Second meeting of the Seventh Belarusian People’s Congress. Address with the Message

Dear compatriots! Dear delegates of the Belarusian People’s Congress! Dear guests!

 Since the economy is the foundation of our lives, I must warn you that it will be boring and uninteresting for some. Therefore, I will try to make my speech as short as possible.

The current 25th year is coming to an end. It is the final year of our five-year plan. It is significant for us, given that we developed and adopted the country's socio-economic development program, the current program, during an unprecedentedly aggressive global agenda. During a period of political and economic redivision of the world, which has not yet come to an end. It is gaining momentum.

Remember the series of events that we had to go through in a very short time. The COVID-19 lockdown and the pandemic. The most important economic processes, such as the supply of goods, production chains, well-established logistics, and transportation flows, were put on hold. The European Union's decision to ban Belavia from flying. You've heard the details, and you know why sanctions were imposed on us. However, no one has apologized after we revealed these details. The West's imposition of new illegal sanctions against Belarus, the suspension of Swift transactions, the blocking of access to seaports, the trade embargo, and the closure of borders. Taken together, these factors do not provide the best backdrop for ambitious goals. At the time, we agreed that there would be no references to sanctions. There was no time to dwell on these issues, as we needed to fight for every export ruble.

In 2020, we set a goal of increasing exports to 50$ billion. Not only did we achieve this goal, but we also continued to trade with almost 190 countries around the world. However, the West failed to recognize that the world is vast. No one will dance to the neo-colonial tune anymore.

 The Global South and Asia have become a new reality. Today, our agricultural machinery and trucks, dairy and meat products, tires, and components are being exported to the Middle East, Africa, China, and Latin America.

We have destroyed the myth created by the West about the closed and isolated nature of our country, which is confirmed by any global rankings.

 Belarus has entered the top 50 countries most visited by tourists, ranking 48th out of 220 countries. This year alone, more than 250,000 enlightened Europeans have visited Belarus without visas, witnessing firsthand the safety, comfort, and beauty of our country.

This is despite the fact that more than half of our border checkpoints are closed. We have preserved and expanded our strong real economy sector without losing or spilling any of our Soviet heritage. We currently rank 56th out of 150 countries in the global competitiveness of industry. However, we still need to work on improving our labor productivity.

During this difficult time, domestic enterprises continued to actively invest in technological development and modernization. This is a foundation for the future. In the current five-year period, we have completed the implementation of almost a thousand production projects. At the same time, housing, roads, and social and sports infrastructure were built in the required quantities. The "One District, One Project" initiative has proven successful, creating more than 6,000 new jobs in small towns and villages. This program will continue to be implemented. It will become one of the key programs in our country.

Over the years, real wages have increased by 40 percent, reaching an average of 2,700 rubles. Pensions have been increased twice a year throughout the past five years. Anticipating the attacks of skeptics about macroeconomic imbalances, I will say: we have a stable, normal economy.

The debt burden is decreasing, gold and foreign exchange reserves are at a historic high, and confidence in the national currency has deservedly increased. Given the initial conditions mentioned at the beginning, the results are generally acceptable for people's usual lives. It provides stable employment, a decent income level, and, most importantly, security.

During the Meeting, we will determine the main directions of the country's development for the next five years. Before we get acquainted with the project developed by the Government, I would like to remind you of the basic, basic guidelines that this document must meet - our programs. They come from life and are very relevant.

The basis of the fundamentals, as I have already said, is economics. This is the main weapon in the modern world. We need a basis for the implementation of the next five-year plan, which includes ambitious plans and indicators. If we want to achieve a stable annual gross domestic product of \$100 billion and an average monthly salary of \$1,000, businesses and the financial system must operate sustainably.

There are three poles of power in the world: China, Russia, and the United States of America. In fact, the European Union is considered to be the fourth pillar. However, given their internal divisions and hysterical demands, the pole may collapse. India, with its rapid economic growth, is emerging as a new center of attraction. Therefore, it is not a bad thing that, despite our excellent strategic relations with Russia and China, we have started a constructive dialogue with the leadership of the United States of America. Let me remind you that this is one of the most powerful centers of power. Yes, the dialogue is sometimes tough and persistent. Yes, every little detail is important. But this is a negotiation between a strong and a strong.

The respect and authority of our country are not questioned, and we firmly stand by our positions. Belarus is our home. We are the only ones who determine our economic structure. 

He's been socially oriented for a long time, and the same Americans - big market capitalists - have never once demanded that I break this model or leave it. They are not blind: they see what kind of country we have - roads, clean cities, normal cars. We are really pursuing our Belarusian path together. We set all the tasks based on our own interests and experience, but we understand that only a sovereign state can guarantee their compliance.

And what do our fugitives offer at the behest of their masters? This document was recently released, so I'll allow myself to say a few words about it. Just a month ago, the "svadomaya" offices in Lithuania and Warsaw presented another grand plan, "The Revival of the Belarusian Economy." There are four main points or sections. First. Connection to the European energy system. Once they come to power, they will be connected to the European energy system. Can you imagine a sudden increase in electricity tariffs by at least 4-5 times, coupled with sanctions on Russian gas and oil? Second, widespread privatization and sale of state property. Comments are unnecessary. Apparently, this is why they have been funded by grants and managed by Western intelligence agencies for years.

Well, who's going to feed them for free? Under the promise that they'll give everything away. Third. Financial independence through loans from international organizations. It's a contradiction and a stupid idea in one sentence. When these organizations were working in Belarus, they weren't known for their great altruism. If you want a cheap loan, buy specific Western equipment, which is currently more expensive than both Chinese and Indian equipment. If you don't want it, don't take it, and there won't be any loans. And fourth. One word: digitalization. It's trendy. Without any explanation. Apparently, it's just a trendy word that needs to be inserted into any plan. Essentially, it's the surrender of Belarus' sovereignty and the collapse of its economy under external control. Nothing has changed over the years: it's still the same struggle for positions, financial handouts, and power.

That's why we've always fought tooth and nail to preserve our production facilities and the industrial foundation of the republic's development. For 15 years, we've been engaged in import substitution, which is turning into import independence.

