OREANDA-NEWS. On 31 March 2009 was announced, that President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko had approved a draft intergovernmental agreement with the Republic of Austria on mutual assistance in catastrophes or serious accidents as a basis for further talks. The Decree to this effect was signed by the Head of State on 26 March.

The Belarusian Minister of Emergency Situations, Enver Bariyev, has been authorised to hold the talks.