CSTO discusses collective emergency response

MINSK. October 12. KAZINFORM Yerevan hosted the fourth session of the Emergencies Coordination Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization on 11 October. The participants of the session discussed CSTO's efforts to develop the collective emergency response system, BelTA learnt from CSTO Spokesman Vladimir Zainetdinov.

Accoridng to BelTA, the session was chaired by Emergencies Minister of Belarus Vladimir Vashchenko. Taking part in the session were representatives of Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and the CSTO Secretariat.

The participants of the session pointed to the need to build up the capacities of the collective rapid response forces of the CSTO to enable the forces to hold large-scale search and rescue operations. They also suggested creating a group of forces to fight the consequences of most destructive accidents in the CSTO or its responsibility zone.

The Emergencies Coordination Council examined and approved a plan of exercises and other joint events to be held in 2012.

The issues and proposals discussed at the session will be presented to the heads of state of the CSTO members in December at the session of the CSTO Collective Security Council, Vladimir Zainetdinov informed.

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