Conscious of the need for coordinated actions to prevent and eliminate the consequences of natural and man-made disasters, to protect population, as well as to provide humanitarian assistance in case of serious crises and emergency situations or imminent threat thereof;

Taking into account that geographical, social and economic features of BSEC Member States as well as emergencies, arising under these conditions, may require assistance from any of these countries;

Acknowledging that in case of an urgent danger or exceptional large-scale disaster an immediate and adequate response may be required by some or all of the BSEC Member States;

Noting that possible dangerous transboundary consequences of natural and man-made disasters may require the need for urgent actions for protection of population and ecology in several BSEC Member States at the same time;

Being well aware of the fact that the diversification of emergency situations puts forward the problem of using modern technologies for predicting and responding in time;

Recalling the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030;

Appreciating the role of the UN and its institutions, the EU, International Civil Defense Organization (ICDO) as well as other organizations dealing with coordination of international efforts in emergency response;

Have reached mutual understanding on the need to strengthen further cooperation in the following areas:

exchange of appropriate information among national crisis management centers of BSEC Member States;

• forecasting emergency situations and their consequences’ assessment;
• the advanced technologies exchange for disaster risk reduction;
• best practices and knowledge sharing in the field of prevention and elimination of consequences of emergency situations;
• elaboration and implementation of joint scientific and research projects, exchange of scientific periodicals, technical or methodological literature, video-and-photo materials as well as the results of research activities;
• training professionals in emergency management;
• organization of joint conferences, seminars, workshops, training programs and exercises;
• other joint activities aimed at preventing and eliminating consequences of emergency situations to be carried out in consultation with the BSEC Member States and in compliance with the BSEC Charter.

The Ministers and Heads of Emergencies and Rescue Governmental Agencies expressed their gratitude to the Government of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Civil Defense, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters, Administration of the Krasnodar Region and the City of Sochi for warm hospitality and excellent organization of the Meeting.

Sochi, 8 June 2016