We have never set out to produce absolutely everything in Belarus. But where we have local raw materials, scientific foundations, and schools, we will literally fight for our interests in a complex and not always fair competition. It is an absolutely unfair competition. Moreover, we now have our own nuclear power plant. This has allowed us to strengthen the country's energy independence by almost two times, provide the most competitive tariffs in Europe for manufacturing enterprises, and open up new industries such as electric heating for housing, electric transportation, energy storage, mining, and the cryptocurrency market. We produce our own computers and monitors. We have successfully mastered the production of new types of products in mechanical engineering, from powerful energy-intensive tractors to unmanned BELAZ trucks. In fact, we have created the production of passenger cars from scratch in our country, launching a series of models to suit every taste. Hundreds of thousands of domestic cars have been sold in the common market of the Union State. Some models are at the top of the sales charts. A new MAZ bus factory has been built in Minsk. Today, the enterprise is ready to produce up to three thousand comfortable cars with a modern design every year. We have increased our own oil production using modern technologies. By deepening the processing of oil raw materials, we have established the production of petroleum coke and other types of petroleum products. We produce medicines for cancer patients, amino acids, and innovative bioproducts. In the food industry, we have expanded our production from unique dry infant formulas, which are highly sought-after lactose-free dairy products, to elite cheeses and meat delicacies.

All of this is the result of many years of hard work by all Belarusians, from farmers to scientists. Our work.

 At the same time, there are still many unresolved economic problems.

FIRST. TECHNOLOGICAL SOVEREIGNTY. I deliberately give it priority, because we have been greatly hardened by the experience of so-called cooperation with the West. Under various guises, we have been purposefully and systematically put in a situation of dependence on Western equipment and even small components. We have seen how important it is to have our own developments in critical sectors of the economy. Now, we are simply obliged to return production in a new quality or create our own in microelectronics, robotics, the pharmaceutical industry, unmanned systems, and so on. Yes, it may be difficult and very expensive today, but it will pay off many times over tomorrow. It is simply necessary.

We don't have much time to waste. It is especially important to increase the speed of implementing promising developments in the real sector. The country needs projects based on the developments and discoveries of domestic scientific and production schools.

The role of the catch-up is especially unacceptable in the development of micro- and radioelectronics.

 Our minimum goal is to provide our industry and military-industrial complex with domestic microelectronic components. This is our area of expertise. We have been working in this field for a long time.

 Another specific goal is to produce new models of computer-controlled machines every year to meet the full demand of our enterprises and enter global markets. We are a machine-building country. Without modern machines, what kind of machine-building can we talk about?

Again, our topic since Soviet times is machine-building. Therefore, sectoral ministers and leaders, together with scientists, must coordinate the program and plans for the new five-year plan. By 2030, we need to increase the density of robotization to 100 units per 10,000 industrial workers. In the world, there are 150 units. Moreover, the government provides assistance in the form of benefits and ready-made production facilities. We have created one of these unique facilities at Motovelo, the Minsk City Technology Park. Any entrepreneur can come here with their own business idea and open an innovative production facility. We will expand this format in all regions of the country. The process has begun.

SECOND. LOCALIZATION AND COOPERATION. As I have already said, it is impossible and unnecessary to produce absolutely everything. However, it is crucial to make rational use of the potential for cooperation with all Belarusian partners, combine production competencies, and solve problems related to key technologies.

We have a successful track record of implementing import substitution projects with the Russian Federation, from microelectronics and aircraft manufacturing to the localization of automotive components and assemblies. We also have many joint ideas in partnership with the People's Republic of China. For example, a number of projects in the pulp and paper industry. This is a highly promising area with growing interest from other international players.

We can and must meet this demand. In our forested Belarus, there is an abundance of raw materials, such as timber, for these projects. Therefore, all forestry enterprises should be equipped with domestic multifunctional logging equipment and produce at least 25 million cubic meters of roundwood annually for processing. At the same time, let's consider why we have forests lying on the edges of our land, while the country imports furniture, paper packaging, and cannot build cheap calf nurseries on a large scale. We can't produce normal toilet paper. The relevant officials' disgraceful attitude towards this industry, which, by the way, has invested 2.5$ billion in the last modernization, including the pulp and paper mill, is unacceptable. So far, they haven't returned a single penny. Do you think someone will write them off for you? Get those thoughts out of your head. You've been feeding the public with lies about the final kraft paper in Svetlogorsk for the past five years. The current government has failed to produce any real results in our triad of raw materials: timber, flax, and leather. Either you are indifferent people, or you have no ambitions at all. Without ambitions, you will not succeed...

Next. Mechanical engineering occupies a special place in the industry. Every year, thousands of vehicles roll off our assembly lines. However, we still do not have our own gasoline engine, and we have not yet mastered the entire range of diesel engines. Therefore, we need a specific plan of measures to address these challenges. Today, it is crucial to keep up with the global trend of electric vehicle development. We need to increase the production of such vehicles at the new MAZ plant and double the capacity of Belkommunmash. It's time for BELGIUM to raise the bar and ensure the production of at least 10,000 domestic electric and hybrid vehicles per year. Next, it is necessary to scale up the practice of launching assembly plants abroad. An agreement has been reached on the localization of Belarusian tractors and trucks in Vietnam. A joint production facility for BELAZ equipment has been established in Iran. However, we will not completely export our factories from the country. There are many such proposals for joint assembly, especially in Africa. We need comprehensive and up-to-date lists of industrial cooperation projects by country, as well as their immediate implementation in practice.

At least 25 major investment projects in the industrial sector should be implemented in the next five years. 

We have promising ideas and developments in the creation of a Belarusian train in Fanipol, a domestic aircraft in Baranovichi, a roll baler, a milking robot, and the restoration of shipbuilding competencies at the Pinsk plant. While there is a weak supply for the petrochemical complex, there are no breakthrough projects after the modernization of the refinery. I see that you are gradually destroying the chemical fiber (Mogilevkhimvolokno. - Note). All of these industries are extremely important for the future of Belarus. In fact, we need to manually control all of these construction projects. There are always resources available in the country for worthwhile projects. By the way, we have a record-breaking amount of foreign currency reserves. Is it really necessary to have as much as Western systems dictate? I believe that we should rethink our strategy for managing international reserve assets. Money should be put to work. The National Bank's reserve management revenues should be invested in the real economy, production modernization, localization of key imported components, and profitable export contracts.

During my last long-term business trip, we talked a lot with experts who have the most currency and money, and we talked about money in the long term. They convinced me of one thing, and I agree with them, and I've been thinking about this for a long time: these huge, trillion-dollar reserves around the world, from China to the United Arab Emirates, may become irrelevant tomorrow. This is especially true with the policies pursued by the former administration of the United States of America, which the current administration has not abandoned. Whoever put and at any moment can put a paw on any gold and foreign currency reserves and make them illegal. Just steal.

