Lukashenka's State of the Nation Address (live)

Alyaksandr Lukashenka will deliver his annual State of the Nation Address on April 21.

The message will consist of several parts. The economic range of issues will be the most important one. The aims and tasks of this year will be mentioned. The most important social issues will be touched upon – the pension system, healthcare and education. Belarus foreign policy priorities, staff strategy and other issues will also be mentioned.

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10:06 

Euroradio starts broadcasting from the House of the Government where the President will deliver the State of the Nation Address today. Zmitser Lukashuk and Ales Piletski are reporting for you from the Oval Room.

11:07 

The speech has begun. The President will comment on this year’s goals.

11:17 

On offshores

Some entrepreneurs were taking money out of Belarus. It mostly affects our agricultural and industrial complexes. On the one hand, the prime cost of products goes up and on the other hand, the budget starts losing money.

Journalists have been gathered at the press centre to watch the video broadcast of the speech.

11:01 

The speech is being broadcast on Belarus-1.

11:19 

We need to attract $1.5 billion of investments this year.

The government should analyze the legislation concerning investments.

11:23 

There will be the dictatorship of quality in Belarus.

11:28 

People should switch to electricity.

When our NPP is built, we will have ‘excessive’ electricity. That is why we need to make people switch from gas and other energy carriers to electricity.

11:37 

On refusal from dollar

It is necessary to start the de-dollarisation of the Belarusian economy. Many things have already been done. However, the de-dollarisation is impossible without changes in people’s minds. It is necessary to stop using dollars when calculating all tariffs and rates. Use the forthcoming denomination to solve this problem.

11:57 

The Ministry of Culture should pay more attention to our country’s cultural security.

11:59 

On information war

It is necessary to repulse libel.

12:24

Belarus is a stronghold of security in the region now.

Russia is our ally and strategic partner.

Some Russian structures should stop saying that were are conducting a mild Belarusization or even a sharp turn somewhere. We have always been and are still brothers. I have met many representatives of the European Union and Americans. They want us to have good relations with Russia. We will never live outside the cultural world created by a Russian, Belarusian and Ukrainian. That is why we demand from Russians to stick to the principles we have worked out.

12:33 

We are ready to use military forces to neutralize internal armed conflicts.

We are ready to use military forces to resist external threats and internal armed conflicts. We are ready to use force against hybrid and colour revolutions. We have territorial defense forces and they are armed with the most modern weapons. An internal conflict is when the people opposes the government. Internal conflicts can only be possible if external forces support it.