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16.12.2016

Lukashenko demands efficiency and impartiality from audit bodies

MINSK (BelTA) – Belarusian audit bodies should be careful and impartial in their work, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said at the session to discuss the results of the inspection in the State Control Committee on 16 December, BelTA has learned.

“You are aware of my instructions regarding the efficient use of budget funds and state-owned assets. The rational use of budget money is the guarantee of security in our country,” the President said. “We must live within our means and ensure maximum efficiency.”

Alexander Lukashenko remarked that the control over the budget expenditure and the use of state-owned assets is an objective need and one of the main functions of the state. “But it is essential to work carefully and impartially. There can be different forms of punishment ranging from reprimands to serious punitive sanctions and criminal cases. But these fines and reprimands for minor violations should not lead to the collapse or closing down of enterprises which have been paying taxes for years,” the head of state underlined.

The President cited one of the recent examples when Belkommunmash did not pay Br91 kopecks of taxes, and the tax authorities blocked the accounts of the industrial giant for several days. As a result, the enterprise sustained losses. “This issue is of paramount importance for the state, so the people who had blocked the operating account of the enterprise should have thought twice,” he said.

“It is essential to protect the interests of the state. This pertains to all audit bodies, especially the State Control Committee as it is authorized to carry out audit, fiscal, law enforcement, and financial investigative activities,” the Belarusian leader stressed. “Reckless approaches are inadmissible in the work of controlling bodies.”

Alexander Lukashenko emphasized that the direct subordination to the President and the authority that the State Control Committee has gained over the years determine the special status of this body. “This is the central body in the entire control and audit system. Your work should be an example for all auditors,” the President noted.

“I will not conceal that I am seriously concerned about certain facts included in the inspection report. These are the falsification of figures resulting from the lack of self-control, corruption cases involving the workers of state control bodies, careless attitude to work, etc.,” the head of state said. “I would say that the main thing is that state control agencies should not discredit themselves. Otherwise, we will lose control over the most important areas of development of the state.”

State control bodies were inspected by the interagency group led by the Prosecutor General following the President's instruction. “This has not been the first inspection campaign this year. The operation of the public prosecution office and other government agencies has been analyzed as well. We need to eliminate certain defects everywhere and focus on the improvement of work,” Alexander Lukashenko remarked.

“There are no closed topics in Belarus. The law is equal for everyone. Therefore, we sometimes analyze the operation of high-ranking officials and their performance,” the President stressed. “By initiating these inspections, I want to understand if the current system of the distribution of functions between government bodies is optimal and efficient.”