The work schedule of the Belarus president is always full of events. Aleksandr Lukashenko holds conferences and working meetings on the most topical matters concerning the country's development, regularly visits the regions, goes on foreign trips and welcomes foreign guests, talks to reporters, signs decrees and laws. And even if there are no public events, it does not mean that the head of state does not work. It must be said that even when he relaxes, for instance, by playing ice hockey or chopping firewood, Aleksandr Lukashenko happens to find the time to give yet another instruction. All the decisions must be prompted by life, he likes to say.

The President's Week project is intended for those, who want to keep up with the head of state, be up-to-date on the latest statements and decisions of the Belarusian leader.

Aleksandr Lukashenko's meeting with youth activists: how the Palace of Independence was built and what it could have been; why the country needs ideology while agitation and propaganda are not remnants of the past; whether robots will be able to replace humans, and the state of affairs in Belarusian car manufacturing.

Details of the president's negotiations with the Russian and Hungarian foreign ministers: what things Russian allies may have no doubts about and why Lukashenko is in favor of a strong European Union despite the sanctions; what may result from deliveries of long-range weapons to Ukraine and whether Belarus is ready to resist attempts to stir up trouble ahead of the forthcoming election campaigns.

A new format of construction of single-family houses: whether it is possible to become the owner of a countryside home without red tape and for a moderate sum and how Aleksandr Lukashenko responded to what he had seen.

The president's bold statements for mass media: where World War Three may begin, how the Middle East situation can be resolved; what the most dangerous thing for Ukraine is now and how it is possible to find a way out of the stalemate; whether the Belarusian government will continue tightening price controls, and when the healthcare system will be finally straightened out.

These and other matters are covered by the new episode of BelTA's special project President's Week.

MEETING OF GENERATIONS. What could the Palace of Independence have been like?

On 24 October Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko met with youth activists. This meeting had special symbolism: it took place in the run-up to the 105th anniversary of the All-Union Leninist Young Communist League (aka Komsomol) and the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Palace of Independence. Activists of the Belarusian Republican Pioneer Organization and the Belarusian Republican Youth Union BRSM, finalists of the Miss Belarus 2023 beauty contest, and veterans of the Komsomol movement were invited to participate in the conversation with the head of state. Participants of the event described it as a meeting of generations.

The president's meeting with the youth activists lasted for about 2.5 hours. Participants of the meeting could ask the questions they were interested in such as questions concerning public activities as a whole and Aleksandr Lukashenko's participation even before his presidency, prospects of development of enterprises and economy branches, in particular, automotive industry.

The youth activists brought symbolic gifts to the meeting with Aleksandr Lukashenko. One of them was the commemorative Digital Star, which was timed to the 10th anniversary of the Palace of Independence. Thanks to it the place will be digitized and included into the list of the country's cultural and historical legacy, BRSM representatives explained. The president also received a collection of modern badges, marks of distinction, and awards of the Belarusian Republican Pioneer Organization and the Belarusian Republican Youth Union BRSM.

Belarusian youth activists together with the head of state planted the Allee of Generations outside the Palace of Independence.

The Palace of Independence, glass buildings, and a new landmark
Part of the conversation covered the history of construction of the Palace of Independence, which has become a symbol of Belarusian sovereignty and has acquired its traditions over the course of ten years. Getting the palace designed and built by Belarusians and primarily out of Belarusian materials was the original idea.

Aleksandr Lukashenko himself was deeply involved in the construction of the Palace of Independence. For instance, a winter garden was planted there at his suggestion. “I love nature. We must appreciate it. Therefore, I demand that we should maintain order in the country and keep it clean. And I asked to design a so-called winter garden here,” the president said.

Upon Aleksandr Lukashenko's instruction the Palace of Independence has been offering public tours for organized groups for several years already.

However, the current look of the Palace of Independence could have been totally different if Aleksandr Lukashenko had not put his trust in architects and designers. “If I had to build another landmark project after this construction project, I would have done everything differently,” the head of state said.

In his words, he would use more architectural elements from the past, perhaps from the ancient history of Belarus. “I was persuaded that it should be a high-tech building,” the president said. “I was persuaded to go with a modern style. I would have built it differently.”

On the whole, various objects built according to the modern glass-based style gradually appear in Minsk. The president also has a say in the matter. The glass buildings are supposed to resemble those that exist in foreign countries and get admired by Belarusians. Although Aleksandr Lukashenko is not particularly impressed by “glassy” buildings and even skyscrapers in New York. He remarked that on the contrary, with the passage of time people come to like more the structures that were built in the past. The architecture of so-called Stalin's Empire style along Minsk's central avenues is an example of that.

Speaking about the next landmark to be built in Belarus, the president mentioned a large-scale exhibition complex near Minsk Ring Road. In terms of shape, it will be made in the form of a flying stork. People are supposed to go to the exhibition complex and feel pride for the country's achievements.

City block of Belarusian statehood

The president talked about future plans concerning the development of the territory around the Palace of Independence – the so-called Belarusian statehood quarter in the vicinity of the State Flag Square, Victory Park and the Museum of the Great Patriotic War.

The head of state stressed that there are no plans to build anything major in this area because an important recreational area for residents of the city is next to the palace. “We are not going to build anything big here. People in Minsk need to have space to breathe and rest. Minsk should not be overpopulated,” the president said. “I am not in favor of urban overload.”

At one time some wanted to privatize the land on the bank of the Svisloch River for housing development projects and to make money on it. But the head of state was categorically against such projects as he wants this space to remain a recreational area for citizens.

Upon the president's initiative the area around the Palace of Independence has also been filled with greenery and an apple orchard has been planted. Many trees, which had been decades old, were preserved during the construction of the palace, and this was one of the strict requirements of the head of state.

The Minsk city authorities have been instructed to think about a landscaping project for the purpose of creating comfortable and cozy space near the Palace of Independence. One of the possible options Aleksandr Lukashenko talked about is the construction of mock-ups of famous architectural objects of the country, for example, castles and museum complexes.

