Alexander Lukashenko

President of Belarus

Lukashenko was born on the 30th of August, 1954 in a settlement Kopys, Orsha district, Vitebsk province. Belarusian. Since his youth he had to put upon his own shoulders a considerable responsibility for the life of the family.

He successfully graduated from two educational establishments: historical faculty of the Mogilev Teachers' Training Institute (1975) and the Belarusian Agricultural Academy (1985) - one of the oldest higher educational establishments of the country. He was qualified as teacher of history, social science and economist of the agroindustrial sector.

Dynamism of the inquisitive personality of A.G. Lukashenko, keenly susceptible to faults of the reality, is reflected in the multiplicity of his interests, in quick gaining of knowledge and professional experience which are distinctive features of his inborn talent of a statesman. In 1975-1977 and afterwards in 1980-1982 A.G. Lukashenko served in the frontier troops of the Soviet Army. In 1977-1978 he worked in Komsomol and administrative bodies in the city of Mogilev. In 1978-1980 he was executive secretary of the Shklov District branch of the All-Union Society "Knowledge". From 1982

he worked as deputy chairman of a collective farm, deputy manager of the building materials factory, director of the "Gorodets" state farm of the Shklov District. Everywhere he works A.G. Lukashenko displays the initiative, achieves positive results, enjoys broad support in the workers' collectives.

In 1990 A.G. Lukashenko was elected People's Deputy of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Belarus. From the very first steps of his parliamentary activities he resolutely voiced criticism of leftist and rightist politicians revealing their weak points. He expressed with the utmost frankness his opinion about the problems of the complicated reality, he had an uncompromising attitude to demagogy, temporization, carelessness to the destinies of the people.

When holding the post of chairman of the Supreme Council commission on the examination of the activities of commercial structures which had been set up under the organs of state administration (April 1993 - July 1994) A.G. Lukashenko proved on the country's scale to be a bright tribune, an unbribable enemy of corruption, an independent deputy having his own position on the basic directions of reforms and democratization of the Belarusian society.

On the 10th of July 1994 as a result of the difficult election struggle with five contenders who were representing the whole spectrum of the country's political forces A.G. Lukashenko was elected President of the Republic of Belarus. He received more than 80 per cent votes of the electors who believed in his honesty, responsibility and capability to uphold the vital interests of the population. Under the conditions of the protracted crisis, decline in living standard A.G. Lukashenko was able to quickly form an energetic team and started consistent implementation of his pre-election

promises.

A.G. Lukashenko took over a most weakened country which was facing a great number of acute socio-economic problems. As a rule, A.G. Lukashenko's working day lasts 12-14 hours, but the President knows very well that it is not his own capacity for work that is decisive for progress but aim-oriented, organized toil and initiative of every citizen of the republic. The course he steers aimed at renewal, stabilization and advance in living standards has as its objective the transformation of Belarus into a prosperous country. Defining the strategy of the national development of the Republic of Belarus A.G. Lukashenko underscores that only the comprehensive and full integration of all countries of Europe and, first of all, the Slavonic states can resolve the problems of unemployment, poverty, education, health care, environmental safety. At the initiative of A.G. Lukashenko a referendum was held in May 1995 which approved the idea of integration with Russia, the new state symbols, attributed to the Russian language the status equal to that of the Belarusian language. What accounts for the prestige of the Belarusian President? It is his honesty and openness, simplicity and personal fascination, his constant mobility and willingness to discuss any problems with the people without any demagogy. The force of the Belarusian President lies in his devotion to his people. A man of immense energy, A.G. Lukashenko strives to settle every kind of problem. He constantly communicates with workers' collectives. He easily delivers improvised speeches before any audience. The dogmas of any political party are of no importance for A.G. Lukashenko, he is guided by the national interests of Belarus. The people of Belarus is his political party.

A.G. Lukashenko is the Commander-in-Chief of the Republic of Belarus Armed Forces, he heads the Security Council. In April 1996 he was elected Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Community of Russia and Belarus. In 1995 he was elected Honorary Academician of the Russian Academy of Social Sciences. In May 1997 he was elected President of the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus, the same year he became laureate of 1997 of the International Award named after M.A Sholokhov - " For the courageous political publicism and selfless position in the matter of protection of the national interests."

A.G. Lukashenko is married, his wife Galina Rodionovna is a civil servant working in the Shklov District Executive Committee. He has two sons - Viktor and Dmitry.

A.G. Lukashenko has always willingly indulged in sport. The Head of the State is sure that enormous psychological strain he undergoes every day and nervous stress can only be removed by actively going in for sport.

Although every minute of the President's time schedule is entered on the records he tries to find time amidst the state affairs to come up to a bookshelf. Reading books for him is a most pleasant occupation. He obtains satisfaction when he gets acquainted with technological novelties , with latest achievements of the scientific mind.