On December 2, Ivacevichi District / Vladimir Matveev - BELTA /. Belarus will reduce agricultural subsidies to 10% of the gross output in this sector. This was stated by the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko today during a working trip to the Ivacevichi District of the Brest Region, according to a BELTA correspondent. "We have undertaken commitments within the Customs Union, the Single Economic Space - Russia and Kazakhstan will also reduce them, and so will we. By the way, their assistance is 10%, while ours is 18%. We need to reach 10%, and this is the right way," said Alexander Lukashenko. "It is time to stop sitting and waiting for someone else to give you loans or for the budget to help. Yes, we will help, but the assistance will be reduced," warned the head of state. Alexander Lukashenko also emphasized that it is mandatory to repay borrowed loans. "A strict requirement: all loans you have taken must be repaid to banks and the budget. You will repay the money, there will be no loan write-offs," the President stated. As reported, speaking at the House of Representatives the other day, Vice-Premier Sergey Rumas stated that in connection with the obligations undertaken by the Belarusian side within the Single Economic Space, by 2017 the "troika" countries must harmonize their legislation on agricultural support. In particular, subsidies should not exceed 10%. -0-

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