Lukashenka: Why do you steal? You are faithful people!
See the state leader's address to the Belarusian nation and the government.
13.00-13.35. Alyaksandr Lukashenka answered few questions of MPs and senators.
Lukashenka speaks about the U.S. and the EU attitude to Belarus
The state leader didn’t mention political prisoners and the West’s demands to release them in his address for the first time.
According to Lukashenka, the USA and the EU do not block our country’s entrance to the WTO. According to the state leader, the U.S. agreed not to make this issue political.
“We may become the WTO member in the nearest future. Practically, we are already there,” Lukashenka said.
As for the Belarus-EU relations, he said "We have no choice, and there can’t be any: with Russia, or with the EU… We cannot exist without Russia, and Russia cannot throw Belarusians under its feet… It is counter-productive to demand that we should turn into an integral part of Russia ".
Lukashenka ordered Belarus to become cultural fashion icon in CIS
The President modestly ordered to raise the Belarusian culture to the new level, and to show the achievements during the hockey championship.
Alyaksandr Lukashenka: “To fill the international festivals with new contents, turning them into the cultural fashion icons at the territory of the CIS for the shortest possible term. The government and Minsk city executive committee must create an art-center of contemporary art upon consideration of the world and to hold a mass exhibition, which will become a part of the program of the Ice Hockey World Cup-2014”.
Lukashenka: I won’t let any revolutions happen, if they bomb – they’ll get beaten!
Alyaksandr Lukashenka promised that he wouldn’t allow any revolutions in our country. At the same time, says he, "let the opposition, I mean real opposition, exist. Let them struggle at the elections… But if they bomb – they will get beaten!"
Lukashenka boasts of 50th place in the UN rating
At the beginning of the Address to the Belarusian people and the National Assembly Lukashenka emphasized the unprecedented success of the Belarusian state.
Alyaksandr Lukashenka: "According to the rating of the United Nations, we got to the top 50 countries in the world on the Human Development Index. This is the best result among the CIS countries. The index which we do not define. "
According to the United Nations rating, Belarus is ranked 50th, being ahead of, for example, Panama and Brazil, where the economy develops very well, but there are still not enough social programs for the poor. Neighboring Lithuania and Latvia, often criticized by the Belarusian ideologists for the high prices and the collapse of the industry, have much better results than Belarus.
State leader: Frontier guards feared to stop a villain!
Alyaksandr Lukashenka said he would put the borders in order.
"We degraded to the situation when the frontier guards are afraid to stop a villain! We are trying to catch him inside the country, spending much money…” This shouldn’t happen anymore. “Frontier guards will use weapons in case of any disobedience! The border is not a hole!” says Lukashenka.
A Russian citizen broke through the Belarusian border from Poland by car this January. He is under trial in Brest now.
Lukashenka: We are not ready for gay marriages
The state leader spoke about gay marriages.
"Dear friends, don’t make us legalize gay marriages, - Alyaksandr Lukashenka says. – We won’t have that, the people won’t accept it, I will never let this happen as long as I am a President! We are not ready for gay marriages!
Lukashenka: officials to be cut in numbers by 13600
Speaking about the terms of increasing teachers’ salaries, he mentioned decrease of the number of officials. According to Alyaksandr Lukashenka, 13600 people will lose their jobs.
According to Lukashenka’s decree, the number of state officials should be cut by 25% by July 1.
Lukashenka: Why do you steal? You are faithful people!
Besides, Alyaksandr Lukashenka also spoke about the anti-corruption struggle.
"Don’t touch other people’s things, the fate will punish you! – Lukashenka says, - You are faithful people! You pray so obsessively! Why do you steal?"
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Lukashenka: people should see results of modernization by November 7
In his speech, Alyaksandr Lukashenka has underlined that modernization of Belarusian enterprises is not his fantasy.
"The people should see the results of modernization of wood processing plants!" says he.
According to Lukashenka, in order to win the "hard competition" it is necessary to update knowledge and technologies. "Updating is a new stage in our development. We should stick to three strong national projects - modernization, informatization, youth support."
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Lukashenka says 3 key words: speed, flexibility, creativity
The state leader is addressing the people and the parliament on Friday.
In the beginning of his speech, Alyaksandr Lukashenka has said that Belarus doesn't have many options in the current situation: it should either adapt to the changes that are taking place in the world, or to stay aside. He has underlined that our people need speed, flexibility and creativity.
"Only creativity can grant us a break-through to the group of leaders," says Lukashenka.
He has urged "not to relax as life can hit you in the head, and not just once".
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Radio Liberty and BelaPAN journalists detained
Aleh Hruzdzilovich covered a protest action held by the civil initiative "Against illegacy in courts and prosecution" in the Independence Square.
The journalist was detained when he took pictures of the building of the House of Representatives. The guards explained it was a regime object.
The police took him to the Maskouski district police department. They say they will deal with the case, informs Radio Liberty.
BelaPAN camera man Syarhei Satsyuk was also detained.
Euroradio reminds, Alyaksandr Lukashenka will make an annual address to the Belarusian people and the parliament in the House of Government today.
Police vans near the House of Government. Photo by Ales Piletski, Euroradio
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According to BELTA, the speech by the head of state will be broadcasted live by the Belarus One TV channel and the Belarus One channel of the Belarusian radio. The broadcast from the Oval Hall of the House of Government starts at 11:00. The televised version of the Address will be broadcasted by the Belarusian TV channels in the evening.
Top ranking officials, members of the government, heads of state administration agencies, major enterprises, representatives of the diplomatic corps, mass media have been invited to attend the event.
Last year, Alyaksandr Lukashenka made such address on May 8. It was also planned for April 19 first, but the state leader sent the text for revision.
