On January 18, Minsk /Lyudmila Sats - BELTA/. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has demanded that the government not increase the cost of housing and communal services in Belarus by more than $5 per year. The Head of State stated this today at a meeting on the development of the Belarusian economy, as reported by a BELTA correspondent. Addressing the government members present at the meeting, the President said: "If you see that somewhere we need to make adjustments, up to and including unpopular utility services, then appropriate decisions can be made, but you have $5." At the same time, Alexander Lukashenko recalled that our population pays significantly less for housing and communal services than in EU countries. "This is a benefit for us. If some enterprise operates at a loss somewhere, please consider it, but do it carefully, do not offend people," the President said. He also demanded: "Do not come to me with any price proposals until I see how much one cubic meter of water, one cubic meter of gas, one kWh of electricity, the cost of removing 1 ton of garbage, etc. costs." "When I see the real price, where the fat has been skimmed off from communal services, from electricity supply organizations, gas supply organizations, then I will make my decision," the President added. According to him, today energy and gas workers are not the poorest people, and their luxurious life is one of the components of the cost price that is proposed to be paid by the population and enterprises. "So let's see, maybe somewhere we need to tighten our belts," Alexander Lukashenko suggested and added that he is a supporter of a strict economy, because the economy operates according to objective laws. "We can tighten the screw for a period, but then we will have to loosen it, there is no way around it. The economy must be based on normal, honest, objective information. And we must proceed from this. And we must not put pressure on people," Alexander Lukashenko stated and noted that the population needs to be supported in this situation. Alexander Lukashenko expects that Mikhail Myasnikovich, who was recently appointed Prime Minister of Belarus, will successfully resolve these issues. "The current Prime Minister once dealt with these issues in his youth, and he knows the cost structure of water and gas. And the Vice-Premier (Anatoly Kalinin. - BELTA's note) knows well where water comes from and how much it costs," the Head of State emphasized. -0-

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