In Ashgabat took place a meeting of the expert group of the project on strengthening industrial safety in Central Asia in the context of the UNECE Convention on the “Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents”.
The project is aimed at strengthening the region's potential in the event of transboundary industrial accidents.The implementation of the project is conducted through financial support of the Russian Federation, which also provides expertise in developing and improving relevant legislation, as well as institutional cooperation.
The event was organized by the State Committee for Environmental Protection and Land Resources of Turkmenistan with the support of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and UNDP in Turkmenistan.
The representatives of ministries and departments, including the Main Directorate of Rescue and Civil Defense of the Ministry of Defense, the National Committee for Hydrometeorology under the Cabinet of Ministers, the State Marine and River Transport Service, SC “Turkmengaz”, “Turkmenchemia”, State National Service "Turkmenhovayollary" attended the event.
The purpose of the meeting is to be acquainted with the provisions of the UNECE Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents.
"Consolidation of actions with regard to prevention and elimination of transboundary industrial accidents is important for sustainable development and safety of the living environment," said Elizaveta Rubach, expert of the environment department of the secretariat of the UNECE Industrial Accidents Convention.
By now the Convention has been supported by 41 States.In the Central Asian region, so far only Kazakhstan.Accession to the document, of course, imposes certain obligations, but also provides an opportunity for multilateral notification and mutual assistance, and thus creating an atmosphere of greater trust, stressed Ms.
Rubach.
The meeting was attended by international experts - General Director of ZAO Scientific and Technical Center for Industrial Safety of the Russian Federation, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Elena Klovach and Chief Specialist of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus Yevgeny Baranovsky.
They described how the UNECE Convention is being implemented in their countries.It was stressed that the seminar is aimed at enhancing cooperation in the event of industrial incidents affecting the interests of two or more countries.
Elena Klovach noted that in Russia, which acceded to the convention, functioning a Federal Law, where several thousands of Russian industries are under its control.The Belarusian representative noted that his country had not acceded to the convention, but took part in the work of its structures, as well as in the events organized by the secretariat.
In the course of the interested exchange of opinions was emphasized the need to intensify the partnership on this issue in order to achieve sustainable development of the region and effective interstate interaction.