MINSK – Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has again said there will be no sweeping privatization in his country.

“You guys and those who are next to you – though women are still holding their heads – don’t hope for any sort of privatization. Don’t hope that we will keep a slack hand and everyone from president to deputy will buy some share of public property. This will not happen as long as I am president,” Lukashenko said in his annual message to the nation and National Assembly.