SOCHI. May 15 (Interfax-AVN) - A two-day conference of heads of emergency situations agencies of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) nations began in the Russian resort of Sochi on Wednesday.
A spokesman for the Russian delegation told Interfax-Military News Agency that the conference was chaired by Russian Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu. "Heads of "emergency" agencies of the Black Sea region nations are to discuss the state of emergency facilities in their countries, assess possibility of occurrence of natural and man-caused disasters, as well as to consider outlooks for cooperation within the framework of the agreement between governments of the region on providing emergency relief and liquidating results of disasters," he said.
The spokesman added that participants in the conference were also to work out proposals on implementing the agreement.
According to him, "a special emphasis will be put on improving efficiency of responding to emergency situations and employment of high technologies in handling serious disasters, extinguishing fires and carrying out humanitarian mine-clearance."
Among the participants in the conference are heads of emergency situations agencies from Azerbaijan, Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Greece, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, Romania, Turkey and Ukraine.
The agreement on multilateral cooperation in preventing and managing natural and man-caused disasters in the Black Sea region was worked out at the 7th conference of ministers of the BSEC nations in Bucharest in April 1999 on Russia's initiative. The proposal enjoyed strong support of ministers and governments of the region's nations, as well as of the BSEC Parliamentary Assembly.
The document was elaborated by experts of the Russian Emergencies Ministry and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The agreement was signed in 1998 by representatives of Armenia, Bulgaria, Greece, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, Romania and Ukraine.
In 1999 the Georgian side put forward a proposal to set up the Council and International Fund for providing financial support to member states of the organization; Russia proposed establishment of the Black Sea International Naval Rescue Center based in the town of Gelendzhik.
"The Russian Emergencies Ministry is well aware of the importance of strengthening cooperation with nations of the Black Sea region; it is now most happy to see that bilateral and multilateral relations with the countries of the region are improving gradually," the spokesman added. Yet he stressed that the ministry did not intend "to restrict its activities to cooperating with member states only; support in managing disasters should be provided to nations in other parts of the world, as well."