Honored Doctor of the Republic of Belarus - on the evolution of the All-Belarusian People's Assembly

Honored Doctor of the Republic of Belarus - on the evolution of the National National Academy of Sciences and why a person is always at the heart of any state decision

The All-Belarusian People’s Assembly became a key stage in the evolution of the Belarusian model of democracy. Lyudmila Makarina-Kibak, Director of the Institute of Genetics and Cytology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, told about how the nature of the work of the VNS has changed, what personal responsibility delegates feel when voting for fateful strategic documents and why a person is always at the heart of any state decision. Having found the forum in different periods of its development and heading the relevant parliamentary commission, she shared her personal experience of large-scale state work.

- First of all, it is a feeling of great pride in our country and an understanding of colossal responsibility. It was obvious that extremely serious, competent people gathered in the hall to make strategic decisions that determine the vector of development of the state. As a doctor, I was particularly pleased with the anticipation that the key attention at the state level will traditionally be paid to the care of citizens and the modernization of the social sphere. We are clearly aware that we are voting for policy documents that will directly affect the future of every citizen of Belarus.

- Many delegates claim that the atmosphere in the Palace of the Republic on the opening day of the forum is filled with unique energy. How would you describe this inner state to someone who has never been there?

- This is a unique opportunity for personal communication with the most iconic figures of our country. Before the official opening, the atmosphere of anticipation of large-scale tasks reigned on the sidelines, which we later had to implement. And after the completion of the official part, no one was in a hurry to disperse: everyone exchanged views.

But the main feeling after each meeting is a firm belief that the cornerstone of public policy is always a particular person. All theses of the Head of State on the quality of life, demography, development of the polyclinical network and availability of medical care confirm this sincere concern. Q: What did you feel more when you received the mandate – pride in trust or the burden of a huge responsibility to the voters?

- At first, there was definitely a sense of pride. However, at the last people’s meeting, when the SNC gained a new constitutional status, the scales swung markedly towards colossal responsibility. We were aware that our voices now had a direct impact on our national security. The status of a delegate has changed: people have entrusted you with the right to speak on their behalf, so personal responsibility for each decision has increased many times over.

- It is obvious that during the breaks between meetings you actively communicated with colleagues. Was your professional interest limited to medical matters?

- Of course, as a doctor, I often communicated with colleagues in the health care system. We have always waited with special trepidation for Alexander Lukashenko’s speech to hear his assessment of our work. As head of the relevant commission on health, physical culture, family and youth policy, I was responsible for a huge layer of work. It was critical to understand what new prevention or high-tech surgical care challenges the agency would face.

At the same time, the circle of communication was not limited to medicine. We were interested in the issues of education and youth policy, which, after updating the Constitution, is given increased attention, as well as prospects for the development of domestic tourism in the republic. Evolution of People’s Power and New Status – You have found the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly in different periods of its development. To what extent do you feel that at the Sixth Convocation, the professional and departmental barriers between scientists, doctors and workers have been erased in order to achieve general agreement?

There was no difference in status or profession in the room. The forum elects the most motivated people who sincerely support the systematic development of the state. Every delegate understands the enormous burden of responsibility: you do not represent yourself personally, but the citizens who elected you stand behind you.

Regardless of whether the participant is an academic or a simple worker, the general realization comes: the vector of movement of the country depends on the consolidated vote. Therefore, decisions are made uniformly, clearly calibrated, based on a common understanding of goals. — Do you think that it was the experience of previous convocations that laid the solid foundation, thanks to which the VNS naturally acquired its current constitutional status? How did the depth of documents and perception of the forum at the VII convocation change when it became the highest organ of democracy?

- Of course, the foundation has been laid for years. Before working in Parliament, I headed the RSPC otorhinolaryngology. When forming plans for the next five-year plan, we, the heads of the republican scientific and practical centers, clearly analyzed the results achieved and laid new guidelines that allow domestic medicine to meet the world level, and in a number of areas to surpass it. Preparatory work at the expert level was so deep and multi-stage (the draft documents were repeatedly returned to us for revision and revision), that in the meeting room to argue on the basic theses no longer had to.

Questions, of course, were asked. As a rule, they were voiced by delegates from other fields of activity who wanted to clarify details, shift emphasis or propose new ideas on specific areas of work. This has always made the discussion lively and constructive. On the eve of a large-scale change in the Constitution, we, parliamentarians, carried out colossal explanatory work with the population. Therefore, the transformation of the Supreme Council in the VII convocation and giving it additional strategic powers were perceived by society as an absolutely logical and habitual step in the evolution of democracy.

At the same time, the status of the decisions themselves has changed qualitatively: now the approved concept and seven national priorities are not advisory, but mandatory for strict implementation. But what has remained absolutely unchanged and consistent with previous convocations is the focus on the person, his safety and quality of life. Traditionally, any people’s meeting begins with fundamental issues of state security, which act as the main guarantor of the well-being of every citizen. Responsibility for decisions and strategic vision - At the VI convocation, the program of socio-economic development for the five-year period was approved, and at the VII convocation - the most important strategic documents: the Concept of National Security and the Military Doctrine. How difficult was the moment of voting for decisions that directly affect the security of the country and the future of millions of citizens?

- Psychologically, this required maximum concentration and awareness. Now, as director of the Institute of Genetics and Cytology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, on the basis of which the National Coordination Center for Biosafety operates, I faced this task directly. Employees of our Institute directly participated in the preparation of a new section of the concept – “Biological safety”. Therefore, going to the meeting, we thoroughly knew the essence of the documents.

The topic of biosafety has always been extremely serious, but after the coronavirus pandemic and the special path that Belarus has chosen in the fight against infection, an even deeper understanding of the risks has come. This time, the approach was unprecedentedly rigorous: each delegate understood that peace was behind the approved language. There will be peace, there will be everything else. Voting at the VII convocation imposed a huge responsibility, because behind every word of the concept there is an obligation to its unconditional implementation.

- What is the main thing that a person learns from his experience as a delegate of the WNC? Can we say that this status forms a special strategic vision, helping to correlate local affairs with the interests of the entire Belarusian state in everyday life?

- As a practitioner, I always say that surgeons think specifically. From the first steps of your profession, you realize that human life directly depends on every action you take on the operating table – and these are not big words, but everyday reality, where one mistake leads to serious consequences. In the same way, thinking and organization of work are built in big politics. The only difference is that in surgery, the result is visible immediately, and on a state scale, you are responsible for prolonged action, and not for one patient, but for millions of citizens.

There are tens of thousands of voters behind him. The delegate of the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly has labor collectives and public associations that sent him and are waiting for concrete results.

Delegate status teaches us that there are no secondary issues. If the problem is voiced, it should be comprehensively considered, consult with experts, make an informed decision and put a clear point. The VNS is just that unique place where you clearly see: the task will be solved by the forces of the whole republic and the general well-being of the country is formed, including from your personal participation. The experience of participation in the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly clearly demonstrates that public administration in our country is based on the principles of continuity, the highest expert responsibility and the consolidation of society. Regardless of the professional sphere, each delegate contributes to the formation of a safe, stable and prosperous future of Belarus, where the main value is always the person.

slav@sb.by