THIRD. DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATIONAL HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY AND THE IT INDUSTRY. The experience of sanctions, when the maintenance of software products was immediately halted and the technological chains of enterprises were put at risk, has become another lesson for us. We have discussed this briefly, and I have taken a simple step... We have banned the discussion of sanctions. However, they have not disappeared. This is one of the areas we must address. We will eliminate this vulnerability.

Critical industries should be provided with at least 90 percent of their software products from domestic producers. All the prerequisites are there. Legal framework, infrastructure, school of training IT specialists, Park of High Technologies.

 The government and the Park of High Technologies need to form development centers in Belarus more actively, orienting IT teams primarily on national projects, rather than to bring ammunition to large companies in the United States or other countries.

Next. Digitalization in everyday life. We are developing e-government technologies and creating digital platforms and services. But is the effect visible to the public? Do people understand the opportunities that are opening up for their convenience? I don't think so, not always. Why create a unified portal for electronic services if, apart from Minsk and regional centers, people don't have the opportunity to make an appointment with a doctor remotely, and they have to come to the clinic at 6 a.m. and wait in a queue?

We have plenty of hot phone lines, portals, and websites, from obrashchenie.bel to chatbots, but what's the point? People are still going from one organization to another.

 Consider creating a unified service that can respond to questions quickly and competently. It should serve as a universal center for feedback from the public, accessible through phone calls, online platforms, and in person.

There is similar experience in Russia and China. I want to emphasize that the goal is not to digitalize for the sake of digitalization. If the cost of administering a service is higher than its actual demand, then it is pointless to spend money. We will simplify where it makes sense.

Another pressing issue is reliable and fast cellular communication. There are problems with it all over the country. Family expenses on the Internet are already comparable to other utility bills. I am saying that with their considerable income, mobile operators should provide equally stable communication in any locality. Excuses are no longer accepted. The government needs to solve this problem within the next year. I have signed all the regulations that you requested.

FOURTH. ENERGY SELF-SUSTENANCE. Energy is a guarantor of economic development. It is a matter of state self-sufficiency. Belarus' advantage in this aspect is obvious.

The nuclear power plant has significantly strengthened our energy independence, but we need to raise this level even higher by 2030. The plant's capacity has enabled us to modernize our infrastructure and promote the development of electric transportation. During this time, we have connected two million square meters of new electrified housing.

Modern Belarusian electric buses run not only in Minsk and regional centers, but also in experimental areas such as Zhodino, Shklov, and Novopolotsk, where our pilot projects are being implemented. The government and governors need to expand this experience throughout the country. Launch comfortable and reliable electric buses in satellite cities, without eliminating minibuses. I want to be heard by those who use TikTok. I have never opposed the freedom of choice for individuals and citizens to choose whether to use minibuses or buses. But when people are standing in line and citizens are asking me questions, I couldn't ignore it. We immediately produced a significant number of gas-powered, internal combustion engine-powered, and electric buses and launched them on the route. Choose one.

Another pressing issue is the reliability of energy facilities. The Ministry of Energy should immediately start building lines of all voltage classes, as well as substations with a reasonable power reserve. This is because there will be a generating station, an atomic power plant. However, we will not be able to provide this product to the public. The wires are old, as the people say. The substations are in poor condition. They cannot handle the power needed in a particular area or village. Therefore, we are currently working on expanding our energy capabilities. But I want you to keep in mind that the ongoing modernization will be strictly within the framework of the established tariff increases for individuals and businesses. People are used to this. It used to be five dollars a year, but now it's half of the base value, which is 21 rubles. There won't be any sudden changes. I want to warn the government: don't even open the door to those energy experts who come to you and say, "We can't meet the deadline, and the cost is higher than the price." So work to reduce the cost. The course is set, and we will act accordingly.

FIFTH. SUSTAINABLE AND PROFIT-GENERATING FOOD PRODUCTION. The industry brings billions of dollars in export revenue to the country every year. This year, it brought more than 9.5 billion dollars. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of our farmers, we achieved one of the highest grain harvests in history, with 11 million tons of grain. We also harvested 6 million tons of sugar beets, which is a record-breaking achievement. And let's not forget about the year we had. When the grain level was determined at the selector meeting, and our farmers said they would produce 11 million tons, I agreed, thinking, "Okay, let's go with 11 million." Let's see how you achieve that goal. And you did. In the livestock sector, we will surpass a new milestone by producing more than 9 million tons of milk. Just think about these incredible numbers. For every Belarusian, we have more than one ton of grain and one ton of milk. How many countries can say the same? Almost none.

At the same time, there are many gaps in agriculture. The reason is the widespread lack of technological and production discipline, as well as falsification and theft. This is unfortunate. It leads to a whole range of problems.

 Poor-quality feed, animal care, diseases and deaths, mismanagement of expensive agricultural equipment, and so on. All of these issues need to be eliminated from our practices. Not over a five-year period, but in the next year.

Today, in the first half of the day, I had a serious conversation with the Prime Minister. I understand that the governor of yesterday knows the problem well. And when I tell him about the negatives, he says, "We have it good here." However, there are some districts, including the Minsk region where he worked, where only four districts are struggling year after year. I replied, "Okay. Out of the 21 districts, I believe, four are struggling." Well, we can put things in order in four districts. We're stuck, and we don't see specific problems behind the general numbers.

The results of the Vitebsk meeting will be visible in all regions without exception. I'll tell you more: I had a desire for all the VNS delegates to publish a hundred-page report on the shortcomings in agriculture following the meeting in the Vitebsk region. However, when I received the draft, I almost lost my mind. I believe that if I were to send this report to the VNS delegates in a secret letter, we would definitely fail this meeting. Therefore, I have sent this hundred-page report to the relevant officials. We will think about what to do next if this continues throughout the country. This is unacceptable. There is a wild death of young animals, cows that feed us, and so on. When we can't feed our livestock... And if someone can't, just take the livestock and send it to someone who can feed it. There are enough farms like this. No, they're dragging their feet. And then they complain about the rigidity of the requirements and other things. There will be no retreat. I strongly recommend that all interested parties get involved in this work. The time for persuasion and explanations is over. It's all about concrete actions and results. For the agricultural sector, this is a significant reduction in dependence on imports. It's crucial to establish a breeding and genetic center in poultry farming as soon as possible. This is not just a project; it's the future of our poultry industry. By the way, it's the leader in the meat sector. Well, to put it simply, we raise so many broilers and hens, and we have so many eggs per person. But where do we get our chickens from? In the West... 

