5 December, Minsk /Svetlana Savko - BELTA/. It is inexpedient to reduce the number of village councils in the Vitebsk region. This was stated today by the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Council of Deputies, member of the Council for Interaction of Local Self-Government Bodies under the Council of the Republic, Alexander Atyasov, during a meeting with the chairmen of settlement and village councils of deputies at the Academy of Management under the President of Belarus, a BELTA correspondent reports. Alexander Atyasov noted that he had heard various opinions regarding the reduction of village councils in the regions of Belarus. As for the Vitebsk region, he believes it is inexpedient to reduce village councils here, stated the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Council. Village councils are at the forefront of solving issues of public welfare, and without their participation, it would be difficult for district authorities to engage in the improvement of settlements and support subsidiary farms, said Alexander Atyasov. At the meeting with the chairmen of settlement and village councils, the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Council spoke about some forms and methods of work of local self-government bodies in the Vitebsk region in solving issues of public welfare, and also answered questions. -0-

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