Lukashenka Issues Call For More Babies

Lukashenka said he was confident the country can feed 30 million people (file photo) (AFP) 8 February 2006 -- Belarus' President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has called on Belarusian families to have a minimum of three children.

He said that the territory of Belarus is far from small, yet the country has only 10 million people.

"What kind of security can one talk of, if there is nobody to defend the country?" he said.

Lukashenka said he was convinced Belarus "will be able to feed 30 million people" and said the government should find ways to support families with three or more children.

(belta.by, Interfax, ITAR-TASS)