MINSK, 17 June (BelTA) – There should be neither a price hike nor a sharp salary increase in Belarus, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said in a press conference for central and regional Belarusian mass media on 17 June, BelTA has learnt. The President reminded that the pensions were increased in June upon his instruction. There will be another increase in August, followed by one in autumn; if there is a possibility, they might be indexed again this year, Alexander Lukashenko said. “We will bring pensioners, students, the government sector to the level that was before the panic buying, therefore do not buy things for future use,” he said. Employers should also raise salaries moderately. There should not be a sharp rise in salaries. “If we start increasing salaries manifold, we will get a new wave of inflation,” the President warned. This will push the prices up immediately. Therefore, salaries should be raised gradually, that is being done now by state-run companies. The private sector should follow suit. “Within several months, provided there is no speculative demand and panic, we will be where we should be and go on with our life, that is what matters most,” the head of state underlined. There is no ground for panic buying, the prices are high enough, the head of state added. He suggested that those who criticize the authorities should put forward their proposals. “You criticize? Suggest something!” the President urged. All the solutions are well-known, there are many of them in the world. “We need to pick up one of them and adjust our country to it. There are no same ways. Only a fool can follow the path once passed by Russia or other states. We need to adjust one or another way to our policy, our course and requirements of our people,” the President said. According to Alexander Lukashenko, the country has opted for a smooth way out of the situation. When H1 is over, when statistical data are available, “we will move even faster,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

БЕЛТА