The future staff and the headquarters of the Belarusian People's Congress
The lack of plans to build around the Palace of Independence also applies to the building for accommodating the office of the Belarusian People's Congress. The president explained that a proposal to build an office for the Belarusian People's Congress next to the Supreme Court had been discussed earlier. Aleksandr Lukashenko did not support the idea.

“They talk a lot about the Belarusian People's Congress, criticizing me for an intention to build another residence for myself. We have not built anything additionally,” the president said. “When the Belarusian People's Congress starts working, its personnel will be made up of less than 30 people. No organization, no ministry has such an administrative staff. It includes nine people for now. It may rise up to 30 [people] later on. They need some place.”

“They offered me options near the Supreme Court (a totally small building). We do not need it now,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “I think nine people can be accommodated in the Palace of Independence, the Belarus President Administration. We have enough space for that. We are not going to build anything else here [in the Belarusian statehood quarter].”

Prospects of Belarus' IT industry and robots' ability to replace humans
Young employees of various enterprises also took part in the meeting with the president. A systems engineer with the Kobrin bread production plant of OAO Beresteisky Pekar wondered what the head of state thinks about how much advanced technologies can change agriculture and whether they will be able to replace humans in the future at all.

Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “I may be exceedingly conservative in this regard. Nothing will ever be able to replace a person.”

At the same time he remarked that artificial intelligence is coming into use and has already replaced people in many areas. It is impossible to do without information technologies these days. In particular, the president mentioned the military sector where robots and unmanned aerial vehicles already fight on battlefields without human input. “And they are very dangerous. We are trying to modernize, remodel our army once again. And we use the experience of [Russia's] special military operation [in Ukraine] among other things. It is impossible to do without IT industry,” he said.

The information technology industry develops along various avenues in Belarus. The head of state was the man behind the idea of setting up the Hi-Tech Park back in the day. Information technologies also developed fast at enterprises. For instance, the country already has driverless BelAZ trucks and tractors. They have been made possible thanks to information technologies.

Information technologies have also penetrated such a conservative industry as agriculture. There are dairy complexes in Belarus where milk maids have been replaced by robots and all the processes are controlled by one person in the control room.

“They are penetrating everything. But it is impossible to replace a human being, particularly in close contact with nature. Information technologies are necessary. But I don't think it is possible to replace people in this sphere. Whatever a machine may be, it cannot replicate human feelings and qualities,” the Belarusian leader added.

The president stressed that all the innovations relating to artificial intelligence, neural networks drastically change the society. They provide tools for creating fake news and threats in the information space among other things. “It is possible to put any venom in someone's mouth. I mean this thing heavily affects the world and mutual relations between people. We have to be very careful in this regard. We cannot avoid it,” the president said.

Cars of Belarusian make
An employee of the BelGee car factory asked the head of state about his view of the future of the country's automotive industry. In December 2023 BelGee will mark its 12th anniversary. The factory began as a small production facility employing just over 50 people. Today the enterprise is known all over the country and employs about 1,500 specialists. Geely cars are very popular not only in Belarus, but also abroad. The demand for them is constantly growing.

“We are a country of vehicle makers. We make vehicles that are the envy of any country: low-, medium- and large-capacity vehicles such as BelAZ trucks. MAZ offers medium-capacity vehicles,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

Apart from BelGee there are also plans to start manufacturing cars in Belarus together with the Chinese company FAW Group. The corporation's most famous brand is Hongqi cars (red banner in Chinese).

Manufacturing localization is the key aspect of production of cars of Belarusian make. “We need to produce parts for this car. We have everything necessary to do this. Some of our enterprises are underloaded,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “We have reached the corresponding agreement with China. If we need equipment, China will help us. We will gradually start producing our own cars. We have bought a license from them, which means we are going to produce BelGee. It will be even better than the one we already make. But we need a bit of time. We have an ambitious program: we need to provide our people with locally-manufactured cars. An imported car is still an imported car. A car may break down and you need parts and the rest. We need to produce our own parts. We are working in this direction,” the president said.

Another priority is the production of an electric car. Belarus has already accumulated certain experience in this area, and these practices should be developed further, Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “We have everything, except the battery,” he added.

“We will have our own car. This will be a basic car of good quality. We also keep attracting investors to produce cars here,” the head of state said.

Priorities on international markets
During the meeting it was noted that Belarus is an export-oriented state. Belarus pays special attention to geographically distant countries, in particular to the African market. “We are welcome there. Having freed themselves from the colonial yoke, they are now very afraid of being swallowed up again. That's why they are looking to us,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

As an example, the president cited cooperation with Equatorial Guinea. Only a couple of million people live here, but it is a very rich state. And next to it is Nigeria with a population of 200 million, and Belarus can enter this market in the future.

Moreover, Belarusians are ready not only to sell goods and technologies to African countries, but also to share competencies in a variety of fields. “I told them that we can teach their people how to do it. We will not come to you as colonialists. Now one delegation after another keep coming to Belarus. They are ready to pay for everything,” the head of state emphasized. “But we cannot print money like Americans, who would print money and give them a loan in order to sell their technologies. These are rich countries, but the main thing for them is independence and sovereignty. They don't see any danger from us.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that Belarus' goods and services are now in great demand on the Russian market. Sometimes there are not even enough resources to satisfy all the requests of partners. “Hence my strict requirement to the government, namely to move in now, to gain a foothold in the market. Time is of the essence. For now it works for us, but it will not always be that way,” the president said.

The presidential press pool, propaganda, and agitation

One of the youth activists asked the president about mass media and journalists of the presidential press pool. Aleksandr Lukashenko said he follows what journalists do, assesses their work, and sometimes criticizes them. “They are in the public eye. I respect them very much,” said the head of state.

