The Russian government has not yet raised the issue of complete suspension of transport communication with China due to the SARS threat, as the results of the Thursday Cabinet conference chaired by Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov imply.
The Governmental Information Department pointed out that only further reduction in the number of flights from the SARS-hit countries could be considered.
In addition, Kasyanov charged the Cabinet with making proposals on temporarily reducing the number of checkpoints along the state border.
On the whole, the Russians will themselves decide whether they should visit the SARS-hit countries or not. The Cabinet has only recommended them to abstain from going to these countries: China (including Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan) and Singapore.
Head of the State Service of Civil Aviation, First Deputy Transport Minister Alexander Neradko told RIA Novosti that this service did not suspend air communication with China due to SARS".
At the same time, he said, referring to the Thursday Cabinet decision, that the number of checkpoints would be reduced. "Only those providing efficient medical treatment will remain," Neradko noted.
"All these measures are not aimed to completely ban the flights, they are dictated by the real situation," he stressed.
The Russian Railways Ministry press-service said that passenger trains to China would not be cancelled.
The River Fleet is solving the problem more radically. According to the Russian Transport Ministry, the shipping of passengers and cargoes to China from the Blagoveschensk river port and by the Amur shipping company is forbidden from May 3."
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