Republic

Premier: 2007 budget is budget for the people

The 2007 budget is a budget for the people, Belarus’ premier Sergei Sidorskiy told reporters today. The wording of the draft 2007 budget submitted to deputies is the most balanced of all that specialists have come up with. The 2007 budget parameters hinge on many external factors, he said, which have been taken into account. “The head of state has said that we are building the state for the people. This is why every year the budget is formed also for the people,” the premier said. “This is implemented through programs approved by the head of state rather than simply by means of going from what has been achieved to a better result. These are well-balanced programs which correspond to the state of development of our economy,” he added. Next year’s budget is set to meet the socio-economic targets of the country, which were approved at the Third All-Belarus People’s Congress. It is right to connect the development of the Belarusian economy with the price of energy, but this is not the main thing. The main thing is that Belarus’ companies develop fruitfully and that they modernize. This is why the draft 2007 national budget envisages financing for Belarusian exporters to support them and the development of the economy in general. Over 60 per cent of the budget funds will be channeled to finance social programs and, first of all, those coined to help children, mothers and elderly people, Sergei Sidorskiy said. “We have envisaged enough funds in the budget to pay pensions and to ensure social stability in the society,” he added.