He noted that a large number of reporters reassessed the events taking place around them after 2020. Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that mass media workers had found themselves at the forefront of the ongoing information warfare. “I can't go anywhere without them now. And they really help me convey my message, explain to you the policy that I'm trying to pursue,” he said.

The head of state also sees certain shortcomings in the work of journalists because he himself was professionally engaged in propaganda and counter-propaganda when he was an ideological worker. “I tell my journalists not to distance themselves from this. Yes, we are engaged in propaganda and agitation. It is natural. We promote the best of what we have. We encourage people to work harder and produce better results. We should have and we actually do have our own ideology. Ideological direction, ideological work,” the Belarusian leader emphasized. “There is no need to invent anything. Yes, propaganda and agitation. No one came up with anything better. They encouraged us to drop it in order to create a mess. But we had a good system.”

Speaking about ideology and public associations, in particular the BRSM Youth Union, the president warned against formalism, which was often the case in Soviet times. The organization should have real weight.

Lukashenko's recollections of Komsomol movement and the country's hardest years
The head of state was asked what holidays and traditions existed when he was a university student and took part in the student construction brigade movement. Aleksandr Lukashenko mentioned he had done land amelioration work as part of a student construction brigade: “It was a lot of experience. I know land amelioration well.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko also pointed out that the matter of land amelioration is topical nowadays. “We've allocated considerable sums this year. Within five years we will fully recover everything we've lost. And we will get more lands to expand farmlands. Agriculture develops,” the president stressed.

“Periods of my work in the real sector of the economy were very important,” Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked. He pointed out that he had always been attracted to nature.

The president also explained how he had started working in agriculture although he had majored in history first: “They didn't force me to go there. I wanted to work there. I still like working the land.”

“It was the most interesting time in my life,” the head of state shared. “I rest when I come into a village. It is nature. It is my cup of tea. I urge all of you to work in agriculture if you want to do a real job. Go to work in the countryside.”

During the meeting Komsomol veterans noted that the next year marks a landmark date - the 30th anniversary of the institution of the presidency in Belarus. They asked Aleksandr Lukashenko what was the most difficult thing for him as a young president in the first few years of the sovereign country.

"Those were the most difficult years. At a time of elections UNA-UNSO from Ukraine, thugs from Poland and from Russia would come here and create chaos in the streets. We had to fight them all the time. And they were funded by the West. This is why we had to fight all the time,” the president said. “It was always difficult. We always fought in these streets. We already knew that an election would always be followed by slaughter, especially in Minsk.”

The 1990s were also difficult in terms of economy. The country had little money. Belarusians manufactured good products, but there were problems with selling them.

“Maintaining independence was especially difficult. No one needed independent Belarus. In economy we were competitors. Everyone wanted to grab our manufacturing capabilities. In politics, we were competitors, too. Many had their eyes on us. But you need to be able to protect yourself. Now we have learned a little about this, and we already have something to protect our country with. It was more difficult then,” the Belarusian leader said.

But 2020 was the most difficult year for the state and for the people. It was the culmination of all these battles and fights, the head of state said. “If we had wavered then, we would not have been here. There would have been a war here. Because NATO troops were already ready to enter Belarus. They [opponents of the government] were expected to seize power if only for a day and invite NATO troops over here, which would mean a direct clash with Russia. A nuclear war. Therefore, time will pass, you will appreciate what we did in 2020,” the president said.

A patriotic center in the Brest Fortress
During the meeting with youth activists Aleksandr Lukashenko was told that the BRSM Youth Union intends to allocate funds to build a national patriotic education center for the youth in the Kobrin fortification of the Brest Fortress.

The BRSM leader Aleksandr Lukyanov said: “The work upon your instruction to raise funds to build the national patriotic center in the Brest Fortress is in full swing.”

“Well done, it's great that you have got involved, I'm keeping an eye on it,” noted Aleksandr Lukashenko.

Some of the money needed to build the patriotic education center has been raised by BRSM members, young Belarusians, and representatives of the general public. A considerable sum for this purpose was earned during a nationwide subbotnik (voluntary labor day) in spring. The approval of design specifications and estimates is in the final stage. The work at the construction site is supposed to begin in November.

Aleksandr Lukyanov said that members of student construction brigades, volunteers, and activists had worked hard this year and had managed to accumulate an impressive sum – about Br0.5 million. “I have been entrusted by the Komsomol with asking for your permission to spend the Br0.5 million on the construction of the national patriotic education center for the youth. And this will be our substantial contribution to the project as we need to ensure that the first stage of construction is completed by the Great Victory anniversary in 2025.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko responded: “It is your money. We will appreciate if you use it this way. This means that we will need to allocate less from the budget.”

A SIGNAL. Why was the international conference on security in Minsk important according to Aleksandr Lukashenko?
Thursday, 26 October was a very busy day for Aleksandr Lukashenko. The high-level international conference “Eurasian security: Reality and prospects in a transforming world” opened in Minsk that day. Multiple dignitaries and representatives of the expert community from over 30 countries turned up for the conference. The number included Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov and Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto. Aleksandr Lukashenko met with them in the Palace of Independence. But before that meeting the head of state met with Governor of Russia's Vologda Oblast Oleg Kuvshinnikov while the ministers and other participants of the plenary session of the conference were making their speeches.

Aleksandr Lukashenko sent an address to participants of the conference. The address mentioned Belarus' friendly and peaceful policy, encouraged everyone to have an open and constructive discussion about the matter of international security that worries literally every person on the globe.

The conference was supposed not only to give unbiased evaluations of the ongoing events but suggest effective measures for counteracting modern challenges and threats to the political leadership of Eurasian countries.

“This is why this format of interaction and communication has never been more in demand and will always remain relevant. I believe that the complicated task of preventing wars and armed conflicts should be resolved by people of good will in all countries and on all continents,” the Belarusian leader stressed. “Because guarantees of tranquility and sustainable development are created by our efforts to maintain peace, resolve emerging differences of opinion by diplomatic means. They also reduce the level of confrontation, hostility, and hatred.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko stated that the lack of trust feels particularly strongly now and has already resulted in catastrophic consequences in individual regions. This is why professional expert evaluations, on which managerial decisions being made depend on, are also so important.

