5 Jul 2013 19:01

Emergencies Ministry's forces in Far East must be augmented - Putin

MOSCOW. July 5 (Interfax) - President Vladimir Putin said the Emergency Situations Ministry forces' capabilities in the Far East must be increased to allow them to react quickly to emergencies in Russia and abroad, including those in Asia and the Pacific.

"I think the ministry's forces based in Siberia and the Far East must be seriously augmented, including those that deal with emergencies in Asian and Pacific countries," Putin told Russia's Security Council on Friday.

The Emergency Situations Ministry must be provided with larger facilities in order to carry out effective operations in any part of Russia and abroad, first of all with regional aviation units and fire and rescue brigades, he said.