The Chornobyl subject will remain the main aspect of cooperation between the emergency ministries of Ukraine and Belarus in 2009 - 2011, ministers Volodymyr Shandra of Ukraine and Enver Bariev of Belarus said commenting the outcome of the meeting in Gomel of the Ukraine - Belarus commission for cooperation in prevention of emergencies and mitigation of their aftermath.
The participants in the news briefing pointed out the high efficiency of cooperation between the ministries both at the level of central bodies and regional departments. The ministries have arranged regular exchange of radiation and environment information, interaction of bordering regions to prevent and clean up emergencies over the period of fire and flood seasons, as well as created a data bank of potentially hazardous enterprises.
The two countries' emergencies ministers signed a plan of measures for the commission work in 2009 - 2011. The parties are planning to continue implementation of projects for the prevention and treatment of emergencies, the Chornobyl subject remaining the key aspect. This implies further development of information exchange, closer cooperation of border regions in combating forest and peatbog fires, preventive work among population, and implementation of scientific projects.
The ministries are determined to establish cooperation to reorient emergency services at preparing for climate risks in view of the global warming.