The president thanked everyone, who had accepted the invitation to come to Belarus. He wished fruitful and successful work for the benefit of peace and progress to participants and guests of the conference. He also wished them pleasant impressions from their stay in the hospitable Belarusian land.

Aleksandr Lukashenko revisited the matter of the conference during a working trip to Minsk District the next day. When asked by reporters to comment on the conference and on the arrival of many Europeans to Minsk, he stated: “It's a signal. They want to hear what we have to say. They listen. They are forming some kind of agenda, especially Europeans. Europeans don't need war. They are under the pressure from the United States. But everything has its limit. You can only do it so much before everything collapses. That's why a lot of Europeans came here. Americans see all this. They listen, eavesdrop, and so on. This [the arrival of Europeans] suggests that they are looking for options. This is good.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko believes that sooner or later European countries will come to understand that they need to be closer to Russia. He recalled his idea of merging forces of the technologically advanced European Union with resource-rich Russia. The resulting alliance would be impossible to challenge. However, Americans cannot allow this to happen. “But they [European countries and their politicians] will come to realize this. They will be forced to do that by their own people. Look at Slovenia now. Hungary maintains a special stance now. They will come to us anyway. They will come to Russia because it is rich [in resources and minerals]. Both Africa and Russia are blessed with an abundance of resources. And the global wealth will increase due to the north – Russia – and due to Africa,” the Belarusian leader is convinced.

PRO-EU. Why is the president in favor of a strong European Union despite sanctions and pressure?

As he met with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto on 26 October, the Belarus president remarked that both the foreign minister and the prime minister of Hungary Viktor Orban get a lot of mass media coverage. “We see you often and hear you. Not only your statements, but also those by our good friend Mr. Orban,” he said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko touched upon the matter of Belarus' relations with the European Union as a whole: “For some reason the European Union believes that Belarus is its opponent. You know, we are not vindictive people. And this is despite the current turbulence in the EU and the sanctions that the European Union has imposed against us. You should know that the Belarusian president is an ardent supporter of preserving the European Union.”

“Not because I love the European Union very much but because the EU along with the USA, China, Russia, and to some extent India are strong pillars of the current word system. If this pillar is torn out of this system, it will be very bad for everyone,” the Belarusian leader explained.

Aleksandr Lukashenko once again stressed that as a European state and the geographical center of Europe Belarus wants the European Union to keep existing.

“Our positions may probably coincide in that we really want the European Union to be a powerful, strong, sovereign, and independent association. This is what we wish to see. This is something you should know. Despite all the nuances in relations and even the policy that the union is pursuing towards Belarus today. We are supporters of the union,” the head of state said.

Western sanctions
The president stated he expects full resolution of all the problems caused by Western sanctions next year. “I think that by and large we have overcome the effect of the sanctions. It is not the first time we have faced them. You know it well. Indeed, there are still some problems due to the need to reroute logistics first and foremost and there are some financial issues, issues with the transfer of payments and so on,” the head of state stated.

“But I think we will settle these problems, too. By and large we have already done it. But there are certain losses. I think we'll make up for them. We will get away from these problems next year,” the president said.

Cooperation with Hungary and a proposal for Prime Minister Orban
“As for our trade and economic relations, unfortunately, they have deteriorated. Not through our fault. You know the reasons. If Hungarians and the Hungarian leadership have any wishes to work in Belarus, we will be happy to host your enterprises and companies and will create the most favorable conditions for work,” the head of state said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko conveyed his best wishes to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. “It's difficult, almost impossible, for us to travel there now. But he can come over any time. We will talk about serious matters. I think it will be useful,” the president added.

The head of state also thanked the Hungarian side for cooperation in humanitarian matters. “Our football players, athletes have the opportunity to take part in competitions in Hungary, to play their home matches. As you can see, we find a way out. Putting pressure on athletes, especially Paralympians and the disabled is very wrong. It's good that Hungary understands this,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “You know our capabilities. If we can be useful to Hungary, we are ready to act in this direction. We are very grateful to you. We are grateful people. I think the time will come when we will be able to respond in kind to you for your good policy towards Belarus.”

ATACMS missiles for Ukraine and the threat of a full-blown war

During the meeting Aleksandr Lukashenko also made a few comments about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. “I am concerned that we may destroy the current system of world order, however bad it is and however much it is criticized. We are taking more and more steps (believe me, Peter, I am an experienced politician, I can see it, I took a serious look at it) towards a full-scale war with the use of the most lethal weapons,” he said.

“Americans have started supplying ATACMS missiles to Ukraine. They should understand that they are escalating the war. Russia will never put up with this. Neither will we. Therefore, we need to resist this in every possible way, if we do not want to find ourselves again in this hot cauldron of a terrible deadly war instead of a standoff,” the Belarusian leader stressed.

The European Union's peacemaking potential and faith in dialogue
“Our position on Ukraine is similar to that of Hungary. Belarus does not need the war, and neither do you. We are neighbors. The war is raging on in our house,” the head of state stressed.

"The European Union could have done a lot. Although I understand that the pressure on it from overseas is huge. But I am absolutely convinced that if Europeans wanted this, we could end the war and come to an agreement, make certain conclusions so that this does not happen again,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

In turn, Peter Szijjarto thanked Aleksandr Lukashenko for the opportunity to meet with the head of state. He stressed the need to maintain contacts and communication between both sides in order to settle the existing conflicts in the region as soon as possible.

