Belarus does not see a strict need for IMF support, the country's President Alexander Lukashenko said today . “We lived without the IMF and will continue to live. There is no need to worry too much that we will collapse. We will not collapse, as someone would like,” he assured. “If the IMF helps us, we’ll say thank you. They helped us with a small loan, we told them thank you, we’ll serve them, we’ll pay them back on time. If they don’t help, we’ll do without them,” the president emphasized.

Photo: Global Look Press

“The IMF is a political organization. That’s why they talk, they advise. Somewhere we listen, there is some fair criticism, there are normal proposals - we use them. But we will live with our own brains, we will do everything ourselves,” said A. Lukashenko .

The Belarusian president recalled the IMF statement, in which the organization emphasized the need for structural reforms in the economy. “These are structural reforms, but in the interests of those who hold the IMF. It would be better for them if we sold these enterprises. It doesn’t matter to whom, even, perhaps, to the citizens of Belarus. They will buy from them for a bottle, for something else ", noted the head of state.

“The IMF will work in the interests of the West, America. This is normal for them. And for us it is normal if it is normal for Belarusians, and in this vein I will act, no matter what it costs me. I am the Belarusian president, and I will remain so.” - said A. Lukashenko.

Previously, the Belarusian government expressed interest in a new cooperation program with the IMF. In May 2011 The state turned to the IMF with a request for new financing.

As Belarusian Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich stated then, in 2011. Belarus did not receive the support from the IMF that it was counting on. “Our actions last year, during this difficult period, were calculated on our own strengths, primarily on the competitiveness of the Belarusian economy, the stability of civil society and the responsibility of the authorities,” the Prime Minister noted.

In turn, the IMF previously stated that the provision of a new loan to Belarus depends on the authorities’ readiness for reforms and the position of the fund’s member countries.

Let us remind you that Belarus has been since January 2009. to April 2010 implemented the IMF stand-by program for $3.6 billion. In May 2011 The Belarusian government has asked the IMF to provide up to $7 billion in new financing.

A. Lukashenko: We lived without the IMF and will continue to live