Фото: пресс-служба Лукашенко
Speaking to journalists at the Obuz-Liasnouski training ground, Aliaksandr Lukashenka addressed issues of privatization and private ownership, using the Vitsyebsk region and the Servolux company as examples.
He said he was not opposed to private ownership but was “cautious about privatization.”
Lukashenka returned to a discussion of the terms for Servolux to buy farms in the Dubrouna district and the corresponding draft decree.
“And even now, regarding the collective farms: they are ready to take them. They are ready, but only for one basic unit. Well, guys, how can it be for one basic unit? At least pay something,” Lukashenka said.
In his view, buying a farm for one basic unit was too little, as even poorly performing farms had people, animals, facilities for them and agricultural machinery.
“How can it be for one basic unit? Let them pay something, taking into account the debts that exist in poorly performing farms,” Lukashenka suggested.
Lukashenka noted that private investors were primarily being offered troubled farms. According to him, there were few such farms in Belarus, but they existed in the Vitebsk region.
“It turns out there is not enough machinery there. Well, that is our area. We helped with machinery. That is why they sowed rapeseed on time — that had never happened before. We got about a million tonnes of grain. But these are only the first steps,” Lukashenka said.
Lukashenka warned that there would be no mass privatization in Belarus, and that decisions on the privatization of particular assets were made personally by him.
“It is not about whether they are private or not private. That is not the point. This policy will continue. We will not pursue any kind of shock therapy or mass privatization. There was none, and there will be none. And the people have already got used to this. And, you know, this is a very dangerous privatization. I do not rule it out, but privatization is almost prohibited here. Because it is decided at the level of the president,” he said.
Lukashenka noted that one of the problems was the inability to force women to give birth. Therefore, Belarus invited migrant workers from Uzbekistan.
“Well, we cannot make our women give birth. Fine, if you Belarusians are going to work for three people, we will not invite any Uzbeks. But they do not want to. And objectively, they cannot. Well, fine, let us invite them in a controlled manner. They arrive, we take a look — no, young man, get back on the plane. But 200 people are working. I personally keep it under control. How are they working? They are working well,” Lukashenka said.
According to Lukashenka, the Uzbek side was also interested in sending migrant workers to the Homiel region.
“Some have arrived in the Homiel region. I often question the governors: ‘Ivanovich, how are things with you?’ — ‘Some people have arrived from Uzbekistan, and they demand that we grow vegetables.’ I say: ‘For God’s sake, there are enough vegetables of our own there.’ We agreed that they would produce here, and we would sell to Uzbekistan together with them. So that they have money as well, and the state should also get something.”
“Therefore, we need people who will produce meat and milk. That is their interest. The second interest is to employ the unemployed. They have almost 40 million people on only half or a third of their territory that is suitable for use; the rest is desert. We understand this. We are ready to help and take people in. Uzbeks are hardworking, good people. Well, there are exceptions; we will not bring those here. We have very strict control,” he said.