Aleksandr Lukashenko makes personnel appointments

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made a number of personnel decisions on 20 September.

The head of state appointed:

Viktor Denisenko Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Republic of Tajikistan;

Sergei Lukashevich Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to Federative Republic of Brazil;

Andrei Chernetsky Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Republic of Korea.

The President also approved the appointment of:

Vitaly Kulak as Chairman of the Kamenets District Executive Committee;

Vadim Kravchuk as Chairman of the Zhabinka District Executive Committee

Aleksandra Mikheyenko as Chairwoman of the Kostyukovichi District Executive Committee;

Yevgeny Semenychev as Head of the Administration of Vitebsk’s Pervomaisky District;

Vladislav Andreichenko as Director General of SOOO Mobile TeleSystems;

Valery Gromada as First Deputy Culture Minister;

Sergei Sarakach as Deputy Culture Minister;

Natalia Pavlyuchenko as First Deputy Labor and Social Protection Minister;

Yulia Berdnikova as Manager of the Social Security Fund of the Labor and Social Protection Ministry;

Aleksei Derbin as Director of the Nuclear Energy Department of the Energy Ministry;

Yekaterina Dubinskaya as Director of the publishing house Pedagogicheskaya Pressa [Pedagogical Press];

Nikolai Orlov as member of the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee;

Vladimir Babichev as member of the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee.

When appointing new ambassadors to Tajikistan, Brazil and the Republic of Korea, Aleksandr Lukashenko wanted to know the details of how the candidates for ambassadorships were selected. “You understand that we cannot make a mistake in appointing ambassadors,” the head of state told Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei.

The foreign minister, in turn, assured that all these people are absolutely reliable and competent; the candidates for ambassadors were thoroughly discussed at several rounds of meetings at various levels. The new ambassadors have also showed themselves well at their previous jobs.

Speaking about Tajikistan, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that it is not just an ally, it is also the country whose leader Emomali Rahmon is a friend of the Belarusian President. “We have practically no secrets from each other. My recent three-day visit was a testimony to that. Therefore, it will be easy for you to work there,” he said addressing Viktor Denisenko.

On the other hand, the President noted, there is a lot of room for growth in bilateral trade; everything is in place to expand cooperation with Tajikistan in a number of areas.

“The main thing for any ambassador is trade and economic cooperation. We have no political problems with Tajikistan, as well as with other countries where you will go,” the Belarusian leader said.

He also spoke about cooperation with Brazil: “A huge and powerful state. And we need to increase our presence there. At least little by little. I mean trade and economic relations. As to politics, you will see to what extent it will be possible.” Here the head of state also counts on Russia’s support. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must help through Russia and BRICS. Russians can help in many areas, especially in Brazil and especially now, when they are trying to assist us at many levels amidst the sanctions. It’s a difficult period for them, just like for us. But, as you can see, we are coping. I think we will handle it,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

“As for Korea, we really need to cooperate with them. Now it is necessary to team up with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to outline the main areas of our cooperation. They meet us halfway. They are interested in this huge platform in the center of Europe. Therefore, we need to maintain relations with them,” the Belarusian leader noted.

When appointing local executives, the head of state reminded about the organization of the referendum and stressed that municipal authorities will also help organize the process. “Everyone will have his or her functions but there will be one goal,” he said.

“Certainly, it will not be easy for heads of the district administrations and personnel of the power vertical. There is a referendum ahead of us. We will have to organize it, convince people although we will not put extra efforts into it. We will just tell the people what changes await us due to amendments to the Constitution so that we would not be accused of clinging wildly to power with hands that have gone blue as I often say, so that we would not be accused of remodeling the Constitution to meet our own interests. Nobody is going to remake anything for their own needs. We will organize the referendum as we’ve promised,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.

Once again Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out that government officials have to work with people: “If we want support from the population, from the Belarusian people, then we have to work with the people. These are the tasks.”

The President pointed out that agriculture would always be a priority task for local government executives. There are a lot of issues regarding this area right now, during the completion of the harvesting campaign, especially taking into account the current weather conditions, which have been complicated by rains. “We should not miss anything. You can see that autumn has brought a lot of problems, especially the rains (last week and this week will be rainy),” the head of state outlined the range of issues for the new heads.

The Belarusian leader is convinced that it is necessary to approach the end of the harvest season and to decide on the ways of processing and storing the harvest in a proper manner and on the basis of the peculiarities of the region. “We have to use corn to get the grain we need. If there is an opportunity and you see that corn silage is necessary, then we should make silage. We just have to figure out what each farm needs. The only thing we need is order and discipline. Nothing should be lost. Everything that has been grown needs to be harvested,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko.

"As for state procurement, there are no problems with any of the crops here. State procurement has been practically fulfilled. The state and people will be provided with grain in full,” the President stressed.