“I believe in dialogue. We want to have peace in our neighborhood. There is a war going on in the neighborhood. We are not responsible for it but we are paying the price for it. Hungarians are also dying in this war. We don't want people to die,” the minister said. “We would like this war to end as soon as possible. That is why we are rushing the truce and ceasefire. I sincerely hope that there will be an opportunity to do so sooner rather than later. We know very well that without dialogue, without communication, this will never become possible. So I think cutting off the channels of communication is akin to rejecting hope for peace."

That is why, according to him, the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is so active in maintaining contacts with colleagues from Belarus. The heads of the foreign ministries have met repeatedly. Peter Szijjarto also thanked the Belarusian head of state for the continued cooperation: “Thank you, Mr. President, for the dialogue.”

NO GAMES. What policy will Belarus pursue in relations with Russia?

On 26 October Aleksandr Lukashenko also met with Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov.

The president confirmed that Belarus is a reliable ally of the Russian Federation and there can be no games in this matter. “Both Russia and Belarus are doing a lot to prevent Europe and the entire world from sliding towards the most dangerous line. You should know that we will continue pursuing this policy. We are reliable allies of the Russian Federation. Have no doubts about it, too. There can be no games here, since we understand that a lot is at stake, including the survival of our states and our peoples,” the president said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko thanked Sergey Lavrov for coming to Minsk to participate in the high-level international conference on Eurasian security. “It is important that representatives of many countries will hear your position, Russia's position, on many issues of European security,” the head of state emphasized.

In turn, Sergey Lavrov was grateful for the invitation to visit Belarus and for the country's initiative to host a conference on Eurasian security. “It has never been more relevant,” he was convinced.

Realization of plans in the Union State of Belarus and Russia

Belarus-Russia cooperation within the framework of the Union State of Belarus and Russia remains on track despite various kinds of external pressure. “As for trade, which is fundamental to our cooperation, you know that this year we will reach a record high level. Although Belarus is not a big country, it is among the top five trading partners of the huge, gigantic Russia. This speaks volumes,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.

“You can rest assured that we will maintain the sovereignty of Belarus and Russia when it comes to economy and other things. Even in the areas where we fell a little behind hoping for honest cooperation with ‘advanced' Europe and the collective West. We will make up for this. It will not take much time. We have mapped out certain steps. Microelectronics and other areas are a case in point,” the president was convinced.

Readiness for any scenarios ahead of elections
During the meeting with Sergey Lavrov Aleksandr Lukashenko also mentioned the forthcoming large-scale election campaigns in Belarus. He mentioned them in the context of maintaining allied relations with Russia. “As for Belarus-Russia relations, there is nothing to talk about. We act as a single whole. You can rest assured that Belarus will be committed to this principle, no matter how hard they will try to obstruct us in the run-up to the parliamentary elections,” the Belarusian leader assured.

“We will have it in February [the single voting day when deputies of various levels will be elected]. We are already seeing what they [opponents] are up to. There will also be a presidential election a year after the parliamentary elections. We will have such a difficult period. And the Westerners are preparing for it. We are fully aware of it and are ready for any scenarios,” Aleksandr Lukashenko added.

FLAGSHIP PROJECTS. Ways to improve Belarus' cooperation with Russia's Vologda Oblast

On 26 October the president met with Governor of Russia's Vologda Oblast Oleg Kuvshinnikov. It was not the governor's first visit to Belarus. Ambitious plans were sketched out back in 2018 to expand cooperation in many areas. This is why now is the time to review progress, identify problems and thrash out the next steps.

Aleksandr Lukashenko listed key sectors that can drive the cooperation forward and suggested choosing up to three joint projects in each of these segments. Those are mechanical engineering, metallurgy, agriculture, including animal husbandry, crop farming, processing of agricultural products, forest husbandry.

“And we should instruct our governments to inform us about results of the joint work every half a year,” Aleksandr Lukashenko added. He emphasized the need to oversee the realization of the agreements.

The president noted that in line with the agreements with President of Russia Vladimir Putin, the Belarus government had received a very clear instruction - to step up efforts to expand manufacturing cooperation with Russian regions. This work is already producing results. In 2022 trade between Belarus and Vologda Oblast hit a record high of $680 million, up by almost 40% from 2021. Belarusian merchandise export almost doubled.

But there is one downside: the reduction of trade dynamics in January-August 2023. “As experts told me, this happened due to an 8.5% decrease in your supplies of certain metal products and compound mineral fertilizers due to the price factor and due to changes in the U.S. dollar exchange rate. But, of course, this situation cannot be attributed only to fluctuations in the foreign exchange market. First of all, we need to expand the range of supplies, deepen cooperation, and keep an eye at the government level on projects that are underway,” the president said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko also drew attention to the matter of parallel manufacturing. For instance, industrial enterprises of the two countries should think about the advisability of setting up a new manufacturing facility in Cherepovets or some other place in order to make cast iron products for Belarusian and Russian mechanical engineering enterprises. “It is an unclear matter. We need a thorough expert evaluation. If we are a common market and strive for one, then we should make what we make and satisfy our common market if we can. The same applies to Russia. We don't need parallel manufacturing now. We have to develop and deepen what we have,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

On the whole, the president mentioned Belarus' readiness to advance cooperation in a broad range of avenues, including manufacturing cooperation, shipments of various goods and various machines, vehicles, and equipment to the Russian region, the organization of training of specialists over there, and readiness to share the experience of scientific projects. “In turn, you can count on intensive work. We will sacredly honor everything we will agree on,” Aleksandr Lukashenko assured.

NEW WAYS TO BUILD. Why did Aleksandr Lukashenko visit a cottage community outside Minsk?

On 27 October Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko went on a working trip to Minsk District where he was made familiar with approaches to single-family housing construction using industrial methods. The key message was formulated: everything should be done without foot dragging and excessive costs.

Aleksandr Lukashenko went to Novaya Okolitsa, a low-rise residential neighborhood under construction. “The topic of our today's event is housing construction without red tape and foot dragging,” the president said to begin his working trip.

