Chernobyl to remain in forefront of Belarus, Ukraine Emergencies Services cooperation
Chernobyl-related issues continue to be the main focus of the cooperation between the Emergencies Services of Belarus and Ukraine in 2009-2011, said Emergencies Minister of Belarus Enver Bariev and Emergencies Minister of Ukraine Vladimir Shandra commenting on the results of the session of the joint Belarusian-Ukrainian committee on cooperation in the area of emergencies prevention and response that was held in Gomel.
The participants of the briefing pointed out the high efficiency of the interaction of governmental bodies both on the regional and central level. An interrupted exchange of information on radiation and ecological issues has been established; cross border cooperation has been developed with a view to providing a more efficient emergency prevention and response during fire and flood seasons; a database of potentially dangerous enterprises has been set up.
The heads of the Belarusian and Ukrainian Ministries have signed a plan of action for the committee to follow in 2009-2011. The sides remain committed to the projects they have launched on the emergency prevention and response. The Chernobyl-related issues will remain in the forefront of this cooperation. This cooperation includes the further information exchange, a closer cross border cooperation for the liquidation of fires in forests and peatbogs, implementation of scientific projects.
Apart from that, the plan includes new areas of cooperation. In particular, the exchange of expertise in the liquidation of major natural and man-made disasters, like yellow phosphorus leakage in the Lvov oblast of Ukraine, petroleum leakage in the Western Dvina on the territory of Belarus. Apart from that, the cooperation between the Emergencies Services of the two countries will help them get ready to give response to climatic risks caused by global warming. One of the examples is the recent disaster in the Carpathian region that brought the colossal damage to Ukraine.