The same Soligorsk poultry farm has successful developments in this area. Another important area is the seeds of domestic breeding and the maximum rejection of foreign analogues. There are enough resources allocated to scientists and farmers. Import of seeds only for own money of agricultural enterprises. Do you have money? Buy whatever you want. You can buy imported seeds or something else. But there will be no government support for procurement purposes outside the country.

Next.

 It's time to radically modernize the industry and switch to the principles of digital agriculture, as we call it, by scaling up precision farming technology. Therefore, by the end of the five-year period, at least 40 percent of the industry's organizations must master and implement this platform in their farms.

What needs to be done in every agricultural organization is centralized logistics and scheduling of all work, with control of all processes from the field to the farm. We don't do the basics, we can't set a task for the machine operators at a meeting in a farm, especially in sloppy farms, and then ask for it at the end of the day. We've moved away from all of this. The market? Go for it. As a result, we should benefit from food exports with an annual minimum threshold of 12$ billion.

SIXTH. THRIFT AND QUALITY. This is an axiom of the competitiveness of Belarusian goods. The tools that are widely used in the world are the so-called lean management. We have a very fragmented implementation so far.

Expand your work within the framework of the revived Quality Mark at the state level, which has become our most prestigious award for manufacturers. Only quality and impeccable service will ensure our survival and additional earnings.

We can't continue selling our products abroad without providing service. I don't want to talk about quality. Let the products be a percentage or two more expensive. MAZ, BELAZ, MTZ... But it has to be a high-quality product. You can see the competition. Every time there's a story in the media about a MAZ bus catching fire or being set on fire somewhere else. We investigate, and nothing is burning. This is competition. They're just trying to bend us over and show that our products are of poor quality. But there are issues with our quality. We need to ensure that there are no issues.

SEVENTH. EFFECTIVE SALES FOR SUCCESSFUL FOREIGN TRADE.

Having returned from the winter business trips that have become traditional, I am once again convinced: We don't know how to trade at all. You know, I was ashamed to negotiate with the Sultan of Oman and ask him: "Help, teach us how to trade. We will produce, we will deliver, but let's create a company together and trade together in your traditional markets." Is this normal? They produced it, threw it over the fence, and it doesn't matter what prices they sold it for. We're just sitting here, waiting for something.

We seem to be producing a decent line of products, but they are either unknown in distant markets or exploited by a large number of intermediaries, who are taking the cream and making a profit. It's time to understand that sales are an art.

 I would like to inform you that I have instructed our Deputy Chairman, Alexander Nikolaevich Kosinets, to immediately address this issue of intermediaries. We need to eradicate them from our operations. We are losing between 30 and 50 percent of our profits due to the presence of intermediaries. Is this acceptable? While the working group is reporting to me and making a proposal, ministers, get on with it immediately. I've already given you an example of when we needed to slow down the growth of rapeseed. We've planted it. You can see the weather conditions, and the winter crops are growing and overgrowing. This means they won't survive the winter, especially rapeseed. I'm telling the minister to provide centralized access to growth regulators. We buy them from the importers. So he spent two months negotiating an additional solution, when the rapeseed was already knee-high. Is this a normal situation? You can't rely on chance or random circumstances; you need a well-thought-out strategy and a clear plan with proper logistics. 

An official sent abroad should understand: no more tourism. The Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will introduce a database of economic investment tasks for each country.

I instruct the Government to completely review the role and functionality of the so-called development institutions for the first half of the year of the 26th year. Why are we spending so much money on structures that cannot be seen or heard? The National Investment Agency under the Ministry of Economy, right? The National Center for Marketing and Price Analysis at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Agency for Foreign Economic Activity at the Development Bank, the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and others.

You know, I'm looking at the National Center for Marketing and Market Analysis under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. What kind of marketing? What kind of market analysis? Yes, there are such issues. So the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be responsible for this. What other additional structures are there? These are the official cribs with inflated staffs and salaries. They should be eliminated by the end of the first quarter of 2026.

 As for manufacturers, the government is always ready to support exporters. The results are clear: budget investments in exports have paid off. For every ruble of budget support, we have received 30$ in exports. If you need any additional incentives that are guaranteed to produce results, please provide them promptly.

EIGHTH. A PERFECT CONSUMER MARKET. For us Belarusians, the choice of whether to buy a Belarusian or a foreign product is a matter of national security. Many people cannot overcome the stereotype of the elitism of imports. However, this is not a result of experience. It is a brainwashing tool, if you will, which was successfully applied in Soviet society, especially in its later stages.

We understand that both then and today, the quality of Belarusian products is one of the best in the world.

But is this how we position ourselves in our own market? Well, you know, maybe there's Dolce Gabbana or Versace or something like that. Maybe it's more popular. Maybe it's even of higher quality. So, why can't we wear Belarusian products? Will they strip us on the street? Will it be disgusting to look at?

(Applause.)

 I remember my first business trips to the West. It was almost 30 years ago. You know, it was a fashion trend to dress up nicely and all that. And I was sitting in a meeting with billionaires. It was my first business trip to the United States of America. Billionaires. I thought, "What kind of people are these?" Billionaires. To be honest, I looked at them and saw that they were wearing simple suits and all that. And it was shameful for them to dress up and show off. It was shameful. And we live in a poor country, and we're talking about Belarus. And our population. But look at the cars people drive and the clothes they wear. The question arises: why are you spending so much money to support foreign producers? Why don't you support your own producers? "Kamvol," Orsha flax, and so on. These are good fabrics, safe for the environment. Why are you doing this? It's a matter of everyone's concern. You should think about it before accusing the government of all the wrongdoings, including mine.

I'm mostly addressing the owners of the retail business. You're the ones who shape the demand and decide what and how to put on the shelves. I don't know if the President should explain that if a product says "Made in Belarus," it should have an advantage on the shelf. This is what concerned citizens have been asking me for. They've been asking me for a long time. I have one final remark.

And trade, I wanted to say merchants, I won't offend you, don't get offended at me later. Imports are dominating the domestic market, and you're seeking government support. We need to reverse this pyramid. For the government, the share of domestic goods in the domestic market will be the primary criterion for evaluating performance, along with prices. If there are sales, there will be production volumes. GDP will increase, and exports will follow. However, if there are no sales, you won't have GDP, production volumes, or salaries. As an economist, I'm telling you, it's a simple formula. Everything should come from sales. Make all your marketplaces, retail chains, and other structures work for the country, or we'll deal with it in other ways you're familiar with. There's no other option. If we want to live in a normal country, not go to war.

NINTH. TOURISM IS A SOURCE OF ECONOMIC GROWTH. This has become especially relevant in recent years. I don't think it needs any explanation to create a strong brand for Belarusian tourism. It is also important to recognize that this sector can be a powerful tool for promoting Belarus as an open and welcoming country.