Aleksandr Lukashenko heard out a report and was made familiar with various house designs, which are being built in the housing estate. He gave the necessary instructions, talked to reporters, and answered a number of relevant questions.

A bit of background
The head of state reminded that people willing to build a house for themselves had repeatedly complained about red tape and the need to obtain all kinds of approvals and permits from officials. The first step had been taken earlier - private developers were allowed to build any way they want. This is how they used to build one-storey houses in rural settlements, and people “did not ask anyone how to build”.

“That is why the decision was made: if you want to build, you are welcome to build. You do not have to obtain any permissions at all. The only requirement is that the house should look more or less normal and should fit in with the rest of the village. If you want to consult with the police, the Emergencies Ministry, architects, then you are welcome to do so. It is up to you. But you are responsible for what you build,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “Nothing has collapsed yet. People continue building houses. However there are still some talks, complaints. They are right to some extent. Probably, we still have not done something.”

At the beginning of the year Deputy Prime Minister Anatoly Sivak was tasked with organizing the construction of more than 200 houses on nearly 50 hectares in Novaya Okolitsa. The project is already under way, some of the houses have been built. Aleksandr Lukashenko personally came to evaluate the work.

“I told him to go ahead and build them the way he believes right. I only asked him to use concrete, not asphalt [for road construction], as it will last forever. There is no need for any excesses here. The town should be built here in a smart way. The way people need it. Without unnecessary expenses,” the president said. “You have to approach everything wisely. Such an approach can save millions of rubles.”

The head of state paid special attention to the landscaping of the grounds surrounding the houses, along roads and interchanges. The president gave instructions to practice economy in everything. As for the area near the houses, it is up to the residents to keep it as they like.

Offers and prices of state-owned real estate developers
State-owned enterprises almost never build single-family houses. The Novaya Okolitsa neighborhood project is an attempt to rectify the situation and make housing construction cheaper for people. “This settlement is the first stage. 12 of our organizations are building houses here. We are also testing certain technical solutions here,” Anatoly Sivak said.

For example, the project will envisage one-way traffic inside the community (it will save money thanks to narrower roads) while cargo and technical transport will move only along the perimeter of the area. The houses already have water and sewerage systems, electric heating. The prices start at Br2,400 per square meter. “This is a finished house people can move in already,” the deputy prime minister said.

“The instruction was to make different designs of houses for people to choose from,” the president said.

“There are wooden houses. Houses made of wooden framing, bricks, aerated cement blocks,” Anatoly Sivak said.

“As many as 19 types of residential houses are under construction but the product choice will grow larger. Our manufacturers offer new configurations, new sizes. The smallest size is 70 square meters. The largest one is 140 square meters,” Architecture and Construction Minister Ruslan Parkhamovich clarified.

During the implementation of the construction project a number of bureaucratic bottlenecks, which had increased the final cost of the house, were revealed. The head of state was offered to amend the existing regulations to remove these shortcomings. The government also suggested taking stimulating measures, including the expansion of preferential lending to get people interested in buying a house in rural areas.

“Submit them so that we could adopt these regulations and start working in the near future,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

Belarus is currently developing the housing construction concept for the next five-year term. Anatoly Sivak believes that the existing infrastructure needs to be used more widely. “Today we still have houses that need major repairs. They are almost unusable. We may demolish a five-storey old building, leave the foundation, and put a new house on it,” he suggested.

“Submit proposals. Consider them already accepted. This is the economical approach I am talking about,” the head of state said.

The general layout for developing the Novaya Okolitsa residential area with the total area of 210 hectares by adding new lands to the village of Okolitsa is under development. The first stage of the project envisages the construction of 228 single-family houses with the necessary engineering and transport infrastructure on the area of 46 hectares. Parallel design and construction are in progress of the first two stages, which include 65 single-family houses and the engineering and transport infrastructure.

The president's evaluation
Aleksandr Lukashenko examined several types of the houses. “A good house. I took a look at the layout: three to four rooms. Three bedrooms. And separately a kitchen merged with the sitting room. Excellent designs. Ideal for this land,” the president praised what he had seen.

“It'll do. If you say that it is normal, no red tape, then you should build them this way. So that you won't run around convincing anyone. You come, come to terms with the consumer, and build the house. And the price is set. Are you turning a profit?” the head of state asked real estate developers.

The president was told that the houses had been built with a 5% profit margin.

“If you try really hard and cut down on costs, can you get 7%?” wondered Aleksandr Lukashenko.

The head of state was assured that the relevant work was already in progress.

At the same time the president cautioned: “Don't rip off people. We keep prices in check. But we don't want you to operate at a loss. The most important thing for us is good additional earnings for you. A small profit margin.”

Getting familiar with the housing estate, the president once again gave instructions to get rid of red tape in housing construction. “We will give it more effort. Submit proposals. You know better where things should be pruned so that you don't have to run around begging. And then things will be good for you and for the people,” he stressed.

SKIMMED PRICES. One year after the president's instruction to keep prices in check
It has been a year since the memorable government conference hosted by Aleksandr Lukashenko where he launched a war on prices. The relevant presidential decree was passed. Reporters asked about the president's opinion of the current state of affairs.

“In the near future (this year for sure, it will depend on my business trips) we will hold a meeting to discuss this situation. We will do it not in general terms, but will go into specifics. We will review what the government has done over this time to keep prices under control. By and large, we were right. It has turned out that retail chains and even many manufacturers have made a great deal of excessive profits and we should deal with it. Three days ago I had a tough conversation with [First Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai] Snopkov about this issue; he is responsible for this area of work in the government. And he agreed that our manufacturers and retailers still have a lot of excessive fat we can skim off. We are able to keep prices at the desired level. There is still work to do, but we have done the right thing,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko.

The head of state noted that the inflation rate in Belarus is now just over 3%, lower than expected. “Maybe it will grow a little bit by the new year, but it will not be 9%. We have halved the rise in prices, reduced inflation. Thus, we have done the right thing,” the president is convinced.

