On February 7, Minsk /BELTA correspondent/. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko believes that within a year to a year and a half, the population's wage level may return to its pre-crisis level. He expressed this opinion on February 6, while receiving a report from the Chairperson of the Board of the National Bank, Nadezhda Ermakova, BELTA was informed by the press service of the Belarusian leader. "With the normal functioning of the economy, and if the work collectives work normally, within a year to a year and a half, we will not only return to the previous positions in terms of people's wages, but we can also surpass them," said the head of state. "We have the opportunity to earn decent money so that people feel an improvement in life, and this is already happening. And I think that if we get through this difficult winter normally, I mean, so that we don't have to re-sow crops due to frost and so on, then we will find this money." "But we must not print money under any circumstances, this is absolutely excluded," emphasized the President. The head of state has been informed about the state of affairs in the foreign exchange market, the situation with lending to the economy, including housing construction, and other state programs. "I must say that you are working quite well with bankers and the government in terms of implementing the programs we have outlined to stabilize the situation," noted Alexander Lukashenko. According to him, the current situation in the country's economy is stable. "At this time, as far as I am informed, we have not spent gold and foreign exchange reserves; on the contrary, they have increased, and we have the opportunity to increase them. The other issue that arises today is that we should not keep excess money in reserves after all - it should work in the economy. But nevertheless, as much as is needed should be available so that we do not have cataclysms in the future," said the President. Alexander Lukashenko also drew attention to the high bank rates on issued loans. "Credit resources are very expensive. The economy, naturally, cannot tolerate such a situation with loans for a long time," said Alexander Lukashenko. "Therefore, the refinancing rate of the National Bank must be gradually reduced. We must give normal signals to our country's economy, economic entities, and in fact, the rate should be lower, because with the current rate, it is impossible to talk about any intensive development of the economy."