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Lukashenka: We try to make sure than only those who are devoted to the country come to power

Belarus is ruled by the people, which is why "we try to make sure than only those who are devoted to the country" come to power, Alyaksandr Lukashenka said on Thursday while introducing Andrey Kabyakow, the newly appointed head of the Presidential Administration, to the agency's staff.

These people should be "the utmost professionals with deep state thinking," he said. "There may be no accidental people here."

Mr. Kabyakow served Belarus and its people with distinction in very different settings, including supervisory agencies, the Council of Ministers, the Presidential Administration and the diplomatic corps, Mr. Lukashenka said.

"Staffing is a top priority for any manager, including the president," Mr. Lukashenka said. "Staffing issues always require special attention, discernment and sometimes pinpoint accuracy, especially when making appointments to the highest government positions in our country, including the position of head of the Presidential Administration."

Mr. Lukashenka stressed that the Presidential Administration was not one of many governmental agencies but "the presidential headquarters, an analytical think tank that drafts directives crucial to the country's fate."

This makes the position of "chairman of this headquarters" so much more responsible, he stressed. Its holder should "be not just a professional but a systemic person, highly organized on the inside, responsible, honest and a patriot of his country," he said.

According to Mr. Lukashenka, these and some other considerations caused him to put Mr. Kabyakow in charge of the Presidential Administration.

The position became vacant on August 20, when Uladzimir Makey was transferred to the post of foreign minister.

Prior to his appointment on August 27, Mr. Kabyakow served as ambassador to the Russian Federation and Belarus' permanent representative to the Eurasian Economic Community. //BelaPAN