 The goal for the next five years is to increase the contribution of tourism to the economy by at least two times. We have everything we need to achieve this.

Minsk is a unique world-class capital. Brest region is not only a legendary hero fortress and the ancient Belovezhskaya Pushcha, but also the soul of the Belarusian Polesie. Vitebsk is a cultural festival center of the country, a beauty. Gomel region attracts tourists with its palace and park ensembles and distinctive folk culture. Mogilev land is a place of healing springs and unique local history museums. Grodno region is a land of castle architecture.

Every corner of our country has its own face and its own identity. Tourists' complaints are mainly about the lack of digital services and support throughout the entire service chain: booking accommodation, purchasing tickets, searching for routes, and booking excursions. The absence of such comfort is a loss of potential guests. All industry decisions have been made in accordance with the Government's proposals.

Start developing a full-fledged domestic tourism platform. In the face of high demand, yesterday it was necessary to expand the number of rooms in sanatoriums and build new hotels, especially in regional centers.

The governors are watching from the sidelines and waiting for something. If you can't do it yourself, involve private companies in the work. You need to promote travel services more actively through our embassies, dealerships, and even more aggressive advertising. Load up the ambassadors with this work, they are not overworking much yet.

And another thing. Belarus is a clean country. This is the first impression that our guests have of us. It's a huge effort. Tens of thousands of people go to work every day, creating beauty even when most of our citizens are still asleep. It's not just about the lack of garbage, but also about the well-maintained parks, the flower-filled streets, and every corner that's perfect for relaxation. We've become so accustomed to this order that we've started to abuse it, creating garbage dumps even in forests. What are you doing? It's yours, and you'll take your children there to relax. During the Year of Improvement, we've had dozens of cases of vandalism against new facilities. It may not be appropriate, but dear Belarusians, I am addressing each of you. Let us respect the work of our people, not force the state to resort to Singaporean methods, and not destroy our country, for this is what will happen in this "paradise of the West." As for Singapore, let me remind you: there, you can receive a fine of 2,000 rubles or correctional labor for simply throwing away a candy wrapper. We already have such initiatives from our deputies. Do we really need to adopt draconian measures? 

TENTH. STRONG REGIONS ARE THE MAIN PRIORITY. All the areas of the economy that I mentioned above should be the basis of the new regional policy. In each region and district, we are shifting the center of gravity, all forces, and resources there. The most important task is to stop the outflow of people from the regions and to relieve the capital and regional centers. This issue must be resolved by revolutionary methods, definitively and without discussion, because we will depopulate the country. We will draw everything to Minsk and the regional centers. 

You know, I keep a close eye on the media, and I remember a young girl's statement on behalf of the youth: "For us, housing is the top priority right now." That's true. However, this lovely and beautiful young woman should understand that for me as the President, the main priority is the equal distribution of productive forces. And if housing includes agro-towns, support villages, districts, and regional centers, not just Minsk, then many young people may understand this. Therefore, if you are applying to a medical or agricultural university or something else, before you go there, think that you will have to work starting from a district hospital, maybe as a district doctor, or maybe you need to connect and move the FAP somewhere. You need to be prepared for this, and not just "I graduated from a medical university, I want to work in Minsk, if not, then I will go there tomorrow." Well, some of them went.

Today, Shved (Andrei Shved, Prosecutor General of the Republic of Belarus. - Note) is in line for this very commission to return. Think, think, especially young people, before taking any step, you need to think, as it was once.

 In Minsk, there should be a limit on the introduction of new housing meters. No more than three hundred thousand per year, maybe even less. 

The alternative is satellite cities. Create a full-fledged urban environment of similar quality in these cities and their surrounding areas.

 However, I see that there are many problems in this regard. We will also discuss this topic comprehensively next year. Instead of satellite cities, there are ideas to develop satellite villages, which are large settlements, to distribute the population more evenly. Approximately two hundred such villages have been identified. Let me remind you of the words of the famous actor Vasily Shukshin, who said this in an interview after the release of the film "Kalina Krasnaya." You remember, almost 150 million people watched this film. He said, "With the destruction of the village, we will lose our morals and spirituality, and we will lose our identity. This is our roots, our way of life, and the work that nurtures us. Without our land, we are like a blade of grass, exposed to all the winds."

This is the main issue for me. That's why I often feel uncomfortable and have to make excuses for spending my time in villages and agricultural enterprises from morning to evening. As I mentioned earlier, the goal is not to achieve certain performance indicators in the Vitebsk region. I apologize, but I must reiterate that we can easily manage without the production of the Vitebsk region, even in the regions of Mogilev and Gomel, where there are more challenges. We can feed our people and even export enough products. My task is to save the village, so that it doesn't become an empty, dilapidated place. I want to ensure that people live there, wherever possible. I want to sign my name to Vasily Shukshin's words. As I mentioned earlier, one of my goals is to save the village. This is the essence of my mission. We're all from the village. Well, look around, maybe in the third or fourth generation your parents lived in the countryside. I'm not saying this because I'm a country person myself, no. But because the village is the foundation, the foundation of the foundations of our life. If there is no village, we will perish, the state cannot exist without it. We'll go back to those days.

(Applause.)

Africa is in front of my eyes. They're going through a tough time. The richest region, you can't even imagine. They have everything from gold and diamonds to rare earth metals. They have everything. That's why I say Africa has the future. But I remember the first time I encountered Zimbabwe, the richest country. I said, "They have natural gas and oil." They have everything. They're poor. The main question, I ask the President, I have a good relationship with him, a personal one. What is the question? They say, "Help us achieve food security." In other words, help us feed our people. We've demonstrated this in Zimbabwe over the past two years. According to President Mnangagwa, we've achieved food security in a country with a population three times larger than our own. This has sparked discussions across Africa, with people saying, "The Belarusians can do it, the Belarusians will help."

It's impossible to live there without a car or a tractor. How can you live without a tractor today? The tractor cleans the streets, provides transportation, and plows the land. And we're helping them. They've responded to our open arms, and we're teaching them and doing everything for them. But it's not free. It's not free. This is a testament to the government's willingness to spend its last resources to feed its people.

Do we want to go back to those times? It will happen very quickly. You won't even have time to look around. Therefore, we need to focus on maintaining the level we have achieved, even if it means adding 3-4% to the gross domestic product each year. 2% or 2.5% is sufficient. On the other hand, if we talk about the village, I live there and I can see very well that very small villages, as they used to be called, are not promising, of course, and do not have any prospects for development. You know, maybe it doesn't need to be. With the technology that has come to agriculture today, we are consolidating and consolidating agricultural enterprises.

