to the state budget and the state budget will support you,” the head of state said.