Belarusian president urges efforts to develop oil production

MINSK, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Friday called for efforts to develop oil production in the country.

Fuel self-sufficiency has been one of the most important factors for the independence of Belarus, the head of state said in the city of Novopolotsk.

"I will not say that the sovereignty and independence of our state directly and only depend on the work of oil refineries, but this is one of the rather serious factors," Lukashenko said.

The president also said Belarus produces a little less than 2 million tons of high-quality oil per year.