MINSK, February 11. /TASS/. Belarusian President and chairman of the All-Belarusian People's Assembly, or ABPA, Alexander Lukashenko will deliver his annual speech to the nation and parliament at the Assembly’s session in April.
"The speech is both a report to the nation and a vision for the future, as well as responses to the most vital and pressing questions, the president said at a meeting of the ABPA presidium, as quoted by the BelTA news agency. "The country is living through a five-year period of quality and has entered a Year of Rejuvenation. The last year of the five-year period (2021-2025) is coming to a close. It explains the complexity and thoroughness of the tasks we are facing."
According to the Belarusian leader, another issue on the Assembly’s agenda is linked with its new constitutional powers. The prime minister will for the first time deliver a report on the implementation of programs of the country’s socio-economic development. "The head of government will not only report about what has been done but will also outline the strategies of the socio-economic development program for the next five-year period," Lukashenko noted.
Apart from that, the ABPA will make a series of personnel decisions. Under the existing procedure, the president offers candidates for Supreme Court judges who are to be endorsed by the Assembly. "You have the list [of candidates]. These people will be introduced by representatives of the Constitutional and Supreme Courts. If you support them, the issue of their election will be put on the Assembly meeting’s agenda," Lukashenko noted.
Another topic is the ABPA structural organization and commissions. This topic, according to the Belarusian president, is a contentious issue so far. "You can recall the dispute at the previous presidium meeting. I asked the presidium and the head of the presidential administration to work on these matters. I hope we will discuss them and make a decision," he noted.
He called for tackling these matters seriously to avoid mistakes. "Importantly, we must not pit one government body against others and all of them against the ABPA. Like pioneers, we are breaking ground to shape a structure for years to come. And the effectiveness and authority of the assembly and other state administration bodies will largely depend on these decisions," Lukashenko emphasized.