We have a Dzerzhinka, as we call it, with 130,000 hectares of land. Not every district in the republic has that much land. 130,000. It's one of the best, and it works effectively.

 This is a global trend. We already have less than 2 million Belarusians living in rural areas, which is 21 percent. By the time the Soviet Union collapsed, we had reduced the rural population by 10 percent. This is also a global trend. That's why I'm saying: we need a robot to milk a cow. We need a press in order to remove the hay and straw on time. Because there are fewer and fewer people. And our young people today don't talk about that when they talk about housing, that they need to go milk a cow. That means robots will work. They exist, but we need our own, domestic, if we want to continue to be called an agro-industrial state.

We need to keep people in the agro-towns, in the large, as I said, support villages. We need to give them a normal life here.

 Yes, in most cases, this requires significant financial and time investments. Therefore, all the program documents, both national and regional, must be synchronized, or we will face a huge imbalance in development. Employment and housing are the top priorities. There must be housing and work.

We are not a Western country, where people are used to living in rented housing for a long time, sometimes for their entire lives. Belarusians prefer to live in their own houses and apartments. And this is a good thing. Therefore, young professionals should have the right to purchase rental housing in the future, and its construction should be linked to the creation of jobs.

We need a new national approach that motivates people to move to rural areas with specific conditions. I won't go into detail about what needs to be done in this regard. I believe that the government will address this issue and provide a report. However, the government and our deputies should submit their well-thought-out proposals in the near future. If we want to attract young professionals to the regions, we should also focus on families with children. 

And another thing. Last year, we were actively engaged in the improvement of territories, and we put order in many important facilities. We held two republican subbotniks. Now we need to pay attention to abandoned buildings. The government, the executive committee, and the military should work together. It is necessary to simplify all requirements and procedures as much as possible, reduce the time and cost of demolition, and involve the newly available land in the economy. All the necessary powers have been given, distributed, and documents have been signed. We need to shift the focus to the local level. The chairman of the district executive committee and the district executive committees should solve this problem in the districts, and perhaps the village councils should do so as well. This is their interest and area of responsibility.

The year of improvement is coming to an end, but the process itself is not. It remains under the President's control. 

 It doesn't matter what the goals and objectives of my visits to a particular region are. The first thing I evaluate is the managerial approach at any facility. There should be no neglected industries, villages, roads, or anything else. There should be none. Remember that Belarus is our common home. Order is the first thing to consider when discussing the basic principles of social development. Comfort is the quality of life, and the economy is people. People who have rebuilt our country.

It's been a long time since the war. The goals we define as our main objectives are always the answers to two simple questions: what do we expect from the government, and what are we willing and able to do to ensure that the government maintains a socially oriented plan that is familiar and comfortable to us? The answers to these questions are the country's future-oriented strategy.

Only a healthy person can take this road. We consider increasing life expectancy to be one of our strategic goals.

 We are investing huge resources in the development of healthcare, constantly opening new facilities, and sparing no expense on repairing medical institutions and purchasing modern medical equipment. In interdistrict centers, we perform surgeries that were previously only available in national research and practice centers, as I have witnessed firsthand, or in regional hospitals. Modern mobile medical stations are being deployed in rural areas. And many of them are domestically produced. We know how to do everything, but we don't always do it. The conditions for work have been created. Doctors' salaries have been increased as they demanded, but it's often a challenge to get to the right specialist. Especially in small towns and rural areas. I also read about this in these TikToks. We demand bread from the villagers and farmers, but they spend weeks waiting for consultations and diagnostic tests.

We have four medical schools, which is enough for a compact country like ours, but we still don't have enough doctors. Or do we? In Belarus, we have more doctors per thousand or ten thousand people than in the European Union. I can't remember the exact number. What else do we need?

 We're trying to solve this problem by hiring interns and young professionals, but they don't stay long. Why is that? I have a question for everyone in charge: do you understand what's happening in our industry? Understand. Together. The government and local authorities.

We have a permanent working group on medicine. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that all stages of medical care for people, from early detection of diseases to comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation, must be carried out within the optimal timeframe, regardless of the person's age or place of residence. After that, I would like to ask you a question. Recently, our top officials sent me a letter. "It is necessary to register all diplomatic employees in what we call the Presidential Hospital." Do you have a conscience? Why are you going to this hospital? It's not the best hospital in the country anymore. We have a lot of hospitals like that. I've already given you the presidential hospital, which everyone wanted to go to in Minsk. No, it's over there. For God's sake, I'm not getting treated there. Don't think that just because the President is there, it's a good place. Thank God, I've been spared from that hospital. I'm not lying there, so don't worry. And what about ordinary people?

The issue of the quality of medical care is a very sensitive and complex topic. It's complicated, just like a doctor's job. I understand that it is difficult to deal with people who diagnose themselves, are treated online, start the disease and then expect a miracle from the doctor. But patient complaints, which sometimes have to be dealt with by the Presidential Administration and other authorities, often have grounds.

We will always keep such requests under control. This is a matter of public confidence in the entire healthcare system, which is still working with dignity. Many people who returned from Poland and Lithuania appreciated this "garden of paradise."

As I said, the tooth needs to be treated in Belarus. It's high-quality and cheaper here. Well, let's go there and let them pull out your teeth and jaw. Why are you coming back here? We need to come in quietly, we don't have visas.

We have something to be proud of, and we don't need to trample everything we have into the mud.

Belarusian surgeons perform high-tech surgeries in cardiology, neurosurgery, traumatology, and transplantology. We make every effort to save the lives of children with the most severe prognoses. We have implemented and are improving innovative technologies in pediatric oncology. We keep a close eye on the development of reproductive medicine. In the past three years alone, our doctors have performed more than five thousand IVF procedures. Almost two thousand long-awaited babies have been born.

You know the situation. Today, all developed countries are facing an unprecedented decline in the birth rate and an aging population. Unfortunately, Belarus is no exception. The fact that our country maintains a leading position in the world in terms of providing medical care to mothers and children, and that we have maintained low rates of infant, child, and maternal mortality for a long time, is a huge achievement. We are the first in the world in this regard! However, this is not enough.

(Applause.)

In order to maintain the population, three babies should be born in families.

(Applause.)

Dear women! Give birth to three babies and demand anything from me.

(Applause.)

We have some people sitting on the Presidium, one at a time.

(Laughter in the audience.)

Yes, in terms of material incentives, enough has been done.