At the same time, Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized that prices should not be dictated by the government. A general procedure is necessary. In other words, manufacturers and retailers should not be confused about the pricing process. “This should not happen. Snopkov and his team will be responsible for this, I have told him about it. They should come up with a mechanism enabling entrepreneurs to set prices by themselves without inflating them. We will talk about it. But this mechanism is constantly being adjusted,” the president concluded.

HOT FOR EVERYONE. Where can WW3 begin according to Aleksandr Lukashenko?

While talking to reporters, the president made a few comments about the Middle East situation. “It's a disaster. The Middle East has always been a theater of war. If the situation explodes, it will be bad for everyone. It will affect us and all the countries further north. Only God knows how the situation will develop there. It's the Americunts who are stirring things up there now,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

According to the head of state, it was the American side that told the Israelis not to advance into the Gaza Strip until the United States deploys its forces in the region. “There are a lot of such nuances. But the United States calls the shots there. Once they tell Israel to advance, they will,” the Belarusian leader said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko believes that the USA is mudding waters to keep its dominant position in the world. For this purpose they help start various kinds of conflicts. “That's their politics. The whole Europe is preoccupied with Ukraine and does not care about the Middle East or other issues. The Middle East escalation will affect the whole Arab world, and Africa. You know the situation in the East - Taiwan and so on. They seek to organize something there as well. They need to stir up trouble across the globe,” the president said.

Speaking about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Aleksandr Lukashenko said he sees one way out: “It is necessary to establish a Palestinian state. Just as the decision made in 1947 suggested. They need their own state. Not the Palestinian autonomy. Palestinians should have their own state, and the Israelis have their own. It is important to sit down and come to an agreement once and for all.”

The head of state stressed that neither the Israeli nation nor the Palestinian one need a conflict or a war. But the escalation of the confrontation may be dangerous for the entire world. Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “There could be a third world war. It can start from there. In what way? If they [Israel and their allies] start a war with Iran. If Americans bring their strike air groups, aircraft carriers and start bombing some countries, especially Iran, from the Mediterranean Sea (although I don't think they are crazy), Iran will respond. The aircraft carrier may not survive in the Mediterranean. It may sink. It would be a catastrophe. Therefore, there are a lot of things that indicate that a serious conflict can break out. Maybe a war with the use of the most serious weapons.”

“The situation is very dangerous. Israel is a nuclear country. It has nuclear weapons that it can use. Iran is a powerful country [including in military terms]. If the situation escalates, this will affect everyone,” the Belarusian leader said.

According to the head of state, other regional conflicts may flare up. The whole planet may go up in flames.

Aleksandr Lukashenko also commented on speculations claiming that Russia and Belarus may benefit from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict because it overshadows the situation in Ukraine. Essentially, the president noted that there is nothing to feel joy about because people are dying and nobody needs a profit at such a cost. Moreover, the train of thought may find other beneficiaries of the Middle East situation. For instance, within the framework of the pre-election campaign in the USA. “Isn't it beneficial for the USA? They are having elections. They have screwed up by the numbers in Ukraine. Both elections and Ukraine do not work. They have to move to another field somehow,” he noted.

As for the internal political situation in Israel, the president said: “Look at what is happening there. There is actually a full-blown slaughter inside the country. This poor [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu has been a target of attacks for months and years. Criminal cases have been opened against him. This mess is beneficial judging by the logic we are accused of following. It is probably beneficial. Can we reason like that? Yes, we can.”

STALEMATE. What is the most dangerous thing for Ukraine right now?
Aleksandr Lukashenko underlined the need to start peace talks to resolve the conflict in Ukraine as soon as possible. “As you can see, Ukrainians are now flapping about. Even if Americans continue to help them (they are already hinting that help has a limit), I think there are a lot of smart people in Ukraine. It is necessary to sit down at the negotiating table and come to an agreement. As I once said: there is no need to lay down preconditions. The main thing is to stop combat operations. From 00:00 no troops can move, no one can shoot, no one can redeploy reserves or restore lines of communications. We stop and negotiate. Negotiations about what? About land and peace,” the president said.

He noted that Ukrainians, for example, will raise questions about Eastern Ukraine, Donbass, and Crimea. But this must be discussed at the negotiating table. No one needs to fight. People must not die.

“The most dangerous thing for Ukraine is that they may run out of fighters. We see what is happening there. In the beginning, it was these, you know, ideologically minded, true Nazis who fought. Where are they now? Practically all of them died or got crippled,” the president said.

Now, Aleksandr Lukashenko stated, they are actually grabbing people on the streets in Ukraine and sending them to the front untrained. “They say that they assign them to assault units and send them against Russians, who are armed to the teeth,” he said. “People are fleeing Ukraine. No one wants to fight.”

The president stressed that there are enough problems on both sides, and in general, the situation is now a stalemate - no one can do anything and somehow seriously strengthen and move forward their positions. “They stand head-on, entrenched. People are dying,” he said.

WITHOUT A GRUDGE. Is Aleksandr Lukashenko ready to trust the West once again and shake hands?

The head of state was asked whether he was ready to sit down at the negotiating table with the West, shake hands and, most importantly, believe in the sincerity of intentions of those who have at least once used the Minsk agreements as a ploy to buy time and prepare Ukraine for war.

“I am not going to believe anyone. If it was about me personally, I would believe. But it is about some 10 million people [who live in Belarus], their future, their children, and so on. How can I believe? Give me facts, as I often say. I need to get my hands on substantial evidence before I make decisions. I don't believe promises, I believe actions. I never refuse to shake hands. I welcome all those, who come with peaceful intentions and do not seek to harm us. Please, go ahead, we are ready to work in this direction,” the Belarusian leader said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled that at the solemn assembly in honor of Independence Day, he gave instructions to the government to reach out to the other side, but this move was met with silence: “I thought, okay, we would wait till the elections [the parliamentary elections in Poland that took place on 15 October 2023]. Well, the elections are over and we are still waiting for their proposals.”

