Lukashenka: We have denominated banknotes in storehouses

The conference is being broadcast live on the First National Channel of the Belarusian Radio.

This is the final event of the press tour of Russian journalists in Belarus. Most of the tour was organized in Hrodna Province. Over 90 representatives of 70 mass media will take part in it, BelaPAN reports.   

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Lukashenka: We have denominated banknotes in storehouses

The Belarusian leader does not see any need in denomination now.  

“Denomination is a technical process. It is not a problem. But I think that it is better to conduct it when the situation in the currency market is stable,” Alyaksandr Lukashenka noted.

There are denominated banknotes in storehouses that have been kept there for many years, he admitted. Denomination will be announced in advance and old and new banknotes will be circulating at the same time, Lukashenka claimed.  

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Lukashenka explains why he won’t sell MAZ and BelAZ

Lukashenka accused Russians of not willing to invest, introduce new technologies and open new markets. “Why do we need it then? We can divide the market without it,” The Belarusian President said.

"We will not give BelAZ to anyone! It is 30% of the world market of such cars,” Lukashenka said.

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A journalist from Saint Petersburg asked: “Do you miss the USSR?”

"I do not only miss it –I am a Soviet person. I grew up in that country. It was enough for me. They even wanted to exclude me from the party. I was reprimanded twice! But they did not mention it in my card, Radzkou (deputy head of the President’s Administration now) found it later,” the Belarusian President replied.

Lukashenka compared modern Belarus to the Soviet Union: “The system is not much better now. You can insult the President and bark in dark corners and get away with it.”

The Belarusian leader also added: “We have created some card that can be used for paying for dinners at school and for paying the fare. I think it’s a Belarusbank card.”

 Lukashenka mentioned the part that Gorbachev played in his political career: “But for Gorbachev and that thaw… I meet Gorbachev from time to time and even accuse him. But I would not be President now but for him! However, this is a minor thing in comparison with the collapse of the Soviet Union.”

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Lukashenka: Gertner spat at Minsk House of Government

Alyaksandr Lukashenka commented on the potassium war again. He recalled Uralkali CEO’s visit to Minsk after PM Mihail Myasnikovich’s invitation.

"That milksop was sitting with legs crossed. He said: ‘No way!’ Then he left, spat at the House of Government and headed for the airport. And there he…” Alyaksandr Lukashenka described.

Vladislav Baumgertner was detained at the airport and spent a month in KGB prison. He is under house arrest in Minsk now.

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Lukashenka: People will understand me when I reduce wages and pensions by $1 billion

One of the questions was about Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s intention to support families with newborn children by sending $10 thousand to their accounts. Journalists calculated that the state would need to allocate about 2 billion dollars for it every year.

He was misunderstood, Lukashenka stressed: “Speaking about those billions, people misunderstood me... Our biggest problem is the population... We need to find that billion to encourage women to give birth to children and we need to provide support to families”.

Some person prepared a note with the idea of the Big Family project and sums for Lukashenka.

 "The enemies started mocking at us and asking ‘where will he find that billion?’” Lukashenka emphasized. You do not need billion of dollars, one project will require $2350 million and the other – about $800 million a year, he said.

 "We do not need a billion for it. It is only a suggestion. I need to choose the best variant. It may be 20 or 5 thousands. It will depend on the economic situation in the country,” Alyaksandr Lukashenka claimed.

“You cannot do anything without people, there will be no sovereignty,” Lukashenka said. “People will get it when I reduce the wages and pensions by one billion,” the Belarusian President assured.

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Lukashenka: Youngest son asks to tell him about war, Stalin and Hitler

One of the questions was about preserving memory about the Great Patriotic War.

Alyaksandr Lukashenka said that his youngest son came to him every evening asking to tell “about the war, Stalin and Hitler”. He told him about the Great Patriotic War and then switched to stories about the Napoleonic Wars.

Lukashenka flew over the Berazina River with his son once and said that it was the place where ‘French soldiers were drowned.’

 Mikalai also likes watching the Russian patriotic channel Zvezda, the President said.

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Lukashenka: Union Council of Ministers did not gather due to Kerimov’s offence 

The Belarusian President commented on the union project. It is still important, he said. “But people are waiting for some positive dynamics and I am not responsible for it,” Alyaksandr Lukashenka said.

The state leader explained why the Union Council of Ministers had not gathered in Minsk. “Kerimov and the others were offended. If this is the reason or it, we can wait,” Lukashenka said.

The Belarusian President meant the Belarusian Potash Company scandal and the detention of Uralkali CEO Vladislav Baumgertner in Minsk.

See here for the live broadcast.

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