 Before the birth of a child, expectant mothers are provided with free full medical care, we pay substantial child benefits, a family capital is provided, we keep the possible minimum tariffs for kindergartens, subsidizing them from the budget. Listen, well, in general, from infancy until they graduate from university, they are provided for by the state.

What's wrong? Education. It's a lot of money. We spend a lot of money to get an education in school and to get into a university. Look, I used to go to university and then get a second education. It was always difficult to get into an economics department after graduating from university. But now, you don't need anything. To give everyone an equal opportunity, I decided to send people to agricultural universities and other universities. What else do you need? Get a grip on yourself and go learn. But if you don't learn, what kind of specialist are you? And what right do you have to demand from the government: we need a thousand dollars or two thousand (salary. - Approximately)? We can't. We are not the Soviet Union, which had a huge amount of oil and gas, and we are not Russia, where you can sell, get, and then divide. You have to earn money. As we say, it's about human capital. And in order to earn money, you have to study, study, and study some more, as the great Vladimir Ilyich said. But this is as old as the world. So, before you demand anything from anyone, especially from me or the government, look in the mirror and work hard. 

(Applause.)

Yes, I ask women to give birth to three, at least three, but no less important are the working conditions for women who have come out of maternity leave, and the attitude towards them. We have a whole problem for the employer. Ah, she will go, give birth, and then what to do with her? Nothing to do. The second one is to give birth to the third. In the current demographic situation, it is criminal even to think that young mothers are a headache for the employer. But it's not always just about economic measures. I often say that you can't force people to have children with money. And the experience of the last decade has proven this. The most challenging aspect is dealing with the stereotypes that are being imposed through the internet, movies, and advertisements. We need to consider the impact of the image of a successful, single-parent businessperson on the minds of young people. We can't ignore these global trends or shut ourselves off from them. The trend towards non-traditional families is a similar issue. It all feels like a global project against humanity.

But what's stopping us from creating our own national stereotype? We've already gone through this. The Belarusian stereotype. We need to bring the image of the mother-woman back to the pedestal.

 Today, she can be both business-minded and successful. Even with three or more children.

(Applause.)

 There are examples in politics, sports, and other fields. This is a matter of the future for us and our descendants. There can be no Belarus, no country of Belarus, without Belarusians. We need people. This is the main issue, and I am openly discussing it.

Active longevity is an equally important goal, if not more so, than having children.

 It is largely a result of the lifestyle we choose. By the end of 2030, every fifth Belarusian will be over the age of 65, at the current rate. Everyone knows the recipe for a long and fulfilling life. It is physical activity and sports. At least. I won't go into detail about the extensive efforts made to promote an active lifestyle. These include well-equipped courtyards, cycling paths, and sports facilities across the country.

We've never had such opportunities to engage in any kind of sports. Who uses them and how they use them is a personal matter (as the Administration has written to me). It's not a personal matter at all. We don't value our health, and then we spend a lot of money and pay the appropriate categories of doctors to help you, to protect you from this disease. Do you remember this pandemic? If you don't remember, I remember it well. I often give this example when I came to the intensive care unit with the Minister, and when I went in, there were mountains of people lying there. Their bellies were up to the ceiling, and there wasn't a single thin person. Excess weight is a disaster. I'm telling you. I know what I'm talking about.

The second equally important priority, which connects the interests of the state and society, is the quality of education.

 It all starts at school. In 2025, our students became the absolute winners of the International Geography Olympiad. In the Mathematics Olympiad, the Belarusian team took 5th place out of 110 countries, ahead of all European nations. 

(Applause.)

 The export of educational services has reached 115 million dollars. But this is far from the limit. Only in the 25th year, 35 thousand foreign students study here. The geography is 120 countries.

And wherever I go, even in big countries, even in the People's Republic of China, it's about education. Can you take these, or can you take these, these, and these? Yes, some people say, "Here are the grants, let's use our money." But when I meet people who speak our native language, Russian, in Africa, Zimbabwe, and Algeria, I think the Soviet Union did a great job. They had enough grants to train qualified professionals. Today, they are the leaders of their countries. Therefore, it is our asset in any country. It is a good asset that helps us to promote our economy in these countries later. But the most important thing is the accessibility of domestic education for Belarusians. And we are world leaders here. By accessibility. In the short term, we need to focus on increasing the flexibility of the vocational education system. The adjustment of educational standards and plans should be carried out in a short time. To meet the needs of customers and the requirements of the economy. It is necessary to continue to reduce the training time for specialists, but taking into account the intensification of training. Getting a higher education or a vocational education is not a walk in the park; it's a real challenge. After lunch, students should work in laboratories, institutions, and enterprises. Then, employers won't say that young people don't know about real production. And it's possible to pay some money to students. We just need to think about how to do it correctly. However, it's important to understand that young people have a demand for up-to-date knowledge. This is a reality that domestic schools and universities must meet, especially today, when high technology is deeply integrated into all aspects of our lives, setting new requirements. We must take into account that today the leading world powers are actively developing national strategies in the field of artificial intelligence. Belarus has its own scientific school with deep traditions in mathematics and information technology. We have researchers, engineers, and developers of world-class. 

It is the new generation of specialists who are the main focus of the education system.

 We need to train more nano- and biotechnologists, architects, high-quality designers, and others. Starting from next academic year, BSU will begin training tomorrow's specialists in the field of natural sciences. This experience should be scaled up throughout the country, taking into account the profiles of our universities. I hope that the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus will not be left out of this work. Together with the Government, you have been tasked with making specific proposals in the next month to increase the role of our academy, taking into account our conversations. Without creating scientific dependency or wasting resources.

Speaking about the development of the state's legal regulation sphere, I will focus on the concept of justice, which we often talk about. And yes, the demand for justice in modern society is only growing. However, this is a two-way street. We all want to live and work under the protection of the law. Is this a fair request? Yes. The state, as a system, requires compliance with this law. Is this fair? Of course. The level of public involvement in the law-making process plays a crucial role in this matter of mutual responsibility. The country's Constitution has been reviewed three times in our history by a collective opinion, and changes to the Basic Law have been adopted by the people. By an absolute majority of votes. The Constitution defines the basic tenets of state development and our ideology. And any attempt to destroy them, to bring confusion into people's lives, entails criminal liability.

Our laws are no different from any other laws in the world. But some people decided to "sniff out" Western democracy, giving in to their emotions. Today, they have repented, as I said, and they want to return home.

