Aleksandr Lukashenko makes personnel decisions
Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made several personnel decisions on 2 May.
The head of state appointed:
 | Nikolai Nikolayevich Borisevich | Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to Netherlands, Resident Representative of the Republic of Belarus in the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (concurrent accreditation) |
 | Stanislav Vladimirovich Chepurny | Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to Mongolia |
 | Igor Ivanovich Poluyan | Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to Ecuador |
 | Sergei Antonovich Chizhik | First Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus |
 | Sergei Yakovlevich Kilin | Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus |
 | Alexander Vladimirovich Kilchevsky | Chief Academic Secretary of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus |
 | Sergei Anatolyevich Rachkov | Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to Sudan (concurrent accreditation) |
 | Viktor Vasilyevich Kozintsev | Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to Chile with concurrent accreditation to Peru and the Eastern Republic of Urugu |
The President also approved the appointment of:
 | Gennady Ivanovich Grebnev | First Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee |
 | Sergei Petrovich Nevmerzhitsky | Deputy Chairman of the Minsk Oblast Executive Committee |
 | Oleg Ivanovich Chikida | Deputy Chairman of the Mogilev Oblast Executive Committee, Chairman of the Agriculture and Food Committee |
 | Sergei Alexandrovich Drozdovsky | Chairman of the Chausy District Executive Committee |
 | Alexander Ivanovich Zhuk | Rector of the Belarusian State Pedagogical University named after Maxim Tank |
 | Anna Nikolayevna Sender | Rector of the Brest State University named after A.S. Pushkin |
 | Vyacheslav Dmitriyevich Shilo | Deputy Healthcare Minister |
 | Sergei Anatolyevich Khilman | Deputy Information Minister |
 | Irina Vladimirovna Driga | First Deputy Culture Minister |
 | Iya Vitalyevna Malkina | First Deputy Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Minister |
 | Oleg Alekseyevich Buyanov | Director General of the public joint-stock company Klimovichi Plant of Alcoholic Beverages |
 | Vladimir Valentinovich Karpyak | Director General of the public joint-stock company Minsk Gear Works |
 | Stanislav Antonovich Iodis | Director General of the public joint-stock company Minsk Kristall |
 | Sergei Martinovich Gunko | Director General of the public joint-stock company Vityas |
 | Yelena Fyodorovna Gulevich | Head of the Economy and Branch Programs Department of the Permanent Committee of the Union State of Belarus and Russia |
Addressing the local authorities, Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed they would have to work in the difficult time. It is not only due to the present global economic situation which could not help but affect Belarus but also because of the lack of workplace discipline.
I would like you to perform your duties at the appropriate level. Perform your duties diligently, the head of state stressed. He added that it pertains to the utilities and agricultural sectors where the relevant commissions are working and are getting ready to present their reports.
“You know better than any commission what to do, how much it costs, who needs help, what projects to support,” the President noted.
Aleksandr Lukashenko underlined that chairpersons of the regional executive committees should act without a backward glance within their area. “Otherwise you will achieve nothing. I have already said that we do not need to be afraid of any shocks or anything else. They try to frighten us. There is only one fear and it is when companies stay idle and the economy does not work. So this all depends solely on us,” the head of state believes.
“You know better than me what to do in a certain situation. Turn up your sleeves and perform your duties. I am convinced you will have results. Especially in the utilities sector and agriculture,” the President noted.
“And, of course, people are our main asset. We work for the sake of the people. You should not forget it. I do not say you should not demand results from them. They all have their duties to perform: both farmers and workers. But if he accomplishes his duties, please pay him in time and respect the person,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
Speaking about the diplomatic corps, the President asked Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei’s opinion of the new appointments.
Vladimir Makei noted that all the new ambassadors are responsible and highly qualified people.
The minister agreed that ambassadors should be appointed to a country if there are plans to develop long-term relations with this country.
A good example is Ecuador. According to Vladimir Makei, earlier the Belarus-Ecuador relations were almost non-existent. Last year the trade between the two countries made up $28 million. The minister admitted that this is insignificant yet the two countries have a specific promising program. Ecuador's economy is similar to Venezuela's. Ecuadorian partners are willing to develop mutually beneficial joint projects with Belarus. We are ready to. Besides we will accredit our ambassador to Ecuador to several neighboring countries on concurrent,” said the Foreign Minister.
As for Mongolia, for the past two years the trade with that country has been steadily growing despite the bad international financial and economic situation. In addition, the two countries have promising programs to supply mining equipment, and also on cooperation in agriculture and the supply of agricultural machinery. The concrete work is already under way.
Speaking of the Netherlands, Vladimir Makei noted that the two countries traditionally have a good trade of more than $3 billion. Even without oil, oil products and potash fertilizers, the bilateral trade doubled this year. Besides, the Netherlands actively invests in Belarus. The Netherlands is also home to the headquarters of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, with which Belarus closely cooperates and was elected to its governing bodies last year.
"As for other countries, we constantly analyze our work overseas. I must frankly admit we do not always calculate all the options when appointing new ambassadors. But it is important to see the flaws and correct them in time,” said the Foreign Minister.
Addressing the management of the National Academy of Sciences, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that there is a need to bring order into the Academy and strengthen the presence of scientists in the production and economic sectors.
“We will not last long if we do not learn to work out strategies. Of course, there are crisis moments but we need our strategic course outlined. And we should not even try to do it without scientists. Scientists, better than anyone, know the objective laws of economic and production development, fundamental laws. It is very important. The Academy of Sciences should be maximally involved in the elaboration of a new five-year plan. The main thing is to determine objectively the main areas of our development, at least for the next five years. We should act according to what we can and should do,” the head of state said.
“I ask you to join this work, provide the government with recommendations and conclusions, resist any decisions you find wrong. It is important. I count on the Academy of Sciences in this issue,” the President stressed.