Meeting with Chairman of State Customs Committee Yuri Senko

    The State Customs Committee should improve performance in customs clearance stations, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at the working meeting with Chairman of the State Customs Committee Yuri Senko on 26 September.

    The participants of the meeting agreed that improving the country’s transit appeal is one of the tasks of the customs service. To do that, Belarus needs impeccable work of the customs clearance stations at the border and inside the country. The head of state wants all the traffic that goes through Belarus to experience no difficulties from the point of view of comfort, speed, and quality of service.

    The meeting focused on the current trends which have an impact on the operation of the Belarusian customs service. “I would like to know about concerning factors. I want to have full information about the services which we provide to the Russian Federation (thanks to our customs services Russia protects its interests in the western direction, and it relies on the customs bodies of Belarus) because I want to be in the know for the talk with the leadership of the Russian Federation,” the head of state noted.

    The President also asked about the situation at the border in connection with Russia’s embargo against a number of countries. “Are there any problems, difficulties? Firs of all, I would like to be informed about these issues,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.

    According to Yuri Senko, Belarus fulfils its functions when monitoring the movement of sanctioned goods. In fact, Belarusian customs bodies are protecting the Russian side from the illegal movement of these goods.

    The head of state was also briefed on the performance of the Belarusian customs service in 2016, the proposals of the committee to minimize sanctions in relation to business organizations. According to Yuri Senko, the customs service has fulfilled all the main performance indicators.

    During the meeting Aleksandr Lukashenko also pointed out he intended to take a closer look at the state of affairs in Belarus’ Customs. “Early next year we are going to analyze the situation in the customs service with regard to this year’s performance,” said the head of state. “You have worked long enough. In addition to simple impressions you must feel the true essence of the customs bodies. You know them perfectly well but working in a regional division differs from being at the helm of such a large agency.”