 I would like to emphasize once again that the Constitution enshrines the political will of the majority. The law protects us, and we follow it. This is a simple and objective formula for a legal state, which is what Belarus is. This is how we understand our Belarusian model of democratic development.

I am absolutely convinced that it is necessary to involve the population more actively in the discussion of changes in legislation. We have a powerful resource - our National Assembly. I would like to draw the attention of the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic to two points. The first. You work locally, including with voter appeals, meet with people, and know about the mood in society. On the one hand, it is an opportunity to monitor how laws work in practice, on the other hand, to involve people in the discussion of new projects. The more opinions we hear, the closer we will be to the optimal result. And anyway, we have to work with people so that they don't reproach us for the fact that the law is bad or the law is not the right one. Although it's clear that the law is the law. There are no bad or good laws. The law is the law. It must be obeyed. But we have to work with people. 

We are Slavs, and we are used to being talked to, and for the government to talk to its people. Listen, our people are like this (I remember this from my time as a deputy) - even if you don't help them, but you talk to them like a human being, they will be grateful to you. Don't forget this simple truth.

 Secondly, this applies to the leaders of the Parliament - you have created numerous groups, commissions, and expert councils. You constantly meet and discuss various matters. Well, this is probably the right approach. But often, after such advice, you come to the President with initiatives to clarify a point, a paragraph, an article, and so on. That's why I'm talking about the systematization of legislation. I have instructed that the regulations and laws be reviewed. This has been done on a large scale, but it should not be a one-time event. The review of legislation should be carried out on an ongoing basis, because life is changing very quickly, especially now. The laws are lagging behind this change.

A few words about the role of the All-Belarusian People's Assembly in the process of legal regulation. Dear friends, you have a high status. This is the trust of the people you represent. As delegates, you are authorized to make the most important decisions, from economic issues and the formation of higher courts to matters of peace and security. At this meeting, you will make personnel decisions that will significantly update the Constitutional and Supreme Courts. This is not just about rejuvenating the judiciary. 

The Belarusian People’s Congress must ensure the inviolability of the constitutional order, the continuity of generations, and civil harmony. If you will, you are a school. You are the future.

 It is from this depth, Alexander Nikolaevich (Deputy Chairman of the All-Belarusian People's Assembly Alexander Kosinets. - Note), that future personnel should be drawn. He keeps coming and saying, "What should we do? Should we control? Should we collect? And we will..." Stop all these gatherings! Everyone should carry this high title of member of the People's Assembly like a banner. You are the future of our country.

(Applause.)

We must see in you the future leaders, future ministers, chairmen of district executive committees, governors. Because I am sure that almost one hundred percent of you are patriots of our country, which is very much in demand today.

(Applause.)

You, as it was said in the war and after, must lead the way. You have no right, as I feel and understand, to be bad people. You cannot lag behind in your work. You must not be at the back of the line. You must not be trailing behind. You must be at the forefront. This is the task of our VENES officers. And then, you must understand. Yes, the Seventh All-Belarusian People's Assembly, but remember the first one. At that time, the question was whether to be or not to be. Thank God, he gave me the idea to turn to this people's assembly. As a historian, I understood that we needed to gather people and gain their support. After the first Belarusian People’s Congress, cars were being overturned on the streets.

You can see this in the newsreels. But the situation began to change dramatically, in my opinion, in 1996. It began to change. This is something to be admired (and you will appreciate it in the future), the All-Belarusian People's Assembly. In a difficult moment, they said, "No. We support this weak President, we elected him, and we must move forward, forward and only forward, without stopping."

(Applause.)

That's what we exist for. Well, and then. Although I'm often criticized for this, when I say, well, I'm not eternal. Yes, we've created a system, a lot hangs on the President, thank you for supporting me. If it weren't for this support, a lot wouldn't be in the country. It's all up to you.

(Applause.)

But I'm a departing President. I can't be President forever. And I don't need to. But as a President who has done a lot for the country, together with you... I can't help but worry about what will happen next. You are the stabilizers of our society. No presidents, no parties, no groups, no deputies, or others can break what we have created together. Yes, we will make changes. You will make changes. But you must guide the country, set it on the right path, and encourage it to move forward. No silly zigzags or fluctuations. If you need to bypass an obstacle, you'll decide what to do here on this platform. That's what you're here for. You're not here to run around the country and control things. Who are you going to control? There are high-ranking officials, district executive committee chairmen, governors, members of the government, and deputies here. Are you going to control yourselves? Everything is set up and in place. You need to act in this direction. And you and I, this is another task, we must find our place, our constitutional place in this life. But we must proceed from the big tasks that we will solve. Well, that's it. I will think about these issues again in the near future. And maybe by the next meeting of our All-Belarusian People's Assembly, I will express my point of view more specifically on the future of the All-Belarusian People's Assembly. But this is in general. No need for small talk, as the scientists say. No need to focus on trivial matters. This is not our concern. 

We are created to solve global problems. God forbid, I often say: look around, I'll tell you what's going on. And what if there's a war? Well, we can say that the President is the Commander-in-Chief, and he will make the decision. But for this decision to come from the people, we must make it ourselves. We can either surrender or defend our country. Listen, don't worry about the country. Don't worry about the country. Protect your children. Protect your family. Men, protect your beloved woman, after all. This is our country and our homeland. This is what is needed from us today and tomorrow.

(Applause.)
 Similar goals should be set by all public organizations and parties.

 This is the time. Protecting interests in Belarus is the top priority. Foreign agents and extremists will no longer operate in our political field. This is also a matter of justice.

So, when I let someone go, whether it's to Lithuania, Poland, or further south, don't worry. It's my responsibility and authority. You elected me, so let me fulfill my duties. And you, at every workplace, as I say, fulfill yours, quietly and peacefully. We'll resolve all issues. With the Americans, the Chinese, the Russians, and the Africans. If I'm wrong about something, well, the elections are coming up. That's the essence of democracy. If we start tormenting each other now, trying to figure out who did what right or wrong, we'll create chaos in society.

I'm saying this on purpose. When the negotiations with the Americans began (maybe we'll talk about this topic, I was sent questions, I'll talk about it in more detail later), when we started this dialogue with the Americans, some... I even told Ivan Kubrakov: Look at our guys, the riot police and others, who stood at the forefront and defended the country. They say: "Well, that's why, here they are, they need to be "soaked" there, not released from prison." Well, guys... Well, they'll stay for another year or two. Some of them are running out of time. Remember, after the last game, everyone was saying, "Oh, Luca tricked everyone, he let those guys out who were supposed to be released in two months." Well, guys, you asked me to let them out, and I did. But they were right, they only had two months left.