Russia, Belarus To Draw Up Joint Chernobyl Recovery Program

The Russian Cabinet has given the green light to the Emergencies Ministry's proposal, authorized by Russian federal government agencies and the Belarussian government, to draw up an allied program of joint actions for Chernobyl disaster recovery in 2002-2005. The Cabinet Information Department Wednesday told RIA Novosti that the Cabinet order directs the Emergencies Ministry to lodge the proposal to draw up the draft program with the Council of Ministers of the Union State of Russia and Belarus. The Union Council of Ministers will be recommended to designate the Russian Emergencies Ministry as the government agency commissioning the program on behalf of the Russian Federation.