On June 17, Minsk /BelTA correspondent/. There should be neither a sharp increase in prices nor a sharp rise in wages in Belarus. This was stated by the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko today at a press conference for central and regional Belarusian media, BelTA reports. The President recalled that pensions had already been increased in June by his decision. Pensions will be raised in August, then in autumn "we will raise pensions once more, if there is an opportunity, we will index them once more this year," said Alexander Lukashenko. "We will bring pensioners, students, and the public sector to approximately the same level as before this hype, we will bring them up, so do not buy anything in advance," he said. As for enterprises, they should also increase wages with restraint. Just as there should be no sharp rise in prices, there should be no sharp rise in wages. "If we start raising wages at a furious pace now, expect a new wave of inflation," the President warned. This could lead to prices rising immediately. Therefore, wages should be increased gradually, which is currently being done in the public sector. The private sector should also focus on this. "And we will calmly, within a few months, in the absence of this hype and clamor, reach the level we should be at, in order to calmly build our lives, this is the most important thing," emphasized the head of state. Moreover, there is no reason for hype now, prices are already high, he believes. The head of state advised those who criticize the authorities for the current situation to come up with proposals. "Are you criticizing? Make proposals!" he urged. All ways out of this situation are known, there have been many of them in the world, Alexander Lukashenko believes. "We need to choose one of them and adapt the country to it," the President believes. "There are absolutely no identical paths. Only a fool would follow the path that Russia once took, and some other states. We must, based on our course, based on our policy, based on the demands of our people, adapt this or that path." According to the President, the country has chosen a path of calm exit from this situation. After the first half of the year, when the statistical results are available, "we will move even faster," Alexander Lukashenko is confident. -0-

BelTA