“Yet, it is [unacceptable] to coerce us, to put pressure on us, to demand that we release those whom they call political prisoners, and to criticize our system. Your elections showed what your system is about. These crazy people turned the referendum into an embarrassment as they asked people whether to demolish the wall [on Poland's border with Belarus] or not,” the president noted.

The head of state stressed that Belarus is intent on seeking peace with all neighbors and other countries and does not want to fight: “We shake hands and will shake hands with those, who wants to live with us in peace. We don't want to fight. You know how we can respond. We have never been able to respond as strongly. But we don't want to fight. Because this response will cost us dearly. One has to understand that people will die on both sides if it comes to a fight. This is why we don't want to fight. We want to live in peace.”

LEFT IN THE DUST. What did Aleksandr Lukashenko praise Poles for?
Aleksandr Lukashenko praised the people of Poland who showed their will at the parliamentary elections held on 15 October: “Poles did really well. I didn't expect this outcome. They just refused to play this game with piss-poor PiS [the ruling Law and Justice Party that lost the majority in parliament].”

“I applaud the people of Poland. Well done! They left it in the dust. They actually brought the opposition to power. Poland will not be the same anymore. They may not be our people there [in power]. They are not yet willing to talk to us, but these are already different people. Poles showed them: if you do not listen to us, then we will vote you out. Well done, Poles!” the head of state said.

According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, Belarus always extends a helping hand to its neighbors and never throws stones in their direction: “Our neighbors are given us by God and we should live peacefully with them.”

At the same time the president described the treatment of migrants by neighboring countries as incomprehensible. “Europe has already realized that there was a criminal network smuggling migrants to Germany. It was not Lukashenko who pushed those migrants there, but it was them who made money on those migrants,” he remarked.

The head of state also drew attention to the situation in Lithuania and Latvia: “Lithuanians, Latvians are good people. They just have a bad luck with their governments. But it is their problem. I think Lithuanians, Latvians will also solve this problem at the elections in the nearest future.”

DEADLY BORDER. What footage does Aleksandr Lukashenko want the “civilized” world to see?

While talking to the president, reporters noted that bodies of refugees are dropped into Belarus from the territory of neighboring countries almost every day. Belarusian specialists conduct the necessary investigations and try to establish the identity of the victims.

“They dump corpses not just daily, but several times a day. Some corpses are badly mutilated. I asked the press secretary: there is no need to conceal anything. Show what they are doing: people with broken legs or even dead bodies lie right there at the border. They open a wicket gate and dump a body here. We have these images. We need to show the ‘civilized' world what a ‘Garden of Eden' they have there,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized. In October 2022 High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell compared the European Union to a garden and the rest of the world to jungles.

The international community sees this problem but talks about it only when it is beneficial. “Truth be told, Germans are great. They are getting increasingly outraged. They have the opinion we do: Poles are bastards. Particularly when they push migrants and kill people. I am totally not surprised. This is how it should be considering their stance. They say one thing and do another thing. It is normal for them,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko also discussed the migration problem at a recent meeting with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto. And the Hungarian politician backed Belarus' stance. “Our position is crystal clear: we are not a staging post. We are not going to catch anyone here. Moreover, it was you who invited them. Let them in,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko.

He called actions of European neighbors, who kill refugees and dump them into Belarus or bury them near the border intolerable.

“If we look at the migration process, then we have to say that things are not so bad here. There is a fight just across the Mediterranean Sea now. Even more migrants will come. This is why they will forget about Belarus soon. They will feel the heat from over there. The Hungarian foreign minister told me that,” the Belarusian leader added.

THERAPY FOR THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. How will this system be “brought to its senses” in the future?

Reporters also asked the head of state about the situation in the healthcare system. A major government conference took place in late May to discuss the relevant problems. Specific instructions were issued as a result. What has been done so far? What is the current state of affairs?

The president reminded that a large interdepartmental working group is checking the healthcare system. This pushes the system and the institutions to mend their ways.

“I think we will accomplish a lot in healthcare by the end of the year. This nudge has produced results. We have at least shaken up seriously rural health posts, medical district hospitals, nursing care hospitals, and district hospitals. They have done a lot,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

Speaking about rural health posts, the president said that there was no need to close them down. However, it makes no sense to keep a rural health post in a small village with only a few houses. “We need a big health post in an agrotown. There are 1,400 agrotowns. They need good health posts. Not even a village council, but the head of an agricultural enterprise should always be involved in providing medical aid to people. Why do I support kolkhozes and sovkhozes today? Because they look after pensioners, the sick. They help schools, kindergartens. They help everyone as much as they can. We are now restoring the practice where it has been forgotten,” the head of state said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko also touched upon the issue of prosthetic care. The president had earlier given instructions to deal with queues for prosthetic surgeries. “I received information from Gomel that the queue had been halved. They found prostheses and helped people. A great accomplishment. And it has been like that in every field,” he said.

The head of state agreed that medical personnel are in short supply in some places: “Some doctors have abandoned their profession and are doing hell knows what. With time we will solve this problem, too. I have some ideas. If you are a doctor, you need to work as one. Otherwise, you will be stripped of your diploma. They do not want to spend six years of studies and lose their diplomas. No one wants to. But if you do not work in your profession, what kind of a certified doctor are you? I mean we need to get everything in order here. We have enough specialists. We can help others, too. We will fly to Africa soon: they are waiting for us there, they pray for us. Groups have already traveled there and have demonstrated what we can do and how we can help”.

“We need to bring healthcare to its senses. Starting from university students (and perhaps from school students, they have to understand what career they opt for) and ending with hospitals. I plan to revisit this issue at some point after the New Year. We will definitely return to this issue,” the head of state said.

The education system in Belarus has recently been revised in a similar way, Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled. “When I did not accept the minister's report, they got down to work and put things in order,” he added.