MINSK ( BelTA) – The role of the state should be not to supervise, but to ensure there is a transparent pricing policy and common rules for all market participants, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a meeting to discuss the new price regulation system on 28 February, BelTA has learned.

“The role of the state from now on should be not to supervise, but to create clear-cut working conditions, common rules of behavior for all market participants. No one should come to you and ask you to regulate the price. Businessmen and manufacturers should set their own prices, but they should follow a certain track – a track of fairness. Have you worked it out?” Aleksandr Lukashenko asked.

“God forbid you to think that we can hold it until the new election, as it happens in other countries, and let it roll once the electoral campaign is over. It is capital punishment at once! I am warning you. No one will be allowed to fool people. I am personally responsible for this in the first place. Members of the government, governors will be held responsible in the second place,” the president said.

He agreed that this work requires a lot of effort and the matter is a complicated one. With the clear “supply and demand” scheme, however, everything will be simple. “It is a certain burden. Of course, it is much easier to do nothing. I will put it straight then: who cannot and do not want to do anything, leave your positions then. If you have no desire to work, then leave. I have not tied anyone down here. Today is the best moment to leave. There will not be backtracking, however,” the head of state said. “Almost all of us have come from rags. I definitely have. I know how ordinary people used to live. You are not ministerial children, either.”

“You haven't forgotten how ordinary people live, have you? Let us help them. Let us make those idling around work. I have made the corresponding instructions. I have given such orders. We have power in our hands. There is no need to talk about the European Union, the USA, Russia. We are no close to them. Russia, if it wants, will be the richest country. The USA can print as many dollars as they want. Europe is technologically advanced and well-built countries. Once normal leaders come, the European Union will work well. What should we do in this environment? Fight like in Ukraine? Everything starts with the economy. I am telling this for the 25th time already,” the Belarusian leader said.

The president has long ago instructed the government to develop a new fair pricing policy. However, what is meant by this fairness?

“First, for the consumer, the ordinary person, fairness lies in the absence of speculation and in a reasonable price for the final product. I'm not saying that should be no Gucci, Versace and so on. If you want it, you can buy imported goods. But we can produce a similar product,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “Second, for enterprises, for those who produce, fairness should take into account adequate profit. Profit is the price minus costs. If you want more profit, you should switch from a Mercedes to a local car. I am speaking a simple language here.”