The Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Natural and Man-Made Technological Emergency Prevention and Response was signed in Moscow July 16, 1996 to open a line of direct communication between the two countries in cases of man-made and natural disasters.
"I would like to say our cooperation in this field has developed successfully over the past 10 years, and we have made significant progress in several directions, particularly in staff training and exchange of experience, which has enhanced both countries' abilities to prevent emergency situations and natural calamities," Sergei Kislyak, Russian deputy foreign minister, said following the signing ceremony.
He said a joint committee on the prevention of industrial accidents and natural disasters will meet by year's end, and that the mechanism has so far proved effective.
U.S. Moscow Ambassador William Burns said in turn that Russian and U.S. emergency situations services have a long history of collaboration, including humanitarian assistance to other countries.
Emphasizing the role the agencies played in response to the 9/11 terrorist acts in New York and Washington five years ago, he called attention to the importance of the protocol being signed on this day.
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