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Lukashenka pledges to preserve «socially oriented» economy

 

Alyaksandr Lukashenka warned on Friday that he would not steer the country toward drastic market reforms.

"It is not me who designed this economic model," he said at a news conference in Minsk. "It is you, the population of Belarus, who demanded that I introduce a socially oriented economy. I only added the word `market` as one must compete, fight, earn money."

Mr. Lukashenka stressed that all countries must have socially oriented economies. "Otherwise, it will be the same as what is taking place today in Greece, America, in entire Europe - fights, slaughter, shooting and so on. And more is to come. That`s why I want us to have a normal economy, so that paupers don`t sit in the street and very wealthy people don`t ride in expensive cars," he said.

Mr. Lukashenka defended the competence of officials representing the government and the National Bank, who have been sharply criticized by the public amid the country`s currency crisis. "They have not only the tools to implement present-day policies but also many scenarios of the country`s development," he said, acknowledging that "there are many shortcomings as well."

"We are on the right track so far. I don`t intend today to break the country, economy and society. We are able to overcome in a purposeful, quiet manner all unwelcome phenomena that we have," he said.

"No policy allows of sharp turns, and this is unacceptable altogether in economy. If only we make a sudden turn, we will get stuck even in a bigger mire than this year," Mr. Lukashenka warned. //BelaPAN