On May, 25 2006 the president of the Republic of Belarus signed an edict № 345 “On introducing alterations and additions to the edict of the president of the Republic of Belarus № 289 of May, 5 2006”.

According to the edict № 345 alterations are introduced into the structure of the government of the Republic of Belarus. Thus, the Head of Staff of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus is granted the status of a minister. This addition is made with regard to the fact that the Staff of the government is to bear the functions of organisation and control over the execution of decisions adopted by the Council of Ministers.

Besides, the edict specifies the order of appointing the heads of departments in relation to the appointment of such official in the system of the Ministry of the Internal Affairs and Defence Ministry directly by the president rather than by the Council of Ministers of the republic of Belarus with the agreement of the president.