Russia and Lithuania sign a collaboration agreement against Barents Sea oil contamination
Igor Levitin, RF Minister of transport, and Rasa Uknyavichene, Minister of defense of the Republic of Lithuania, signed a collaboration agreement between the RF Government and the Government of the Republic of Lithuania against contamination of the Barents Sea with oil and other hazardous substances.
The RF Government and the Government of the Republic of Lithuania proceed from the assumption that, investigation, development and extraction of the natural resources and also their shipment constitute a potential threat, as a result of which contamination of the Barents Sea with oil and other hazardous substances may take place. The parties agreed to undertake instantaneous and efficient measures on organization and coordination of actions aimed at contamination prevention and abatement, the message says.
The RF Ministry of Transport and the Armed Forces of the Republic of Lithuania shall be competent bodies authorized to be responsible for the agreement implementation. Preparation and conduct of operations on contamination liquidation are vest upon FGU State Maritime Emergency and Rescue-coordinating Service of RF and Coordination Maritime Rescue Centre of Maritime Forces of the Republic of Lithuania.
The parties shall render mutual assistance in activities against incidents causing pollution that may spread into the country zones of parties’ responsibilities irrespective of the place of incident occurrence under the agreement. Competent bodies of Russia and Lithuania shall work out a mutual plan of actions that will come into force under a written agreement within six months from the date of the signed Agreement coming into force. Mutual actions stipulated in the plan will be undertaken only upon mutual notification of the Parties, Ministry of Transport pointed out.
The Parties intend to share information and hold consultations in order to guarantee according cooperation of the competent bodies. There is an agreement on joint exercises conducting and exchange of experience in terms of responding to contamination incidents.