EU backs establishment of CA Disaster Response and Risk Reduction Centre in Kazakhstan

08:50, 14 July 2011

BRUSSELS. July 14. KAZINFORM /Dimash Syzdykov/ "The European Union backs the establishment of the Central Asian Disaster Response and Risk Reduction Centre in Kazakhstan," EU Commissioner for international cooperation, humanitarian aid and crisis response Kristalina Georgiyeva told following the meeting with Kazakh Emergencies Minister Vladimir Bozhko.

According to her, Kazakhstan has a well-developed system of emergencies response. The centre for crisis response is being formed in Kazakhstan with the EU assistance.

"The creation of this centre is of vital meaning for Central Asia for the region, as you know, faces high disaster intensity and frequency. Therefore, in order to protect people and economies it is crucial to expand regional and international cooperation. To that end the EU supports the establishment of such a regional centre which will become a platform for our interaction in the future," the EU Commissioner said.

As earlier reported, a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Central Asian Centre for Disaster Response and Risk Reduction was signed by the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Committee for Emergency Situations and Civil Defense under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan in Almaty last October. It is anticipated that the proposed Center will, in the long term, be in a position to strengthen member-states' national platforms or other multi-sectoral mechanisms for disaster risk reduction in the region.

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