Lukashenka: Service Provided – You Should Pay For It In Full

Belarusians are to face higher passenger fares and charges for public utility services.

It has been stated today by Aliaksandr Lukashenka during his meeting with the Chief of the International Monetary Fund Peter Dohlman, the press-service of the dictator informs.

Lukashenka noted that he was acquainted with the proposals of the IMF on prospects of relations with Belarus and on the key issues of the future agenda.

“I should say that not a single question, which had been offered, causes any aversion, any allergy in me,” – he stressed. As said by him, the proposals of the Fund are based upon absolutely objective economic laws.

“There is only formula: one should pay for services such as electricity, heat, transport and so on, in full,” the ruler said. Aliaksandr Lukashenka noted, that “the main issue is the terms”. “I do not think there will be strong misunderstanding regarding these terms and the terms in general, – Lukashenka assured. – We also want to implement the proposals we have worked out together in as short a time as possible.”

We remind that on November 9 the IMF Mission headed by Peter Dohlman started its work in Belarus. Until November 19 the experts of the Fund are going to evaluate the readiness of Belarusian authorities to reform the economy. In case of a positive evaluation Belarus could expect a financial support of the IMF. The amount of the possible credit program is up to $3 billion.

As it had been informed earlier, the IMF stated that they are ready to give a new loan to Belarus only in case of Minsk’s readiness to move along the path of profound reforms, aimed at increasing effectively of the national economy. In spring this year the Belarusian government with a support of the World Bank prepared and passed to the IMF the so-called road map on structural reforming the economy. Axed financing of state programmes, reforming the state-run sector, liquidation of cross-subsidisation, increase of transport fares and charges for public utility services were meant.

The IMF recommended Minsk to carry out the key reforms within 6-18 months.